Tankwise

A beautiful little spotted cory, similar in care to the bronze.

  • Temperature23–27 °C
  • pH6–7.5
  • Minimum tank60 L
  • DifficultyBeginner
FoodSinking pellets + frozen food
Feeding1–2 feeds a day
Water change25% weekly

Behaviour and habits

Julii corys are peaceful, sociable bottom-dwellers with a fine, speckled pattern of small dark spots over a pale body, and they are one of the prettier small corydoras. They shoal closely, sift the substrate for food and dart to the surface for air, and they become far bolder and more active in a group of six or more. Their fine spots can fade if the fish is stressed, so a calm, clean tank keeps them looking their best.

What to feed, and how often

Sinking pellets or tablets plus frozen bloodworm and daphnia; feed once or twice a day, dropping the food near the group so it reaches the bottom. They are unfussy but need their share before faster surface fish steal it.

Water changes and maintenance

Change about 25% weekly with a gentle surface vacuum. Soft sand protects their barbels, and clean, well-oxygenated water keeps them healthy and active.

Care and how easy it is

Easy and peaceful; keep a group of six on soft sand with some cover.

Common health problems

Barbel erosion on rough gravel, and fin rot in poor water.

If it gets sick

Fix the substrate and water first, then treat, and watch the barbels for a few days.

Good tank mates

GuppyBeginner with population planning
GuppyPoecilia reticulata
  • 22-26 C
  • pH 7.0-8.5
  • 60 L+; 60 x 30 cm base
Livebearers | Social; males pursue females | Omnivore
PlatyBeginner
PlatyXiphophorus maculatus
  • 20–26°C
  • pH 7–8.2
  • 50 L+
Livebearers · Peaceful · Omnivore
MollyBeginner
MollyPoecilia sphenops
  • 22–28°C
  • pH 7–8.5
  • 70 L+
Livebearers · Peaceful · Omnivore
Neon tetraIntermediate; stable group aquarium
Neon tetraParacheirodon innesi
  • 21-25 C
  • pH 6.0-7.5
  • 60 L+; 60 x 30 cm base
Tetras & rasboras | Peaceful shoaler | Omnivore

Best avoided with

Similar species

CorydorasBeginner
CorydorasCorydoras paleatus
  • 20–26°C
  • pH 6–7.8
  • 60 L+
Catfish · Peaceful · Omnivore
Panda coryBeginner
Panda coryCorydoras panda
  • 22–26°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • 50 L+
Catfish · Peaceful · Omnivore
Sterba's coryBeginner
Sterba's coryCorydoras sterbai
  • 24–28°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • 60 L+
Catfish · Peaceful · Omnivore
Bronze coryBeginner with a planned bottom-dwelling group
Bronze coryCorydoras aeneus
  • 21-27 C
  • pH 6.0-8.0
  • 80 L+; 80 x 30 cm base
Catfish | Peaceful group forager | Omnivore

Compare at a glance

ParametersJulii coryCorydorasPanda corySterba's cory
Parameters
Temp23–27 °C20–26 °C22–26 °C24–28 °C
pH6–7.56–7.86–7.56–7.5
GH4–15 °dGH2–15 °dGH4–15 °dGH4–15 °dGH
Min. tank60 L60 L50 L60 L
Size5 cm6 cm5 cm7 cm
DietOmnivoreOmnivoreOmnivoreOmnivore
TemperamentPeacefulPeacefulPeacefulPeaceful
DifficultyBeginnerBeginnerBeginnerBeginner

Care guides

GuideHow Often Should You Feed Fish?Overfeeding causes more aquarium problems than underfeeding. Here is a realistic feeding routine, and the signs that you are giving too much.GuideHow Often Should You Change Aquarium Water?Water changes remove waste that the filter cannot, and keep minerals topped up. There is no single number, but there is a simple way to find yours.GuideHow to Treat Ich (White Spot Disease)Ich looks alarming but is one of the most treatable fish diseases. Act early, raise the heat, and it clears within a week or two — here is how.GuideHow to Vacuum Aquarium Gravel (the Right Way)Cleaning the substrate removes hidden waste, but done too hard it disturbs plants and bacteria. Learn the right balance, step by step, for gravel and sand.GuideFishless Cycling: The Kindest Way to Start a TankFishless cycling builds the filter's bacteria before any fish goes in, so your first fish never lives through toxic water. Here is how to do it.

New to the words? See the aquarium glossary.

Sources and research notes

Parameters are typical ranges for the species in home aquariums and vary with the individual fish and the water you use.