Emerald cory

Identity and search names

Single-species profile for Brochis splendens. Permanent AquaNexus ID 272, slug emerald-cory and public route /species/emerald-cory/ are preserved.

Search names: Corydoras splendens, Emerald brochis, Emerald corydoras, emerald brochis, emerald Corydoras

Environment and housing

Smooth sand or fine rounded substrate, oxygenated water and shaded resting areas.

Water stability: Maintain 22–27 °C; pH 6.0–7.6; minerals: Soft to moderately hard; salinity: Freshwater. Stability, oxygen and nitrogen-cycle control matter more than chasing one exact reading.

Feeding and nutrition

Feeding ecology: Omnivore; must receive sinking food

Feeding routine: Use substantial sinking portions sized for the larger adults, spread across the sand so every fish feeds, and remove trapped food from décor and filter dead zones.

Social structure and compatibility

6+ of the same or closely compatible species

Good with peaceful community fish that do not monopolise the substrate. Retain a cycled separation option for aggression, feeding exclusion, predation or disease.

Adult load and life support

Projected adult load: Moderate to high for six or more 9 cm adults; floor area, oxygen and mechanical solids removal all scale with the group.

Filtration: Use oversized mature filtration and accessible mechanical prefilters. Maintain open sand and avoid hardware that reduces floor area.

Aeration: Provide strong gas exchange and unobstructed surface access for the larger group, with circulation through all bottom resting areas.

Maintenance: Use regular substantial water changes, frequent prefilter cleaning and broad sand-surface siphoning. Track growth and whether every adult can rest and feed without crowding.

Breeding and reproduction

Adhesive egg layer Do not compromise adult welfare, genetic integrity, quarantine capacity or lawful rehoming to attempt breeding.

Quarantine, welfare and risk

Quarantine: Quarantine new fish in a separate fully cycled system for at least 30 days at the intended temperature and mineral chemistry. Use dedicated equipment; observe appetite, respiration, faeces, skin, fins, gills and behaviour; never add transport water to the display.

Welfare checks: Use the adult housing and social plan in this profile, monitor body condition and behaviour, and correct measured water or compatibility problems early. This is a larger, deeper-bodied fish than common corys and needs more floor area. Track individual body condition, feeding access, respiration, injury, abnormal hiding or aggression and use of the intended swimming zone.

Main risk: Insufficient floor area, sharp substrate and underfeeding a larger-bodied cory.

Australian biosecurity and release

Never release fish, aquarium water, sediment, plants, live food or wet equipment into drains, dams or natural waterways. Australian import eligibility is species-specific: check the current Live Import List, permitted ornamental-fish list and BICON conditions by accepted scientific name. Import requires a permit, an approved source country and approved-arrangement isolation. Check current South Australian noxious-fish and movement rules before purchase, sale, transport or disposal.

Current check: Current lawful import or possession must be checked by accepted scientific name. Absence from one state list is not import approval.

System demands

Filtration: Use mature biological filtration sized for the adult stock and feeding load, with guarded intakes and a flow pattern the species can use without continual effort.

Aeration: Maintain strong gas exchange and stable dissolved oxygen, especially overnight, during warm weather, medication, crowding or any interruption to filtration.

Maintenance: Test ammonia and nitrite after changes or abnormal behaviour; remove waste from the occupied zone and perform regular water changes matched to temperature and mineral chemistry.

Detailed husbandry

Identity Scope

Single-species profile for Brochis splendens. Permanent AquaNexus ID 272, slug emerald-cory and public route /species/emerald-cory/ are preserved.

Adult Size And Space

Expected adult size: Up to about 9 cm total length. Minimum permanent housing: 120 L+. Adult dimensions, group size, swimming footprint, oxygen demand and waste production matter more than juvenile sale size.

Social Structure

6+ of the same or closely compatible species

Swimming Zone

Primary zone: Bottom. Keep that zone open enough for normal movement, feeding, refuge and escape.

Feeding Ecology

Omnivore; must receive sinking food

Feeding Plan

Use substantial sinking portions sized for the larger adults, spread across the sand so every fish feeds, and remove trapped food from décor and filter dead zones.

Water Stability

Maintain 22–27 °C; pH 6.0–7.6; minerals: Soft to moderately hard; salinity: Freshwater. Stability, oxygen and nitrogen-cycle control matter more than chasing one exact reading.

Adult Projected Load

Moderate to high for six or more 9 cm adults; floor area, oxygen and mechanical solids removal all scale with the group.

Filtration

Use oversized mature filtration and accessible mechanical prefilters. Maintain open sand and avoid hardware that reduces floor area.

Aeration

Provide strong gas exchange and unobstructed surface access for the larger group, with circulation through all bottom resting areas.

Maintenance

Use regular substantial water changes, frequent prefilter cleaning and broad sand-surface siphoning. Track growth and whether every adult can rest and feed without crowding.

Habitat Structure

Smooth sand or fine rounded substrate, oxygenated water and shaded resting areas.

Compatibility Plan

Good with peaceful community fish that do not monopolise the substrate. Retain a cycled separation option for aggression, feeding exclusion, predation or disease.

Breeding Plan

Adhesive egg layer Do not compromise adult welfare, genetic integrity, quarantine capacity or lawful rehoming to attempt breeding.

Quarantine

Quarantine new fish in a separate fully cycled system for at least 30 days at the intended temperature and mineral chemistry. Use dedicated equipment; observe appetite, respiration, faeces, skin, fins, gills and behaviour; never add transport water to the display.

Welfare Checks

Use the adult housing and social plan in this profile, monitor body condition and behaviour, and correct measured water or compatibility problems early. This is a larger, deeper-bodied fish than common corys and needs more floor area. Track individual body condition, feeding access, respiration, injury, abnormal hiding or aggression and use of the intended swimming zone.

Biosecurity And Release

Never release fish, aquarium water, sediment, plants, live food or wet equipment into drains, dams or natural waterways. Australian import eligibility is species-specific: check the current Live Import List, permitted ornamental-fish list and BICON conditions by accepted scientific name. Import requires a permit, an approved source country and approved-arrangement isolation. Check current South Australian noxious-fish and movement rules before purchase, sale, transport or disposal.

Main Risk

Insufficient floor area, sharp substrate and underfeeding a larger-bodied cory.

Overridable Warnings

This is a larger, deeper-bodied fish than common corys and needs more floor area.

Sources

• Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes — Brochis splendens — Accepted-name, synonym and fish-classification cross-check
• Dias et al. — revised Corydoradinae classification — Primary phylogenomic and morphological basis for the resurrected Corydoradinae genera
• PIRSA — South Australian noxious fish list — Current South Australian possession, trade and disposal restrictions
• DAFF — importing live ornamental fish to Australia — Australian live-fish import pathway and permitted-species warning
• DAFF — Permitted live freshwater and marine ornamental fish — Permitted-species pathway; exact eligibility must be checked by accepted scientific name
• PIRSA — Moving aquatic animals — South Australian movement, pest, disease and no-release context