False Spotted Cory

Corydoras leucomelas, the false spotted cory, is a small, hardy armored catfish from the upper Amazon Basin in Peru and Colombia. It has a pale body scattered with fine dark spots, a dark dorsal-fin blotch, and a mask-like marking through the eye. A peaceful shoaling species, it must be kept in groups of at least six over soft sand, where it forages actively and behaves confidently. It makes an easygoing addition to community aquariums with tetras, pencilfish, and other small, gentle tankmates. Provide soft, slightly acidic to neutral water at pH 6.0-7.5 and 22-26C, gentle filtration, shaded areas, and clean water with low nitrate. As an omnivore it readily takes sinking pellets, catfish wafers, and frozen or live foods such as bloodworms and daphnia. Avoid sharp gravel that can damage its barbels.