Sychr's catfish (Corydoras sychri) care guide

Group
Freshwater fish
Other names
Long-nosed fairy catfish, Sychr's cory, Brochis sychri
Family
Callichthyidae (armoured catfishes)
Origin
Peru: the Río Nanay basin near Iquitos, Loreto, in the upper Amazon.
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
4.3 cm
Temperature
22–26°C
pH
6–7.5
Hardness
Soft to medium (estimate)
Minimum tank
54 litres
Care level
intermediate
Temperament
peaceful

Care

A small, peaceful cory from the Nanay basin of northern Peru. Keep a group of at least six of the one species; corys are much more confident and active in a proper group. PlanetCatfish now lists this fish as Brochis sychri (it uses "Brochis (sub-clade 3)") after the 2024 split of the old genus Corydoras, but it is still sold as "Corydoras sychri". PlanetCatfish's own common name is the long-nosed fairy catfish. Use sand or smooth, rounded gravel so the barbels are not damaged as it forages, and avoid sharp gravel. Driftwood, plants and some shaded areas help it settle. The data we read gives no water figures for this species, so the temperature (22–26 °C), pH (6–7.5) and soft-to-medium hardness shown here are estimates based on its upper Amazon home and on similar corys. The 54-litre minimum is also an estimate for a group of this small species. Change water regularly and keep the substrate clean. It looks very like C. atropersonatus (C097) and C. loretoensis. C. sychri has a longer head with an angled profile from the dorsal fin over the eye down to the snout, and its body markings are small blotches rather than sharp spots; C097 has a shorter, straighter profile with neat, evenly spaced spots. Females grow larger and are fuller-bodied, best seen from above; males develop more pointed fins as they mature. The IUCN has not evaluated it. Sources: Aquatic Republic (aquaticrepublic.com/brochis(sc3)sychri), which shares PlanetCatfish's Cat-eLog data; the PlanetCatfish page itself (speciesid=506) could not be read at the time of checking. Checked October 2026.

Diet

A bottom-foraging omnivore. Feed a good sinking tablet or granule as the staple, with flake that reaches the bottom, and add live or frozen foods such as bloodworm, Daphnia and small worms several times a week. Make sure it gets food of its own rather than leftovers.

Breeding

No aquarium breeding has been reported for this species. Other corys are usually triggered by a cooler water change after good conditioning, and spawn in the typical cory T-position, sticking eggs to glass or plants; this approach is worth trying.

Compatibility and tank mates

A peaceful shoaling community fish. Keep it with other small, calm fish such as small tetras, pencilfish, rasboras and dwarf cichlids, and avoid large or boisterous tankmates that would take its food or harass it.

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

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