Emerald catfish (Corydoras splendens) care guide

Group

Freshwater fish

Other names

Emerald cory, Emerald brochis, Common brochis, Green catfish, Brochis splendens, Brochis coeruleus

Family

Callichthyidae (armoured catfishes)

Origin

Upper and middle Amazon basin in Ecuador, Peru and Brazil, including the Rio Tocantins region.

Water

freshwater

Maximum size

9.9 cm

Temperature

22–28°C

pH

5.8–8

Hardness

3–18 dGH (estimated)

Minimum tank

100 litres

Care level

beginner

Temperament

peaceful

Care

A large, chunky cory-like catfish with a shining metallic green body. PlanetCatfish gives a maximum of about 10 cm standard length, so it needs more room than most corys. Keep it in a group – it is a shoaling fish – in a tank of at least 100 litres (our estimate) with a large area of open sand. Give it open substrate for foraging plus rock or wood refuges for shade. PlanetCatfish notes it copes well with low oxygen (it breathes air at the surface) and prefers deeper water, though it adapts to shallower tanks. It is tolerant of water chemistry: PlanetCatfish gives 22–28 °C and pH 5.8–8. Keep the water clean with regular partial changes; it is sensitive to salt and many medications, like other corys. It is easily told from true Corydoras by its long dorsal fin with 10–12 rays (other corys have about seven). Mature females are larger and fuller-bodied; PlanetCatfish warns that sexing young fish is very unreliable. Name note: PlanetCatfish lists this fish as Corydoras splendens and notes it is widely known under the old genus name Brochis. PlanetCatfish's current listing title already shows it as Brochis splendens, the genus revived in the 2024 revision of the group, which it now shares with the long-snouted corys. It is very common in the trade, mostly as captive-bred fish. Sources: PlanetCatfish (planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?speciesid=114). Checked October 2026.

Diet

An omnivorous forager that eats a lot. Feed sinking tablets and pellets, with live or frozen bloodworm and small worms. PlanetCatfish suggests offering live worms in a shallow dish so they do not foul the substrate.

Breeding

Bred fairly regularly (PlanetCatfish lists several breeding reports). Condition a group on live and frozen food and trigger spawning with a large water change. The female lays sticky eggs on plants and glass, often several hundred over a spawning. Remove the eggs or adults and raise the fry on microworm and newly hatched brine shrimp, keeping their substrate clean.

Compatibility and tank mates

An ideal community fish, compatible with most peaceful species. Because it is large and a fast, greedy feeder, PlanetCatfish suggests it can outcompete small corys at feeding time and may sit better with loaches or larger peaceful fish.

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