Guapore corydoras (Corydoras guapore) care guide

Group
Freshwater fish
Other names
Guaporé cory, Gastrodermus guapore
Family
Callichthyidae (armoured catfishes)
Origin
South America: endemic to the Rio Guaporé (Río Iténez) on the Bolivia–Brazil border, part of the upper Rio Madeira and Amazon basin.
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
5 cm
Temperature
22–28°C
pH
5–7
Hardness
Soft to medium, 2–12 dGH
Minimum tank
81 litres
Care level
beginner
Temperament
peaceful

Care

The Guaporé cory is a small, round-bodied cory with a dark blotch at the base of the tail. Unlike most corys it gathers in shoals in midwater and spends much of its time away from the bottom, which makes it a lively fish to watch. It has a larger eye, a mouth that points forwards rather than down, and a strongly forked tail: adaptations for feeding on plankton in open water (Seriously Fish). Now classified as Gastrodermus guapore after the 2024 revision of the corydoradine catfishes; still sold as Corydoras guapore. Keep a group of at least six, and preferably more so it shows its shoaling behaviour. Seriously Fish suggests a tank base of at least 90 × 30 cm (about 81 litres). Provide fine sand, plants and driftwood, and leave plenty of open swimming space. Its home river is warm, clear, acidic and stained with tannins, so leaf litter and soft water suit it well. Seriously Fish gives 22–28 °C, pH 5.0–7.0 and hardness 2–12 dGH. Keep the water clean and stable. Corys have no scales, only bony plates, and are sensitive to salt and to many medications (especially copper-based treatments), so use half doses or leave them out when treating a tank. Keep nitrate low with regular partial water changes and lightly siphon the sand so uneaten food does not rot. They gulp air at the surface now and then, which is normal. Take care when netting them: the fin spines are sharp and catch in nets. Seriously Fish notes the pectoral spines are venomous and can pierce skin. Several similar small spotted-tail corys are confused with it, including Hoplisoma simile (formerly C. similis), H. caudimaculatum and Corydoras ourastigma, which all stay nearer the bottom and lack its open-water build. Seriously Fish gives up to 5 cm standard length; Wikipedia gives 4.1 cm. We could not check the PlanetCatfish or FishBase pages for this species, so this page is based on Seriously Fish and Wikipedia. Sources: Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/gastrodermus-guapore/); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corydorasguapore). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Unusually for a cory, it feeds partly on zooplankton in open water, so offer live or frozen daphnia and brine shrimp regularly. It also takes sinking dried foods such as small pellets and granules, and frozen bloodworm (chironomid larvae). Make sure food reaches both midwater and the bottom.

Breeding

Rarely bred in aquariums. Females grow larger and are noticeably broader and deeper-bodied than males. Use two or more males for each female and condition them well on live foods. A large (50–70%) water change with cooler water, plus extra oxygenation, can trigger spawning. Eggs hatch in 3–4 days; feed the fry very small live foods such as microworm and newly hatched brine shrimp (Seriously Fish).

Compatibility and tank mates

Peaceful and gregarious. Ideal with small tetras, pencilfish, rasboras, dwarf cichlids and other peaceful catfish. Avoid large or aggressive fish, and very fast, greedy midwater feeders that may outcompete it.

Last updated 5 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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