Albino Pygmy Cory Catfish – Corydoras Pygmaeus
Albino Pygmy Cory Catfish – Corydoras Pygmaeus
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Quick Care
Essential care information at a glance
What Fish Will I Receive?
What Fish Will I Receive?
Photos represent the species and typical appearance of the fish you will receive. Because Corydoras are living animals, individual size, coloration, markings, and pattern may vary naturally from fish to fish.
Why You'll Love Panda Cory Catfish
Why You'll Love Panda Cory Catfish
✓ Peaceful community fish
✓ Active bottom-dwelling behavior
✓ Best enjoyed in social groups
✓ Excellent for planted aquariums
✓ Unique black-and-cream panda markings
✓ Compatible with many peaceful tropical fish
Healthy, Active Corydoras
Healthy, Active Corydoras
Every Corydoras offered by Tropicflow Aquatic is selected for healthy body condition, active behavior, clear eyes, intact barbels and fins, and normal swimming behavior before shipping.
Best Substrate for Corydoras
Best Substrate for Corydoras
Fine sand or another smooth, non-abrasive substrate is recommended. Corydoras spend much of their time searching through the substrate with their sensitive barbels.
Acclimation Directions
Acclimation Directions
1 — Open & Inspect
Check your fish immediately after delivery.
2 — Temperature Acclimation
Float the closed bag for approximately 15–20 minutes.
3 — Gradually Introduce Tank Water
Slowly add small amounts of aquarium water.
4 — Transfer the Fish
Gently move the Cory into the aquarium without pouring shipping water into the tank.
Keep aquarium lights low during the first several hours and allow the fish time to settle.
Water Parameters
Water Parameters
- Temperature: 68-77F
- pH: 6.0 - 7.5
- GH: 2-12 dGH
- Ammonia: 0 ppm
- Nitrate: 0 ppm
- Nitrate: Keep Low
- Water Flow: Gental-moderate
- Oxygenation: Good
Stable water is more important than chasing an exact number. Avoid sudden changes in temperature, pH, or hardness.
Flat Rate Shipping As Low As $25
Flat Rate Shipping As Low As $25
At Tropicflow, we strive to make the shipping process as affordable and convenient as possible for our customers. Our flat rate shipping starts as low as $25, and the more fish you purchase, the more you save on shipping fees. We encourage our customers to combine as many fish as possible in each order to take advantage of these cost-saving opportunities.
The Albino Pygmy Cory Catfish (Corydoras pygmaeus) is a rare albino color form of the popular Pygmy Cory, featuring a pale white-to-pink body, translucent fins, and distinctive red eyes. Growing to around 1 inch, this tiny peaceful catfish is ideal for planted and carefully planned nano community aquariums. Unlike many larger Cory catfish, Albino Pygmy Corys regularly leave the substrate and school through the lower and middle levels of the tank. Keep them in groups of 6 or more, with larger schools preferred.
The Albino Pygmy Cory Catfish (Corydoras pygmaeus) is an eye-catching albino form of one of the smallest Cory-type catfish in the freshwater aquarium hobby. It combines the tiny size, peaceful personality, and active schooling behavior of the standard Pygmy Cory with a beautiful pale pinkish-white appearance.
Instead of the dark horizontal stripe normally associated with standard Pygmy Corydoras, the albino variety has greatly reduced dark pigmentation. Its pale body, translucent fins, and red-to-pink eyes create a striking contrast against green aquarium plants and darker substrates.
Taxonomy note: This species has traditionally been known throughout the aquarium hobby as Corydoras pygmaeus. Under newer scientific classification, the accepted combination is Gastrodermus pygmaeus. The Albino Pygmy Cory is a captive aquarium color form of this same species.
