What tank size does a Bronze Corydoras need?

A Bronze Corydoras needs an aquarium of at least 75 litres (19.8 US gallons) with a footprint at least 60 cm (23.6 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.

What water parameters does a Bronze Corydoras need?

Bronze Corydoras does best at 22–28 °C (71.6–82.4 °F), pH 6–7.8 and a general hardness of 2–18 °dGH.

What group size does a Bronze Corydoras need?

Bronze Corydoras is a social species — keep a group of at least 6 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.

Is the Bronze Corydoras suitable for beginners?

Yes — Bronze Corydoras is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.

Species library

Bronze Corydoras

Corydoras aeneus

Callichthyidae

FishDifficulty: ●○○○○Data: well-established

📷 Andrew Keller · CC0 · resized · Wikimedia Commons

Bronze Corydoras — Corydoras aeneus — 📷 Andrew Keller · CC0 · resized · Wikimedia Commons

About

The bronze corydoras is one of the hardiest and most beginner-friendly catfish in the hobby, sporting a metallic bronze-green sheen along its armored flanks. Native to slow-moving waters across a vast South American range, it constantly patrols the substrate on three pairs of sensitive barbels, sifting sand for food. A gregarious species that is visibly happier and more active in groups of six or more.

Care

Keep in groups of 6+ over soft sand with gentle flow and stable, well-oxygenated water. Very forgiving of parameters but sensitive to sharp gravel and nitrate spikes.

Diet

Omnivorous scavenger; offer sinking wafers, frozen and live foods. Ensure food reaches the bottom rather than being intercepted by mid-water fish.

Tankmate compatibility

Gets along with (81)

African Butterfly Cichlid Agassiz's Cory Amano Shrimp Bamboo Shrimp Banjo Catfish Black Neon Tetra Black Phantom Tetra Black Ruby Barb Black Skirt Tetra Blackline Rasbora Bleeding Heart Tetra Blood Parrot Cichlid Bloodfin Tetra Blue Velvet Shrimp Bolivian Ram Brichard's Teleogramma Bristlenose Pleco Cherry Barb Cherry Shrimp Chinese Algae Eater Clown Pleco Cochu's Blue Tetra Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid Congo Tetra Diamond Tetra Dwarf Chain Loach Dwarf Flag Cichlid Dwarf Gourami Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish Elephantnose Fish Emerald Cory Emperor Tetra Featherfin Squeaker Flame Tetra Glass Catfish Glowlight Tetra Golden Dwarf Cichlid Golden Pencilfish Golden Tetra Golden Wonder Killifish Harlequin Rasbora Head-and-Tail-Light Tetra Honey Gourami Julii Cory Keyhole Cichlid Kribensis Lemon Tetra Little Corydoras Otocinclus Peaceful Betta Pearl Gourami Penguin Tetra Pictus Catfish Polka Dot Loach Purple Emperor Tetra Pygmy Corydoras Rainbow Shark Red Whiptail Catfish Red-Tail Shark Rosy Tetra Salt and Pepper Cory Scarlet Badis Scissortail Rasbora Serpae Tetra Siamese Algae Eater Silver Tip Tetra Skunk Cory Sparkling Gourami Sterbai Corydoras Striped Kribensis Thai Micro Crab Thick-lipped Gourami Threadfin Rainbowfish Three-spot Gourami Tiger Barb Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid Upside-down Catfish Vampire Shrimp Venezuelan Cory X-ray Tetra Yoyo Loach

Possible with care (138)

