The Corydoras sterbai, commonly known as Sterba's Cory or the Sterbai Cory, is a freshwater armoured catfish native to the upper Rio Guaporé basin on the border of Brazil and Bolivia, a major tributary of the Rio Madeira within the Amazon system.
It inhabits slow-moving tributaries, floodplain pools and areas of flooded forest with sandy substrates, leaf litter and woody debris.
One of the most distinctive and sought-after Corydoras species, Sterba's Cory has a dark brown to near-black body covered in white to gold spots across the head and body.
A peaceful, social, shoaling fish that must be kept in groups of at least six. Lone specimens become shy and stressed, whereas a group will be bold, active and entertaining to watch as they forage together across the substrate.
They occupy the bottom level of the aquarium and use their barbels to root through sand in search of food. A soft, sandy substrate is essential — sharp gravel can damage their barbels and lead to infection. They are one of the few Corydoras species that tolerate higher temperatures, which makes them suitable for discus tanks where other corys would struggle.
Merits
Sterba's Cory combines striking looks with a genuinely useful role in the aquarium. The bold white-on-dark spotted pattern and vivid orange pectoral fins make it one of the most colourful Corydoras available, and a large group in a planted tank makes a magnificent display. It is hardy, long-lived (often 8-10 years with good care) and beginner-friendly, with captive-bred specimens adapting to a wide range of water conditions. Its warm-water tolerance sets it apart from most other corys — it thrives at 28°C and above, making it the go-to bottom-dweller for discus and ram tanks where other Corydoras species would be stressed. Like all corys, it helps clean up leftover food that reaches the bottom, reducing waste and keeping the substrate tidy. Its constant, comical foraging behaviour and schooling antics give a tank real character and movement at a level few other bottom-dwellers can match.
Diet
An omnivorous and unfussy feeder. Offer high-quality sinking pellets or wafers as a staple, supplemented regularly with live and frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia and tubifex. Blanched vegetables such as courgette, cucumber and shelled peas can be offered occasionally. In a community tank, make sure food reaches the bottom — faster, more aggressive feeders at the surface can outcompete corys, so target feeding with sinking foods is important.
The Corydoras sterbai, commonly known as Sterba's Cory or the Sterbai Cory, is a freshwater armoured catfish native to the upper Rio Guaporé basin on the border of Brazil and Bolivia, a major tributary of the Rio Madeira within the Amazon system.
It inhabits slow-moving tributaries, floodplain pools and areas of flooded forest with sandy substrates, leaf litter and woody debris.
One of the most distinctive and sought-after Corydoras species, Sterba's Cory has a dark brown to near-black body covered in white to gold spots across the head and body.
A peaceful, social, shoaling fish that must be kept in groups of at least six. Lone specimens become shy and stressed, whereas a group will be bold, active and entertaining to watch as they forage together across the substrate.
They occupy the bottom level of the aquarium and use their barbels to root through sand in search of food. A soft, sandy substrate is essential — sharp gravel can damage their barbels and lead to infection. They are one of the few Corydoras species that tolerate higher temperatures, which makes them suitable for discus tanks where other corys would struggle.
Merits
Sterba's Cory combines striking looks with a genuinely useful role in the aquarium. The bold white-on-dark spotted pattern and vivid orange pectoral fins make it one of the most colourful Corydoras available, and a large group in a planted tank makes a magnificent display. It is hardy, long-lived (often 8-10 years with good care) and beginner-friendly, with captive-bred specimens adapting to a wide range of water conditions. Its warm-water tolerance sets it apart from most other corys — it thrives at 28°C and above, making it the go-to bottom-dweller for discus and ram tanks where other Corydoras species would be stressed. Like all corys, it helps clean up leftover food that reaches the bottom, reducing waste and keeping the substrate tidy. Its constant, comical foraging behaviour and schooling antics give a tank real character and movement at a level few other bottom-dwellers can match.
Diet
An omnivorous and unfussy feeder. Offer high-quality sinking pellets or wafers as a staple, supplemented regularly with live and frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia and tubifex. Blanched vegetables such as courgette, cucumber and shelled peas can be offered occasionally. In a community tank, make sure food reaches the bottom — faster, more aggressive feeders at the surface can outcompete corys, so target feeding with sinking foods is important.
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