Pygmy Corydora (Corydoras pygmaeus)

Pygmy Corydoras (Corydoras pygmaeus)

Pygmy Corydoras are one of the best nano community fish in the hobby. They combine the peaceful, social nature of Corydoras with a much smaller size, making them an excellent choice for planted nano tanks and peaceful community setups.

At Legacy Line Aquatics, these fish are bred and raised in-house by me in a small-scale, care-first setup. I do not source from mass-production fish farms. My focus is on raising healthy fish with clean water, proper nutrition, and attentive day-to-day care, so you receive fish I’d be confident keeping in my own fish room.

Why Hobbyists Love Pygmy Corydoras

• Tiny, peaceful Corydoras with lots of personality

• Great for nano and planted community aquariums

• Social schooling fish with fun group behavior

• Active on the bottom and midwater (more than many Cory species)

• Excellent choice for peaceful, small fish setups

Temperament & Behavior

Pygmy Corydoras are peaceful, social fish that should be kept in groups. Unlike many larger Corydoras, they often spend time in both the bottom and lower-midwater levels, especially when comfortable in a group.

They do best in tanks with:

• Fine sand or smooth substrate

• Gentle flow

• Plants and cover

• Open areas for group movement

• Stable water quality and oxygenation

Tank Size (Recommended)

• Small group (8+): 10 gallon minimum

• Better long-term group setup: 15–20 gallons preferred

• Community setup: 20 gallons+ ideal

Water Temperature

• Ideal range: 72–78°F

• Many hobbyists keep them around 74–76°F

• A stable temperature is more important than chasing an exact number

Tank Mates (Good Choices)

Best tank mates are peaceful nano/community fish that won’t harass them and won’t outcompete them at feeding time.

Good tank mates may include:

• Ember tetras

• Celestial Pearl Danios

• Emerald Dwarf Rasboras

• Ricefish

• Small rasboras

• Peaceful shrimp (with caution around shrimplets)

Avoid:

• Aggressive fish

• Large cichlids

• Fin-nippers

• Large, fast feeders that prevent them from getting food

Feeding

Pygmy Corydoras thrive on a varied diet of small sinking foods. They should be intentionally target-fed and not expected to survive on leftovers.

Recommended foods:

• High-quality micro sinking pellets

• Crushed wafers/pellets

• Frozen foods (baby brine shrimp, cyclops, finely sized foods)

• Live foods (optional, but excellent for conditioning)

What You’re Getting from Legacy Line Aquatics

When you purchase from me, you’re getting fish that were bred and raised in-house, not mass-imported and flipped. I take a small-scale approach so I can focus on:

• Fish health

• Clean systems

• Proper feeding, mixture of high quality micro sinking foods, live baby brine shrimp, and other quality foods

• Parasite free

That matters—especially with small Corydoras.

Shipping & Live Arrival

Live fish are shipped Monday–Wednesday (weather permitting) to reduce transit risk. Please review our How Shipping Works page and DOA policy before ordering.