Bronze corydoras
Corydoras aeneus
easy careOverview
The bronze corydoras (Corydoras aeneus) is one of the best beginner catfish in the hobby — hardy, peaceful and endlessly busy. These little armoured catfish patrol the bottom of the tank in a group, sifting the substrate for food and darting to the surface for the occasional gulp of air, which is normal behaviour. Their calm nature and easygoing care make them a favourite bottom-dweller for community aquariums.
Tank & water
A group of six needs at least 75 litres (20 gallons) of floor space — corys care more about footprint than height. Aim for 22–26 °C with a heater, a gentle filter, and stable, well-cycled water.
- Substrate matters most: use smooth sand or rounded gravel. Sharp substrate damages their barbels — see our best aquarium sand and gravel picks.
- Cover and hides: plants, driftwood and caves give them security.
- Clean water: they are sensitive to poor water quality, so keep up regular maintenance.
Feeding
Bronze corys are omnivores that feed on the bottom. Give them sinking pellets, wafers or granules — a good sinking food that reaches the substrate is essential, since flakes rarely sink fast enough. Supplement with frozen or freeze-dried bloodworm and daphnia a couple of times a week. See our best fish food guide for options. A common myth is that corys survive on other fish’s leftovers alone; in reality they need their own daily ration to stay well-fed, so target the food to the bottom of the tank rather than trusting scraps to fall their way.
Tankmates
Peaceful and sociable, bronze corys suit almost any calm community — tetras, rasboras, bettas, dwarf gouramis and cherry shrimp. They mix happily with other corydoras such as the panda or sterbai, though each species shoals best with its own kind. Avoid aggressive or large predatory fish.
Frequently asked questions
Bronze corydoras are a superb first bottom-dweller: forgiving, active and long-lived. Get the group size and substrate right and they will reward you for years.
Bronze corydoras — frequently asked questions
How many bronze corydoras should I keep together?
At least six, and more is better. Corydoras are social shoaling fish that are visibly more active, confident and healthy in a group. Kept singly or in pairs they become stressed and withdrawn, so always buy a group of six or more of the same species.
Do bronze corydoras need sand?
Smooth sand or rounded gravel is strongly recommended. Corys sift the substrate with delicate barbels, and sharp or coarse gravel wears those barbels down until they become infected. Fine, smooth sand keeps them healthy and lets them forage naturally.
What do bronze corydoras eat?
They are omnivores that forage on the bottom. Feed sinking pellets or wafers, plus occasional frozen bloodworm or daphnia. Don't rely on them to eat other fish's leftovers — give them their own sinking food every day.
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