Pygmy corydoras care: the bottom crew for a nano tank
Most “bottom cleaner” recommendations are wrong for small tanks. Pygmy corydoras are the exception — small, social, and genuinely useful.
Pygmy corydoras are mid-water swimmers as much as bottom dwellers — they shoal in loose groups and hover over plants, which is unusual for a cory. That makes them the best cory for a small tank where a group of full-size Corydoras would be far too much fish.
Substrate is not optional
Sand, or a very smooth fine gravel. Sharp gravel abrades barbels, and once they are damaged the fish cannot forage properly and becomes Infection-prone. If you already have coarse gravel, either cap it with sand or choose a different species.
Keeping a group visible
- Six minimum; ten is better and they behave completely differently in a larger group.
- Feed at the same spot at the same time so they learn the routine.
- Do not keep them with boisterous mid-water fish that outcompete them for food.
- Provide shade and plant cover — they are bold in groups and skittish alone.
Pygmies sit on the substrate and are easy to catch in a gravel vacuum. Crimp the hose while you work near them, or siphon into a bucket you can inspect before discarding.
Frequently asked
How many pygmy corydoras in a 10-gallon?
Do pygmy corydoras eat algae?
Chili rasbora
A 2 cm blackwater fish from Borneo. Soft, acidic water matters more than tank size — and it is the reason many chilis fade in hard tap water.
Read →Honey gourami
A peaceful labyrinth fish that suits a planted 10-gallon. Slow water, floating cover, and one per tank — the rest is easy.
Read →Otocinclus
The best algae eater for a small planted tank — and the fish most often lost in the first month, because a new tank has no biofilm to eat.
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