Product Details

Sterbai Cory – Hoplisoma sterbai

The Sterbai Cory is a peaceful, beautifully patterned cory-type catfish with a dark body, pale spotting and warm orange pectoral fins. Long sold as Corydoras sterbai, this popular bottom-dwelling species is now placed in Hoplisoma and remains one of the best choices for warmer tropical community aquariums. It is especially valued because it tolerates higher temperatures better than many cory-type catfish, making it suitable for carefully planned warm-water setups.

Key Identification:

Common Name: Sterbai Cory
Other Names: Sterba’s Cory, Sterbai Corydoras, Sterba’s Corydoras, Orange Fin Cory, Corydoras sterbai
Scientific Name: Hoplisoma sterbai
Older / Trade Name: Corydoras sterbai
Fish Type: Cory-type Catfish / Callichthyid Catfish
Water Type: Freshwater

Natural Range & Habitat:

Hoplisoma sterbai is native to South America, where it is recorded from central Brazil and Bolivia, including the Guaporé region. In the wild, it inhabits tropical freshwater environments and forages along the bottom for small foods among sand, leaf litter, plant matter and natural debris.

In the aquarium, Sterbai Corys should be provided with soft sand or very smooth fine substrate, shaded resting areas, clean water and gentle to moderate flow. They do well in planted aquariums, Amazon-style community tanks and peaceful tropical setups with open areas for foraging.

Appearance & Adult Size:

Sterbai Corys have an armoured catfish body with a rounded head, downturned mouth and delicate sensory barbels. The body is dark brown to blackish with pale cream or white spotting across the head, body and fins. The pectoral fins are often orange to golden, giving the fish a warmer appearance than many other cory-type catfish.

Adults usually reach around 6–7 cm. Mature females are generally fuller-bodied and broader when viewed from above, while males are usually slimmer and slightly smaller.

Aquarium Suitability:

This is an excellent peaceful bottom-dweller for mature tropical community aquariums. Sterbai Corys are particularly useful for warmer aquariums where cooler-water cory species would not be suitable. They suit tanks with soft substrate, stable water quality, calm tank mates and plenty of shaded cover.

They are not suitable for sharp gravel, aggressive cichlid tanks, predator aquariums, tiny nano tanks or immature aquariums with unstable water quality. Although they browse the bottom, they should not be sold as simple clean-up fish and must receive a proper sinking diet.

Recommended Aquarium Size:

A practical minimum is 90 litres for a small group, with a tank length of at least 75 cm recommended. Larger aquariums of 120 litres or more are preferred for bigger groups and mixed communities.

Sterbai Corys are social fish and should be kept in a group of at least 5–6, with larger groups preferred where space allows. They are noticeably more confident, active and natural when kept with their own kind.

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 24–28°C
pH: 6.0–7.5
Hardness: Soft to moderately hard
Additional Notes: Sterbai Corys are more tolerant of warm water than many cory-type catfish, but they still need high oxygen, clean water and stable conditions. Keep ammonia and nitrite at zero and maintain low nitrate with regular water changes. Avoid sharp substrate, poor oxygenation and sudden water-chemistry changes.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Community Fish

Sterbai Corys are peaceful bottom-dwelling community fish. Suitable tank mates include Cardinal Tetras, Rummy Nose Tetras, Ember Tetras, peaceful rasboras, dwarf cichlids, angelfish with care, discus in suitable warm conditions, small peaceful plecs, gouramis and other calm tropical community fish.

Avoid large predators, aggressive cichlids, fin-nipping fish, very boisterous bottom feeders and species that require cool water. They should not be kept singly or in pairs, as this reduces confidence and natural behaviour.

Feeding:

Sterbai Corys are omnivorous bottom feeders and need a varied sinking diet. Offer quality sinking catfish pellets, soft granules, bottom-feeder tablets and small wafers as the staple. Supplement with frozen or live foods such as bloodworm, daphnia, cyclops, brineshrimp, tubifex and mosquito larvae.

They will pick up leftover foods, but they must not be expected to survive on scraps. Make sure food reaches the substrate, especially when they are kept with fast midwater feeders.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:

This species spends much of its time foraging over sand, around plants and under shaded areas. In a proper group, Sterbai Corys are active, social and often visible during the day, especially once settled. Like other callichthyid catfish, they may occasionally dart to the surface to gulp air, which is normal behaviour.

Sterbai Corys are egg-laying fish. Well-conditioned adults may spawn after cool water changes or seasonal changes in maintenance, usually depositing adhesive eggs on glass, plants or décor.

Care Notes:

Use soft sand or very smooth fine gravel to protect the barbels. Keep the substrate clean but not sterile, and provide shaded resting areas with wood, plants or broad leaves. Maintain excellent water quality and avoid using them as a substitute for good aquarium maintenance.

This is one of the better cory-type catfish for warmer tropical tanks, but warm water carries less oxygen, so good aeration and surface movement are important. Quarantine new fish where possible before adding them to established community aquariums.

Recommended For:

Beginner to intermediate

Availability:

Common / Usually captive-bred or farmed

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, spotting, body colour, fin colour and markings can occur between individual fish.