All fish / Callichthyidae

Fairy Cory

Corydoras atropersonatus

Also known as fairy corydoras, atropersonatus cory, masked cory, caracha fairy cory, cw-? fairy cory, corydoras atropersonatus, コリドラス・アトロペルソナートゥス, 仙女鼠, 阿氏兵鲶

A small armoured catfish with a pale body covered in dark spots and a dark mask running through the eye, often with a yellowish tint near the head. It is kept for its neat pattern and busy, sociable behaviour, sifting sand in groups on the tank floor.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

5 cm

Temperature

22 to 26 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

Group of 6 or more

Diet

Omnivore: sinking pellets and wafers, frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and daphnia, live worms

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Upper Amazon basin in Ecuador and Peru (Río Napo and Río Curaray area)

Breeding

An egg scatterer that lays sticky eggs on glass and plants after the typical T-position spawning, often triggered by cooler water changes. It is bred in captivity occasionally but less reliably than common cories, and many fish are still wild caught.

Good to know

Use soft sand and keep nitrates low, as barbels erode on sharp gravel or in dirty conditions. Wild-caught imports can be delicate at first, and it is easily confused with similar spotted species such as Corydoras sp. 'Caracha' variants.