Salt and Pepper Corydoras Habrosus 2cm Catfish

Overview

The Salt and Pepper Cory is one of the smallest Corydoras, a silvery dwarf catfish speckled with dark blotches and a bold lateral stripe. Unlike the more midwater pygmy cory, it spends most of its time foraging over the substrate in a busy little group. From the Orinoco llanos of Venezuela and Colombia, it suits peaceful nano and community tanks.

• Adult Size: Around 3.5 cm (1.4 in); females larger and deeper-bodied
• Lifespan: 3–5 years

Origin

• Native to: Upper Orinoco basin, Venezuela and Colombia
• Habitat: Slow lagoons, streams and flooded grassland near vegetation

Feeding

• Diet: Omnivorous, bottom forager
• Preferred Foods: Micro sinking pellets, crushed flake, daphnia, baby brine shrimp, bloodworm, microworms
• Feeding Habits: Feed small sinking foods daily; ensure food reaches the bottom

Tank Mates

• Best with: Groups of ten or more; small tetras, rasboras, dwarf shrimp
• Avoid: Large or boisterous fish, cichlids, anything that eats small fish

Aggression & Behaviour

• Temperament: Peaceful and gregarious
• Territoriality: None; happiest in a large shoal

Experience Level

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Challenges: Easily outcompeted for food; sensitive to sharp gravel and old, unstable water

Water Parameters

• Water Type: Freshwater, soft and slightly acidic
• Temperature: 20–26°C (68–79°F)
• pH: 5.5–7.5
• Hardness: 2–10 dGH
• Flow: Slow to moderate, well oxygenated
• Tank Size: Minimum 60 litres for a group of ten; a long footprint beats height

Final Notes

Buy a proper group, as singles or trios stay hidden and stressed. Use soft sand rather than gravel to protect the barbels, and add leaf litter, plants and wood for cover; they dislike bright, bare tanks. Like all corys they gulp air at the surface and carry mildly venomous pectoral spines, so avoid netting them roughly. Egg scatterers that breed readily after cool water changes. A charming, active addition to any nano community.