Emerald green corydoras care guide
Also called: Emerald cory, Emerald green cory, Emerald catfish, Emerald brochis, Corydoras splendens
The emerald green corydoras is a large, peaceful cory with a shiny green-bronze body. It grows to about 3 inches (8 cm), so it needs a group of at least 6, soft sand to dig in, and a 4 ft (120 cm), 55-gallon (208 L) or larger tank.
Emerald green corydoras need a tank of at least 55 gallons (208 L), a group of 6 or more, and water at 22–27°C (72–81°F) with a pH of 6–7.5. They grow to about 8 cm (3.1 in) and are peaceful.
Plan a tank with emerald green corydorasSee all tank mates
Emerald green corydoras quick facts
| Scientific name | Brochis splendens |
|---|---|
| Family | Callichthyidae |
| Origin | Amazon basin in Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia (most sold are farm-bred) |
| Adult size | 8 cm (3.1 in) |
| Minimum tank | 55 gallons (208 L), at least 120 cm (47 in) long |
| Temperature | 22–27°C (72–81°F) |
| pH | 6–7.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 2–15 dGH |
| Group size | 6 or more (shoaling fish) |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims at | Bottom |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Care level | Easy |
| Lifespan | 5–10 years |
| Safe with shrimp? | Mostly (eats baby shrimp) |
| Safe with plants? | Yes |
- Needs sand or smooth, fine gravel to protect its barbels and belly.
Tank setup
A group of six needs at least a 55-gallon (208 L) tank about 4 ft (120 cm) long, with a wide footprint for foraging. Use fine sand or very smooth gravel so they can sift without hurting their barbels. Add plants, wood and a few shady hiding spots. They dart up to gulp air now and then, which is normal, so leave a small gap under the lid.
How many emerald green corydoras in a tank?
The smallest common tank that suits emerald green corydoras is a 55 gallon. Here is roughly how many fit in each size when they are the only fish, based on adult size and waste output. Leave room if you want tank mates.
| Tank | Emerald green corydoras (alone) |
|---|---|
| 3 gallon | Too small |
| 5 gallon | Too small |
| 10 gallon | Too small |
| 15 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon long | Too small |
| 29 gallon | Too small |
| 40 gallon | Too small |
| 55 gallon | 6–26 |
| 75 gallon | 6–36 |
| 125 gallon | 6–60 |
What you need for emerald green corydoras
Sized for a 55 gallon tank, the smallest common size that suits a group of 6 emerald green corydoras. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.
Tank and equipment
- 55 gallon aquarium (tank or kit) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bigger tanks are more stable and easier for beginners. How to choose
- Aquarium stand for 55 gallons (opens Amazon in a new tab)The water alone weighs about 459 lb (208 kg), before glass, gravel and rock. How to choose
- 2 adjustable heaters, 100 W each (opens Amazon in a new tab)Holds about 76 °F (24.5 °C) in a room at 65 °F (18 °C). Two heaters keep the tank warm if one fails. How to choose
- Aquarium thermometer (opens Amazon in a new tab)Check it daily: heaters can fail stuck on or off. How to choose
- Hang-on-back filter rated 220–330 GPH (opens Amazon in a new tab)Community tank: 4–6 times the tank volume per hour. How to choose
- About 55 lb of aquarium sand (opens Amazon in a new tab)Enough for a layer about 1.5 in (4 cm) deep. Soft sand protects the barbels of corydoras, loaches and other diggers. How to choose
- Water conditioner (dechlorinator) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. Seachem Prime is a popular, concentrated choice. How to choose
- Liquid test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Liquid kits are more accurate than strips. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the common choice. How to choose
- Gravel vacuum (siphon) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cleans the gravel and does the water change in one go. How to choose
- LED aquarium light, about 48 in long (opens Amazon in a new tab)Match the light to the tank length. Basic LEDs grow easy plants. How to choose
Food and extras for emerald green corydoras
- Sinking pellets or wafers (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bottom feeders need food that reaches the floor.
- Caves and hides (opens Amazon in a new tab)Gives shy and territorial fish their own space.
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Water parameters
Keep it at 22–27°C (72–81°F), pH 6.0–7.5 and soft to moderately hard water (2–15 dGH). It is fairly adaptable, but clean water matters because it spends all day on the substrate. Vacuum the sand lightly and change water weekly.
Best tank mates for emerald green corydoras
These popular species share emerald green corydoras' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 105 good matches.
Betta fish
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 24–28°C (75–82°F)
Cherry shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 20–27°C (68–81°F)
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Guppy
5 cm (2 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Dwarf gourami
7.5 cm (3 in) · 24–28°C (75–82°F)
Neon tetra
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 21–25°C (70–77°F)
Panda corydoras
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 21–25°C (70–77°F)
Bronze corydoras
7 cm (2.8 in) · 21–26°C (70–79°F)
Avoid keeping emerald green corydoras with
- Oscar: Oscar can eat emerald green corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful emerald green corydoras.
- Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful emerald green corydoras.
- Discus: They need different temperatures: Emerald green corydoras 22–27°C (72–81°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
- Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Emerald green corydoras don't belong in that setup.
- Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful emerald green corydoras.
Feeding
Emerald cories are omnivores that forage for worms, insect larvae and small crustaceans. Feed sinking pellets or wafers daily, and add frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp or daphnia a few times a week. Make sure food reaches the bottom; they should not live on leftovers.
Behavior
They are peaceful and very social, moving and feeding together as a group. Keep at least 6, and more is better. They get along with almost any peaceful community fish, including tetras, rasboras, gouramis and other corydoras. Avoid fish big enough to swallow them and aggressive bottom-dwelling cichlids.
Breeding
Females are rounder, deeper-bodied and a little larger than males. A cooler water change often triggers spawning. The female carries eggs between her pelvic fins and sticks them to glass or plants, often high up near the surface. Move the eggs to a separate tank to raise the fry.
Tips from experienced keepers
- Keep at least 6. Emerald cories are bolder and more active in a bigger group.
- Choose sand over sharp gravel to protect their sensitive whiskers.
- Add sinking food after the lights dim if faster fish grab everything first.
- Quick trips to the surface for air are normal. Constant gasping means test your water.
- They grow much larger than most cories, so plan a 4 ft (120 cm) tank, not the small setups that suit pygmy or panda cories.
Frequently asked questions
How big do emerald green corydoras get?
Most reach about 3 inches (7.5–8 cm), with females slightly larger. That makes them one of the biggest corydoras commonly sold.
Is the emerald cory a Corydoras or a Brochis?
It has long been sold as Corydoras splendens, but it is now usually placed in the genus Brochis as Brochis splendens. The name change doesn't affect how you care for it.
How many emerald green corydoras should be kept together?
Keep at least 6. Like other cories, they are group fish and become shy and stressed when kept alone or in pairs.
Sources
We checked these references when writing this page. Values are for healthy long-term keeping, not survival limits. Last reviewed 2026-10-13. See our editorial policy.