Pepper Corydoras

Description

🐟 Pepper Corydoras – Peaceful Bottom-Dweller with Unique Patterns 🫑🌿

Looking for a gentle, hardworking bottom-dweller to add personality and cleanliness to your freshwater tank? Meet the Pepper Corydoras (Corydoras paleatus)—a peaceful and charming catfish species known for its salt-and-pepper speckled body and endearing behavior.

These social scavengers thrive in groups, gently sifting through substrate in search of leftover food while adding subtle beauty to your aquascape.

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🌟 Why Choose Pepper Corydoras?

• 🫧 Natural Tank Cleaners: Constantly active in cleaning uneaten food, helping to maintain water quality.
• 👫 Highly Social: Peaceful and happiest in groups of 5 or more.
• 🌱 Low Maintenance: Hardy and adaptable—great for beginner and community tanks.
• 🖤 Unique Look: Distinctive speckled “peppery” pattern adds character to the bottom zone.

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📏 Size & Lifespan

• 🔹 Adult Size: 5 – 7 cm (2 – 2.75 inches)
• ⏳ Lifespan: 5 – 10 years with proper care

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🌊 Ideal Water Parameters

• 💧 Temperature: 21°C – 24°C (70°F – 75°F)
• 💎 pH: 6.0 – 7.5
• 🌡 GH: 4 – 12
• ⚖️ KH: 2 – 10
• 💦 TDS: 100 – 200 ppm

Stable, clean water and oxygen-rich conditions are essential for their health.

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🍽️ Diet & Feeding

Though excellent scavengers, Pepper Corys still need dedicated feeding:

• 🍤 Sinking pellets and wafers (carnivore or omnivore formulas)
• 🦐 Blanched veggies like zucchini or spinach (occasionally)
• 🐛 Frozen or live treats: bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia

Feed once or twice a day. Ensure food reaches the bottom.

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🧑‍🔧 Care Guide

Help your Pepper Corydoras thrive with these essential care tips:

Care Aspect	Recommendation
✅ Tank Size	Minimum 60L; more space preferred for groups
🧽 Filtration	Gentle flow with high oxygenation
🌿 Substrate	Soft sand or fine gravel to protect sensitive barbels
🌱 Decor	Plants, driftwood, and hiding spaces recommended
💡 Lighting	Moderate; not too bright
🔄 Maintenance	Weekly 20% water changes and substrate vacuuming

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🤝 Compatible Tank Mates

Pepper Corydoras are peaceful and get along with many other calm species:

✅ Safe Tank Mates	❌ Avoid These
🐠 Tetras, Rasboras, Danios	🐟 Aggressive or large predatory fish
🐟 Dwarf Gouramis, Guppies	🐠 Fin-nippers or cichlids
🦐 Amano or Cherry Shrimp	🦀 Crayfish or predatory inverts
🐌 Snails, other Corydoras	🐟 Bottom-dominating species

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💡 Pro Tips

• Always keep in groups of 5 or more—they’re very social and active when comfortable.
• Avoid sharp substrates that can injure their delicate barbels.
• Add floating plants to diffuse light and replicate their natural habitat.
• These fish may swim to the surface for air—this is normal due to their ability to breathe atmospheric oxygen.

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🛍️ Perfect For:

✅ Community aquariums
✅ Planted and natural tanks
✅ Beginner and intermediate hobbyists
✅ Aquarists seeking peaceful, useful bottom-dwellers

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Add charm, movement, and natural cleanup power to your aquarium with the delightful Pepper Corydoras. A schooling species that’s both functional and full of personality! 🐟🫑✨

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🐟 Corydoras Mixing Compatibility Guide

✅ Best Mixed Cory Combos (Similar Size & Behavior):

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🧠 Tips for Mixing Corys:

• ✅ Keep at least 3–4 of each variant (6+ preferred per type)

• ✅ Choose species with similar temperature ranges (±2°C)

• ✅ Provide lots of hiding spots, soft substrate, and a peaceful tank

• ✅ Avoid mixing with large, aggressive bottom feeders (e.g. loaches, crayfish)

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⚠️ Avoid Mixing:

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💡 Best Practices:

• Use sand substrate to protect their barbels

• Feed sinking pellets & varied protein-rich foods

• Perform regular water changes (20–30% weekly)

• Keep in groups of at least 5–6 per type, or mix small groups with caution