Acei Cichlid African Butterflyfish Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid Altum Angelfish Angelfish Assassin Snail Auratus Cichlid Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish)Bladder Snail Blue Acara Blue Dolphin Cichlid Blue Tiger Shrimp Boesemani Rainbowfish Borleyi (Redfin Hap)Borneo Sucker Brevis Shell Dweller Buenos Aires Tetra Buffalohead Cichlid Bumblebee Cichlid Bumblebee Goby Butterfly Hillstream Loach Cardinal Tetra Celebes Rainbowfish Celestial Pearl Danio Checkerboard Cichlid Checkered Barb Chili Rasbora Chocolate Cichlid Chocolate Gourami Clown Killifish Cobalt Blue Zebra Colombian Ramshorn Snail Congo Dwarf Cichlid Convict Cichlid Crystal Red Shrimp Cuckoo Catfish Cylindricus Cichlid Demasoni Cichlid Denison Barb Discus Doctor Fish Dogtooth Cichlid Dojo (Weather) Loach Dwarf Orange Crayfish Dwarf Pea Puffer Dwarf Petricola Catfish Dwarf Rasbora Electric Blue Ahli Electric Yellow Lab Ellioti Cichlid Elongate Mbuna Ember Tetra Endler's Livebearer Even-spotted Synodontis Festivum (Flag Cichlid)Figure-8 Puffer Firemouth Cichlid Five-bar Cichlid Forktail Rainbowfish Freshwater Clam German Blue Ram Ghost Shrimp Glowlight Danio Gold Barb Golden Julie Green Discus Green Neon Tetra Guppy Heckel Discus Hongi Cichlid Japanese Trapdoor Snail Jewel Cichlid Johanni Cichlid Kenyi Cichlid Kissing Gourami Kuhli Loach Lambchop Rasbora Least Killifish Lemon Cichlid Leopard Danio Macmasteri Dwarf Cichlid Maingano Cichlid Malaysian Trumpet Snail Marble Hatchetfish Marlieri Cichlid Medaka Ricefish Molly Moonlight Gourami Multifasciatus Shell Dweller Mystery Snail Neon Tetra Nerite Snail Ocellatus Shell Dweller Odessa Barb Panda Corydoras Paradise Fish Paraguay Eartheater Peacock Cichlid Pearl Danio Peppered Corydoras Platy Port Cichlid Powder Blue Cichlid Rabbit Snail Rainbow Cichlid Ramshorn Snail Red Empress Red Rainbowfish Red Zebra Cichlid Redhead Cichlid Regan's Julie Reticulated Hillstream Loach Rosy Barb Rubber Lip Pleco Rummynose Tetra Rusty Cichlid Sailfin Molly Salvini Cichlid Saulosi Cichlid Severum Similis Shell Dweller Spotted Hoplo Star Sapphire Strawberry Rasbora Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp Sunshine Peacock Sveni Eartheater Swordtail T-Bar Cichlid Taiwan Reef Cichlid Threadfin Acara Turquoise Rainbowfish Uaru (Triangle Cichlid)White Cloud Mountain Minnow Wrestling Halfbeak Zebra Danio Zebra Mbuna Zebra Pleco

Avoid (52)

Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.

Full tank-mates guide with reasons →

Telling males from females

What works for this species, most reliable first.

Width from aboveStrong · from about 8 months, once they are adult-sized
Corydoras are sexed from directly above, never from the side. Look down at the group while they rest on the sand.
Bristles and cheek spinesA hint only · from about a year
Male plecos grow odontodes — spiny growths on the cheeks and along the leading pectoral rays. Bristlenose males additionally grow branching tentacles across the snout and over the top of the head.

All the methods, with diagrams

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Frequently asked questions

What tank size does a Bronze Corydoras need?: A Bronze Corydoras needs an aquarium of at least 75 litres (19.8 US gallons) with a footprint at least 60 cm (23.6 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
What water parameters does a Bronze Corydoras need?: Bronze Corydoras does best at 22–28 °C (71.6–82.4 °F), pH 6–7.8 and a general hardness of 2–18 °dGH.
What group size does a Bronze Corydoras need?: Bronze Corydoras is a social species — keep a group of at least 6 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
Is the Bronze Corydoras suitable for beginners?: Yes — Bronze Corydoras is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.

Sources

Water & tank

Temperature22–28°C

Optimal temp.24–26°C

pH6–7.8

Hardness (GH)2–18°d

Carbonate (KH)1–12°d

Adult size7 cm

Min. volume≥ 75 L

Min. tank length≥ 60 cm

Group size≥ 6

Swimming zoneBottom

TemperamentPeaceful

Water typeFreshwater

FlowModerate

Lifespan~8 yrs

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