Sterba's Cory

About

Sterba's cory (Corydoras sterbai) is one of the most recognizable members of a genus that currently numbers well over 180 described species. It comes from central Brazil and Bolivia, where it inhabits smaller rivers, tributaries, and seasonally flooded forest pools. Environments typically characterized by fast-moving water rather than dense vegetation. In the aquarium it's easy to distinguish from its closest lookalike, C. haraldschultzi, by the patterning on the head: sterbai shows pale spots on a dark background, while haraldschultzi reverses this arrangement and has a noticeably more pointed snout. An albino form has also become commercially available in recent years. Like all corydoras, sterbai is armored rather than scaled, with two rows of bony plates along each flank and sharp pectoral fin spines that can catch in nets and deliver a memorable jab to careless fingers. You'll occasionally see them rocket to the surface for a gulp of air. This is a genuine physiological adaptation, not a sign of trouble, unless it becomes unusually frequent. Keep them in groups of six or more and their confidence visibly increases. They're a forgiving choice for newer keepers and are considered one of the more straightforward corys to breed in captivity. With proper care they can live remarkably long lives, often well into their teens.