Cory catfish are omnivorous fish and enjoy eating most foods found in aquariums; however, fish flakes floating to the surface of their tank may not be appropriate for Corys to consume.
Instead, opt for algae wafers that sink to the bottom of your aquarium and contain essential vitamins and minerals essential to freshwater fish health.
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Algae wafers
Even though they go by this name, algae wafers don’t make up a major component of Cory catfish diets; rather they serve as a useful supplement. Algae wafers typically consist of fish meal, earthworms, shrimp meal, kelp and spirulina that you can find at your local pet store.
If using algae wafers, first dissolve them in some tank water before feeding to your Cory. Give only as much food as they can consume within three minutes or you risk leaving behind leftovers that make the tank look untidy.
Omega One Veggie Rounds are also an effective choice, designed specifically for bottom feeders. Packed full of ingredients such as salmon krill spirulina squid meal and kelp, these food pieces mimic what bottom feeders would graze on in nature and may help reduce internal pathogen levels while remaining fresh in storage bags that seal tight to keep their freshness. These come in different sizes that keep your pet fed fresh!
Dried tubifex worms
Cory catfish are omnivorous fish, meaning that they require both plant- and meaty-based foods for survival. Although fish flakes and pellets are their main food sources, Cory catfish also love blood worms, brine shrimp, and freeze dried tubifex worms which serve as excellent protein sources and should be part of their daily diet with other frozen or live foods items.
Cory catfish fishes find the worms easy to digest, making them an excellent addition to their diets. As such, high-quality prepared fish food often includes them.
Wherever possible, choose organic fish foods made of natural ingredients instead of processed ones for Cory catfish food. Furthermore, avoid feeding him low-grade ingredients like guts, skin scales bones or entrails when selecting food like New Life Spectrum Pellets Northfin Fish Food Sinking Pellets or Omega One Sinking Shrimp Pellets that provide a healthier diet for him.
Pellets and wafers
Cory cats are omnivorous creatures and will readily consume prepared foods like fish flakes or pellets, including those formulated specifically to feed Cories such as Aqueon Shrimp Pellets made with whole fish or shrimp meal as the main ingredient and featuring an advanced sinking formula that allows Cories to reach even deeper.
Cories enjoy eating algae wafers, a type of fish food designed specifically to meet the dietary requirements of bottom feeders like catfish and plecos. These treats feature an outer vegetable-rich layer surrounded by an algae center packed with proteins, vitamins, and minerals – perfect for their bottom-feeder friends!
My own cory catfish has also enjoyed bloodworms as an enjoyable treat! Both live and frozen varieties are easily available, providing high-quality proteins and vitamins with easy digestion resulting in minimal waste production in my tank.
Other foods
Cory catfish are bottom feeders that feed on scraps to survive, such as small insects, larvae, worms, invertebrates, vegetable matter or even flesh of dead fish they find near the water’s surface.
Pellets and wafers tailored to their nutritional requirements are also consumed, which contain protein powders from algae or vegetables as well as protein-rich extracts to give their pets all of the essential macronutrients they require.
Some commercial foods for Cories include whole fish like salmon or shrimp to provide high-quality proteins; while others contain spirulina algae which boasts natural skin-enhancing benefits.
Cories love eating ripe pear, and can enjoy eating large quantities (provided they fit their mouths) of fully-ripened fruit as long as it meets this criteria. You should avoid feeding them unripe pears as these could lead to digestive upset; similar precautions should be taken with banana and mango fruits as well.
