Bandit Corydoras - Hoplisoma metae

Product Details

Bandit Corydoras – Hoplisoma metae

The Bandit Corydoras, Hoplisoma metae, is a charming small South American catfish with a distinctive dark eye mask and bold black saddle marking across the back. Also known as the Masked Cory or Meta River Cory, this peaceful bottom-dweller is a favourite for planted community aquariums, especially where a natural sandy foreground allows the fish to forage in view. Its manageable adult size, sociable nature and attractive markings make it an excellent choice for aquarists who want an active, characterful cory-type catfish without choosing a large species.

Key Identification:
Common Name: Bandit Corydoras
Other Names: Bandit Cory, Masked Cory, Meta River Cory, Corydoras metae
Scientific Name: Hoplisoma metae
Fish Type: Cory-type Catfish
Water Type: Freshwater

Natural Range & Habitat:
Hoplisoma metae is native to South America, particularly the Meta River basin in Colombia. In the wild, it inhabits freshwater river and tributary environments where the substrate is soft and the water is generally clean, warm and well oxygenated. Like many small cory-type catfish, it spends much of its time close to the bottom, searching through sand, fine sediment and leaf litter for small edible items.

Appearance & Adult Size:
This species has the classic rounded, armoured body shape of a cory-type catfish, with short barbels around the mouth used for sifting through the substrate. The body is pale silver to beige, marked by a strong dark band running through the eye and a bold black patch or stripe over the back towards the dorsal area. Adults usually reach around 4.5–5 cm, with mature females often appearing slightly fuller-bodied than males, especially when viewed from above.

Aquarium Suitability:
The Bandit Cory is best suited to a mature tropical freshwater aquarium with a soft sand substrate, gentle open spaces for foraging, and shaded areas created with plants, wood or smooth stones. It is a peaceful community fish rather than an algae eater or “clean-up crew”, and should be fed properly with sinking foods. It does especially well in planted aquariums, Amazon-style community tanks and calm aquariums containing other peaceful fish of similar size.

Recommended Aquarium Size:
A practical minimum aquarium size is around 60 litres for a small group, with a longer footprint preferred over a tall tank. Larger aquariums are recommended when keeping them with multiple shoals of community fish or when building a larger South American-style display.

Water Conditions:
Temperature: 22–26°C
pH: 6.0–7.8
Hardness: Soft to moderately hard
Additional Notes: Keep water quality stable and oxygen levels good. A soft sand substrate is strongly recommended to protect the barbels and allow natural feeding behaviour. Avoid sharp gravel, dirty substrate and immature aquariums with unstable water conditions.

Temperament & Tank Mates:
Aquarium Category: Community Fish

Bandit Corydoras are peaceful, social and best kept in groups of at least six. They are suitable with small to medium peaceful community fish such as tetras, rasboras, pencilfish, small livebearers, dwarf cichlids, peaceful gourami and other non-aggressive catfish. Avoid large predatory fish, boisterous cichlids, fin-nipping species or very competitive bottom feeders that may prevent them from feeding. They should not be kept singly, as group living helps them feel secure and encourages natural behaviour.

Feeding:
Bandit Corys are omnivorous micro-foragers. In the aquarium, offer quality sinking catfish pellets, fine granules and small wafers as the staple diet. Supplement with frozen or live foods such as bloodworm, daphnia, brineshrimp, tubifex and mosquito larvae. They will browse the substrate for leftovers, but they must not be expected to survive on scraps alone. Feed after lights dim if faster midwater fish are taking too much food.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:
This is an active bottom-level fish that spends much of the day exploring the sand, sifting with its barbels and resting in small groups. In a settled aquarium, Bandit Corydoras often move together across the foreground and may occasionally dart to the surface to take a gulp of air, which is normal for cory-type catfish. Breeding behaviour may include males following females and eggs being placed on glass, plants or décor after conditioning with good food and cool water changes.

Care Notes:
Keep Bandit Corydoras in a proper group, not as a single specimen. Use soft sand rather than sharp gravel to help prevent barbel damage. Maintain a clean substrate with regular water changes, but avoid over-cleaning in a way that destabilises the aquarium. This species is not ideal for brand-new tanks and should be added once the filter is mature. Ensure all fish receive sinking foods, as they can be outcompeted in busy community aquariums.

Recommended For:
Beginner to intermediate

Availability:
Occasional; usually captive-bred or commercially farmed, with wild-caught fish sometimes appearing in specialist imports.

Image Disclaimer:
All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Natural variation in size, colour, pattern and markings can occur between individual fish.