All fish / Callichthyidae

Bandit Corydoras

Corydoras metae

Also known as bandit cory, masked corydoras, meta cory, bandit catfish, masked cory, コリドラス・メタエ, 黑带鼠鱼, 面具鼠

A small armoured catfish with a pale pinkish to cream body, a black band running over the eyes like a mask, and a dark stripe along the back into the dorsal fin. It is kept for its lively shoaling behaviour and its usefulness in sifting the substrate of peaceful community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

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, bloodworm, brine shrimp, daphnia

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Colombia: Meta River basin (upper Orinoco)

Breeding

It is an egg scatterer that sticks eggs to glass and plants after the typical T-position mating, often triggered by a cool water change. Spawning is achievable in captivity but less frequent than in common species, and parents should be removed as they may eat the eggs.

Good to know

Use soft sand or smooth fine gravel to protect the barbels. Often confused with Corydoras melini and C. davidsandsi, which have a diagonal back stripe that extends into the tail.