Not furry, but we like them anyway.
Similis Corydoras
Corydoras similis Hieronimus, 1991; listed by FishBase as Hoplisoma simile
Also called Smudge spot cory, Similis cory, Hoplisoma simile (current name in FishBase)
From Rio Madeira basin in Brazil, South America, where it lives in small tributaries, creeks, pools and seasonally flooded forest.12
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Armoured catfish (bony plates, no scales)
A small, compact bottom-dweller protected by rows of bony plates instead of scales, with sensitive barbels around the mouth for searching the substrate. Its signature mark is a dusky bluish smudge on the tail root just in front of the tail fin, which is the easiest way to tell it apart from look-alike spotted corys. Females are usually a little larger and noticeably broader in the body than males.1
Personality what they are like
Gentle and easygoing, it gets along with most small, calm tankmates and spends its day sifting the bottom with its group. It grows bolder and more active when kept with plenty of its own kind.1
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Active by day along the bottom, constantly foraging; a stretch of open soft sand lets it root about naturally.1
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Appreciates clean, stable water, so regular partial water changes and good filtration suit it well. A soft sand substrate helps it forage comfortably with its barbels.1
Home where they are happiest
For a small group, a tank of at least about 45 x 30 x 30 cm (roughly 40 litres) is suggested, though bigger is better. Aim for 21 to 27 C, pH roughly 5.6 to 7.0 and soft to moderately hard water (0 to 12 dGH); FishBase lists a wider tolerance of pH 6.0 to 8.0 and 22 to 26 C.12
Food basics what goes in the bowl
An omnivore. Offer good sinking pellets or tablets as the staple, with live or frozen extras such as daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm.1
Company who they like around
A shoaling fish best kept in a group of at least six. Good companions include small tetras, rasboras, gouramis, dwarf cichlids and other peaceful catfish.1
The story where it all began
This cory was formally described by Hieronimus in 1991 from the Madeira drainage of Brazil. It belongs to a large group of spotted Corydoras that look very alike at first glance, and recent taxonomic work has moved it into the genus Hoplisoma.12
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
It can gulp air at the surface and absorb oxygen from it, a handy extra when water gets low in oxygen.2
- 2
At first glance it is easily mixed up with several other spotted corys such as C. guapore and C. caudimaculatus; the bluish tail-root smudge is the giveaway.1
- 3
Spawning follows the usual cory routine: eggs are stuck to the aquarium glass and hatch in roughly three to five days.1
- 4
FishBase rates its resilience as high, with populations able to double in under 15 months.2
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern (assessed 7 November 2018)2
- Taxonomy
- Described by Hieronimus in 1991; FishBase now places it in the genus Hoplisoma as H. simile2
- Family
- Callichthyidae (armoured catfishes), order Siluriformes1
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Similis Corydoras. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Water changeAbout 25% of the waterevery week
- Water testevery week
- Glass cleanevery week
- Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Seriously Fish: Corydoras similis seriouslyfish.comused for origin, habitat, size, care, behaviour, dimorphism, breeding, similar species
- FishBase: Hoplisoma simile (Smudge spot cory) fishbase.seused for taxonomy, describer, size, water parameters, IUCN, air breathing
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.