Peppered Corydoras
Corydoras paleatus
Also known as Peppered Cory, Blue Leopard Cory
Edited by Ivan F. · Reviewed
Beginner verdict
A classic, hardy little catfish with a dappled grey and black pattern, ideal for a small community. It does best in a group, sifting the bottom alongside small tetras and dwarf cichlids. It prefers slightly cooler water than many corys, so check your other fish match it.
Care at a glance
- Min tank size
- 18 US gal
- Footprint
- 24 x 15 in
- Temperature
- 72–79 °F
- pH
- 6–7
- Hardness
- 0–12 dGH
- Swim zone
- Bottom
- Min group
- 6 or more
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
Peppered Corydoras tank mates and swim zone
Bottom
Spends most of its time in this part of the tank.
Paracheirodon innesi
Paracheirodon axelrodi
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
Hemigrammus erythrozonus
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Trigonostigma espei
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Peppered Corydoras is much larger than Ember Tetra and may frighten or even eat it.
Boraras brigittae
Peppered Corydoras is much larger than Chili Rasbora and may frighten or even eat it.
Danio margaritatus
Celestial Pearl Danio is small and shy, and is easily outcompeted for food by Peppered Corydoras.
Tanichthys albonubes
Their temperature ranges barely overlap, so you will have little room for error.
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
Their temperature ranges do not overlap, so one of them would always be stressed.
Melanotaenia boesemani
Their temperature ranges do not overlap, so one of them would always be stressed.
Pseudomugil furcatus
One needs much harder water than the other can tolerate.
Peppered Corydoras feeding and care
How to feed
- Feed sinking pellets or wafers, ideally after lights dim.
- Add bloodworm, daphnia or other frozen foods for variety.
- Feed small portions you can see finished within a couple of minutes, because overfeeding fouls the water fast.
Telling males from females
Females grow considerably larger and are much more rounded, especially when ready to spawn.
Peppered Corydoras care mistakes to avoid
- Do not buy just one or two. Keep at least 6 fish so they feel secure.
- Use sand or smooth gravel. Sharp substrate can damage its sensitive barbels.
- Do not run the tank very warm, because it prefers cooler water than most corys.
- Feed it directly. Leftovers from the surface are not a proper diet.
- Check your tank before you buy. Our sourced minimum is 18 US gallons.
Peppered Corydoras tank setup
A forgiving setup with room for a small community.
TankAt least 18 US gal (70 L), 61 x 38 cm
The smallest tank our sources give for Peppered Corydoras. We list only tanks that hold this volume (allowing 10%, so a standard size counts) and have at least this much floor.
None of the tanks we recommend is big enough for this species yet. See Best 20-Gallon Fish Tank: 20 Long or 29? for what to look for.
Starter kitA kit with the tank, filter and light in one box
We list only kits whose tank fits Peppered Corydoras, up to twice its minimum volume. A kit whose heater has a fixed setting shows only when that setting is inside Peppered Corydoras's temperature range.
None of our picks for the US suits this species. The options below are for Spain, and we have not confirmed that they are sold in the US.
Tetra Starter Line LED Aquarium 80 L Spain
Heater preset to 25 °C
Why we chose these (Best Aquarium Starter Kit: What to Look For). Nobody here has used or tested them.
FilterHang-on-back or large sponge filter
Easy to maintain and strong enough for a community without blasting the fish.
Seachem Tidal 55 Power Filter US
Marineland Penguin PRO 175 Power Filter US
Eheim LiBERTY 130 Hang-on Filter Spain
Seachem Tidal 35 Power Filter Spain
Why we chose these (Best Filter for a 20 to 29-Gallon Tank). Nobody here has used or tested them.
HeaterKeep it at 72–79 °F (22–26 °C)
Adjustable heater, about 5 W per gallon: 100 W at 20 gallons, about 150 W at 29. Enough power to hold a stable temperature in most homes. Size up for a cold room.
Aqueon Pro Adjustable Heater 100 W US
Aqueon Submersible Glass Heater 100 W US
Eheim Thermocontrol e 100 Heater Spain
Tetra HT 100 Electronic Heater Spain
Why we chose these (Best Heater for a 20 to 29-Gallon Tank). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Water conditionerDechlorinator such as Seachem Prime
Tap water contains chlorine or chloramine that harms fish.
Seachem Prime US
Fritz Complete Water Conditioner US
API Betta Water Conditioner US
sera aquatan Spain
Tetra AquaSafe Spain
Sold at Kiwoko · Sold at Tiendanimal · Sold at zooplus.es · Maker's details
Why we chose these (Best Water Conditioner for Betta Fish). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Test kitLiquid kit such as API Freshwater Master
Tracks ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH while the tank cycles.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit US
API General & Carbonate Hardness Test Kit US
See it at The Shrimp Farm (a retailer; affiliate link) · Sold at Bulk Reef Supply · Maker's details
sera aqua-test box (Cl) Spain
JBL PROAQUATEST COMBISET Plus NH4 Spain
Why we chose these (Best Test Kit for a Freshwater Aquarium). Nobody here has used or tested them.
SubstratePrefers sand because it roots about in it; poorly kept gravel can lead to barbel infections.
We are still choosing products for this.
Hiding places and decorAppreciates cover such as rocks or bogwood.
We are still choosing products for this.
PlantsMostly safe with live plants
Cycle the tank before adding animals. See our guide on how to cycle a fish tank.
Where to buy Peppered Corydoras
Stores that list it under the same scientific name as this page. Links marked as affiliate links may earn us a commission. We have not bought from them, so check each store's own terms.
See it at The Shrimp Farm (a retailer; affiliate link)
We have not found a store that sells Peppered Corydoras under its scientific name yet. We add stores as we confirm them.
Live animals and plants travel by courier. Check the store's live-arrival guarantee, and only buy once your tank has cycled (see how to cycle a fish tank).
Some US states restrict certain species. Check our US state aquarium rules table and your state's own rules before you buy.
Peppered Corydoras FAQ
What size tank do Peppered Corydoras need?
Our sourced minimum is 18 US gallons (70 liters), with a footprint of 61 x 38 cm. A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable.
How many Peppered Corydoras should I keep?
Keep at least 6 fish. Bigger groups usually look better and behave more confidently.
What can live with Peppered Corydoras?
Good matches on our list include Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra and Black Neon Tetra. Avoid Endler's Livebearer and Molly.
How long do Peppered Corydoras live?
Lifespan is not well documented for this species. Stable water and a good diet help any animal live longer.
Do peppered corys clean the tank?
Not really. They eat food on the bottom, but still produce waste and need their own meals, so regular water changes are still essential.
Peppered Corydoras facts and sources
- Family
- Callichthyidae
- Native to
- Southern Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina
- Adult size
- 2.8 in (7 cm)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social needs
- Schooling/Shoaling (6+)
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Water flow
- Gentle
- Substrate
- Smooth Gravel
- Live plants
- Mostly Safe
- Shrimp
- 100% Safe
- Fin nipping
- None
- Vulnerable to nippers
- No
- Breeding
- Moderate
Sources
- Seriously Fish: Tank size, water ranges and behavior
- FishBase: Cross-check of water ranges and size
Lifespans are approximate and come from aquarium care guides, because these databases rarely publish them.
Where sources differ, we show the Seriously Fish aquarium figures.
Spotted something wrong? Report a parameter correction. For a sick fish, see our veterinary disclaimer.