Julii Cory

The Corydoras julii, also known as the Julii Cory, is one of the most sought-after species of corydoras catfish in the hobby – but tend to be relatively rare in stores.  Corydoras julii is indigenous to the lower Amazon region, primarily the Parnaíba River of Brazil.  While these fish can be difficult to find, their stunning coloration makes it worth the search. Real Corydoras julii will have a small spotting pattern and a black mark on their dorsal fin.  It is often confused with Corydoras trilineatus, a species that is found in the upper Amazon Region.

Behavior As with many members of the genus, Corydoras, this species must be kept in a school of at least four or more.

Compatibility  They get along well with other small catfish as well as small peaceful fish. Possible tank mates include small members of the tetra family, danios, rasboras, dwarf cichlids, as well as any small community fish. Avoid any large or aggressive fish.

Feeding Feed a varied diet consisting of a good quality dried sinking food supplemented with regular meals of small live and frozen foods.  They are very accepting of most foods, this species will consume essentially anything that falls to the bottom. However, don’t assume they are getting enough to eat. It is not uncommon for small bottom-dwelling catfish to starve before their owner recognizes it. To be assured they receive the proper diet, use sinking tablets or pellets as their primary diet. Live foods, such as brine shrimp, daphnia, and bloodworms can be delivered to the bottom via tongs to supplement their diet. Because they are nocturnal, feedings are ideally timed to be just before lights are turned off.

Tank Conditions Corydoras species prefer sandy substrate as they enjoy rooting about in it looking for morsels of food. They can be prone to infection of the barbels if kept in poorly maintained gravel. Like all catfish, they have barbels (whiskers), one on each side of the mouth that aids them in looking for food. Corydoras will appreciate some cover in the form of rocks or bogwood.

Corydoras require a minimum tank size of 50 litres, but the ideal tank size is going to be between 75 and 80 litres.

Care  Be careful when netting them because when they feel threatened they extend their sharp spined fins outward and lock them in a rigid position. Although the spines are small, just like this catfish, they are quite sharp and can pierce your skin.  Like all catfish, they cannot tolerate salt in the water.