{"product_id":"sterbai-cory-corydoras-sterbai-freshwater","title":"Sterbai Cory (Corydoras sterbai)","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif;color:#1a1a1a;max-width:860px;line-height:1.7;\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#E3F2FD;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding:10px 14px;margin:0 0 14px;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIn-store pickup only.\u003c\/strong\u003e Your order is reserved, we hold off on bagging until you arrive so it stays healthy in its display tank.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eSterbai Cory\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eCorydoras sterbai\u003c\/em\u003e) is the best looking and most useful armored catfish in the freshwater hobby: a dark chocolate body dusted with cream white spots, a finely reticulated head, and bright orange pectoral fin spines that flash every time it darts across the sand. What sets it apart from every other cory is heat tolerance. Most \u003cem\u003eCorydoras\u003c\/em\u003e start to struggle above 78°F, but the Sterbai is comfortable up to 82°F, which makes it the one cory that genuinely belongs in a discus or warm South American biotope tank. Peaceful, hardy, long lived, and endlessly busy along the bottom. Browse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/fresh-water\"\u003efreshwater livestock and supplies\u003c\/a\u003e to build out the rest of the tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCare Guide\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuy a group, not a single fish.\u003c\/strong\u003e Corys are shoaling animals. Six or more is the minimum for confident, out-in-the-open behavior, and a group of eight to ten is where they really come alive. A lone cory hides and stops eating.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTank size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20 gallons or larger. Floor space matters far more than height, so a wider footprint always beats a taller tank.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSubstrate is the one thing you cannot compromise on:\u003c\/strong\u003e use soft \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/estes-natural-aquatic-sand\"\u003eaquarium sand\u003c\/a\u003e or very smooth, rounded gravel. Sharp or coarse gravel wears down their barbels, and a cory that loses its barbels can no longer find food properly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater parameters:\u003c\/strong\u003e 73 to 82°F, pH 6.0 to 7.6, GH 2 to 15. Genuinely adaptable, but keep nitrates low, they are sensitive to dirty water and to salt.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeeding:\u003c\/strong\u003e omnivore, and a scavenger by design rather than a cleanup crew. They need their own food that reaches the bottom. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/hikari-sinking-wafers\"\u003eHikari Sinking Wafers\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/xtreme-shrimpee-sinking-sticks\"\u003eXtreme Shrimpee Sinking Sticks\u003c\/a\u003e, and frozen \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/sfbb-bloodworms-cube-1-75oz\"\u003ebloodworms\u003c\/a\u003e are all taken eagerly. Feed after lights out if faster mid-water fish are beating them to it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDo not use salt or copper based medications\u003c\/strong\u003e at full dose. Like all scaleless catfish, Sterbai are far more sensitive to them than the fish they live with.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNetting:\u003c\/strong\u003e scoop them in a cup or container rather than a net. Their pectoral and dorsal spines lock outward, tangle in mesh, and can deliver a mild sting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;max-width:640px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eCorydoras sterbai\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon names\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eSterbai Cory, Sterba's Corydoras, Sterba's Cory Cat\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare level\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperament\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003ePeaceful, shoaling\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended group\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e6 or more\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMax size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e2.5 inches, females slightly larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum tank\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e20 gallons\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e73 to 82°F, warm tank safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003epH\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e6.0 to 7.6\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eGH 2 to 15\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiet\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eOmnivore, sinking foods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSubstrate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eSand or smooth rounded gravel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLifespan\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e5 to 10 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eRio Guaporé basin, Brazil and Bolivia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePickup\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eIn-store pickup at Squeaky's Aquatics\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCompatibility\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the safest community fish there is. Sterbai ignore everything above them and are far too armored to be bullied by ordinary community stock. Pair them with schooling fish like \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/cardinal-tetra-paracheirodon-axelrodi-freshwater\"\u003eCardinal Tetra\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/neon-tetra-paracheirodon-innesi-freshwater\"\u003eNeon Tetra\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/ember-tetra-hyphessobrycon-amandae-freshwater\"\u003eEmber Tetra\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/brilliant-rummy-nose-tetra-hemigrammus-bleheri-freshwater\"\u003eRummy Nose Tetra\u003c\/a\u003e, or \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/celestial-pearl-danio-danio-margaritatus-freshwater\"\u003eCelestial Pearl Danio\u003c\/a\u003e. They also mix perfectly with other bottom dwellers that work different shifts, including the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/otocinclus-catfish-otocinclus-vittatus-freshwater-algae-eater\"\u003eOtocinclus Catfish\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/bushynose-pleco-ancistrus-freshwater\"\u003eBushynose Pleco\u003c\/a\u003e, and with cleanup inverts like \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/amano-shrimp-caridina-multidentata-freshwater\"\u003eAmano Shrimp\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/freshwater-invertebrates\"\u003enerite snails\u003c\/a\u003e. Different \u003cem\u003eCorydoras\u003c\/em\u003e species will shoal loosely together, but they school far more tightly with their own kind, so build one solid group of Sterbai before mixing in \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/panda-cory-corydoras-panda-freshwater\"\u003ePanda\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/skunk-cory-corydoras-arcuatus-freshwater\"\u003eSkunk Corys\u003c\/a\u003e. Avoid large cichlids, and avoid anything aggressive enough to harass a fish that cannot swim away quickly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eRecommended Foods \u0026amp; Supplies\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/hikari-sinking-wafers\"\u003eHikari Sinking Wafers\u003c\/a\u003e staple sinking food\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/xtreme-shrimpee-sinking-sticks\"\u003eXtreme Shrimpee Sinking Sticks\u003c\/a\u003e high protein sinking stick\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/repashy-community-plus\"\u003eRepashy Community Plus\u003c\/a\u003e omnivore gel food\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/sfbb-bloodworms-cube-1-75oz\"\u003eSFBB Frozen Bloodworms\u003c\/a\u003e for conditioning and spawning\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/estes-natural-aquatic-sand\"\u003eEstes Natural Aquatic Sand\u003c\/a\u003e barbel safe substrate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/hikari-ultimate-water-conditioner\"\u003eHikari Ultimate Water Conditioner\u003c\/a\u003e for water changes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy does everyone recommend Sterbai for discus tanks?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBecause of the temperature range. Discus want water in the low 80s, which is above the comfort zone of most \u003cem\u003eCorydoras\u003c\/em\u003e. Sterbai handle it without the shortened lifespan you see when other corys are kept that warm, so they are the standard bottom dweller for warm water setups.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMine keeps racing to the surface for a gulp of air. Is something wrong?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo, that is completely normal. Corydoras can breathe atmospheric air through a modified gut and will dash up for a gulp even in perfectly oxygenated water. Only worry if the whole group is doing it constantly and hanging at the surface, which usually points to a water quality problem.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill they clean up leftover food for me?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePartly, but never stock them as a cleanup service. They are opportunists, not vacuums, and they will slowly starve in a tank where all the food gets eaten mid-water. Always drop a sinking food specifically for them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow can I tell males from females?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLook from above. Females are noticeably wider and rounder through the body, especially when full of eggs, and tend to be a bit larger overall. Males are slimmer with a more pointed profile.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this the same fish as a Haraldschultzi Cory?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThey are frequently confused. Sterbai have white spots on a dark head, while \u003cem\u003eCorydoras haraldschultzi\u003c\/em\u003e have the reverse, dark spots on a light head. The orange pectoral spines look similar on both.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48152011112667,"sku":"240282","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/a460fd53-8e7e-43a4-a25f-b4f931185959.png?v=1786471347","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/sterbai-cory-corydoras-sterbai-freshwater","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}