HomeFreshwater aquarium fishCatfish & plecosPeppered corydoras Peppered corydoras (Corydoras paleatus) Scientific name: Corydoras paleatus Jenyns, 1842 The Peppered corydoras (Corydoras paleatus) is a freshwater fish of the family Callichthyidae that grows to about 8 cm (3.1 in). It is easy to keep and peaceful, suits community aquariums and needs a tank of at least 75 L (20 US gal), water at 25–28°C (77–82°F) and a pH of 6.0–7.8. Native range: South America, Streams and rivers of the Plate River region. Peppered corydoras care at a glanceCare levelEasyTemperamentPeacefulCommunity tankExcellentAdult size8 cm (3.1 in)Minimum tank75 L (20 US gal)Temperature25–28°C (77–82°F)pH6.0–7.8Hardness5–19 dGH (89–339 ppm)DietOmnivore. Accepts flakes, frozen foods and live foods. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 6Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameCorydoras paleatusFamilyCallichthyidae (Callichthyid armored catfishes)OrderSiluriformes (Catfish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length5.9EnvironmentFreshwater;; pH range: 6.0 - 8.0; dH range: 5 - 19 demersalClimateSubtropicalDistributionSouth America: Lower Paran? River basin and coastal rivers in Uruguay and Brazil.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: of no interest; aquarium: highly commercialResilienceMedium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec is at least about 100 eggs) More catfish & plecosBluespotted corydorasCorydoras melanistiusReticulated corydorasCorydoras reticulatusLeopard corydorasCorydoras juliiCascarudoCallichthys callichthysGlass catfishKryptopterus bicirrhisWhiptail catfishFarlowella acusSee all catfish & plecos Can it live with...?Peppered corydoras and Black ghostPeppered corydoras and Black sharkminnowPeppered corydoras and Blackbarred limiaPeppered corydoras and Bleeding-heart tetraPeppered corydoras and Bloodfin tetraPeppered corydoras and Bluespotted corydorasPeppered corydoras and Brilliant rasboraPeppered corydoras and Butterfly splitfinPeppered corydoras and CascarudoPeppered corydoras and Chinese suckerPeppered corydoras and Clown barbPeppered corydoras and Clown loachPeppered corydoras and Clown rasboraPeppered corydoras and Crescent bettaPeppered corydoras and Dwarf botiaPeppered corydoras and Dwarf rainbowfishPeppered corydoras and Eel LoachPeppered corydoras and Emerald catfishPeppered corydoras and Forktail rainbowfishPeppered corydoras and Gangetic leaffishPeppered corydoras and Garnet tetraPeppered corydoras and Glass catfishPeppered corydoras and Glowlight tetraPeppered corydoras and Goldeneye cichlidPeppered corydoras and Head-and-taillight tetraPeppered corydoras and Horseface loachPeppered corydoras and Indian glassy fishPeppered corydoras and Leopard corydorasPeppered corydoras and MosquitofishPeppered corydoras and Northern trout gudgeon SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Aquarium care parameters compiled, checked and converted to metric and imperial units by Guppies.za.net.Last updated 28 September 2026