Green Cory

Bring active life and metallic brilliance to your tank with the Green Corydora (Corydoras aeneus), also commonly known as the Green Bronze Corydoras. Famous for their peaceful nature, playful bottom-dwelling behavior, and striking emerald-bronze iridescence, these energetic scavengers are an essential addition to any community aquarium setup. Key Overview & Quick Stats Scientific Name: Corydoras aeneus Care Level: Easy Temperament: Peaceful, schooling fish Adult Size: 2.5 to 3 inches Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons Diet: Omnivore / Sinking bottom feeder Water Temperature: 72°F – 79°F (22°C – 26°C) pH Range: 6.0 – 7.5 Place of Origin The Green Corydora is native to the tropical freshwater rivers, slow-moving streams, and flooded forest basins of South America. They are widely distributed across countries like Venezuela, Colombia, Trinidad, Brazil, and Argentina, where they inhabit shallow, soft-bottomed waters rich in leaf litter and vegetation. Care & Maintenance Green Corydoras are extremely hardy and adaptable, making them one of the best freshwater fish for beginners and experienced fishkeepers alike. Keep water parameters stable with regular partial water changes (20–25% weekly) and reliable filtration. Because they use their delicate barbels to sift through the substrate for food, maintain clean water to prevent bacterial barbel erosion. Minimum Tank Size A minimum tank size of 20 gallons is recommended. Corydoras are obligate schooling fish that thrive best when kept in groups of 6 or more. A longer footprint (such as a 20-gallon Long) is preferred over tall tanks to provide ample surface area for swimming and foraging. Feeding & Diet As classic bottom-feeding scavengers, Green Corys will happily clean up leftover food that falls to the tank floor, but they require a dedicated diet to stay healthy. Feed them high-quality sinking catfish pellets, algae wafers, and sinking micro-granules. Treat them regularly with live or frozen foods such as bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp to maintain vibrant coloration and optimal vitality. Ideal Environment & Aquarium Setup Substrate: Smooth sand or fine, rounded gravel is critical to protect their sensitive facial barbels from damage. Aquascaping: Provide plenty of cover using live or silk aquatic plants (such as Java Fern, Anubias, and Cryptocoryne), smooth rocks, and driftwood branches. Water Flow: Low to moderate water flow mimics their natural riverbed habitats. Surface Access: Corydoras occasionally dart to the water surface to gulp atmospheric air—ensure open surface space for this natural behavior. Recommended Tank Mates The Green Corydora is a gentle, highly peaceful community fish that gets along with nearly any non-aggressive aquarium species. Ideal Mates: Neon Tetras, Cardinal Tetras, Guppies, Platies, Zebra Danios, Harlequin Rasboras, Dwarf Gouramis, Angelfish, Cherry Shrimp, and Mystery Snails. Avoid: Large, aggressive, or territorial cichlids (such as Oscars or Jack Dempseys) that may see small catfish as prey. Breeding & Spawning Breeding Green Corydoras in a home aquarium is straightforward and rewarding. Setup: Set up a dedicated breeding tank with soft water, a sand bottom, and fine-leaved plants or mops. Trigger: Trigger spawning by performing a cool water change (dropping tank temperature by 2–4°F) to simulate natural South American rainstorms. Spawning Behavior: The female carries fertilized eggs in a pouch formed by her pelvic fins and deposits them onto aquarium glass, plant leaves, or smooth surfaces. Fry Care: Remove the adult fish after egg-laying to prevent egg consumption. Eggs typically hatch in 3 to 5 days, and fry can be fed baby brine shrimp or finely crushed micro-foods. PLEASE READ BEFORE ORDERING The photos shown on fish product pages are representations of adult fish and are NOT the actual fish that you will be receiving.  Please visit our “Ordering/Shipping fish” page prior to checking out to familiarize yourself with our process. We ship fish exclusively using overnight shipping with either FedEx or UPS. We will not ship fish with lesser expensive shipping services like “Ground” or “Priority Mail”. This is to ensure the safety of the fish. Unless specified, all fish are sold as unsexed.