Sterbai cory

Quick facts

Adult size

6.5 cm

Lifespan

can live up to 12 years; long-lived cory; 10+ years routine

Tank zone

bottom

Temperament

peaceful

Difficulty

intermediate

Schooling

recommended 6+ (critical minimum 4, thrives at 10+)

Water parameters

Temperature

24–30°C

pH

6.0 to 7.5

Hardness

2 to 18 dGH

Tank requirements

Minimum volume

110 L

Minimum length

75 cm

Flow

low

Lighting

dim preferred

Substrate

sand

Driftwood

preferred

Hiding spots

needed

Feeding

Diet: omnivore, feeds primarily at the bottom.

Sinking pellets, sinking wafers, frozen bloodworm, and brine shrimp. Sand substrate is mandatory for all corydoras species; sharp gravel damages the barbels. Feed in the evening when corys are most active. Like all corys, sterbai are slow eaters that need food to reach the bottom. In a tank with aggressive midwater feeders, use sinking food that drops quickly. Corys supplement their diet by sifting microorganisms from the sand, which is fascinating to watch but not sufficient on its own.

Compatibility

• Peaceful community fish. Safe with everything that won't eat it.
• The warm-water tolerance makes it the go-to cory for discus, rams, and other species needing 27–30°C.
• Keep in groups of 6+ of the same species. Sterbai corys do not school with other corydoras species.
• Safe with shrimp and snails.
• Avoid aggressive cichlids or large fish that might bully bottom-dwellers.

Habitat

Native to the upper Rio Guapore in Brazil and Bolivia. Named after Dr. Gunther Sterba, the German ichthyologist. White spots on a dark brown-black body and distinctive orange pectoral fins make it one of the most attractive corydoras species. Tolerates warmer water than most corys (up to 28°C comfortably, even 30°C), which makes it the standard corydoras choice for discus tanks, ram tanks, and other warm-water setups where peppered or bronze corys would be uncomfortable. Widely captive-bred and consistently available. Social bottom-dweller that spends its time sifting sand and resting in groups.

Breeding

Same as other corydoras: triggered by large cool water changes (drop temperature 2–3°C). T-position spawning where the female cups eggs in her pelvic fins. Eggs are deposited on glass, plant leaves, and smooth surfaces. 50-150 eggs per spawning event. Parents don't eat eggs reliably (unlike some corys), which means eggs often survive in a community tank if there aren't dedicated egg-eaters present. Eggs hatch in 3-5 days at 26°C. Fry are easy to raise on crushed dry food and baby brine shrimp.

Common problems

Barbel erosion from rough substrate. Use sand, not gravel. Ich from transport stress is common in new purchases. Sterbai corys are sensitive to salt and copper-based medications; use half doses or alternative treatments. Like all corys, they gulp air at the surface occasionally; this is normal and not a sign of poor oxygenation unless it happens every few minutes. Overfeeding leads to fouled sand and bacterial growth in the substrate, which can cause barbel infections.

Bioload

Bioload coefficient: 1.5 (slightly larger and stockier than bronze cory).

Bioload coefficients are calibrated against the neon tetra as the anchor (1.0). See the methodology page for the formula and how each value was derived.

Further reading

• Stocking ideas by tank size