The Leopard Corydoras (Corydoras leopardus or Brochis leopardus) is a peaceful, spotted, bottom-dwelling catfish native to the Amazon basin in South America. It is a popular and hardy fish in the aquarium hobby, known for its social nature and distinctive leopard-like pattern.
Appearance and Size
Size: The fish typically grows to an average adult size of 5.5–6 cm (about 2.2-2.4 inches), with a maximum size of around 7.6 cm (3 inches).
Coloration: It has a pale grey or silvery body covered in fine black spots. It also features a dark horizontal stripe along its side and a prominent black spot on the upper half of its dorsal fin.
Aquarium Care
Tank Size: A minimum of a 20-gallon (75-liter) tank is recommended to provide enough space for a group.
Substrate: A soft, fine sand or smooth gravel substrate is crucial to protect their sensitive, delicate barbels from injury as they forage.
Water Parameters: They prefer stable, clean water conditions:
Temperature: 22–28°C (72–82°F)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Hardness: 2–15 dGH
Decor: Provide plenty of hiding spots and shaded areas using live plants (like Java Fern or Anubias), driftwood, and rocks.
Tank Mates: Due to their peaceful nature, they are excellent additions to community tanks with other non-aggressive species such as tetras, guppies, rasboras, and dwarf gouramis. Avoid large or aggressive fish that may harm them.
Diet: They are omnivores and should be target-fed a varied diet of high-quality sinking pellets, granules, and occasional live or frozen foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp. They will also eat blanched vegetables such as zucchini or spinach. They are not effective algae eaters and should not be expected to live solely on leftovers.
