Product Details

Coast Cory – Scleromystax prionotos

Overview:

The Coast Cory is a peaceful but less commonly seen Cory-type catfish from south-eastern Brazil, with a neat spotted pattern, active bottom-dwelling behaviour and a preference for cooler, well-oxygenated aquariums. Sold as Scleromystax prionotos, and sometimes still recognised under the older name Corydoras prionotos, this species is a good choice for aquarists wanting something different from the usual tropical Corydoras. Small specimens should be grown on with care, as adults need space, a group of their own kind and a mature aquarium with clean water and soft substrate.

Key Identification:

Common Name: Coast Cory
Other Names: Prionotos Cory, Coastal Cory, Corydoras prionotos, Prionotos Corydoras
Scientific Name: Scleromystax prionotos
Fish Type: Cory-type Catfish / Armoured Catfish
Water Type: Freshwater

Natural Range & Habitat:

The Coast Cory is native to coastal rivers of south-eastern Brazil, with FishBase recording it from drainages between Espírito Santo and São Paulo. FishBase lists the species as a freshwater, demersal catfish, while Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes also recognises Scleromystax prionotos as valid and distributed in eastern Brazilian coastal rivers.

In nature, Scleromystax species are associated with stream and river-edge habitats where they forage close to the bottom among sand, fine gravel, leaf litter, roots, stones and shaded margins. In the aquarium, they are best maintained in clean, mature, well-oxygenated water rather than hot, stagnant conditions.

Appearance & Adult Size:

Coast Corys have a compact but sturdier body than many smaller Cory-type catfish, with bony side plates, short barbels and a patterned grey, brown and cream body. The markings vary between individuals, but the overall look is natural and cryptic, helping the fish blend into sand, leaf litter and shaded stream margins.

Adults reach around 5–6.5 cm, with females usually fuller-bodied than males. Aquarium Glaser notes a total length of about 6.5 cm including the tail, while FishBase places the species in a 22–26°C freshwater profile.

Aquarium Suitability:

This species is best suited to a mature, peaceful, cooler tropical or temperate-style aquarium. It works well in planted setups, stream-inspired aquariums and specialist Cory-type displays with soft sand, shaded cover and open feeding areas. It is not suitable for sharp gravel, very warm tropical tanks, aggressive communities or newly set-up aquariums with unstable water quality.

Recommended Aquarium Size:

A practical minimum is 90 litres for a small group, with 120 litres or more preferred for adults or community setups. Floor space is more important than height, so choose an aquarium with a good footprint and plenty of open substrate for group foraging.

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 18–24°C
pH: 6.0–7.5
Hardness: Soft to moderately hard; adaptable if stable
Additional Notes: Although FishBase lists 22–26°C, specialist aquarium references recommend keeping this species cooler where possible; Aquarium Glaser gives favourable conditions at 18–22°C, and ScotCat notes Scleromystax species are good choices for cooler-water aquariums around 21.5°C. Provide clean, well-oxygenated water, gentle to moderate flow and regular partial water changes.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Semi-Aggressive

Coast Corys are peaceful, social bottom-dwellers. Suitable tank mates include White Cloud Mountain Minnows, Zebra Danios, small peaceful barbs, temperate livebearers, hillstream loaches in suitable flow setups, small rainbowfish that tolerate cooler water and other calm community fish with similar temperature needs.

Avoid aggressive cichlids, large predators, very boisterous bottom-feeders and warm-water fish that require consistently high temperatures. They should be kept in a group of at least 5–6, with a larger group preferred where space allows. A group helps them feel secure and encourages natural foraging behaviour.

Feeding:

Coast Corys are omnivorous foragers and should be fed directly. Offer quality sinking catfish pellets, bottom-feeder tablets, small granules and sinking wafers as the staple. Supplement with frozen or live foods such as bloodworm, daphnia, cyclops, brineshrimp, tubifex, grindal worm and finely chopped earthworm. ScotCat notes that Scleromystax prionotos accepts tablets and good flake food, with frozen bloodworm and worm foods especially relished.

They will search for leftovers, but they should never be expected to survive only on scraps from other fish.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:

This species spends most of its time on the lower levels, moving over sand and smooth substrate while searching for food with its barbels. In a settled group, it may become quite visible during the day, especially in cooler, well-oxygenated water. Like other callichthyid catfish, it may occasionally dart to the surface to gulp air, which is normal behaviour if water quality is otherwise good.

Care Notes:

Use soft sand or very smooth fine gravel to protect the barbels. Keep the substrate clean and avoid trapped waste, as dirty gravel can lead to barbel erosion or infection. Do not keep long term in hot tropical aquariums, and avoid adding small specimens to immature tanks. Provide shaded cover, good oxygenation and steady maintenance. During transport, Cory-type catfish should be packed carefully and not mixed with other fish in small bags due to the defensive secretions some species can release when stressed.

Recommended For:

Intermediate

Availability:

Occasional / Specialist import or captive-bred when available

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.