False Spotted Corydoras

False Spotted Corydoras key facts

Care level

Intermediate

Lifespan

3-6 years

Size

4.5-5.5cm

Temperature

22〜26℃

Diet

Sinking dried foods, frozen bloodworm, Tubifex

Tank

A 90 x 30cm base of about 81 litres is the minimum. Use fine rounded sand and provide driftwood or plants as cover.

Water Temperature & Quality

22-26C. Use the FishBase wild range of pH 6.0-8.0 and 2-25dH as a guide.

Tank Mates

Peaceful and gregarious; keep at least 4-6. It mixes well with similarly sized peaceful species.

Diet & Feeding

A foraging omnivore. Feed sinking dried food plus frozen bloodworm and Tubifex, varying the diet.

Breeding & Spawning

Two or more males per female. After the females fill with eggs, carry out a 50-70 percent change with cooler water. Eggs go on glass, fine-leaved plants or mops and hatch in 3-4 days; fry need excellent water quality.

Health & Notes

Dirty substrate erodes the barbels, so clean the bottom regularly. IUCN status is Least Concern.

About False Spotted Corydoras

A mid-sized Corydoras with a striking black eye mask. Hardy and shoal-loving, well suited to long-term keeping in a 90cm-class tank for intermediate keepers.

7 things to know before welcoming a False Spotted Corydoras

1. 1Best kept in a shoal

   Corydoras have a strong schooling instinct and tend to behave more calmly when kept in groups rather than alone. Watching them forage together along the substrate is one of the species' signature charms.

2. 2Aim for 90cm-class floor space

   Adults reach about 4.5-5.5cm, a mid-size for Corydoras, and the group needs room to move around the tank floor. A 90cm-class tank is considered a good baseline for stable, long-term keeping.

3. 3Choose soft substrate

   Corydoras use their barbels to probe the substrate while searching for food. Sharp-edged gravel can damage the barbels, so fine, rounded sand is a safer choice.

4. 4Suited to intermediate keepers

   This species is manageable with basic water-quality knowledge, but it's generally recommended for keepers who already have some aquarium experience rather than as a first tropical fish.

5. 5Enjoy individual mask variation

   The black eye mask and dorsal-fin blotch vary slightly in shade and shape between individuals, and the body speckles shift in appearance depending on the light angle, making it fun to compare fish side by side.

6. 6Pair with peaceful tankmates

   Temperamentally peaceful, it rarely bothers other fish and pairs well with similarly calm small-to-mid-sized species. That said, Corydoras can startle easily, so sudden noise or vibration near the tank should be avoided.

7. 7Cycle the tank before arrival

   Because it constantly probes the substrate, it can be sensitive to sudden water-quality shifts or accumulated waste. Be sure the tank's filtration cycle is fully established and the water parameters are stable before bringing the fish home.

Frequently asked questions about False Spotted Corydoras

Q.Can beginners keep Corydoras leucomelas?

A.It's a hardy fish, but it's generally rated as suited to intermediate keepers. It's recommended to have some basic water-quality management knowledge before introducing it.

Q.How large does it grow?

A.Adults typically reach about 4.5-5.5cm, which places it in the mid-size range among Corydoras species.

Q.How many should be kept together?

A.Corydoras have a strong schooling instinct, so keeping several together suits their nature. Adjust the number to match your tank size.

Q.What tank size is needed?

A.Since the group needs room to move, a 90cm-class tank with sufficient floor space is considered good for stable, long-term keeping.

Q.Is this species subject to CITES or other regulations?

A.Corydoras leucomelas is not subject to CITES.

Useful tools for False Spotted Corydoras care

Learn more about False Spotted Corydoras in the encyclopedia

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