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Pygmy Corydoras Care Guide - Breeding, Food, and More
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Күн бұрынPygmy corydoras (Corydoras pygmaeus) are the cutest cory catfish ever, but are they worth all the hype? Let’s talk about what it takes to care for them, how hard it is to breed them, and if I think they’re a must-have fish.
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🛒 MATERIALS I USED
(I work for Aquarium Co-Op but do not receive commissions from their links.)
▶ Repashy gel food: www.aquariumcoop.com/products...
▶ Live baby brine shrimp: www.aquariumcoop.com/products...
▶ Nano pellets: www.aquariumcoop.com/products...
▶ Sera Micron fry food: www.aquariumcoop.com/products...
📚 RESOURCES
▶ Where I bought my captive-bred, tank-raised pygmy corys: aquaticlifefarm.com/
🦐 EXTRAS
▶ Instagram: / girltalksfish
▶ Merch store: girltalksfish.creator-spring.com
EDITOR: Matt Gray at www.grayfamilyfilms.com/ and / mentalityfilms
ATTRIBUTION
Music from Epidemic Sound: www.epidemicsound.com/referra... (if you use my referral link, I get 1 month free 😀)
Music from Soundstripe:
- Home Run by Avocado Junkie, UV7TMMCOYCKGEUEY
- Shoes 'N' Socks by Cast Of Characters, 3G6VE27IPLIFKAAP
#girltalksfish #nanofish #pygmycory
0:00 Pygmy corys - the cutest corydoras ever
0:31 Care requirements for pygmy corys
2:44 What to feed pygmy corys
3:53 How to breed pygmy corys
8:15 Pros and cons of pygmy corys
@GirlTalksFish 2 жыл бұрын
*Are your pygmy corys as shy as mine? If not, what's your secret?* Also, check out my other videos about cool fish breeding projects to try at home: kzfaq.info/sun/PLlBBJ7xBuquYk_uRl5k-rtJVVOTFP5UUd
@TheFarmLadyAquatics 2 жыл бұрын
This is refreshing to watch❤❤❤
@The79yeti 2 жыл бұрын
My pygmy corys are shy. During feeding if I drop in a pellet they usually wait for the shrimps to break the pellet to dust before the group begins moving in.
@terischneider9728 2 жыл бұрын
I purchased six pygmy corridors from aquaguna and they have been wonderful and not the least bit shy from day one in my tank! I keep them and a 20 gallon long with some red eye tetras, 5 ottocinclus, and some khuli loaches. Everyone gets along perfectly well by ignoring each other as they swim by or dirt by each other. They eat algae wafers and possibly whatever few fish flakes make it to the bottom of the tank during feeding. I'm very happy with mine! And they've never been shy!
@nice1stuOnline 2 жыл бұрын
I love my pygmy corys... I have a school of 13 and found most of the time they hide, but feeding times they school around. However, after I added a school of very active harlequin rasboras, have often found them out and about and even schooling together with them... they are fun fish (although panda corys are still my fav corys)
@marthakathryn7749 2 жыл бұрын
I love these lil fish so much! 🥺 My group of pygmy corys used to be extremely shy, I literally hardly ever saw them. They bred at some point and I had no idea until I saw a random baby! Then I added more plants/hiding spots and put a dark background on the tank which helped bring them out a lot more and they dart away from me being near the tank a lot less now. They used to be in a tank with shrimp, now in a larger tank with a school of tetras, and I think having more schooling fish with them may be helping make them more comfortable. I also find they will come out and eat as a group more often when the tank light is dim or when it's later in the day and the room isn't as bright. I also now feed the tank consistently at night so they might be starting to expect food then and be more willing to come out.
@lizettebusquets4305 2 жыл бұрын
I love my pygmy corydoras! I bought 6 for my 20g community tank, which includes a betta. They hover in a group and move together like helicopters, especially after a water change. A couple of weeks ago, I realized there were 3 little ones! I was very surprised that they would survive, but they must have hidden amongst the plants. They're now big enough that they swim with the rest of the group.
@GirlTalksFish 2 жыл бұрын
Congrats on the babies!
