Sipaliwini Cory
Corydoras sipaliwini
Small and fascinating endemic of southern Suriname. Light body finely dotted on the head, but with a large and sharp dark lozenge-shaped spot on the base of the caudal peduncle.
Water Temperature
22 - 26 °C
pH Value
6 - 7.5
Water type
Freshwater
Tank level
Bottom
Adult size
5 cm
Minimum tank volume
>= 80 L
Minimum group
>= 6
GH
2 - 15 dGH
KH
2 - 10 dKH
TDS
50 - 325 ppm
Conductivity
78 - 508 uS/cm
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic to the Sipaliwini River, in Suriname (Corantijn River basin). Inhabits medium-slow flowing rivers, resting in marginal areas shaded by vegetation or rocks in mixed sand and fine gravel bottoms.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Sipaliwini Corydoras (Corydoras sipaliwini). Robust and short-snouted Corydoras, aesthetically very similar to C. bondi. Provided with very prominent bony scutes and short but extremely sensitive barbels.
Social Behavior: Gregarious, peaceful, and very active. Foraging occurs in groups, tirelessly sifting the surface layer of the sand. Must be kept in a colony of at least 6-8 specimens to avoid stress and apathy.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Gray/silver background color with a conspicuous dark bar-shaped spot on the dorsal fin and a series of small speckles along the body that sometimes form a pale lateral line. Adult females wider.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Aquarium Setup: Minimum 80 cm (32 inches) tank. Exclusively requires impalpable sand bottom. To recreate its habitat in Suriname, provide large smooth pebbles, some tough aquatic plants (Anubias), and submerged roots to create shelter.
Diet and Feeding: Bottom omnivore. Not competing well with voracious surface fish, it should be fed at strategic times with bloodworms, daphnia, sinking brine shrimp, and balanced nutrient-rich tablets.
Water Quality: Tolerant and adaptable, but prefers clear, highly oxygenated waters with slight movement. Maintain stable values between pH 6.0 and 7.5 and GH up to 15, strictly avoiding the accumulation of organic detritus.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Ideal companion for almost all peaceful South American fish. House with Characins swimming in mid-water, quiet dwarf Cichlids (Mikrogeophagus), and small catfish that do not aggressively compete for territory.
Aquarium Breeding: Substrate spawner. Lays large adhesive eggs usually on the glass near the pump flow or under broad leaves, stimulated by massive changes with colder water.
Risks and Diseases: Bacterial infections of the barbels are guaranteed if kept on inadequate substrates such as crushed or ceramic quartz. Extremely sensitive to the presence of ammonia or heavy chemical drugs in the water.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Endemic to the Sipaliwini River, in Suriname (Corantijn River basin). Inhabits medium-slow flowing rivers, resting in marginal areas shaded by vegetation or rocks in mixed sand and fine gravel bottoms.
Origin
Tropical oceans and reefsAmazon, Orinoco, and GuianasEast Asia
Fish profile
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- The temperament of Corydoras sipaliwini is exceptionally peaceful and highly social in nature. They must be kept in groups of at least six individuals to thrive. In proper schools, they are confident and constantly active across the bottom.
- Diet
- Omnivore
- The diet of Corydoras sipaliwini primarily features benthic organisms and small detritus. In captivity, they eagerly eat sinking pellets and high-quality bottom-feeder wafers. Live foods like bloodworms and daphnia should be offered for optimal health.
- Life expectancy
- 5-8 years
- In captivity, the Sipaliwini Cory typically lives for 5 to 8 years under proper care, with some individuals reaching up to 10 years. Maintaining high water quality, a clean substrate, and a stable environment is crucial for their long-term health. A fine sand substrate is necessary to protect their sensitive barbels from erosion and subsequent infections.
- Adult size
- 5 cm
- The catalog's scalar value is 5 cm. The FishBase SPECIES table (v25.04 snapshot) source reports a maximum adult measurement of 4.6 cm for this species, recorded as standard length (SL). The taxonomic record consulted is Corydoras sipaliwini (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
- Specific M:F ratio
- A specific sex ratio is unnecessary for the general community keeping of Corydoras sipaliwini. For dedicated breeding, a ratio of two males per female is optimal. Females are visibly rounder and broader, while males are slender.
- Feeding frequency
- Twice daily
- It is recommended to feed Corydoras sipaliwini one or two times daily in moderate portions. Ensure the food reaches the substrate before mid-water fish consume it all. Feeding just before lights out helps them forage peacefully without stress.
- Bioload
- The bioload of Corydoras sipaliwini is relatively low compared to larger tank mates. Since they are schooling fish, their combined waste can accumulate over time. Consistent filtration and weekly water changes are necessary for maintaining clean water.
- Flow
- Stagnant
- Corydoras sipaliwini prefers a moderate water flow that replicates gentle Amazonian streams. This circulation thoroughly oxygenates the water and prevents detritus accumulation. Calm resting zones should also be provided for relaxation.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- Breeding Corydoras sipaliwini in an aquarium is highly achievable with proper conditioning. Spawning is typically triggered by a large, slightly cooler water change. The female then deposits adhesive eggs on aquarium glass or broad plant leaves.
- Compatibility & tankmates
- In terms of compatibility, Corydoras sipaliwini is extremely peaceful and ideal for community setups. They coexist perfectly with small tetras, rasboras, and dwarf cichlids. Large, aggressive bottom-dwellers must be avoided to prevent undue competition.
- Tank level
- Bottom
- As obligate bottom-dwellers, Corydoras sipaliwini spends the vast majority of its time on the substrate. They constantly search for food by sifting fine sand with their sensitive barbels. They occasionally dart to the surface to gulp atmospheric air.
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.
Related species
Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.
