Oiapoque Cory
Corydoras oiapoquensis
Wonderful French-Brazilian border species. It shares the three-black-band livery of C. boesemani, but shows off a finer spotting and magnificently zebra-striped caudals.
Water Temperature
22 - 26 °C
pH Value
6 - 7.2
Water type
Freshwater
Tank level
Bottom
Adult size
4.5 cm
Minimum tank volume
>= 80 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: Exclusive to the Oiapoque river, on the border between northern Brazil and French Guiana. Its habitat consists of fast-flowing crystalline streams, where the water is saturated with oxygen and flows over sandy bottoms riddled with rounded rocks.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Short-snouted Corydoras (Callichthyidae). The dimensions are around 4.5 cm (1.8 inches), granting it the status of dwarf fish. Firm, massive body and equipped with very compact bony shields along the lateral lines.
Social Behavior: Absolutely peaceful and tenacious bottom worker. Segregation is unthinkable: it necessarily lives in compact schools (from 6 individuals upwards) and exhibits the typical propensity to bury itself halfway to hunt for microorganisms.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Pinkish-amber tones with a well-defined black facial mask covering the eye. Characteristic caudal design, furrowed by alternating black and white bars and a strong spot on the peduncle. The female, seen from above, flaunts considerably paunchy flanks.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Aquarium Setup: Loving fast courses, it requires robust filtration and good water movement (even without extreme turbulence at the benthic level). The bottom of soft river sand is mandatory, adorned with smooth rocks and sparse pebbles.
Diet and Feeding: Small omnivore, zoobenthos hunter. Appreciates fine tablets, pulverized wafers, and it is imperative to provide targeted rations of cyclops, brine shrimp nauplii, or very small fresh/frozen bloodworms two or three times a week.
Water Quality: Inhabits temperate waters: 22-26°C (72-79°F). Highly sensitive to prolonged temperature spikes. Neutral to weakly acidic water (pH 6.0-7.2), with soft or moderate GH (2-12). Constant siphoning to remove putrefying slime, to which it is intolerant.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Delicious companion for temperate and fast community tanks (mild Hillstream). Coexists wonderfully with peaceful Danios, Rasboras, and agile Tetras. Keep carefully away from large Central/South American Cichlids (such as Astronotus or Geophagus).
Aquarium Breeding: Occurs according to the ritual of the T-position, enhanced by robust cold thermal shocks and high-protein foods. Lays a few huge, adhesive eggs, sheltered from the current (glass and broad leaves). Promptly remove the breeders to avoid predation.
Risks and Diseases: Abrasive gravel will lead to the fatal necrosis of the short hunting barbels. The species suffers from hypoxia: summer oxygen deficiency kills it in a short time. Use of Copper strictly prohibited in the tank.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Exclusive to the Oiapoque river, on the border between northern Brazil and French Guiana. Its habitat consists of fast-flowing crystalline streams, where the water is saturated with oxygen and flows over sandy bottoms riddled with rounded rocks.
Origin
Tropical oceans and reefsAmazon, Orinoco, and Guianas
Fish profile
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- These catfish are incredibly docile, peaceful, and non-aggressive, making Corydoras oiapoquensis 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 oiapoquensis 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
- 3-5 years
- This species has a lifespan of about 3 to 5 years in captivity when housed in a clean and stable environment. To optimize their longevity, it is crucial to perform regular water changes and monitor nitrogenous compounds, which they do not tolerate well. A soft, fine-grained substrate is essential to keep their barbels healthy and prevent opportunistic infections. A well-balanced diet free of deficiencies supports their immune system over time.
- Adult size
- 4.5 cm
- The catalog's scalar value is 4.5 cm. The FishBase SPECIES table (v25.04 snapshot) source reports a maximum adult measurement of 4.5 cm for this species, recorded as standard length (SL). The taxonomic record consulted is Corydoras oiapoquensis (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 oiapoquensis. 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 oiapoquensis 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 oiapoquensis 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 oiapoquensis 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 oiapoquensis 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 oiapoquensis 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 oiapoquensis 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 ± 0.4 se
- Resilience
- High (less than 15 months)
- Phylogenetic uniqueness (PD50)
- 0.5
- Bayesian Length-Weight
- a = 0.00741, b = 3.14
- VulnerabilityLow vulnerability (10 / 100)
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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