@supernatureboy13 2 жыл бұрын
That’s awesome I’m hoping mine can do this. There is only neocaradina , 3 lampeyes and 2 juvenile green dragon bristle noses. So I think their eggs should be ok, if they hide them right in my densely planted tank.
@elsancho-mx7om 8 ай бұрын
Once they get comfortable the schooling will be less frequent.
@thomascrohan7810 3 ай бұрын
I must have a good tank setup because after about 10 minutes they started doing their own thing lol
@supernatureboy13 2 жыл бұрын
These guys and gals are my favorite fish I have right now. So interesting to watch in a community tank. I love them!
@karltonhenderson7341 2 жыл бұрын
I really enjoy watching you videos you explain the topics so clear and detailed. I also like how transparent you are when making mistakes. Thank you for that and keep up the great work
@carolebraswell982 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this information today! I was looking to find out more about these amazing little fish and you covered everything!
@robertbaker3174 Жыл бұрын
Had the Black Diamond but had local water problems at the time and lost them. Happy to see others appreciate these little guys!
@ConorMacLean 2 жыл бұрын
I love my pygmy corydoras. I had trouble getting them to breed for a while even with seemingly perfect water parameters. After I introduced frozen daphnia they began breeding a lot! I have a couple dozen in a 30 gallon and when they finally come out and shoal around the tank it is a fabulous display.
@beanjays1235 2 жыл бұрын
As a fairly new fish keeper, I’ve always wanted to try my hand at breeding non-livebearers, but am limited with tank size. But after seeing your video, I’ve decided to give colony breeding a shot. I’ve had them for about 3 weeks now and they’re doing great. Definitely were shy at the beginning but now they barely move with my hand in the water. Thank you for making breeding projects accessible to beginners!
@purpleworm4725 2 жыл бұрын
For me the biggest discovery in keeping pygmy cories was that they really benefit from dither fish. I had a decent amount of pygmy cories in a densely planted tank and they were super shy and stressed out. But when I added lambchop rasboras their behavior completely changed. Now they come running to the front glass when I am feeding the tank :)
@ciwi1812 2 жыл бұрын
Pygmy cories are literally my favorite. I love them so much & I love their behavior in a large group, they're just so cute
@ivanlimon9653 2 жыл бұрын
I have half a dozen pygmy corys in a community tank and they're certainly not shy but for the first few months I had them they tended to stick to the same small area around the top of a cave feature. Thankfully that was in full view but if yours chose a favourite spot that was hidden I suppose they may have appeared shy. I've had them a couple of years or more now and they often swim at the front of my tank happily mixing with celestial pearl danios and cardinal tetras.
@jadeg2650 Жыл бұрын
One of mine usually just vibes with whatever he wants to do or gives a haunted distant stare… he scares me sometimes lol
@nickpass 2 жыл бұрын
Just an hour ago I was debating whether to get pygmy corys for my empty 15 gallon tank. Thanks to you, I'm sold and I'll be getting them for sure. Great video as always Irene!
@GirlTalksFish 2 жыл бұрын
Yes! They're so worth it. Enjoy your new 15 gallon.
@USMCKIDZ95 2 жыл бұрын
Well what do you think of your lil guys?? I’m debating on getting a hunch for my 29 gallon
@zalfany Жыл бұрын
@@USMCKIDZ95yessss you should, adds so much life over time
@lacrosseguy108 2 жыл бұрын
the one petstore i found that sells the pygmy corydoras had like 200 of them in a tank and only 1 was albino. they look really nice and are soooooooooo small, the same place had a few other fish i havnt seen in person and it was cool seeing some species you see in videos in person!
@ddoockeysvillage 2 жыл бұрын
I loved this video! I considered getting pygmies before and it sounds like a great idea for one of my next tanks. Keep up that great videos :))
@fabz497 5 ай бұрын
My new favorite fish. I really enjoy watching them. I have a small school of 20. One minute you struggle to locate them and the next a group of them is swimming by. Great cleaners. They love my hornwart.
@karenhansen388 2 жыл бұрын
I've watched and enjoyed your advice for a while now. I also like how you share some struggles. A couple of months ago I got 7 pygmies for my 12g long that already had a bunch of pseudomugil luminauts. They get along well. I wish I had known how much I'd love the littler wiggle-butts first. I'd have had a species tank and twice as many. My must have!
