Many people would consider the corydora to be a staple fish in any freshwater aquarium. They are relatively hardy fish, especially in comparison to some of the other freshwater aquarium species, and are great for beginners thanks to being so easy to care for. But that doesn’t mean that they don’t require a specific diet.
If you want your corydora to thrive then it is vital to offer them meals that will benefit their health and give them a burst of energy. In this guide, we will be showing you some of the best food options for corydoras and providing you with some tips on providing the best diet for your pet.
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What Is The Natural Diet Of Corydoras?
The corydora is one of the most common types of freshwater aquarium fish and they can be found in aquatic stores across the globe. While there are several different types that vary in terms of size, shape, and color, the most common type found in home aquariums is typically the bronze corydoras. These fish may also be called Cory fish, Cory catfish, and Cory cats, but they are all one of the same.
The corydora remains popular thanks to its simplicity. They are very easy to keep and come highly recommended to beginner fish keepers, thanks to this. They are an easy-going species that has a hard armor that runs over their bodies and yet are incredibly gentle fish.
The corydora is an omnivore, meaning that it will eat plant and animal-based foods. In the wild, they thrive off a variety of worms and insects that can be found on the bottom of the water; they are, in fact, bottom feeders. While these creatures would be their food of choice, the corydora will also feast on plant and vegetable matter and in some cases, may nibble on dead fish.
The corydora also enjoys eating algae but this should never be considered as a full diet. If you have algae in your tank, these fish will tend to it for you but in addition, you will also need to supply a nutritious and beneficial diet for your fish. This is of the utmost importance.
When you keep corydoras at home, your options for their diet are quite interesting as they will thrive off a large selection of fish flake, pellets and even bottom feeder tablets. Foragers by nature, you will notice that your cory catfish will spend vast amounts of time looking for food on the bottom of the tank. This means that they can typically be left slightly longer than other fish without being fed and are extremely interesting to observe. That said, we wouldn’t recommend leaving them for long periods of time without food.
Since they are foragers, a lot of people believe that the corydora is a tank cleaning fish. While this is true to an extent, this is not a reason to simply pop them in the tank and forget about them. Moreover, you should never rely solely on a corydora or any other type of fish to clean your tank, you will still need the proper filtration and cleaning systems in place.
What Are The Best Foods For Corydoras?
Because corydoras are such easy fish to keep, it comes as no surprise that there is a plethora of food options out there for them. As we have mentioned, these fish are partial to various prepackaged foods but while some are just ‘OK’, others are exemplary and the ones we have listed below, we consider to be some of the best.
Omega One Catfish Pellets
The clue is in the name; these pellets are designed specifically for bottom-feeding catfish like the corydora and offer a fast-sinking solution at mealtimes. They are suitable for all ages and so as soon as the fry can begin feeding, you are safe to offer these pellets.
What’s more, the Monega One catfish pellets contain an array of nutritious ingredients that are super beneficial to the health of your corydoras. For example, omega 3 and 6 provide your corydoras with excellent immune health, and salmon skin boosts their natural coloration
Tetra Shrimp Wafers Complete Diet
Shrimp wafers are always going to be one of the best choices for corydoras and other types of bottom feeders. If you also keep loaches in your aquarium then this food is ideal for both species; just be sure to put enough in for both fish.
The wafers are ideal for keeping the tank clean as, unlike some other foods, won’t cloud the water. What’s more, they are fast sinking and contain all of the important nutrients to keep your fish happy and healthy. In fact, this is one of the most balanced corydora foods we could find and since it is suitable for all life stages, you can give your fish these benefits from day one.
Fluval Bug Bites
If you are looking for something a little different than pellets or wafers for your corydoras then the Fluval bug bites are a great option. We wouldn’t suggest feeding these at every meal but as a treat or to mix up the diet slightly, they are perfect.
The bug bites are made up from 40% fly larvae and so are packed with protein which is essential for the health of your fish. Moreover, they are bursting with omega 3 and 6 which are important for healthy skin and a healthy immune system. They contain no artificial colors or flavors and will quickly sink to the bottom of the water ready for your corydoras to enjoy a feast.
Aqueon Bottom Feeder Tablets
For aquarists who want convenient and easy food for their corydoras, the Aqueon bottom feeder tablets are a must. These are quick sinking and won’t affect the quality of the water. Furthermore, they are great for all stages of life so you can begin offering them from the moment the fry are able to eat or when you bring your fish home from the shop.
These bottom feeder tablets are packed with important nutrients such as vitamin A and vitamin D3. But what really impressed us about these tablets is that they are designed so that the fish will not waste as much, further contributing to clear aquarium water.
What To Look For When Choosing Food For Corydoras
As we have discovered, the corydora is not a fussy eater and this is great news for hobby aquarists as it means that you don’t need to worry about choosing a very specific type of food. These fish go nuts for shrimp-based foods so things like shrimp wafers and pellets are always a good option. However, if you also wanted to go for fresh foods, this is an option. That said, it may not be as convenient and could end up being a little more costly.
Gel foods are a great choice also for the corydora catfish but in any case, you must ensure that you choose food that will sink to the bottom of the tank. Since corydoras are bottom feeders, they will not benefit from food that floats at the top of water for long periods of time. With that in mind, your middle and top feeders may leave leftovers and these can be eaten by the foraging corydora once they finally hit the bottom.
How Often Should I Feed My Corydoras?
There is something of a golden rule when it comes to feeding you fish, and we aren’t just talking about corydoras here; this applies to almost all fresh and saltwater species that can be kept in a hobby aquarium. You should only feed your corydoras as much food as they can eat in a five-minute period.
The reason for this is that overfeeding can lead to a lot of waste food being left in the water. This may seem like a good thing as the fish will have something to come back to when they get peckish, right? But in reality, this leftover food will cloud the water and affect its quality. If you have noticed that you have regular water imbalance issues, it could be as a result of leftover food.
The corydora, as we have discussed, is a pretty resilient little fish so you only need to offer a meal once a day. That said, there are some aquarists that like to give their corydoras two meals and this is OK provided that you only give a small amount of food; again, to avoid waste.
In between meals, your corydoras will forage around the gravel looking for littles bits that have fallen under the radar as well as feeding on any algae within the tank. Since they are such active fish, you will often find them scavenging around the tank and it is uncommon to see them resting.
Another thing to consider when feeding your corydoras is that these are far from being aggressive fish. This means that if they are faced with competition at mealtimes, they will fall to the bottom of the pile and if some of your more aggressive species eat all the food, the corydoras will go without. For this reason, it is important to put enough food into the tank to sate all of the animals in it. Otherwise, you might want to consider what types of fish you keep together to ensure good balance and harmony within the tank community.
Conclusion
Corydoras are potentially one of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish in the world. If you have recently set up a freshwater tank, you will probably be advised by many experienced fish keepers to start with a corydora. They are resilient, hardy, and incredibly easy to care for. Of course, this doesn’t mean that they don’t need a strict diet, and providing your fish with excellent nutrition is extremely important.
In the wild, the corydora is a bottom feeder that will forage the river bed for pieces of vegetation, worms, and insects. They may also feed on algae which makes them great as part of a larger tank cleaning system. This varied diet means that you have a lot of options when it comes to feeding your fish and there is a huge range of pellets, flakes, and tablets that make for a nutritious meal.
