How to Raise Cory Catfish

The cory catfish, also called corydoras catfish, is from the freshwater of South America. There are different species of cory catfish, such as the bronze corydoras, skunk corydoras, elegant corydoras and banded corydoras. Despite the diversity in this genus, the way a cory catfish is raised is the same for all species. Corys are quite easy to breed, but you will need to change the conditions in your tank to stimulate and induce the corys so that they will breed.

Things You'll Need

  • Frozen fish food
  • Live fish food
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Instructions

    • 1

      Keep both males and female corys in your tank if you hope for them to breed more corys. It is best to have more males than females, such as two males and one female, or five males and three females, because male competition stimulates females and males into breeding. Having fewer females also reduces the risk of females eating other females' eggs because female corys sometimes eat the eggs of fellow females. Females are easily distinguishable from males, as they are larger and rounder.

    • 2

      Feed the corys both live and frozen bloodworms and frozen brine. Corys feed from the bottom, so it is important that no matter what you feed them, the food sinks to the bottom of your aquarium.

    • 3

      Keep the water temperature in your aquarium at a temperature that fits within the range of what your species of cory needs. For example, the bandit cory lives at a temperature between 70 and 79 Fahrenheit. You can find out information from your local aquarium store, or online.

    • 4

      Shine light on the tank for 10 hours per day.

    • 5

      Use a filter in the aquarium to keep the water clean, as you would for any other fish.

    • 6

      Change about 20 percent of the aquarium water once a week. Although it is not necessary for the cory catfish to survive and the filter already keeps the water clean, this simulates water changes that occur in South American freshwater sources during the rainy season, and promotes healthier fish and breeding.

    • 7

      Put small rocks or moss inside your aquarium for the corys to lay eggs on.

    • 8

      The fry will hatch within three to five days after eggs have been laid. Feed them a commercial fry diet and micro worms.