Albino Pygmy Cory Catfish Care Information
| Care Requirement | Albino Pygmy Cory Information |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Albino Pygmy Cory, Albino Pygmy Cory Catfish, Albino Pygmy Corydoras |
| Scientific Name | Corydoras pygmaeus / Gastrodermus pygmaeus |
| Variety | Albino Pygmy Cory |
| Adult Size | Approximately 0.75–1 inch |
| Temperature | 72–79°F (22–26°C) |
| pH Range | 6.0–8.0 |
| Minimum Tank Size | 10+ Gallons Recommended |
| Recommended Group Size | 6+ Recommended; 10+ Preferred |
| Temperament | Peaceful & Social |
| Diet | Omnivore / Micro-Predator |
| Tank Level | Bottom to Midwater |
| Care Level | Beginner-Friendly |
| Origin | Captive-Bred Albino Form of South American Species |
What Does an Albino Pygmy Cory Catfish Look Like?
The Albino Pygmy Cory Catfish has a pale white, cream, or soft pink body with translucent fins and characteristic red or pink eyes. Because albino fish produce much less dark pigment, the traditional dark horizontal stripe seen on standard Pygmy Corys is greatly reduced or absent.
Subtle golden, silver, or pearlescent reflections may become visible under aquarium lighting. Their tiny adult size and pale coloration make them especially noticeable when swimming against green plants, driftwood, and darker aquarium backgrounds.
Individual coloration may vary slightly, with some fish appearing almost white while others display stronger pink, cream, or golden undertones.
Albino Pygmy Cory vs. Regular Pygmy Cory
The main difference between an Albino Pygmy Cory and a standard Pygmy Cory is pigmentation. Both are forms of the same species and share similar adult size, peaceful temperament, schooling behavior, diet, and aquarium requirements.
Standard Pygmy Corys usually display a silver-gray body with a strong dark horizontal stripe. Albino Pygmy Corys lack much of this dark pigmentation, resulting in a pinkish-white body and red eyes.
Despite their different coloration, Albino Pygmy Corys retain the unusual midwater schooling behavior that makes Pygmy Corys so interesting. A proper group may frequently leave the substrate and swim together through plants and open areas of the aquarium.
Albino Pygmy Cory Behavior & Group Size
Albino Pygmy Corys are peaceful, highly social schooling fish and should not be kept alone. We recommend maintaining at least 6 Albino Pygmy Cory Catfish, while groups of 10 or more can display even more confident and natural schooling behavior when aquarium space allows.
Unlike many larger Cory species, Pygmy Corys frequently swim away from the bottom. They may hover around aquarium plants, rest on broad leaves, perch on driftwood, and school together through the lower and middle portions of the aquarium.
They still spend plenty of time searching the substrate for food, but they should not be thought of as strictly bottom-dwelling fish.
Ideal Aquarium Setup for Albino Pygmy Corydoras
A 10-gallon or larger freshwater aquarium provides a practical starting point for a proper school of Albino Pygmy Cory Catfish. Their miniature adult size makes them especially suitable for planted nano aquariums, but enough swimming room should still be provided for group behavior.
A soft sand substrate or smooth fine gravel is recommended. Albino Pygmy Corys use sensitive barbels around their mouths to search the substrate for food, so sharp or abrasive materials should be avoided.
Live plants, mosses, driftwood, smooth rocks, shaded areas, and floating plants can help create a comfortable environment. Leave some open swimming space between planted areas so the group can school freely.
Albino Pygmy Cory Water Parameters
Albino Pygmy Cory Catfish generally do well at temperatures around 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of approximately 6.0–8.0.
More important than constantly adjusting the aquarium to reach an exact number is maintaining clean and stable water conditions. Keep Albino Pygmy Corys in a fully cycled aquarium with appropriate filtration, good oxygenation, and regular water changes.
Their very small adult size means sudden changes in water quality can affect them quickly. Ammonia and nitrite should remain at zero, and sudden temperature or pH swings should be avoided.
What Do Albino Pygmy Cory Catfish Eat?
Albino Pygmy Corys are omnivorous micro-foragers with very small mouths, so appropriately sized foods are important. High-quality sinking micro pellets and finely sized bottom-feeder foods can form the foundation of their diet.
Their diet may also be supplemented with appropriately sized frozen or live foods such as baby brine shrimp, small daphnia, micro worms, and finely sized frozen foods.
Albino Pygmy Cory Tank Mates
The peaceful personality of the Albino Pygmy Cory Catfish makes it suitable for carefully planned nano and community aquariums. Because these Corys are extremely small, tank mates should also be peaceful and unlikely to chase, intimidate, or eat them.
