Our Guide To Keeping Bandit Cory Fish

1. About Fish Species:

   • Scientific name: Corydoras metae
   • Common name: Bandit Cory
   • Family: Callichthyidae
   • Origin: Meta River Basin in Colombia, South America
   • Adult length: 5 cm
   • Lifespan: 5 to 8 years
   • Diet: Omnivore
   • Care Level: Easy to Moderate
   • Temperament: Peaceful

2. Tank Setup:

   • Bandit Corys are peaceful bottom-dwelling catfish that do best in a mature aquarium with plenty of floor space. A minimum tank size of 60L is recommended for a small group.
   • Use a soft sand substrate to protect their delicate barbels, as rough gravel can cause damage or irritation while they search for food along the bottom.
   • Provide hiding places using driftwood, smooth stones, caves, and live plants such as Java Fern, Anubias, Cryptocoryne, and Amazon Sword plants.

3. Water Parameters:

   • Bandit Corys prefer soft to moderately hard water with a slightly acidic to neutral pH range of 6.0 to 7.5.
   • Keep the water temperature between 22 to 26°C (72 to 79°F).
   • Stable water quality is important, so avoid sudden changes in temperature, pH, or hardness.

4. Filtration and Water Flow:

   • A gentle to moderate water flow is suitable for Bandit Corys, as they naturally inhabit slow-moving streams and river margins.
   • Choose a reliable filter that provides good biological filtration while keeping the water movement comfortable at the bottom of the aquarium.
   • Regular water changes are recommended to keep nitrate levels low and maintain healthy conditions for these sensitive catfish.

5. Diet:

   • Bandit Corys are omnivores and should be offered a varied diet that sinks to the bottom of the aquarium.
   • Feed high-quality sinking pellets, catfish wafers, and granules as a staple diet.
   • Supplement their diet with frozen or live foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, and tubifex to encourage natural foraging behaviour.

6. Tank mates:

   • Bandit Corys are peaceful social fish and should be kept in groups of at least six individuals to help them feel secure and display natural shoaling behaviour.
   • They are compatible with other peaceful community fish such as tetras, rasboras, small gouramis, pencilfish, peaceful livebearers, and dwarf cichlids.
   • Avoid keeping them with large, aggressive, or overly boisterous fish that may outcompete them for food or cause stress.

7. Behavior and Compatibility:

   • Bandit Corys spend much of their time exploring the bottom of the aquarium, sifting through the substrate for leftover food and small edible particles.
   • They are active, social, and more confident when kept in a group, often resting together or moving around the aquarium as a loose shoal.
   • They are not aggressive and make excellent additions to peaceful community aquariums with suitable water conditions and calm tank mates.