Not furry, but we like them anyway.
Three-stripe Corydoras
Hoplisoma trilineatum (Cope, 1872); long known as Corydoras trilineatus
Also called Three-lined cory, Threestripe corydoras, Leopard cory, Leopard catfish, False julii corydoras
From Central Amazon basin in Brazil and Colombia, the Peruvian Amazon, and coastal rivers of Suriname.123
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Armoured catfish (bony plates, no scales)
A small, rounded bottom-dweller clad in bony plates, with short barbels around the mouth for sifting through sand. The pale body is covered in a dark, net-like pattern on the head and fine markings on the flanks, with a bold dark line running along each side. Females are rounder and a little larger than males, especially when carrying eggs. The fin spines are stiff, so a soft net is kindest when moving one.32
Personality what they are like
Very gentle and sociable. These little catfish potter about the floor in small groups and get along with nearly all peaceful tankmates, such as small tetras and rasboras. They grow bolder and more active when kept with plenty of their own kind.3
Daily activity how busy a day looks
A busy bottom forager that spends most of its time nosing through the substrate. It also darts to the surface now and then for a gulp of air, which is normal behaviour for this group.31
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Keep a soft sand substrate so the barbels can dig comfortably, and keep the water clean with regular partial changes. Handle gently because of the stiff fin spines.3
Home where they are happiest
Minimum footprint of about 45 x 30 cm (roughly 41 litres) for a small group, with a 60 cm tank recommended by FishBase. Water 22 to 26 C, pH about 5.8 to 8.0, soft to moderately hard water (about 1 to 19 dGH across sources). Sand, some plants and hiding spots suit it well.31
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Omnivore. A good sinking pellet or tablet as the staple, plus live or frozen foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm. In the wild it eats worms, small crustaceans, insects and plant matter.321
Company who they like around
A shoaling fish best kept in a group of at least five or six; larger groups are more confident and natural.31
The story where it all began
Edward Drinker Cope described this fish in 1872. It became a staple of the aquarium trade and is very often sold under the name julii cory, which belongs to a similar-looking relative. In 2025 a large genetic study moved it into the genus Hoplisoma.23
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Most fish sold as 'julii corydoras' are actually this species; the two are told apart mainly by the net-like head pattern versus fine spots.3
- 2
When spawning, the female cups two to four eggs between her pelvic fins while the male fertilises them, then sticks them onto a plant or glass, repeating until about 100 eggs are laid.1
- 3
It can breathe air: a specially adapted gut lets it take oxygen from gulps of air taken at the surface.3
- 4
It is regarded as one of the easiest corydoras to spawn, and the eggs hatch in about three to five days.3
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern (assessed 15 October 2020)1
- Taxonomy
- Moved from Corydoras to the genus Hoplisoma in the 2025 phylogenomic revision of the corydoras catfishes2
- Family
- Callichthyidae (armoured catfishes), subfamily Corydoradinae2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Three-stripe 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.
- FishBase: Hoplisoma trilineatum fishbase.seused for valid name, length, water parameters, IUCN status, spawning
- Wikipedia: Threestripe corydoras en.wikipedia.orgused for taxonomy, distribution, colour, history
- Seriously Fish: Corydoras trilineatus seriouslyfish.comused for care, size, temperament, breeding, identification
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.