Breeding the dwarf cory
Can be bred like most corys: two or more males per female and a large soft, cool water change. The female holds 2-4 eggs between her pelvic fins and sticks them to plants, glass or spawning mops, repeating until up to about 100 eggs are laid.
Step by step
Keep a group with more males than females; condition with live and frozen foods. Males chase females in a 'T-position' before spawning.
40 L tank with a sponge filter, fine sand and java moss or spawning mops; a cool water change is often what sets them off.
A large cool (3-5 C) water change, lower barometric pressure feel, and heavy feeding of live foods.
Up to about 100 very sticky eggs, laid 2-4 at a time on glass or plants; they hatch in 3-4 days and breeders add methylene blue or alder cones to stop fungus.
Move eggs to a hatching tub with an air stone and a pinch of methylene blue or alder cone. Feed microworms and newly hatched brine shrimp; keep water spotless.
- Dirty sand that causes barbel erosion
- Not removing eggs from hungry adults
- Skipping the cool water change trigger
Male or female
Females grow larger and, when mature, are noticeably rounder and broader-bodied than males, especially when full of eggs; easiest to see from above.
Can I breed it in my tank?
- Use a separate small tank with a sponge filter and spawning mops, so the eggs aren't eaten.
- Good for a first breeding project.
Day-by-day plan
Typical for egg scatterers
- 14 days beforeCondition the parents
Feed live or frozen food twice a day. Keep males and females apart if you can.
- Day 0Spawning
Eggs are scattered over mops or fine plants, often at first light. Remove the parents straight after.
- Day 1Eggs hatch
Most eggs hatch in 1–2 days. Keep the tank dim and remove white (fungused) eggs.
- Day 4Free swimming, first food
Fry use up the yolk and start swimming. Feed infusoria or liquid fry food several times a day.
- Day 8Baby brine shrimp
Switch to newly hatched brine shrimp or microworms. Start small, daily water changes.
- Day 21Crushed flake
Add finely crushed flake. Sort fry by size so the big ones don't eat the small ones.
- Day 60Ready to move
Most small fish reach about 2 cm in 2–3 months and can join the main tank.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Simulator: guided
Feed live or frozen food twice a day. Keep males and females apart if you can.
Simulator: try it yourself
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
- Without live or frozen food the parents aren't in breeding condition.
- Corydoras usually need a big, cooler water change (like rain) to start spawning.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.