Narcissus Cory
Corydoras narcissus
Robust long-snouted Corydoras (Lineage 1), it presents the characteristic dark saddle of the arquatus group but shows off a more marked 'horse' digger profile and proportions.
Water Temperature
22 - 26 °C
pH Value
6 - 7.2
Water type
Freshwater
Tank level
Bottom
Adult size
6.5 cm
Minimum tank volume
>= 100 L
Minimum group
>= 6
GH
2 - 12 dGH
KH
2 - 10 dKH
TDS
50 - 280 ppm
Conductivity
78 - 438 uS/cm
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic to the Rio Purus basin in Brazil. Inhabits small forest tributaries where the water is typically clear, slow-flowing, and the bottom is a dense carpet of dead leaves and root tangles.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Corydoras of the Callichthyidae family belonging to the elegant "long-snouted" group. Imposing size, reaching 6.5 cm (2.5 inches), with a markedly slender and hydrodynamic profile compared to short-snouted corys.
Social Behavior: Of a peaceful and highly gregarious temperament. Housing in small groups induces stress; it must be kept in schools of at least 6-8 specimens, ensuring choral swarming on the bottom while searching for food.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Creamy-silvery background crossed by a long and obvious horizontal black band running from the nape to the tail ("skunk" pattern). A wide band crosses the eye ("mask"). Females visibly wider in the ventral section compared to males.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Aquarium Setup: Requires an exclusive bottom of very fine silica sand to accommodate the deep digging of its snout. Shady refuges created by large roots and catappa leaves are mandatory. Lights filtered by thick surface vegetation.
Diet and Feeding: Benthic carnivore by choice. Accepts high-quality granular dry foods for cleaners but, for optimal vitality, must receive regular meals based on bloodworms, tubifex, and brine shrimp, both live and frozen.
Water Quality: Maintain in standard tropical waters: 22-26°C (72-79°F). The pH should be weakly acidic or neutral (6.0 - 7.2), in combination with low or medium hardness (GH 2-12). Extremely sensitive to nitrates and ammonia.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Sublime guest for delicate Amazonian communities. Compatible with small Tetras (Neons, Petitella), dwarf Cichlids (non-aggressive Apistogramma) and small Loricariids. Avoid impetuous species or large rooting Cichlids.
Aquarium Breeding: Very complex species to reproduce. The trigger requires water changes (cold water/RO) simulating rains. Spawning occurs in T-position; the large clear eggs are attached to solid surfaces. High propensity to cannibalism.
Risks and Diseases: Devastating consequences of inadequate substrates (gravel): the abrasion of the long snout unfailingly generates lethal necrosis. Strictly avoid prophylactic cures based on copper sulfate.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Endemic to the Rio Purus basin in Brazil. Inhabits small forest tributaries where the water is typically clear, slow-flowing, and the bottom is a dense carpet of dead leaves and root tangles.
Origin
Tropical oceans and reefsExtra-Amazon South America
Fish profile
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- These catfish are incredibly docile, peaceful, and non-aggressive, making Corydoras narcissus perfect community tank residents. They are somewhat shy by nature and heavily rely on the presence of a school to feel secure and display their natural behaviors. Providing plenty of hiding spots such as caves, driftwood, and dense vegetation will make them feel more comfortable. They never bother other fish and often completely ignore species occupying the middle and upper levels of the tank.
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Corydoras narcissus is an omnivorous bottom feeder that constantly scavenges for food in the substrate. Their diet should be primarily composed of high-quality sinking pellets or wafers specifically formulated for bottom dwellers. To ensure optimal health and coloration, supplement their dry food with live or frozen foods such as bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp. They will also eat uneaten food that falls from the surface, though they should not be treated merely as a clean-up crew.
- Life expectancy
- 5-8 years
- In captivity, this long-snouted armored catfish can live between 5 and 8 years under excellent care. It is a robust species but sensitive to the accumulation of nitrates and nitrogenous compounds, which can shorten its lifespan. Proper maintenance of the sandy substrate prevents fatal bacterial infections of its long barbels.
- Adult size
- 6.5 cm
- The catalog's scalar value is 6.5 cm. The FishBase SPECIES table (v25.04 snapshot) source reports a maximum adult measurement of 6.5 cm for this species, recorded as standard length (SL). The taxonomic record consulted is Corydoras narcissus (v25.04); male or unsexed record. These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
- Sex ratio
- School
- While sexing them can be challenging, a ratio of two or three males per female is generally recommended for breeding Corydoras narcissus. Females are noticeably rounder and broader, especially when viewed from above, and tend to grow slightly larger. Males appear more slender and streamlined in comparison. Keeping them in a mixed-sex school naturally accommodates these ratios without requiring precise selection by the aquarist.
- Feeding frequency
- Twice daily
- These active scavengers should be fed one to two times daily to ensure they receive adequate nutrition. It is important to offer Corydoras narcissus only as much food as they can consume within a few minutes to prevent water quality issues. Since they are somewhat nocturnal by nature, feeding them once right before the aquarium lights turn off can be very beneficial. Monitoring their feeding is essential, especially in community tanks where faster mid-water fish might outcompete them for food.
- Bioload
- Corydoras narcissus has a relatively small bioload compared to larger aquarium fish. Due to their compact size, they produce a manageable amount of waste that standard filtration can easily process. However, because they must be kept in groups of at least six, the cumulative bioload should be considered when stocking. Regular water changes and good mechanical filtration are still necessary to keep the substrate clean where they dwell.
- Flow
- Stagnant
- In the wild, Corydoras narcissus typically inhabits slow to moderately flowing streams and tributaries. They appreciate some gentle water movement in the aquarium, which helps keep the water well-oxygenated. However, excessive current or strong powerheads should be avoided as it can exhaust them over time. A standard sponge filter or a hang-on-back filter with baffled flow usually provides the ideal water dynamics for this species.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- Breeding Corydoras narcissus in captivity is achievable but requires specific conditions to trigger spawning. A common trigger involves performing a large, slightly cooler water change to simulate the onset of the rainy season in their natural habitat. Females will lay adhesive eggs on broad-leaved plants, aquarium glass, or other flat surfaces. Once spawning is complete, the adult fish should be removed or the eggs transferred, as they may exhibit egg-eating behavior.
- Compatibility & tankmates
- This species is highly peaceful and makes an excellent addition to community aquariums. Corydoras narcissus gets along perfectly with small tetras, rasboras, dwarf cichlids, and peaceful livebearers. It is crucial to avoid housing them with large, aggressive, or predatory fish that could bully them or attempt to eat them. As a schooling fish, they find safety and comfort in numbers of their own kind or similar Corydoras species.
- Tank level
- Bottom
- As classic bottom dwellers, Corydoras narcissus occupies the lowest levels of the aquarium. They spend their days tirelessly exploring the substrate in search of morsels of food using their sensitive barbels. It is absolutely essential to provide a soft, sandy substrate to prevent damage to their delicate sensory barbels. Although they mostly remain at the bottom, they will occasionally dart to the water surface to swallow a bubble of air for intestinal respiration.
Scientific Parameters & Models
FishBase
Window to the official scientific data of the species
Data synced on: 06/15/2026
- Trophic level
- 3 ± 0.3 se
- Resilience
- High (less than 15 months)
- Phylogenetic uniqueness (PD50)
- 0.5
- Bayesian Length-Weight
- a = 0.01778, b = 3.02
- VulnerabilityLow vulnerability (10 / 100)
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
Related species
Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.
