Corydoras catfish, also known as cory catfish, are popular for their peaceful nature, hardiness, and lively behavior. They are excellent tank cleaners, scavenging uneaten food and debris from the substrate. However, they can stir up algae and muck while foraging, so they may need help from other scavengers like snails or shrimp to maintain cleanliness in the tank.

Corys should be kept in schools of at least three, as they are social fish and can suffer from loneliness if kept alone. They do best in aquariums with small to medium-sized peaceful fish, such as barbs, danios, livebearers, killifish, small tetras, and dwarf cichlids. They prefer cooler water and should not be kept with species that require higher tropical temperatures or large, aggressive fish.

Corydoras are bottom feeders and are known for their calm nature. While they are active during the day, they often spend long periods sitting still, scanning the substrate for food. They have sharp barbs under their eyes and on their dorsal fin, which help deter larger fish from swallowing them. Caution should be exercised when handling them to avoid injury from these barbs.

In summary, cory catfish are great additions to peaceful community tanks, particularly in groups, and help keep the tank substrate clean. They are ideal tankmates for other small, peaceful species, but should not be kept with larger or more aggressive fish.