Sterbai Cory (Hoplisoma sterbai)

Sterbai Cory: a warm-water shoaling catfish

The Sterbai Cory is a peaceful South American catfish with a dark head covered in pale spots, a patterned body and warm orange colour through the leading rays of the pectoral fins. Its currently accepted scientific name is Hoplisoma sterbai; many aquarists and shops still know it by the long-used name Corydoras sterbai.

This species spends most of its time moving over the aquarium floor, pausing under wood or plants and searching the substrate with its barbels. It suits a mature, warm community aquarium and is especially useful when a keeper wants cory behaviour at temperatures that are comfortable for fish such as discus. It is a social fish, so plan the aquarium and order around a proper group rather than a single specimen.

What you are buying

Each quantity adds one unsexed fish in the size grade selected above. Sterbai Cory should be kept with at least five or six compatible members of the same species; if you buy one fish, it should be joining an established group. Size grades are approximate and availability can change as live stock grows and sells.

The gallery shows representative illustrations of the species rather than the exact individual that will be dispatched. Colour, pattern, body shape and fin tone vary naturally, and juveniles may develop stronger contrast as they settle and mature.

Care at a glance

Aquarium setup

Floor space matters more than height. An 80-litre aquarium is a sensible starting point for a small shoal, while a longer tank gives adults more room to forage and makes it easier to place food in several areas. Allow extra space for other bottom-dwelling fish and avoid crowding the substrate.

Use fine sand or smooth, fine gravel. Sterbai Cory feed by pushing their barbels into the substrate, so sharp or dirty gravel can damage those sensitive structures. Leave open feeding areas between plants, rounded stones and pieces of wood. Shaded resting places help the group settle, but they should still be able to reach the surface because corys sometimes take a quick gulp of air. This is normal unless it becomes unusually frequent or is paired with signs of distress.

Use mature biological filtration and keep the water well oxygenated. Ammonia and nitrite should remain at zero, and nitrate should be controlled with regular testing, partial water changes and careful feeding. Add these fish only to a fully cycled aquarium.

Water conditions

A steady 24–28°C works well for this species. That warmer range is one reason Sterbai Cory are often chosen for warm South American communities. Aim for pH 6.0–7.6 and soft to moderately hard water around 1–15 dGH. Stable conditions matter more than repeatedly adjusting the water to chase a single number.

Match tank mates to the same temperature and water range. Cooler-water cory species are poor companions in a tank kept near the top of the Sterbai Cory range, even when their behaviour looks similar.

Feeding

Sterbai Cory are not algae eaters and they should never be expected to live on leftovers. Feed a complete sinking pellet, tablet or soft granule sized for the fish, then rotate suitable frozen or live foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp, bloodworm or small insect larvae. A varied diet supports body condition and natural foraging behaviour.

Make sure food reaches the bottom before faster fish take it. In a busy community, feed in two or more places or offer part of the meal after the lights dim. Remove uneaten food and adjust the portion rather than relying on the corys to clean up excess.

Behaviour and tank mates

A settled group is active without being disruptive. Sterbai Cory often forage together, rest side by side and become more visible as their confidence grows. They do not form fixed pairs for ordinary keeping, and sex cannot be guaranteed at the juvenile sizes sold here.

Choose calm tank mates that share the same warm water conditions: suitable tetras, rasboras, peaceful dwarf cichlids and other non-aggressive community fish can work well. Discus may also be compatible in a suitably large, mature aquarium with careful feeding. Avoid large predators, aggressive cichlids, fin nippers and territorial bottom dwellers that can exclude the group from food or resting areas. Adult shrimp may coexist in a well-planted tank, although eggs and very small shrimplets can be eaten.

Browse the Corydoras collection, read the full Corydoras care guide, or check the live-fish delivery information before ordering.

Arrival and first days

Prepare the aquarium before delivery. Check temperature and water quality, keep the lights low during acclimation and give the fish quiet cover. Watch the whole group for steady breathing, intact barbels and a normal feeding response. If they are joining an established aquarium, quarantine is the safest way to reduce the chance of introducing disease.

Care references

Care values and taxonomy were checked against the FishBase profile for Hoplisoma sterbai, the Seriously Fish species profile and the OATA freshwater catfish care sheet.