Pygmy corydoras (Corydoras pygmaeus) do best on tiny foods: crushed flakes, micro pellets, and small live or frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, microworms, and daphnia. Feed them small amounts once or twice a day, and keep the pieces small enough for a fish that tops out around 1 inch.
What Pygmy Corydoras Eat
Pygmy corys are omnivores. In nature they pick tiny invertebrates and organic bits from the water and from surfaces. In an aquarium, a mix of dry and meaty foods covers their needs.
- Micro pellets and crushed flakes: A good staple. Choose a small sinking or slow-sinking micro pellet, or crush regular flakes between your fingers.
- Baby brine shrimp: A favorite protein source and easy for tiny mouths.
- Microworms and daphnia: Fine for a few feedings a week, live, frozen, or freeze-dried.
- Frozen cyclops or finely chopped bloodworms: Good treats. Thaw first and feed small portions.
Do They Eat From the Bottom?
Pygmy corys are often described as bottom feeders, but they actually spend a lot of time in the middle of the tank and on plant leaves. Food that drifts slowly gets eaten, so you do not need to rely on heavy wafers. Large sinking wafers can be too big for them to work on, and faster fish may finish them first.
How Much and How Often
Offer a pinch of food once or twice a day and only what the group finishes in a couple of minutes. Remove leftovers after an hour or two, since uneaten food fouls small tanks quickly. If you see a group of corys wandering the tank looking for scraps, that is normal behavior and does not mean they are starving.
Feeding in a Community Tank
Pygmy corys are shy and slow to reach food when faster fish are around. Keep them in a group of at least six, and pair them with calm, small tankmates such as small rasboras or tetras. If other fish steal the food, feed a second time after lights are dimmed, or drop a small amount near the corys. For more on sinking foods, see our guide to sinking tropical fish food, and for catfish-sized bottom dwellers, what to feed bristlenose catfish.
Foods to Avoid
- Large pellets or chunks that are bigger than their mouths
- High-fat foods fed every day
- Anything left to decay in the tank
Breeding and Fry Notes
Pygmy corys may spawn in a well-fed group, laying small eggs on glass and plants. Adults sometimes eat eggs, so many keepers leave plenty of fine-leaved plants or move eggs into a separate container. Well-fed fish with a varied diet are more likely to spawn.
Bottom Line
Feed small, varied foods once or twice a day: micro pellets or crushed flakes as the base, with baby brine shrimp, microworms, or daphnia a few times a week. Keep portions tiny and clean up leftovers.
