Salt and Pepper Corydoras

Corydoras habrosus

Also known as: Salt and pepper cory, Checkerboard cory, Habrosus cory

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 22–26°C
• pH: 6–7.5
• Hardness (GH): 36–179 ppm (2–10 dGH)

Values above are general hardness (GH). For carbonate hardness (KH), the buffer that keeps pH stable, see the water parameters guide.

Care Summary

One of the three commonly-kept dwarf corydoras (alongside the pygmy and hastatus), and the most bottom-oriented of them, the salt and pepper cory is a busy, charming, thumbnail-sized catfish patterned with the fine dark mottling that gives it its name. It brings all the appeal of the larger corydoras (constant foraging, sociable schooling, comic personality) to tanks far too small for a group of bronze or panda cories, which makes it one of the best clean-up and activity fish for a nano community. Like all corydoras it needs a soft substrate, a group of its own kind, and clean, well-oxygenated water, and like all corydoras it is undone by sharp gravel and by being kept in twos and threes. Hardy, peaceful, and endlessly active, it is an excellent dwarf bottom-dweller.

Tankmates

A true dwarf corydoras, even smaller than the pygmy cory, that must be kept in a group of at least eight (ideally more) on soft sand or smooth fine gravel to protect its delicate barbels. Unlike the pygmy and hastatus cories, which spend much of their time schooling in mid-water, the salt and pepper cory stays mostly on the bottom, busily sifting the substrate. Its tiny size makes it perfectly safe with the smallest nano fish, with shrimp (adults; it may eat eggs and the smallest shrimplets), and even with a peaceful betta, but also means it should never be kept with fish large enough to eat it. An ideal bottom-dweller for a planted nano community.

Compatible with

• Ember Tetra
• Chili Rasbora
• Celestial Pearl Danio
• Harlequin Rasbora
• Cherry Shrimp
• Sparkling Gourami
• Honey Gourami
• Betta

Avoid keeping with

• Large Cichlids
• Fin Nippers
• Aggressive Tankmates
• Oscar

Common Problems

• damaged barbels from sharp substrate
• stress and inactivity in groups smaller than 8
• ich
• being kept with fish large enough to eat it

Sources: seriouslyfish.com, fishbase.org · Last updated: 2026-06-20