← All fish
Fish profile · Callichthyidae
Bronze corydoras
Osteogaster aenea
Also called Corydoras aeneus and Bronze cory
A small armoured catfish that searches the bottom for food and is best observed in a group. Traditionally sold as Corydoras aeneus, it is now placed in Osteogaster; albino aquarium strains are also common.
Last reviewed 13 October 2026 · 6 sources
- Max length
- 7.5 cm
- IUCN
- LC
- Least Concern
- Family
- Callichthyidae
- order Siluriformes
Category from the IUCN Red List, via GBIF (CC BY 4.0); it may lag the latest Red List assessment.
How big?
Linear scale · hand 18 cm
Up to 7.5 cm.
How to identify
- Body protected by rows of bony plates.
- Metallic bronze-green sides and barbels around the mouth; albino strains lack the normal dark pigment.
- Small barbels surround the mouth for probing the substrate.
Habitat
Shallow streams and pools, including soft-bottomed quiet waters.
- Diet
- Small invertebrates, worms, detritus and algae; provide sinking food rather than relying on leftovers.
- Native range
- Northern South America and Trinidad and Tobago; some older records farther south refer to related or introduced fish.
Aquarium care
- Minimum tank
- 80 L
- Temperature
- 22–27°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.5
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Group size
- 6+
Sources
Last reviewed 13 October 2026