Feeding Corydoras

Quick Answer

When feeding Corydoras, remember that these peaceful bottom-dwelling catfish need a varied diet of quality sinking foods. While they will eat leftover food from other fish, leftovers should never be their only source of nutrition. Feed them sinking pellets or wafers daily and supplement with frozen or live foods for the best health.

At a Glance

Diet: Omnivore

Best Staple Food: Sinking pellets or wafers

Feed: Once daily (or twice in heavily stocked tanks)

Treat Foods: Frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia

Avoid: Assuming they live on leftovers

What Do Corydoras Eat?

In the wild, Corydoras search the bottom for:

Small insects
Worms
Crustaceans
Plant material
Organic debris

In an aquarium they need a varied diet rather than relying on scraps.

Best Foods for Corydoras

Good staple foods include:

Sinking catfish pellets
Bottom-feeder wafers
Omnivore sinking pellets
Small sinking granules

These foods should reach the bottom before faster fish eat them.

Best Treat Foods

Offer occasionally:

Frozen bloodworms
Frozen brine shrimp
Frozen daphnia
Frozen mysis shrimp
Live blackworms (from reliable sources)

These foods help add variety and can encourage breeding behavior.

Do Corydoras Eat Algae?

Not really.

Although they may nibble on algae or biofilm occasionally, Corydoras are not algae eaters.

Do not buy them expecting them to clean algae from the aquarium.

Do Corydoras Live on Leftovers?

No.

This is one of the biggest myths in fishkeeping.

While Corydoras will eat food that reaches the bottom, they still require their own balanced diet.

Without proper feeding they can slowly lose weight even in a busy community aquarium.

How Often Should You Feed Corydoras?

Most adult Corydoras do well with:

One feeding each day

In busy community aquariums, many hobbyists offer a second small feeding after the lights dim so the Corydoras have a better chance to eat.

How Much Should You Feed?

Feed only enough food that your Corydoras finish within a few minutes.

Watch them during feeding.

If faster fish consume everything before it reaches the bottom, increase the number of feeding locations instead of increasing the total amount of food.

Feeding Corydoras in Community Tanks

Community aquariums often contain:

Surface fish

Guppies
Mollies

Mid-water fish

Tetras
Barbs
Rainbowfish

Bottom fish

Corydoras

Feed foods designed for every level of the aquarium.

Place sinking pellets in different areas so timid Corydoras can feed without competition.

Feeding at Night

Because Corydoras are often more active during the evening, feeding shortly before lights out can work well in community aquariums.

This gives bottom feeders a chance to eat after more aggressive fish have settled down.

Vegetables

Corydoras are omnivores but usually do not require large amounts of vegetables.

Their staple diet should remain high-quality sinking foods.

Foods to Avoid

Avoid feeding:

Bread
Crackers
Human snack foods
Large floating pellets
Food too large to swallow

These foods provide poor nutrition and can pollute the aquarium.

Signs of Underfeeding

Watch for:

Thin bodies
Sunken stomachs
Reduced activity
Competition during feeding
Shy fish never reaching food

Observe all Corydoras during feeding time.

Signs of Overfeeding

Too much food can cause:

Uneaten pellets
Dirty substrate
Rising ammonia
Increased nitrate
Cloudy water
Pest snails

Feed modest portions and remove uneaten food if necessary.

Feeding Baby Corydoras

Young Corydoras grow quickly when fed several small meals each day.

Suitable foods include:

Baby brine shrimp
Microworms
Powdered fry foods
Crushed sinking pellets

As they grow, gradually introduce larger sinking foods.

Breeding Corydoras

Conditioning breeding groups with quality frozen and live foods often helps encourage spawning.

Popular conditioning foods include:

Frozen bloodworms
Frozen brine shrimp
Live blackworms
Daphnia

Excellent water quality remains just as important as nutrition.

Common Feeding Mistakes

Avoid:

Assuming leftovers are enough
Buying Corydoras as algae eaters
Feeding only one food
Overfeeding
Ignoring timid fish
Feeding only floating foods
Leaving uneaten food in the substrate

Rick’s Experience

During my years breeding tropical fish and operating FinTastik Tropical Fish, I found that Corydoras thrived when they were intentionally fed rather than expected to survive on leftovers. In community aquariums, placing sinking foods in several areas helped ensure even the shyest fish received enough to eat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Corydoras algae eaters?

No. They may nibble occasionally, but they should not be purchased to control algae.

Can Corydoras live on leftover food?

No. They require their own balanced diet.

What is the best food for Corydoras?

Quality sinking catfish pellets or wafers, supplemented with frozen or live foods.

Should I feed them at night?

Feeding shortly before lights out often works well in community aquariums.

How often should I feed Corydoras?

Most adult Corydoras do well with one feeding daily.

Rick Recommends

Keep these foods available:

Sinking catfish pellets
Bottom-feeder wafers
Frozen brine shrimp
Frozen bloodworms
Frozen daphnia
Baby brine shrimp for fry

Rotate foods throughout the week for a balanced diet.

Fish Food & Nutrition Guide
Choosing the Best Fish Food
Pellet Fish Food Guide
Frozen Fish Food Guide
Feeding Tropical Fish
Feeding Plecos

Final Thoughts

Corydoras are easy to feed when their needs are understood. They are active scavengers, but they are not garbage disposals or algae eaters. Feed them quality sinking foods, add frozen or live foods for variety, and make sure every fish has a chance to eat. Healthy Corydoras are active, social fish that reward good care with years of enjoyment.