Pygmy Corydoras: Complete care guide

This tiny catfish can be the perfect fish for you if you want to set up a small aquarium.

It’s an ideal catfish for beginners, friendly to other fish, and will feel comfortable even in small tank.

They are one of the smallest fish in the world, which is why many people are very fascinated by them.

The entire group of Corydoras is well-known to most fishkeepers, but Pygmy Cory is a unique species.

The interesting behavior of this fish makes many fishkeepers choose it.

If this interests you, stay on this page and learn more about Pygmy Cory.

Origin

Pygmy Cory or Corydoras pygmaeus is a freshwater fish from the Corydoradinae sub-family.

The short form of Corydoras is Cory.

They are found mainly in the Madeira basin in Brazil but can be found across the entire South American continent.

Originally, it was believed that there was only one miniature species of Corydoras, namely Corydoras hastatus.

At the beginning of the 19th century, however, it was discovered that many species were misidentified, so the species Pygmy Cory was described.

These fish are popular not only among beginner hobbyists but also among experienced ones.  They live in tropical aquariums and feel best there.

They thrive in tropical aquariums and are readily available in stores at a relatively low cost.

These fish are very small, so they don’t live for a long time.

Typically, they live for about 3 years. Of course, their lifespan may vary depending on how well you take care of them.

Size

When it comes to the size of Pygmy Cory, they usually don’t exceed one inch. They usually reaching only 0.75 inches.

Availability

This fish is available in many pet stores. You can also get it online.

The cost of the pigment varies from 3 to 5 dollars. So, for a group of 10 individuals, you’ll pay roughly 40 dollars.

Appearance and Sex Differences

They look like most Corydoras catfish, but the difference is in their size. The difference is visible at first glance. Pygmy Corydoras are very small, reaching only 0.75 inches.

Pygmy Cory  is characterized by an olive-colored body with dark spots and a noticeably lighter silvery-white belly.

There is a black stripe along the body from the gill cover to the base of the tail fin.

Females are slightly thicker than males.

When fry hatch, they have vertical stripes on their sides that gradually fade, replaced by horizontal stripes after a month.

It’s worth mentioning that there are three dwarf Corydoras species similar in size and color. However, they have distinct differences in their patterns, making them easy to identify.

• Corydoras habrosus – they have an olive-gray semi-transparent body with a series of longitudinal black spots arranged horizontally along the lateral line. The fins are transparent, almost colorless, with tiny dots forming blurred stripes.
• Corydoras hastatus – the body sides are greenish or olive. From the gill arch along the lateral line, there is a narrow black line extending to the base of the tail fin in a regular spot of the same color. The black spot at the base of the tail is surrounded by small white dots.
• Corydoras Pygmaeus – As I wrote earlier, this species has a silvery body with a thin horizontal black stripe running along the entire body.

Behavior

These fish are very well-behaved.

They usually stick to their own kind, but it’s very easy to add them to a community setup.

Many of you know that they spend most of their time in the lower levels.

However, in this case, it’s a bit different. Of course, the Pygmy Cory also likes to hang out at the bottom. In terms of behavior, though, it’s a very interesting species.

It’s a catfish that often shoal in the upper parts of the aquarium. So, it’s important to remember to keep the middle level of the tank open.

They have a habit of floating in the water column, vigorously waving their fins. You can sometimes see them directly at the water’s surface.

They can also use their intestines to extract oxygen from the air. Usually, They usually use this mechanism only when the water quality is very low.

In such a situation, you can observe the Pygmy Cory energetically dart up to the water surface, taking a gulp of air, and then swimming back down again.

This fish is perfect for planted aquariums and Japanese-style tanks.

Care

Pygmy Cory are gentle and sociable, and it’s best to keep them in small tanks.

They are perfect for general aquariums. A characteristic feature of this fish is that it enjoys the company of its kind. They swim together in a school, which is rare for bottom dwellers.

They can also swim in groups in the middle levels of the tank. The larger the group, the better and more impressive the sight.

The minimum tank size for a group is 10 gallons. Of course, if you want a larger group, it’s worth investing in a bigger tank.

It’s important to regularly change the water to ensure stable conditions in the aquarium. When changing the water, be careful not to accidentally suck in the fish with the siphon.

