Skunk Cory: A Single Stripe With a Memorable Name

In this guide

Overview

The skunk cory carries a single dark stripe running from the top of its head to the base of its tail against a pale body, resembling the marking of its namesake animal. It comes from South America and reaches around five to six centimetres.

It is a somewhat less commonly kept species than the bronze or panda cory, making it an interesting choice for a keeper looking to diversify a cory shoal beyond the most familiar options.

Tank and water requirements

A group of six or more does well in a tank of fifty to sixty litres, with a soft substrate to protect its barbels. It is tolerant of a reasonable range of water conditions, including typical Indian tap water, though it appreciates good filtration and clean, well-oxygenated water as much as any cory.

As with other corys, avoiding sharp gravel is worth the small extra care given how much time this species spends foraging along the bottom.

Diet and behaviour

Sinking pellets or wafers, supplemented with occasional live or frozen food, suit its bottom-feeding habits. It is peaceful and shoals actively with its own kind and with other cory species.

It makes a calm, unobtrusive addition to a community tank, spending most of its time at the substrate rather than competing for attention in open water.

Buying tips

• Priced around forty to eighty rupees per fish where stocked, somewhat less commonly available than the bronze or albino cory in general Indian shops
• A good way to add pattern variety to a mixed cory shoal beyond the most common species
• May need to be sourced from a shop with a broader corydoras selection rather than a general pet shop

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