Xingu corydoras (Corydoras xinguensis) care guide

Group
Freshwater fish
Other names
Xingu cory, Dust cory, Hoplisoma xinguense, C055, C105, C106, C107, C108
Family
Callichthyidae (armoured catfishes)
Origin
Brazil: the upper Rio Xingu basin in Mato Grosso, including Suiá-Missú creek and tributaries of the Culuene and Batovi rivers. Lives in small forest creeks with flowing water.
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
3.7 cm
Temperature
22–26°C
pH
6–7.2
Hardness
2–12 dGH
Minimum tank
51 litres
Care level
intermediate
Temperament
peaceful

Care

A small cory from the upper Xingu. It is best in a larger group, ten or more if you have room, as it is more confident in numbers. Now classified as Hoplisoma xinguense after the 2024 split of the old genus Corydoras; still sold as "Corydoras xinguensis", and sometimes as "dust cory". Several C-numbers (C055 and C105 to C108) have been linked to this species. Seriously Fish suggests a tank with a base of at least 45 × 38 cm (around 51 litres) with fine sand so it can forage without harming its barbels. It comes from flowing creeks, so give it clean, well-oxygenated water with some movement: 22–26 °C, pH 6.0–7.2 and 2–12 dGH. Plants, wood and leaf litter make it feel secure. Keep up regular water changes and keep the substrate clean. Females grow larger and rounder; males develop more pointed fins as they mature. Sources: Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/corydoras-xinguensis/). We could not read PlanetCatfish or FishBase pages for this species at the time of checking. Checked October 2026.

Diet

A bottom-foraging omnivore. Feed small sinking pellets and tablets as the staple, plus small live or frozen foods such as bloodworm, Daphnia and brine shrimp. Make sure food reaches the bottom and is not all taken by other fish.

Breeding

Has been spawned in aquariums. A cool water change after good conditioning usually triggers spawning, which follows the usual cory T-position. More than 120 eggs have been reported from one spawning. Move the eggs away from the adults and raise the fry on microworm and newly hatched brine shrimp in very clean water.

Compatibility and tank mates

Peaceful. Keep it with small, calm fish such as small characins, pencilfish, rasboras and dwarf cichlids, and avoid large or boisterous species.

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

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