All fish / Callichthyidae

Corydoras septentrionalis

Corydoras septentrionalis

Also known as northern cory, northern corydoras, septentrionalis cory, green cory, c. septentrionalis, コリドラス・セプテントリオナリス, 北方鼠鱼

A small armoured catfish with a greenish-bronze body covered in fine dark speckles and a gently sloping snout. People keep it because it is peaceful and lively in groups, and it picks over the substrate for scraps.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

5 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °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

Venezuela and Colombia (Orinoco basin llanos)

Breeding

It lays eggs in the typical cory T-position, sticking them to glass or plants after a cool water change. Captive spawning has been reported and is about as hard as with other egg-scattering Corydoras.

Good to know

It is rarely sold under its correct name and is easily confused with C. aeneus and similar green-bronze species. Keep it over soft sand so its barbels do not get damaged.