Description:
The Sterbai Corydora, also known as Corydoras Sterbai boasts a striking pattern of white spots set against a deep, velvety black background on its head, and bright orange fins it creates a visually captivating contrast. With its sleek and streamlined body adorned with subtle hues, the Sterbai Corydoras adds a touch of elegance to any aquarium.
To distinguish between males and females, males are typically smaller and more slender, whilst the females are larger and appear more rounded when looking at them from above.
Temperament:
A social creature by nature, the Sterbai Corydora thrives best when kept in small groups of five or more, where it can engage in shoaling behaviour and explore its surroundings with confidence. While it prefers soft, acidic water conditions, it has demonstrated adaptability to a range of water parameters, making it a hardy and resilient fish suitable for various setups.
With its gentle temperament and peaceful demeanour, these catfish make an excellent addition to community aquariums, where it can coexist harmoniously with other calm species. Avoid housing it with overly aggressive tankmates, particularly those that may compete for substrate space.
Corydoras are a captivating and sociable fish prized for its distinctive appearance, ease of care, and beneficial role in maintaining aquarium cleanliness. With proper care and attention, it thrives as a delightful and enriching presence in freshwater aquariums.
Diet:
The Sterbai Corydoras plays a significant role in maintaining the cleanliness of the aquarium substrate by scavenging for leftover food and detritus. While it may not excel as an algae eater, it compensates with its diligent scavenging behaviour, contributing to the overall health of the aquarium ecosystem.
Feeding these catfish is relatively straightforward, as it readily accepts a diverse diet of prepared live and/or frozen foods. However, care should be taken to ensure that sinking pellets or flakes reach the bottom of the tank, as faster-swimming mid-water fish may consume food before it reaches the bottom of the aquarium.
Breeding Behaviour:
Corydoras catfish have a unique spawning process. During courtship, the male positions himself in a T-pose beneath the female. She then lays a few eggs, holding them in a “basket” made with her pelvic fins. The male fertilises these eggs, and the female swims off to stick them to a safe surface, like the aquarium glass, plant leaves (often hardy plants like Anubias), or smooth decorations. This process repeats until she has laid anywhere between 15 and 300 eggs in total, corydora can typically breed once or twice a month.
Corydoras are known to eat their own eggs, as will other fish in the tank, so it’s best to either remove the adults or collect the eggs. To move them safely, use an old credit card or ID card to gently scrape them off the glass, then place them into a breeder box, hatching container, or separate tank with plenty of gentle aeration. A small dose of methylene blue can help prevent fungal growth.
The eggs hatch in about 3–5 days. Once hatched, the fry stay still and live off their yolk sacs for another 2–3 days. After that, they become free-swimming and need very fine food, such as freshly hatched baby brine shrimp, microworms, or powdered fry food.
Keep the water clean and well-oxygenated, doing small daily water changes to prevent ammonia spikes. As the fry grow, introduce slightly larger foods and provide hiding spots with plants like Java moss or hairgrass. Once they reach around 2.5–3 cm they can be moved back into the main tank with the parents.
Care Guide:
- Species – Corydoras sterbai
- Common Name – Sterbai Corydora
- Origin – South America
- Temperament – Peaceful
- Diet – Omnivore
- Minimum Tank Requirement – 75 litres
- Tank Level – Bottom dweller
- Care Level – Easy
- PH Range – 6.0 – 7.6
- Temperature – Tropical 24–28°C
- Breed Type – Egg layer – usually on plant leaves and aquarium glass
- Size – Grows to approximately 6.5cm
- Sex – Un-sexed
Acclimation Guide:
- Float the Bag: Place the unopened bag in your tank and let it float for 15–20 minutes. This lets the water inside the bag slowly match your tank’s temperature.
- Turn Off the Lights: Keep the aquarium lights off during this process. It helps keep things calm and prevents sudden temperature changes.
- Add a Bit of Tank Water: After floating, carefully open the bag and pour out about half the water into a sink or bucket (not into your tank). Then, slowly add small amounts of your tank water into the bag over 15–20 minutes. This helps your fish adjust to the new water conditions.
- Gently Move the Fish: Use a fish net to gently move your fish from the bag into the tank. Try not to pour the bag water into your tank — this helps keep your aquarium clean and healthy.
- Watch and Wait: It’s normal for fish to hide or act a bit shy at first. Keep an eye on them, and avoid doing a water change for the first 24 hours to give them time to settle in.
- Feeding Behaviour: New fish may not eat any food for the first 12-24 hours whilst it is settling into its new environment, please allow some time before feeding as the food may go to waste.
For more detailed steps and tips, feel free to visit our Acclimation Guide in our Education tab to help make the transition as smooth as possible for your new fish.
Sterbai Corydora
Sterbai Corydora
Low stock: 10 left
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Shipping & Live Arrival Guarentee
Shipping & Live Arrival Guarentee
✅ Healthy Fish Guarantee - All orders are covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with DOA (Dead On Arrival) policies in place for peace of mind.
🚚 $30 flat-rate shipping - Arrives within 1-4 business days, Free shipping on fish for orders over $150.
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Tank Requirements - Quick Overview
Tank Requirements - Quick Overview
If your aquarium is new, it may not be fully cycled yet. Newly set up tanks benefit from being fully cycled before adding fish, this process helps your new fish stay happy and healthy. Depending on your tank size, cycling can take up to 4–6 weeks or even longer, but there are ways to speed up this process to just a few days! If your tank has already been running for a while, you’re already good to go! Not sure what cycling means? Check out our guide on The Nitrogen Cycle for an easy explanation on what it is, and why it is important for your aquarium to thrive.
🐟 Want expert tips for your aquarium? Beginners can start with How to set up your aquarium, while everyone can check out Aquarium Maintenece & Care for ongoing tank tips!
How We Package & Ship Your Fish - Video
How We Package & Ship Your Fish - Video
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