Bring life and personality to the lower levels of your aquarium with the Julii Cory, one of the most sought-after freshwater peaceful bottom feeders in the hobby. Known for their intricate "maze-like" patterns and industrious nature, these catfish are the perfect addition to any community tank looking for a mix of beauty and utility.
Quick Stats
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Scientific Name: Corydoras julii
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Care Level: Easy to Intermediate
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Temperament: Peaceful, schooling fish
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Lifespan: 5+ years with proper care
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Max Size: 2 to 2.5 inches
Place of Origin
The Julii Corydora is native to the coastal river systems of North Eastern Brazil. In their natural habitat, they thrive in slow-moving flooded forests and creeks with soft, sandy bottoms and plenty of leaf litter.
Ideal Environment & Tank Size
To keep your Julii Corys happy, a minimum tank size of 20 gallons is recommended. Because they are highly social, they should be kept in groups of 6 or more.
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Substrate: This is crucial! Use fine sand or very smooth, rounded gravel. Coarse or sharp substrates can damage their sensitive barbels (whiskers), leading to infections.
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Decor: Provide plenty of hiding spots using driftwood, smooth rocks, and hardy live plants like Anubias or Java Fern.
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Water Parameters: * Temperature: 72°F to 79°F
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pH: 6.5 – 7.5
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Hardness: 2–12 dGH
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Feeding & Diet
Julii Corys are omnivorous scavengers. While they will spend their day cleaning up leftover morsels from the substrate, they should not be expected to live on "trash" alone.
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Primary Diet: High-quality sinking pellets or wafers.
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Treats: They love frozen or live foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia.
Compatible Tank Mates
These are among the most peaceful aquarium fish available. They ignore almost all other inhabitants, making them ideal for community setups.
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Best Mates: Tetras, Rasboras, Guppies, Dwarf Gouramis, and peaceful invertebrates like Cherry Shrimp or Mystery Snails.
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Avoid: Large, aggressive, or territorial fish (like Oscars or large Cichlids) that might view the Cory as a snack.
Breeding the Julii Cory
Breeding Corydoras julii can be a rewarding challenge for hobbyists.
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Conditioning: Feed the breeding pair high-protein live foods.
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The Trigger: Perform a large (30-50%) water change with slightly cooler water to simulate the rainy season.
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Spawning: The female will carry eggs in a "basket" formed by her pelvic fins and deposit them on flat surfaces or glass.
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Care: Remove the parents after spawning, as they may eat the eggs. Eggs usually hatch within 3 to 5 days.
Pro Tip: Many fish sold as "Julii" are actually Corydoras trilineatus (Three-stripe Cory). True Julii Corys have distinct fine spots on their heads rather than a reticulated, connected pattern. Regardless of the label, both species offer the same delightful behavior and easy-going temperament!
PLEASE READ BEFORE ORDERING
- The photos shown on fish product pages are representations of adult fish and are NOT the actual fish that you will be receiving.
- Please visit our “Ordering/Shipping fish” page prior to checking out to familiarize yourself with our process.
- We ship fish exclusively using overnight shipping with either FedEx or UPS. We will not ship fish with lesser expensive shipping services like “Ground” or “Priority Mail”. This is to ensure the safety of the fish.
- Unless specified, all fish are sold as unsexed.