Albino Sterbai Corydoras

Albino Sterbai Corydoras (Corydoras sterbai; also classified as Hoplisoma sterbai)

Appearance & Behavior

Bring soft, pale coloration and gentle bottom-level activity to your freshwater aquarium with Albino Sterbai Corydoras. This albino variety has a creamy pink-white body and reddish eyes, offering a distinctive alternative to the spotted standard form. A settled group explores the substrate together, using sensitive barbels to search for food before resting among plants and shaded retreats. These peaceful, social catfish appreciate the company of their own species. Occasional trips to the surface for air are normal, but frequent surface visits or labored breathing warrant a water-quality and oxygenation check.

Quick Care Guide

• Care Level: Easy to moderate; best in an established aquarium

• Temperament: Peaceful and social

• Adult Size: Approximately 2.5–3 inches; females usually larger

• Minimum Aquarium Size: 20 gallons long for a group; 30 gallons or larger recommended for community stocking

• Temperature: 75–82°F

• pH: 6.0–7.5

• Water Hardness: Soft to moderately hard water, approximately 2–15 dGH

• Diet: Omnivore; requires dedicated sinking foods

• Swimming Area: Bottom, with occasional trips to the surface

• Recommended Quantity: At least 6 of the same species when aquarium space and stocking allow

Aquarium Setup & Compatibility

Provide fine sand or smooth, rounded substrate, open foraging areas, and shaded retreats among plants and driftwood. Albino Sterbai Corydoras do best in a fully cycled aquarium with stable water conditions, clean substrate, and good oxygenation. Maintain strong surface agitation, particularly toward the warmer end of their temperature range. Avoid sharp gravel, keep access to the surface unobstructed, and use a secure lid. Include shaded areas away from intense lighting. These fish do not replace substrate cleaning or water changes.

Good companions include peaceful tetras, rasboras, and suitable gouramis that share their warmer-water requirements. Plant-safe snails and adult dwarf shrimp may coexist, though tiny shrimplets can be eaten opportunistically. Avoid aggressive fish, larger predators, and territorial bottom dwellers that may prevent them from feeding or resting. Standard and albino Sterbai are varieties of the same species and can form a social group together; albino aeneus corys are a different species. Provide enough floor space for every bottom-dwelling species.

Feeding

Offer a quality sinking catfish pellet or wafer as a staple, supplemented with Hatchery Diet 1.2 mm when it reaches the bottom, Daphnia, and Bloodworms. Adjust food size for younger fish. Feed small portions in open areas and confirm that each fish gets food; feeding near lights-out can help in busy community aquariums. Albino Sterbai Corydoras are not algae eaters and should never be expected to survive on scraps or fish waste.