My Fish Tanks

cientific Name : Corydoras metae

Common Names : Bandit Cory

Care Level : Easy

Size : 2 inches (5cm)

pH : 6.5 – 7.5

Temperature : 72°F – 75°F (22°C – 24°C)

Water Hardness : Soft

Lifespan : 3 – 5 years

Origin / Habitat : Columbia, South America

Temperament / Behavior : Peaceful and likes to be in groups

Breeding / Mating / Reproduction : Breeding them can be difficult in the home aquarium.

Tank Size : 10 gallon or larger.

Compatible Tank Mates : Anything that will not eat them or harass them too much.

Fish Disease : Freshwater Fish Disease – Diagnose, Symptoms and Treatment

Diet / Fish Food : Bottom feeder, they scavenge the food off the bottom of the tank. Supplement their diet with algae wafers and sinking shrimp pellets fed at night.

Tank Region : Lower-bottom of the tank with the odd time of spawning surfaces being along the glass of the tank.

Gender : Females are larger and rounder than the males of the same age.

Picture :

The bandit cory is one of the many varieties of Corydoras species. It is of the regular size for the cories, which is about 2 inches. They also have relatively the same preferences for water parameters. These little fish like neutral water, 6.5-7.5 for the pH, the water being soft and the temperature being about 71.6 – 75.2°F (22-24°C). They come from the rivers of Columbia. So they prefer a well planted tank that has lots of hiding places. Their home should be at least 10 gallons for a school of just 3 cories. These fish, if cared for properly, will live to around 3 to 5 years.

Since these are social little fish, they like to be in a school of at least 3 of the same species. If you want to have multiple cories in the tank, then try and have at least 3 of each species. Most species prefer the company of their own species, but if they have none of their own species, they will school with other species. These fish have such a peaceful nature, the C. metae can be put with many different fish, except larger cichlids, and any other fish that are big enough to eat the cory.

C. metae are omnivorous little fish, so they eat any and all excess food that the main tank fish miss and don’t even notice. But they should be supplemented with algae wafers and sinking shrimp pellets.

These little fish are hard to spawn in the home aquarium, but if you are able to spawn them, it is very rewarding, because these fish usually go for about $6 to $8 a piece in the local stores, and some stores have them at an even higher price.

These corydoras catfish can be easily mistaken with the C. oiapoquensis. But if you know the differences, then you are doing great.