Not furry, but we like them anyway.
Emerald Corydoras
Brochis splendens (Castelnau, 1855)
Also called Emerald catfish, Emerald brochis, Common brochis, Hi-fin cory (juveniles), Corydoras splendens (former name)
From Amazon basin in Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, in sluggish, shallow, often muddy waters with dense vegetation; the type locality is the Rio Tocantins in Brazil.123
A friendly guide, not veterinary advice. For anything about your pet's health, ask your vet.
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Armoured catfish (bony plates, no scales)
A larger, stockier relative of the corys with a more pointed snout and a long dorsal fin carrying 10 to 12 rays. Adults shine metallic emerald, blue-green or bluish depending on the light, with a yellowish underside and yellow-tinted lower fins. Females have pinkish bellies, while males lean more yellow. Young fish look quite different, with mottled colours and a tall fin.21
Personality what they are like
Peaceful and gregarious. It can be shy when kept alone, but in a group it is a calm, steady presence that gets along with other gentle fish.21
Daily activity how busy a day looks
A steady bottom forager that also takes gulps of air at the surface.13
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Offer a soft substrate and regular partial water changes. Make sure enough food reaches the bottom, since it should not rely on leftovers.1
Home where they are happiest
A roomy tank: Seriously Fish recommends at least 120 x 45 cm (about 243 litres) for a group. Water 20 to 28 C, pH about 5.0 to 8.0, hardness about 2 to 15 dGH (FishBase lists up to 30 dH). Plants and open sand suit it.13
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Omnivorous forager. Sinking dried foods plus small live and frozen foods such as bloodworm. Wild fish eat insect larvae, worms and small crustaceans.13
Company who they like around
Keep a group of at least six to eight.1
The story where it all began
The French naturalist Castelnau described this catfish in 1855 as Callichthys splendens. It spent many years in the genus Brochis, was folded into Corydoras in 2003, and has since been returned to a revalidated Brochis. It is a long-standing favourite in freshwater aquaria and has been bred in captivity.21
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
It has been featured on a Brazilian postage stamp.2
- 2
The female gathers eggs in a basket formed by her pelvic fins and pastes them one at a time onto plants, with a clutch of roughly 830 to 1,100 eggs.3
- 3
Its long dorsal fin with 10 to 12 rays sets it apart from other former Brochis species.1
- 4
Juveniles look so different, with mottled colour and a tall fin, that they are sometimes sold as 'hi-fin cory'.1
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern (assessed 15 October 2020)3
- Taxonomy
- Originally Callichthys splendens; placed in Corydoras from 2003 and returned to the revalidated genus Brochis more recently2
- Family
- Callichthyidae (armoured catfishes), subfamily Corydoradinae2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Emerald Corydoras. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Water changeAbout 25% of the waterevery week
- Water testevery week
- Glass cleanevery week
- Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month
Owner questions the things everyone asks
How often should I feed my Emerald Corydoras?
Feed small amounts once or twice a day, as Furry Diary's starting plan suggests. Make sure sinking food reaches the bottom so your cory gets enough to eat.1 Furry Diary plan
What does an Emerald Corydoras eat, and what should it never eat?
It is an omnivorous forager that enjoys sinking dried foods plus small live or frozen treats like bloodworm. Avoid any floating foods that won't reach the bottom, and never give it foods not meant for fish.13
How much space does an Emerald Corydoras need?
For a group of six to eight, Seriously Fish recommends a tank at least 120 x 45 cm, which is about 243 litres. A roomy tank with soft substrate and plants suits it best.1
What temperature, light or water does an Emerald Corydoras need?
Keep water between 20 and 28°C, with a pH of about 5.0 to 8.0 and hardness from 2 to 15 dGH. It enjoys planted tanks with open sand areas and gentle lighting.13
How often should I clean an Emerald Corydoras's home?
Furry Diary's plan suggests a weekly 25% water change, along with weekly glass cleaning and water testing. Rinse the filter monthly in old tank water, never tap water. Furry Diary plan
Can an Emerald Corydoras live with others?
Yes, it is peaceful and gregarious, getting along with other gentle fish. Keep a group of at least six to eight so it feels secure and shows its calm nature.21
How long does an Emerald Corydoras live?
Lifespan varies depending on care and environment. For specific expectations, ask a good breeder or an exotic-pet vet.
Can I handle an Emerald Corydoras?
It is best not to handle this fish, as it has bony plates and no scales, and handling can cause stress or injury. Enjoy watching it forage and take gulps of air at the surface.213
Written from the sources on this page, a few checked guides (VCA, ASPCA, RSPCA) and Furry Diary's own starting care plan. A friendly guide, not a vet's advice.
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.
- Seriously Fish: Corydoras splendens seriouslyfish.comused for care, size, behaviour, taxonomy notes, juveniles
- Wikipedia: Emerald catfish en.wikipedia.orgused for taxonomy, colour, distribution, history, stamp
- FishBase: Brochis splendens fishbase.seused for valid name, length, water parameters, IUCN status, spawning
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Feeding times and frequency for your dog vcahospitals.comused for owner questions
- ASPCA: Dog grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
- ASPCA: Cat grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
- ASPCA: People foods to avoid feeding your pets aspca.orgused for owner questions
- RSPCA: What to feed your rabbit rspca.org.ukused for owner questions
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.