Banner-tail corydoras, flagtail corydoras (Corydoras robineae) care guide

Group
Freshwater fish
Other names
Bannertail cory, Flagtail cory, Mrs Schwartz's cory, Banner-tail corydoras, Brochis robineae
Family
Callichthyidae (armoured catfishes)
Origin
Upper Rio Negro basin, Brazil, including the Rio Aiuanã, a southern tributary of the middle Rio Negro.
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
4.4 cm
Temperature
21–26°C
pH
6–7.5
Hardness
Up to 15 dGH
Minimum tank
68 litres
Care level
beginner
Temperament
peaceful

Care

The only cory with a black-and-white horizontally striped 'flag' tail, which makes it easy to recognise. It is a peaceful, sociable catfish: PlanetCatfish says a group of three or more, but it is bolder and more natural in a group of at least six. A tank with a base of about 60 × 38 cm (around 68 litres) is a sensible minimum. Use sand or a smooth, rounded substrate – PlanetCatfish notes this species is especially prone to barbel loss on rough or dirty substrates. Add bogwood and plants for shelter with open sandy areas for feeding. Keep it at about 21–26 °C, pH 6.0–7.5, and up to about 15 dGH, with good filtration and regular partial water changes. Like all corys it is sensitive to salt and many medications, and the pectoral spines can catch in nets. Mature females are plumper; males are quite slim for a cory. PlanetCatfish gives a maximum of 4.4 cm standard length (Seriously Fish quotes up to 7 cm); we use the PlanetCatfish figure. Since the 2024 revision of the corydoradine catfishes this species is placed in Brochis, but it is still widely sold as "Corydoras robineae". It was named after Robine Schwartz, the mother of the collector Adolfo Schwartz. PlanetCatfish lists it as not evaluated by the IUCN, while FishBase gives Least Concern (2018). Sources: PlanetCatfish (planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?speciesid=253); Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/brochis-robineae/); FishBase (fishbase.se/summary/Corydoras-robineae.html); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brochisrobineae). Checked October 2026.

Diet

A foraging omnivore. Sinking catfish pellets and bloodworm suit it well; add other small live and frozen foods such as brine shrimp for variety.

Breeding

Historically hard to spawn, but it has been done. Condition a group (two males to each female) on live foods such as worms at about 25 °C, then trigger spawning with a large water change that drops the temperature, towards 18 °C in one reported spawning. PlanetCatfish reports success in slightly harder water around pH 7.1–7.2 (about 11 dGH). Eggs are laid on the glass and hatch in about 3–5 days; give the fry microworm and newly hatched brine shrimp as their first foods.

Compatibility and tank mates

Very peaceful and suits community tanks without large or aggressive fish. Good companions include small tetras, rasboras, peaceful anabantoids, dwarf cichlids and other peaceful catfish.

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

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