Red Venezuelan Corydoras

Red Venezuelan Corydoras (Corydoras venezuelanus; also classified as Osteogaster venezuelana)

Appearance & Behavior

Bring warm reddish-orange highlights and gentle bottom-level activity to your freshwater aquarium with Red Venezuelan Corydoras. Their warm-toned head and back contrast with a darker metallic shoulder patch, creating a colorful display as a settled group explores among plants. These peaceful, social catfish use sensitive barbels to search the substrate for food before resting together in shaded retreats. Red and Orange Venezuelan are commonly used trade names for the same species, with coloration varying between individuals and strains. 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 2–2.5 inches; females usually larger

• Minimum Aquarium Size: 20 gallons long for a group; larger aquariums recommended for additional bottom dwellers and community stocking

• Temperature: 72–79°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. Red Venezuelan Corydoras do best in a fully cycled aquarium with stable water conditions, clean substrate, and good oxygenation. Avoid sharp gravel, keep access to the surface unobstructed, and use a secure lid. Regular maintenance is essential; these fish do not replace substrate cleaning or water changes.

Good companions include peaceful small tetras, rasboras, and small gouramis with compatible care 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. Provide enough floor space for every bottom-dwelling species, and keep a group of Venezuelan Corydoras rather than relying on unrelated cory species to meet their social needs. Red Venezuelan Corydoras are distinct from the fish sold as Orange Laser or Sunburst Orange Corydoras.

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. Red Venezuelan Corydoras are not algae eaters and should never be expected to survive on scraps or fish waste.