Easy
Three-Stripe Cory (Hoplisoma trilineatum)
22–26°C · pH 6–8 · 75L
£14.99
Sands' Cory is a peaceful Rio Negro cory catfish for mature softwater community aquariums, best kept in a proper group on soft sand.
Hoplisoma davidsandsi
Sands' Cory are a shoaling species — they need 6+ to feel safe and show their full colour. Larger shoals stay calmer, eat better, and look stunning.
Sands' Cory is a peaceful Rio Negro cory catfish for mature softwater community aquariums, best kept in a proper group on soft sand.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Sands' Cory (Hoplisoma davidsandsi) is a peaceful, short-snouted cory catfish from the Rio Negro basin. It is still widely searched and traded as Corydoras davidsandsi, so both names are used here naturally: Hoplisoma davidsandsi for the current taxonomy, and Corydoras davidsandsi as the familiar aquarium-trade name.
This listing is for the 3-4 cm size. Treat it as a softwater community bottom-dweller rather than a clean-up tool. The fish does best when the aquarium is already mature, the substrate is fine and clean, and the group is large enough for normal cory confidence.
The old page repeated broad commercial wording but did not give enough practical help for this exact fish. This version keeps the useful species and care information while removing forced phrases. It also keeps the familiar Corydoras davidsandsi wording because many aquarists still search that name, but it avoids turning the body into a keyword list.
Think of this species as a specialist Rio Negro-style cory for keepers who enjoy watching natural shoaling and bottom-foraging behaviour. It is a good candidate for a calm planted or wood-and-leaf-litter aquarium, provided the water is clean, oxygenated and not too hard.
| Current name | Hoplisoma davidsandsi |
|---|---|
| Trade/search name | Corydoras davidsandsi, Sands' Cory, David Sands' Cory |
| Adult size | Usually planned around 5-7.5 cm in aquarium care |
| Origin context | Rio Negro basin, including Rio Unini references in the aquarium literature |
| Temperament | Peaceful shoaling catfish for calm community aquariums |
| Best kept as | A group of at least 5-6, with more if space allows |
| Substrate | Soft sand or very smooth, clean fine substrate |
Sands' Cory is not a rough-and-ready bottom cleaner. Like other cory cats, it spends much of the day sifting and probing along the bottom, so the substrate matters. Sharp gravel, trapped waste and dirty pockets around decor can damage barbels and lead to avoidable infections.
Use a mature aquarium with gentle to moderate flow, good oxygen levels and regular maintenance. Driftwood, shaded planting and open sand patches give the fish both cover and feeding space. Leave enough open surface access too, because corys can gulp air as part of their normal behaviour.
Because this fish works the bottom so actively, visual layout matters as much as water chemistry. Avoid a crowded base where food disappears under rocks, and avoid deep coarse gravel where debris can collect out of sight. A thin open sand feeding lane at the front of the tank makes feeding easier to monitor and lets you see whether every fish is getting food.
If you use botanicals or leaf litter, keep them tidy and replace them before they collapse into waste. The aim is a shaded, natural-feeling aquarium, not a dirty one. Cory catfish tolerate normal aquarium activity well, but they do not do well when the substrate is neglected.
| Temperature | 20-25 C for long-term softwater care |
|---|---|
| pH | Soft, slightly acidic water is best long term; around pH 6.0-7.0 is a sensible target |
| Hardness | Soft to low-moderate hardness; avoid sudden swings |
| Aquarium maturity | Add only after the filter is cycled and the bottom stays clean between water changes |
| Minimum practical layout | More floor area is more useful than height; plan around a group, not a single specimen |
Keep Sands' Cory with peaceful fish that leave the bottom group alone. Small tetras, pencilfish, rasboras and other calm midwater fish are usually a better match than boisterous cichlids, fin nippers or large predatory fish. Midwater dither fish can also help the cory group feel secure enough to come out and feed in view.
Avoid mixing them with fish that outcompete them at feeding time. Corys often miss food if faster tank mates take everything before sinking foods reach the substrate. Feed after the main rush if needed, and watch that each fish keeps a rounded, healthy body shape.
They can be shy if kept in too small a group. A single Sands' Cory may hide, breathe more nervously or fail to feed confidently, while a settled group will usually patrol together and show far better behaviour. If you are adding them to an existing Corydoras or Hoplisoma group, check that the other corys have similar temperature and substrate needs.
Offer sinking catfish pellets, fine granules and a varied mix of frozen or live foods such as bloodworm, white mosquito larvae, daphnia and brineshrimp. They will browse the bottom constantly, but they still need direct feeding. Do not rely on leftovers from the rest of the aquarium.
Feed modest portions and remove uneaten food. Clean water is especially important for corys because they are in contact with the substrate all day.
Hoplisoma davidsandsi is often compared with H. metae and H. melini. The dark diagonal body stripe and clean body colour are useful clues, but customer-facing identification should remain cautious because similar corys are easy to confuse in trade photos. The source name on this SKU is Corydoras davidsandsi 3-4 cm, now presented with the current Hoplisoma name for clarity.
| Ready to add? | Yes, if the aquarium is mature, stable and has a clean soft substrate |
|---|---|
| Group size checked? | Plan for a real group rather than one or two lonely corys |
| Food plan checked? | Use sinking foods and verify the group is not being outcompeted |
| Tank mates checked? | Choose peaceful species that will not bully, nip or swallow small catfish |
Orders are packed for livestock transport through a licensed live-animal courier process and eligible orders are covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee. On arrival, keep lights low, acclimate slowly, and avoid heavy feeding on the first day. Watch breathing, posture, barbel condition and appetite during the first week.
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