Bandit Cory Cats are native to the streams and tributaries of Colombia and northern South America, where they live at the river bottom, foraging for plant and meaty foods. Their silver body, marked with a black stripe over the eye and another running horizontally from the dorsal fin to the tail, helps them blend into the substrate and evade predators.

These social fish thrive in groups of at least 4 individuals, either of their own species or mixed with other Corydoras species, making them ideal for peaceful community tanks. They are peaceful, low-maintenance fish, and their social nature is essential for their health and longevity.

Like all Corydoras species, Bandit Cory Cats regularly gulp air at the surface, extracting oxygen from their hind gut. This adaptation helps them survive in low-oxygen environments and should be provided for in the aquarium.

To replicate their natural habitat, Bandit Cory Cats require an aquarium setup that includes sandy substrates, tree roots, fallen leaves, and areas with diffused lighting and cooler temperatures (mid-70s°F). Adding driftwood, rocky caves, and vegetation helps create a comfortable, natural environment.

These fish are scavengers that feed on both plant and meaty foods. In the wild, they consume small worms, benthic crustaceans, insects, and decaying matter. In the aquarium, they accept a variety of foods, including flake, freeze-dried, frozen, live foods, and pellets. While they help clean the substrate by consuming leftover food and decaying plant matter, it’s important to supplement their diet with bloodworms, tubifex, and sinking pellets to ensure proper nutrition.

Bandit Cory Cats are sensitive to poor water conditions, requiring clean water with low nutrient levels and high dissolved oxygen to thrive. They are an excellent choice for aquariums with stable water quality and a peaceful community of small fish.