Schwartz's cory
Schwartz's cory is an attractively patterned armoured catfish from the Rio Purus basin in the central Brazilian Amazon, marked with reticulated spotting on the head, a fine-lined body and a distinctive black-and-orange dorsal fin. Coming from warm, soft blackwater and clearwater tributaries, it prefers slightly higher temperatures, around 24-28 C, and soft, acidic water; it is a little more demanding of water quality than beginner corys, so stable parameters and clean sand are important. Keep it in a shoal of at least six over fine substrate with driftwood and shade. It is entirely peaceful and mixes well with tetras, pencilfish, dwarf cichlids and other corydoras. Provide a varied omnivorous diet of sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm, Tubifex and Daphnia. Good oxygenation and regular water changes keep its barbels healthy.
Water parameters
| Temperature | 24 – 28 °C |
|---|---|
| pH | 5.5 – 7.2 |
| Carbonate hardness (KH) | 1 – 10 °dKH |
| General hardness (GH) | 1 – 12 °dGH |
Tank & stocking
| Minimum tank volume | 70 L |
|---|---|
| Volume budget per individual | 9 L — adds up with tank-mates |
| Minimum group size | 6 individuals (shoaling) |
“Minimum tank volume” is a reasonable floor, not an absolute limit. The per-individual budget is used by the Aqua app to estimate how heavily a tank is stocked.
Frequently asked questions
What size aquarium does Schwartz's cory need?
Provide at least 70 litres for a small group to keep Schwartz's cory in good conditions.
What water parameters does Schwartz's cory need?
A temperature of 24–28 °C, pH 5.5–7.2.
Is Schwartz's cory peaceful or aggressive?
Its temperament is peaceful.
What does Schwartz's cory eat?
Its diet: omnivore.
How many Schwartz's cory should be kept together?
It is a social species: keep a group of at least 6.
How big does Schwartz's cory get?
Around 6 cm as an adult.
Is Schwartz's cory suitable for beginners?
Care level: intermediate.
Planning a tank with Schwartz's cory?
AquaTender turns these parameters into live advice: it checks whether your tank is big enough, how heavily it's stocked, and whether your fish are compatible — then tracks water tests, photos and maintenance for you.
Fish from the same biotope
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