Sterbai Corydoras Care
Short answer: Sterbai corydoras (Corydoras sterbai) are the warm-water cory, comfortable up to 82 F (28 C), which makes them the go-to bottom dweller for discus tanks. Keep at least 6 on soft sand in a 20-gallon or larger tank. Across 15 real tanks with size data, keepers stock a median of 6 in tanks over 40 gallons.
Sterbai corydoras at a glance
- Scientific name
- Corydoras sterbai
- Adult size
- ~2.6″
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- pH
- 6–7.6
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- Temperament
- peaceful
- Social
- schooling — keep 6+
- Reference
- Wikipedia
Sterbai corydoras (Corydoras sterbai) tolerate up to 82 F (28 C), which makes them the only common cory species comfortable in a heated discus or warm tropical community tank. Keep at least 6 on soft sand in a 20-gallon or larger tank.
Most corydoras top out around 77-80 F. Sterbai handle 75-82 F (24-28 C), overlapping with discus and warm-water tetras.2 That single trait is why they are the standard bottom dweller in discus setups.
Sterbai corydoras at a glance
Corydoras sterbai; authority data from FishBase1 and Seriously Fish.2
| Attribute | Authority | Real tanks (AquaGauge) |
|---|---|---|
| Adult size | 6.5 cm / 2.6 in2 | — |
| Temperature | 24-28 C (75-82 F)2 | — |
| pH | 6.0-7.62 | — |
| Minimum group | 6+3 | median 6 in >40 gal (7 tanks) |
| IUCN status | Least Concern1 | — |
"Real tanks" = medians from our dataset (tanks reporting each measure). Authority figures are recommended ranges from the cited sources.
What real keepers actually stock
Across 30 reports in the AquaGauge dataset (July 2026 snapshot), 15 of which include group size, here is what sterbai keepers run:
| Tank size | Reports | Median group | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| >40 gal | 7 | 6 | 3-8 |
| 11-20 gal | 5 | 5 | 2-8 |
| 21-40 gal | 2 | 4.5 | 4-5 |
| 6-10 gal | 1 | 5 | 5 |
Across the 15 tanks that stated a group size, the median works out to about 0.11 sterbai per gallon. Keepers in larger tanks (>40 gal) hit the recommended 6, while smaller-tank keepers run slightly below. Six remains the target: corydoras are visibly more active and less stressed in a proper group.
The warm-water cory
Sterbai come from the Rio Guapore basin in Brazil and Bolivia, where water is warm year-round.1 That origin gives them a comfortable range of 75-82 F (24-28 C), about 5 F warmer than most corydoras.2
This is the key difference between sterbai and other popular species:
- Panda corydoras: prefer 68-77 F. They overheat in warm tanks.
- Bronze corydoras: comfortable at 72-80 F. Fine for standard tropicals, too cool for discus.
- Sterbai: 75-82 F. The only common cory that overlaps with discus (82-86 F) at the top of its range.
If you keep discus, angelfish, or rams at 80-82 F, sterbai are the cory to choose. For a cooler or unheated tank, a panda or bronze cory is a better fit.
Tank setup
Sterbai need the same basics as all corydoras:
- Substrate: soft sand. They sift substrate through their barbels constantly, and sharp gravel wears those barbels down.3
- Tank size: 20 gallons or larger for a group of 6, to give them floor space.
- Filtration: good filtration and regular maintenance. They live on the bottom where waste settles, so clean substrate matters.
- Decor: driftwood and plants. Sterbai come from tannin-stained waters and appreciate shaded areas, though they adapt to brighter setups.
Because sterbai are a warm-water species, an adjustable heater set to 78-82 F is standard. They are facultative air breathers and will occasionally dart to the surface to gulp air; this is normal, not a sign of low oxygen.1
Diet
Sterbai are omnivorous bottom feeders, identical in diet to other corydoras. Feed sinking wafers or pellets as a staple, with frozen bloodworms or brine shrimp two to three times a week. They help clean up leftovers, but they are not a cleanup crew. Feed them directly.
Tankmates
Sterbai are peaceful and ignore other fish, which makes them excellent community tankmates.2 Their warm-water tolerance means they pair well with:
- Discus (the classic sterbai pairing)
- Angelfish and rams
- Cardinal tetras, rummy-nose tetras, and other warm-water characins
- Bristlenose plecos
Avoid known fin-nippers (tiger barbs, serpae tetras) and anything large enough to eat them. See the full compatibility model in the stocking calculator.
Lifespan and breeding
Sterbai corydoras are long-lived for small fish — with stable, warm water and good food, keepers generally report five years or more, well beyond most community tankmates.
Breeding follows the genus pattern: a large, cooler water change triggers spawning, the female deposits sticky eggs on the aquarium glass and fine-leaved plants, and they hatch in about three to four days.2 Once their yolk sacs are absorbed, the fry take microworm and baby brine shrimp over a thin layer of sand.2
How we counted
We analyzed 30 real-tank reports mentioning sterbai corydoras from fishkeeping subreddits including r/corydoras; 15 of those reports state both group size and tank volume, and the medians and ranges above come from that subset. All medians and ranges come from verify_stats.py; no numbers are estimated. Figures are from the July 2026 snapshot (6,414 tanks total).
Check your exact stocking
Add your fish below to see stocking %, filtration load and compatibility for your setup — live.
Planning a Sterbai corydoras tank. We start with your sterbai corydoras and filter the list to compatible tankmates — untick to see every species (incompatible ones get flagged).
Stocking — under 85% comfortable · 85–100% full · over 100% overstocked
Show the math
Gear for this setup
As an Amazon Associate AquaGauge earns from qualifying purchases. Some links below are affiliate links, at no extra cost to you. Current price and availability are shown on Amazon. Disclosure.
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Hikari Sinking Wafers (3.88 oz) The staple sinking food for sterbai corys; breaks apart slowly so the whole group grazes on the bottom. Check price on Amazon → -
Aqua Natural Sugar White Sand (10 lb) Smooth, barbel-safe sand so sterbai can sift naturally without wearing down their barbels. Check price on Amazon → -
Orlushy Submersible Aquarium Heater Adjustable heater to hold 78-82 F for a warm-water cory setup or discus community tank. Check price on Amazon →
FAQ
- Are sterbai corydoras good for discus tanks?
- Yes. Sterbai corydoras tolerate up to 82 F (28 C), which overlaps with the discus comfort zone. Most other corydoras species overheat at those temperatures.
- How many sterbai corydoras should I keep?
- At least 6. They are shoaling catfish that forage more confidently in a group. Across real tanks, keepers in tanks over 40 gallons stock a median of 6.
- What temperature do sterbai corydoras need?
- 75-82 F (24-28 C). That is warmer than most corys and the reason sterbai are the standard cory for heated tropical community tanks.
- What is the difference between sterbai and panda corydoras?
- Temperature tolerance. Sterbai handle up to 82 F; panda corydoras prefer 68-77 F and do poorly in warm tanks. Sterbai are also slightly larger (2.6 inches vs 2.0 inches).
Sources
- Corydoras sterbai (Sterba's Corydoras), FishBase. View source ↗
- Corydoras sterbai, Seriously Fish. View source ↗
- ScotCat catfish factsheets, ScotCat (electronic publication) (2025). View source ↗
Freshwater aquarist of 8+ years.
