Sterbai Cory (Corydoras sterbai)

Sterbai Corydoras (Corydoras sterbai)

Sterbai Corydoras are a favorite among Cory keepers for their bold spotted pattern, orange-tinged fins, and peaceful, active bottom-dwelling behavior. They are an excellent choice for community aquariums and planted tanks, especially for hobbyists who want a Cory species that can handle slightly warmer 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 Sterbai Corydoras

• Beautiful spotted pattern with orange accents on fins

• Peaceful, social bottom dwellers

• Great for planted community aquariums

• Active foragers with fun group behavior

• Excellent Cory species for warmer community tanks

Temperament & Behavior

Sterbai Corydoras are peaceful, social fish that should be kept in groups. They spend most of their time foraging the bottom and interacting with each other, and they are best displayed in tanks with open bottom space and smooth substrate.

They do best in tanks with:

• Fine sand or smooth substrate (preferred)

• Gentle to moderate flow

• Good oxygenation

• Plants, driftwood, and shaded areas

• Stable water quality

Tank Size (Recommended)

• Small group (6+): 20 gallon long recommended

• Better long-term group/community setup: 29 gallons+ preferred

• Larger mixed community setup: 40 gallon breeder+ ideal

Water Temperature

• Ideal range: 75–80°F

• Many hobbyists keep them around 76–78°F

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

Tank Mates (Good Choices)

Best tank mates are peaceful fish that won’t harass them and are compatible with their warmer preferred temperature range.

Good tank mates may include:

• Angelfish (peaceful setups)

• Rummy nose tetras

• Cardinal tetras

• Bolivian rams (in appropriate setups)

• Peaceful rainbowfish (larger tanks)

• Bristlenose plecos

Avoid:

• Aggressive cichlids

• Large predators

• Fin-nippers

• Rough substrate that can damage barbels

Feeding

Sterbai Corydoras thrive on a varied diet and should be intentionally fed sinking foods, not left to survive on scraps.

Recommended foods:

• High-quality sinking pellets/wafers

• Frozen foods (bloodworms, brine shrimp, blackworms as treats)

• Live foods (optional, but excellent for conditioning and breeding)

• Supplemental finely crushed foods that sink quickly

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 sinking foods, live baby brine shrimp, frozen foods, and other quality foods

• Parasite free

That matters—especially with 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.