@angiebear8727 2 жыл бұрын
Absolutely adore these fish! Have a dozen or so in a 16 gallon fluval vista with my betta. They get along great but do have lots and lots of plants for cover. ❤️
@lisamyers8991 2 жыл бұрын
I love my little pygmy cories. They’re so funny when they rest on leaves and tank decor.
@The_Sovereign_of_Dawn 2 жыл бұрын
This is definitely one of my favorite nano catfish, it’s so funny seeing them hover around and on my Asian Stone Catfish
@casterdoesstuff4247 2 жыл бұрын
IVE BEEN LOOKING EVERYWHERE FOR A VIDEO LIKE THIS!
@nayanmistry4641 2 жыл бұрын
A great comprehensive review of the pygmy corys Irene 👏. Have you thought about revisiting the apistos again? Possibly another flavour, like the hongsloi or the trifasciata? There isn't much information available on these fish. Thanks again 👍
@richardcolligon4277 2 жыл бұрын
Excellent video thanks for sharing! I do love your video's!
@dawnt6791 2 жыл бұрын
I agree about pygmies being cute! I have a school of them in my 29g community tank. In one back corner, I have a bunch of Hygrophila siamensis 53B. The pygmies seem to like it. We often see them gathering on the leaves. Looks like a pygmy conference!
@sugarmuffin319 2 жыл бұрын
I have mine in a community setting and they are great and so stinking adorable!
@MarksShrimpTanks 2 жыл бұрын
Pygmy Cory I dont know why but I imagined Cory as a dwarf when I red your title.
@errk25 2 жыл бұрын
I love them and would like to breed them too. Could be my next project as I'm going to have some tank space here soon. Nice vid!
@unCoopervised 2 жыл бұрын
I had 10 in a tank with ember tetras and neocaridina shrimp. At first they had no fear. The embers schooled with them. They turned the air stone into an under water slip 'n slide. And then one day, they all hid and I never saw more than 3 for the next 6 months. Broke down the tank and found all 10 of them. (They ended up in an acquaintance's tank with a bigger school and lived happily ever after.)
@ambiguousaesthetic4170 2 жыл бұрын
I didn't know you loved birds, too! Just another reason to love Girl Talks Fish.
@tonyolliff1998 9 ай бұрын
I enjoy, and learn a lot from your videos...thank you!
@audreycooper4860 7 ай бұрын
I not only love this video BUT I also love all of the comments from everyone who has experience owning Pygmy corydoras. They have quite a few at my local fish store and I am dead set on getting them as tank mates for my mystery snail. They are so darn cute! I asked them what the ph was in their tank to make sure they will thrive in my current aquarium thanks to this video ❤
@Evil_Genius_888 2 жыл бұрын
I like the C. Habrosus. I definitely want to someday set up a species only tank for a big bunch of them.
@dn_kattfelis8237 2 жыл бұрын
I feel like they're the cutest thing ever! Especially the way they eat I have 6 of them and used to house them in the 8-gallon tank with my betta fish But now after I got a 20-gallon tank, I definitely want to get more of them
@sandradolbel2578 2 жыл бұрын
Oh my goodness ❤️ I must have about 18 in my 40 gallon breeder tank. They haven't bred for me yet...but are they ever CUTE...they hang out with my baby panda corydoras ❤️
@sharonkaczorowski8690 Жыл бұрын
They are on my list for the tank (my first in decades and first planted) I’m setting up in the Spring…
@doctorwigglespank8933 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for another excellent guide! I have a half dozen Pygmy Corydoras in my 20 gallon, and they lay eggs often. I have high PH water, but I keep the tank around 70°. I've never seen fry, though, as I'm sure the other fish eat them (CPDs & White Cloud Minnows). Two months ago, I set up a 10 gallon and moved one of my Pothos plants from the 20g into it, hoping to cycle it faster. A couple weeks ago, I noticed a few fish in the tank. Figured they'd be CPDs, but they're all Pigmy Corydoras!
@audreycooper4860 7 ай бұрын
Aww 🥰🥰
@mraquaticnews5676 2 жыл бұрын
Good video and cool footage!
