Corydoras Catfish

Overview

The Corydoras Catfish (Corydoras spp.) is a Freshwater (Tropical) fish growing to about 1–3 in and living 5–10 yrs. It's peaceful and best kept in a school of its own kind. Plan a tank of at least 20 gal. With a typical lifespan of around 8 years, it's a shorter commitment.

Is the Corydoras Catfish right for you?

A good match if — you're new to fishkeeping and want a hardy species; you like the look of a moving shoal and can keep a group; you want a calm community tank.

Think twice if — you only want a single fish.

What a Corydoras Catfish needs from you

The ongoing work is water quality: filtration, regular water changes and stable parameters. As a tropical fish it needs a stable, heated tank. This is a schooling fish — keep a group, never a lone individual. Don't undersize the tank (minimum about 20 gal).

Key facts

Water type

Freshwater (Tropical)

Scientific name

Corydoras spp.

Adult size

1–3 in

Life span

5–10 yrs

Temperament

peaceful

Social needs

schooling (6+)

Min. tank

20 gal

Care level

beginner

Notes

Bottom-dweller cleanup crew; keep in groups; smooth substrate

What it needs from you (at a glance)

What it costs

Scaled to this breed’s roughly 10 g and a ~8-year life, keeping a Corydoras Catfish works out at about:

Rough cross-breed averages in USD — a planning guide, not a quote. Break it down by life phase in the Cost Calculator →

Temperament (at a glance)