Potential tank mates may include small peaceful tetras, nano rasboras, small peaceful livebearers, other small Cory-type catfish, and freshwater shrimp in appropriately planned aquariums.
Avoid large predatory fish, aggressive species, and overly competitive tank mates that may prevent these tiny Corys from receiving enough food.
Why Choose Albino Pygmy Cory Catfish?
- Rare pale pinkish-white albino coloration
- Distinctive red or pink eyes
- Extremely small adult size
- Peaceful temperament for nano community aquariums
- Unique bottom-to-midwater schooling behavior
- Excellent choice for planted freshwater aquariums
- Active and entertaining when maintained in a proper group
- Distinctive alternative to the standard Pygmy Cory
Before Buying Albino Pygmy Cory Catfish
Albino Pygmy Corys are highly social fish and should not be kept alone. Plan to keep at least 6 fish, with larger groups preferred whenever aquarium space and filtration allow. Make sure your aquarium is fully cycled and choose small, peaceful tank mates that will not intimidate these tiny Cory catfish or prevent them from feeding.
Albino Pygmy Cory Catfish FAQ
What is an Albino Pygmy Cory Catfish?
The Albino Pygmy Cory is an albino aquarium form of the Pygmy Cory traditionally known as Corydoras pygmaeus. It has the same tiny size, peaceful temperament, and schooling behavior as the standard form but displays a pale pinkish-white body and red eyes.
How big do Albino Pygmy Cory Catfish get?
Albino Pygmy Corys generally remain around 0.75–1 inch as adults, making them one of the smallest Cory-type catfish available in the aquarium hobby.
How many Albino Pygmy Corys should be kept together?
Keep Albino Pygmy Corys in a group of at least 6 fish. Larger schools of around 10 or more can encourage more confident and natural schooling behavior when aquarium space permits.
What temperature is best for Albino Pygmy Corys?
A general recommended aquarium temperature range for Albino Pygmy Corys is approximately 72–79°F (22–26°C). Choose tank mates with compatible temperature requirements.
Are Albino Pygmy Corys different from regular Pygmy Corys?
The main difference is coloration. Standard Pygmy Corys have silver-gray bodies with a dark horizontal stripe, while the albino variety has greatly reduced dark pigmentation, resulting in a pale pinkish-white body and red eyes. Their basic care and social requirements are similar.
Do Albino Pygmy Corys swim in the middle of the aquarium?
Yes. Albino Pygmy Corys retain the characteristic behavior of the species and regularly swim through the lower and middle levels of the aquarium. They may also rest on plants, driftwood, and other aquarium surfaces.
Can Albino Pygmy Corys live in a 10-gallon aquarium?
Yes. A properly maintained 10-gallon or larger aquarium can work well for a school of Albino Pygmy Corys. Provide stable water conditions, appropriate filtration, plants or cover, and enough open swimming space for the group.
Are Albino Pygmy Cory Catfish peaceful?
Yes. Albino Pygmy Corys are very peaceful social fish and are best kept with other small, non-aggressive freshwater species.
Is Corydoras pygmaeus the same as Gastrodermus pygmaeus?
Yes. The Pygmy Cory has traditionally been known as Corydoras pygmaeus and is still widely sold under that name. Under newer scientific classification, the species is placed in the genus Gastrodermus and is recognized as Gastrodermus pygmaeus.
Do Albino Pygmy Corys clean the aquarium?
Albino Pygmy Corys naturally forage for small foods around the substrate, but they should not be considered a replacement for aquarium maintenance. They require intentional feeding, regular water changes, and proper substrate cleaning just like other aquarium fish.
Albino Pygmy Cory Catfish at Tropicflow Aquatic
Add a rare and eye-catching nano catfish to your freshwater aquarium with the Albino Pygmy Cory Catfish. Their pale pinkish-white coloration, distinctive red eyes, tiny adult size, peaceful personality, and unique bottom-to-midwater schooling behavior make Corydoras pygmaeus an excellent choice for planted tanks and carefully planned nano community aquariums.
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