@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030 2 жыл бұрын
They are my ultimate corydoras. I have 3 currently in a 6.5 gallon with 2 habrosus cories and some amano and blue dream shrimp and I'll probably get more once I remove the green neon tetras and single endler to a larger enclosure. They definitely enjoy live plants. I've noticed that if you keep schooling fish with them they'll be more active and more midwater. They forage for debris and eat small micro pellets and frozen mysis shrimp ( a favourite among most of my fish ). I've never bred them as I doubt I have the right ratio. Fr they are Incredibly peaceful and one got its tail bit of by an endler ( the green neon tetras stopped the nipping but that tailless corydoras passed away). I hope to keep panda corydoras in the future. A useful way of seeing them despite their shyness is a heavy planted tank with an open clearing at the far side of the aquarium ( I also have a mirror behind their tank )
@jackhummel4465 2 жыл бұрын
Fun and informative video!
@donaldhall8785 2 жыл бұрын
I just recently picked up 4 Salt and Pepper Cory's ( another type of dwarf Corydora) and put them in a species only nano tank. They do have 1 roommate, a juvenile Ramshorn Snail named Gary (what else would you name a snail). I have enjoyed them immensely. They certainly are not shy, in fact they are usually all out in the front area of the tank. One behavior I have noticed and outright laughed at is when the 4 of them form a kind of Conga line and go zipping around the tank one after the other. I have no plans on breeding them but if they are like some of my other Cory's I expect I will see eggs at some point. I keep the tank at 74-78 degrees with a pH between 7.2-7.5. For food I have been going with Baby Brine shrimp, daphnia, mini Kory tabs and an occasional algae wafer. I tried Tubifex worms but they pretty much ignored them. I did drop a Repashy square in the tank a couple of days ago, initially they ignored it but the next morning it was gone and I know Gary could not have eaten the whole thing. I'll probably use the Repashy as a treat for them. My mini-herd are great entertainers and I would highly recommend the species for any aquarist and especially for fans of Coryfora's.
@nedkiryakov4824 2 жыл бұрын
I love your videos! Thank you!
@vivekvs1992 2 жыл бұрын
Definitely on my list along with kuhli loaches for bottom feeders... But I am inclined to get an army of otocinclus instead...
@sarahpea2976 2 жыл бұрын
Yaaaay! Thank you for making thiiiissss!!! 😍
@thomasb4467 2 жыл бұрын
I’ll be moving to Idaho in October. I’m so excited to start up a couple of new tanks.
@GenRN 2 жыл бұрын
I’ve always kept Pygmy corys in my 7 gallon heavily planted nano shrimp/chili raspbora/snail/male betta tank. They are so delightful but I’ve never tried to breed them. I had a few that lived 6 years.
@haleighgoff126 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this!!!
@Vincent-kx9ze 4 ай бұрын
Define “a couple of tanks” please. 😂😂😂 Love the Pygmy Cory!
@naegwut Жыл бұрын
Very helpful!
@AQUAPLANET128 2 жыл бұрын
Very informative video girl ❤️👍
@Hazel-Hill 2 жыл бұрын
great video, thank you :)
@craigbrubaker1040 2 жыл бұрын
I have 10 in a 29 gallon and while they are shy, they are still fun to watch swim together from a distance. I have not had them spawn yet. I waited about a year before my yellow laser cory's spawned and I now have 25 fry doing well. I haven't had luck yet with venezuelan cory's but I've raised hundreds of napo cory's.
@ansleybleu 2 жыл бұрын
Mine don’t seem too shy, but I so have a moderately planted tank with big lava rocks. There are 6 of them with chili rasbora, pseudomugil gertrudea, shrimp, & snails. They seem to like to eat Easy Fry food and graze on shrimp cuisine too.
@chekitoarias 8 ай бұрын
It’s currently November and im seeing eggs on the glasss and on my Java fern !! Had to leave a comment
@gennasharples9409 2 жыл бұрын
Also mine were tank bred and I have them in a ph of 8.4… same as my kuhli loaches and angelfish and other larger corys… angels and larger corys are breeding non stop.
