What is a cory cat?

Cory cats are South American freshwater catfish from the genus Corydoras. Cory cats are characterized by their small size and facial whiskers, though their appearance varies widely by species. They are bottom dwellers that are highly social and prefer to live in schools.

There are 161 species of cory cats, many of which are freely available in the aquarium trade. Common types sold for aquariums include the black spotted C. paleatus, or peppered cory; the green C. aenaeus, or bronze cory; and the speckled C. julii, or julii cory. All species are suitable for tropical community tanks, as they are social and non-aggressive.