Remember not to place stones with sharp edges in the aquarium that could harm the fish.

When it comes to diet, the fish are not picky and eagerly eat dry, live and frozen food.

Tank Requirements

Generally, the tank for Pygmy Cory should be low, covered, and not too brightly lit. It’s also good to have strong water flow.

Because it’s a very small fish, be careful with canister and cascade filters. The opening of the water inlet pipe should be carefully secured so that small fish feeding nearby are not sucked in and dragged into the filter.

The tank bottom should have thick, soft sand. It’s better if it’s dark, as it gives catfish a sense of naturalness and safety.

Use small, flat stones with round edges and pieces of wood as decorative elements. The aquarium setup should include numerous hiding spots for fish to quickly take cover when needed.

Essential to the decor are plants with wide, shading leaves, like Anubias or Amazon Sword.

The water temperature should range from 72 to 79°F. The optimal pH is between 6.5 and 7.5, while the hardness should be between 5 and 15°dGH.

Diseases

The Pygmy Corydoras is particularly susceptible to 2 diseases.

Ich (white spot disease)

White spot disease is a common issue for many aquarium trade species, with symptoms manifesting as white spots on the body and fins.

It often appears when adding new fish to the aquarium or using dirty equipment.

You should quarantine new fish and thoroughly clean used equipment. It’s important to have one set of equipment for one aquarium.

Red blotch disease

Another disease is red blotch disease. As the name suggests, it is characterized by bloody sores on the body, usually on the abdomen.

It usually occurs when fish are stressed. Therefore, you need to maintain proper water parameters and perform weekly water changes.

It is also believed that a low oxygen level is a key factor in this disease.

Tank Mates

Pygmy Cory is a fish that is suitable for a community aquarium. Just remember that it is very small, so it can easily fit into the mouth of a larger fish.

Therefore, the companions should have mouths smaller than 1 inch.

This is a very calm fish. As long as the tank mates are also peaceful, there won’t be any compatibility issues.

Together, we can keep them with: Neon Tetras, Zebra Danios, Guppies, Mollies, Dwarf Gourami, Cherry Barbs, and Barbled Hatchetfish.

We can also keep them with Otocinclus, Chinese Algae Eaters, and Kuhli Loaches. They also get along well with snails and shrimp without any problems.

Diet

These fish are omnivores and enjoy eating both dry and live food. So we have a lot of options here.

The easiest choice is dried food, which is readily available in pet stores. It’s a good idea to buy pellets or wafers because they quickly sink to the bottom of the tank.

Of course, it’s worth supplementing with other foods as well.

We can give them insect larvae, brine shrimp, or bloodworms. We can also add plant-based food like spirulina. From our kitchen, we can finely chop green vegetables.

Of course, we cannot confuse Pygmy Corydoras with algae eaters. Their diet must be varied.

We need to pay attention he food is not eaten by other fish.

The best time to feed is late in the evening, about 30 minutes before turning off the lights, when the other aquarium inhabitants are finishing their daily activities.

Breeding

The Pygmy Cory reproduces similarly to the Corydoras Paleatus. In general, breeding is easy. Taking care of the fry is a bit more challenging. If you thought adults are small, you need to see what the fry look like.

Spawning is best done in large groups with a predominance of males. Reproduction takes quite a while because the female lays eggs individually. There can be up to 100 eggs.

It may happen that they also reproduce in a community aquarium because they copulate regularly.

Fish don’t really eat the eggs or fry. You should watch over the eggs and observe their development. Remove the eggs on which fungus has developed to prevent it from spreading to other eggs.

A 10-gallon aquarium is sufficient for breeding. The temperature should be around 79°F, and the other parameters as described above.

Fry requires the smallest food – plankton. When they grow a bit, you can feed them adult-sized food.

Due to the tiny size of newly hatched fish, the most delicate filtration should be installed in the tank.

In conclusion

Pygmy Cory undoubtedly proves that even the smallest members of the aquarium can leave a lasting impression on enthusiasts and contribute to the overall beauty of fish tank.

The Pygmy Cory’s peaceful nature makes it an excellent choice for community aquariums.

I have these fish in my aquarium and I am delighted with them. Do you also have them in your aquarium? Let me know in the comments.