@bobbim1410 Жыл бұрын
I just started up a 10 gallon heavily planted tank and am in no hurry to add livestock til it’s well established. After seeing your video I’m now thinking I might enjoy these little ones and would like some advice on numbers and if ember tetras would make good tank mates. And would there be space for clean up crew or should I handle that myself rather than overstock such a small tank. Thanks for your great videos!!! Very helpful.
@lloydstevens8924 2 жыл бұрын
Have to get another tank now..thanks😎
@sairvinginthestacks 2 жыл бұрын
I love pygmy corys! They're so cute.
@JohnWood-tk1ge 2 жыл бұрын
Sorry to watch late but a seem on one of my tanks let go, clean up! Working with some panda’s now blood worms and Repashy, waiting for it to kick in!
@meagenberstecher2713 2 жыл бұрын
If I chop regular bloodworms finely my pygmies can eat it :) they do tend to eat what's inside the worm casing then spit the rest out tho! Borderline overfeeding and cold water changes are def key for breeding. I had success raising fry in a mesh breeder box and feeding Hikari first bites and repashy. Agreed they are definitely on the shy side, even in perfect set-ups
@huntergreene3453 3 ай бұрын
You should chack out the fluval breeder box. It circulates fresh water from the tank constantly using an air pump. Would definitely eliminate you having to do water changes.
@BeeKayCee911 Жыл бұрын
Thanks Alot👍
@lior876 2 жыл бұрын
I've tried to breed them for a couple of months with no success... But my panda corys community is growing like crazy :)
@Themagicunitato Жыл бұрын
I made the mistake of getting a group of these Corys...now I need about 100 more because they are so darn cute haha
@shesellsfish 2 жыл бұрын
They are adorable! 👍❤👍
@Zafersan Жыл бұрын
Culture Moina, they are 1/2 the size of Daphnia and my Pygmys love them.
@Philip_smith88 2 жыл бұрын
Great video. I ordered 12. Getting tank ready. Do you think a 7.2 ph is too high?
@GabbyRocio 2 жыл бұрын
They’re so cute!
@metametameta69 Жыл бұрын
So cute!!!
@Divbanana786 2 жыл бұрын
Hi,i have a question.Can you feed betta fish 🐟 regular tropical fish 🐠 flakes because i gonna buy a betta fish 🐟 for my 10 gallon which already has guppies in it so i wanted to know. Also I love your vids they inspire me to be in this hobby. Thank you.
@kevinhu9308 2 жыл бұрын
That’s the title I voted for!
@dougandersonza 11 ай бұрын
Have you seen the leucistic varient of the pygmy corrys? They are white/pink with black eyes...
@snikerdoodlefox3979 2 жыл бұрын
I love my piggies . I have 6. Sadly 2 died a while ago but the rest are ok. They are so cuute. I think mine were captive bred ....we ordered them in at my work ( local fish store)
@khanh540 2 жыл бұрын
Hi, do I need to add fine sand on top of my UNS control soil size medium for them or is it fine with soil alone? Thanks!
@mjh00124o 2 жыл бұрын
Very jealous mine spawned but I never saw fry will try again one day 👏😎
@serialshitposter186 2 жыл бұрын
When will the water parameter video come out?
@dacetoh4508 2 жыл бұрын
you are so cheerful , love your videos , thank you so much for sharing
@SnorgYippee 8 ай бұрын
Would a small group of pygmy corydoras do good a 5 gallon tank with a group of small nano schooling fish and amano shrimp?
@jacqho1883 2 жыл бұрын
Cutest lil guys ever!!
