Sailfin corydoras (Scleromystax macropterus) care guide
- Group
- Freshwater fish
- Other names
- Sailfin cory, Corydoras macropterus
- Family
- Callichthyidae (armoured catfishes)
- Origin
- Coastal rivers of south-eastern Brazil from São Paulo to Santa Catarina, plus some upper Paraná tributaries.
- Water
- freshwater
- Maximum size
- 8.7 cm
- Temperature
- 18–21°C
- pH
- 6–8
- Hardness
- 2–25 dGH
- Minimum tank
- 100 litres
- Care level
- intermediate
- Temperament
- peaceful
Care
A large, cool-water relative of the corys from the coastal rivers of south-eastern Brazil. FishBase gives a maximum of 8.7 cm standard length. Keep a group of at least six; it is social like other corydoradine catfish. This is a subtropical fish: FishBase gives 18–21 °C, so it should not be kept in a warm tropical tank and does best in an unheated or lightly heated, well-oxygenated aquarium in a cool room. FishBase gives pH 6.0–8.0 and 2–25 dGH. It is an obligate air-breather, so it must always have access to the surface. No source gives a tank size; around 100 litres for a group is our estimate. Use soft sand, some wood and plants, good flow and plenty of open floor. Males are easy to recognise: they have a much taller, sail-like dorsal fin (macropterus means "large fin") and bristles on the cheeks, as in other Scleromystax. Females are plainer and rounder. Name notes: it was formerly Corydoras macropterus and is still sometimes sold under that name. FishBase lists it as Endangered on the IUCN Red List (2018) because its coastal habitat is under pressure, so captive-bred fish should always be preferred. We could not read the PlanetCatfish page for this species when checking, so this page uses FishBase. Sources: FishBase (fishbase.se/summary/Scleromystax-macropterus.html). Checked October 2026.
Diet
A foraging omnivore. Feed good sinking pellets or tablets as the staple, with plenty of small live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, Daphnia and brine shrimp to keep it in condition. Make sure food reaches the bottom.
Breeding
The sources read give no detailed breeding account. It is bred in captivity in the usual cory way: condition a group with more males than females on live foods, then trigger spawning with cool water changes; eggs are stuck to plants or glass. Remove the eggs or adults and raise the fry in cool, clean water on microworm and newly hatched brine shrimp.
Compatibility and tank mates
Peaceful, but its need for cool water limits tankmates: choose other subtropical or cool-tolerant peaceful fish, such as some danios, White Cloud Mountain minnows and cool-water corys like the peppered cory. Avoid warm tropical communities and boisterous fish.
Last updated 5 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.