Pygmy Corydora

The pygmy cory (Corydoras pygmaeus) is the odd one out in a genus of bottom-dwellers. At around 2.5 cm it is one of the smallest catfish kept in aquariums, and rather than staying on the substrate it shoals in open water at mid-height, hovering in loose formation and dropping down to feed. The body is plain silver with a single crisp black line from snout to tail. In a group of twenty in a planted nano tank, the effect is quite unlike any other cory.

Aquarium care

• Very small: adults reach about 2.5 cm.
• Peaceful and harmless.
• Keep ten or more, and preferably twenty. Small groups will not shoal.
• Needs finely ground or small sinking food; standard wafers are too coarse.
• Sand substrate suits it best.
• Swims at mid-water as well as on the bottom, unusually for a corydoras.

Pygmy corys belong in nano and small planted tanks with equally small companions such as ember tetras, chili rasboras and dwarf shrimp. They are easily outcompeted at feeding time and easily eaten, so keep anything larger out. Gentle filtration matters too, as they are light enough to be pushed around by strong flow.

Stock rotates with each shipment, and livestock is sold for local pickup at our Lethbridge store. See the current corydoras.