@danielmanek9595 11 ай бұрын
I would like to ask, If it is possible to keep them in 50% sand which is like the lower part of the tank in the middle surounded with rocks and anubiases, moss, driftwood, and for the other plants volcanic granule substrate that is a little rough but It is mostly covered with plants. Thanks
@FishRfun 7 ай бұрын
I've got 4 in a 15g fluval flex, but I'm adding 14 more in about a week. It just has 5 white clouds in there now. Adding more live plants but they already have a lot of cover. I think they don't hover much because of their numbers. I ordered 6 and 2 didn't make it. I think a total 18 should make them feel more like hovering around, because it's so cute when they do that. You nailed it that it's like a little hummingbird. Great choice for small tanks like mine. I've got a bunch of different species of corys in my 55g, but the pygmies wouldn't make it on there...lol
@limegreen3394 5 ай бұрын
I also have cories in a 15g with white clouds and it didn't end well for me, the white clouds always seem to have 1 bully that would starve out anything smaller (cories, rasboras, even shrimp sometimes). I ended up removing the WC and they've gotten much fatter
@FishRfun 5 ай бұрын
@@limegreen3394 I actually ended up with 18 pygmy corys but have since quit the hobby due to health reasons. I gave my 15g and 55g tanks/stands/stock/supplies/equipment to my lfs
@olov244 2 жыл бұрын
love mine, such a cool little fish. no babies yet, I could have all males though, hard to tell
@MortalWombatUK Жыл бұрын
Props on the very fleeting Star Trek reference.
@indyhobby3726 2 жыл бұрын
I've noticed that if there is some other type of fish in the tank the pygmy Cory will be a lot less shy
@CanFly2798 2 жыл бұрын
I want Pygmy Cory’s in a 20 gallon long tank I’m setting up, but I’m using Fluorite black gravel. I noticed your tank in the video had a similar gravel. Is that a good substrate for them? I was worried I might need to get some sand instead.
@JackOfAllTrades0404 2 жыл бұрын
I just moved back to FL from CA. Which means starting up new tanks. Any chance you know where you picked up that rimless tank? Thanks for making such helpful videos!
@GirlTalksFish 2 жыл бұрын
My 5-gallon rimless tank is from Petco 👍
@phillipjohnson445 Жыл бұрын
Can I get live baby brine shrimp since I don’t have the ability to hatch them? If not what should I get to feed them?
@zodiak2461 Жыл бұрын
do you thinks its ok to have cherry shrimps and ramshorn snails with them or will the eggs get eaten?
@kimberlina68 2 жыл бұрын
😍 love you❣️
@fagan4119 7 ай бұрын
Do they like current?
@blaznmax8877 2 жыл бұрын
I love them . Just hard to find. A year ago i got 6 of them for 1.99 each. Took all they had . Then I saw them a week. Later at petco and they were not in the system so they just gave me them .. now i want more but can't find them And online their not cheap
@GirlTalksFish 2 жыл бұрын
Wow lucky you! Hope you can find more.
@whisperingwooper1763 Жыл бұрын
Yeah not super common to find
@fernandoramirez7888 2 жыл бұрын
Will they be okay in gravel or will it be too sharp for their bellies?
@johnmcmanus123 2 жыл бұрын
would you know if pygmy Corydoras eat seed shrimp
@bentleytelles7295 3 ай бұрын
Can Pygmy corydoras eat live magna daphnia? I have a culture and I want to see if they will eat them so I can feed them live daphnia
@just_your_average_fish_keeper 6 ай бұрын
Can pygmy corydoras live with 4 amano shrimp, 6 neon tetras and one chill female betta in a ten gallon?
@AQUARIOSIMPLEPE 2 жыл бұрын
Hi, i have a 65L tank. Can i have 8 pygmy corys there, along with my 5months betta fish? Please let me know.
@mlerich34 2 жыл бұрын
Does anyone have any suggestions for a tank light that gives off a more natural color rather than a bright white/bluish color? Any tips are appreciated
@GenRN 2 жыл бұрын
I like Hygger ok. Not the greatest but you can adjust the light to your liking.
@x.lexiejewel.x1630 Жыл бұрын
How many pygmies can be in a 5 gallon? I know they’re schooling fish so I want to get a few but I’ve heard mixed reviews on whether they can even BE in a 5 gallon :(
@NinjaSushi2 Жыл бұрын
8:51 Star Trek nerd! 🎉
@joshiewhite 2 жыл бұрын
I got 26 in a 200L.. so cute.. when I see them.
@singuyen800 11 ай бұрын
Can you raise them with shrimps like fire red..?
@Paul-li9hq 2 жыл бұрын
I looked for these last week. A local fish store did have them... but £12.50 each (or £35 for three). That's £140 for a shoal of 12! Ouch! A 'must have' fish if you have deep pockets. Breeding for resale could help recoup some of the initial outlay?