Fish comparison
Salt and Pepper Cory vs Sterbai Corydoras
How the Salt and Pepper Cory and Sterbai Corydoras compare on care, size, water and temperament, and which fish suits your tank.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated
TL;DR, Salt and Pepper Cory vs Sterbai Corydoras
The Salt and Pepper Cory and the Sterbai Corydoras are close cousins, both in the Corydoras group, so at a glance they ask for a lot of the same things. Both are happy somewhere around 24 to 26 °C and pH 6 to 7.5, so a single tank can suit either one. Neither is harder than the other to keep, so the choice comes down to look and stocking rather than skill. If tank space is tight, the Salt and Pepper Cory needs less room to feel settled; give the Sterbai Corydoras the nod when you have the litres to spare.
Group compatibility overview
Good fit
Workable as-is, only minor advisories to plan around.
1 warning · 2 notes
Temperature
- Salt and Pepper Cory22–26 °C
- Sterbai Corydoras24–30 °C
pH
- Salt and Pepper Cory6–7.5
- Sterbai Corydoras6–7.5
Hardness
- Salt and Pepper Cory2–12 dGH
- Sterbai Corydoras3–15 dGH
What to plan for
- Salt and Pepper Cory schools, stock at least 8You've planned for 1 salt and pepper cory. Salt and Pepper Cory need a group of at least 8 to feel safe and shoal naturally, below that they're stressed and lose colour. Dial up the count, or remove the species.
- Sterbai Corydoras schools, stock at least 6You've planned for 1 sterbai corydoras. Sterbai Corydoras need a group of at least 6 to feel safe and shoal naturally, below that they're stressed and lose colour. Dial up the count, or remove the species.
- All fish are bottom-dwellersTop and middle of the tank will look empty, and surface food drops uneaten. Add a mid or top species (rasboras, danios, hatchetfish) to use the whole water column.
Full attributes
Every parameter, side by side| Parameter |  FishSalt and Pepper CoryCorydoras habrosus |  FishSterbai CorydorasCorydoras sterbai |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Fish | Fish |
| Origin | Venezuela and Colombia | Rio Guaporé basin, Brazil & Bolivia |
| Family | Callichthyidae | Callichthyidae |
| Temperature | 22–26 °C | 24–30 °C |
| pH | 6.0–7.5 | 6.0–7.5 |
| Hardness (dGH) | 2–12 | 3–15 |
| Flow rate | Low to Medium | Low to Medium |
| Min tank | 45 L | 75 L |
| Adult size | 2.5–3.5 cm | 6–7 cm |
| Difficulty | 2 / 5 | 2 / 5 |
| Lifespan | 4–6 yrs | 5–10 yrs |
| Diet | Omnivore | Omnivore (sinking) |
| Water column | Bottom | Bottom |
| Schooling | Yes | Yes |
| Plant safe | Yes | Yes |
| Shrimp safe | Yes | Yes (adult shrimp) |
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
Can you keep Salt and Pepper Cory and Sterbai Corydoras together?
Yes. Their temperature and pH ranges overlap around 24 to 26 °C and pH 6 to 7.5, so one set of water conditions keeps both comfortable. Match group sizes and cover the usual planted-tank basics and they share a tank fine.
Which is easier to keep, the Salt and Pepper Cory or the Sterbai Corydoras?
They sit at the same care level, both beginner-friendly, so neither is the obvious beginner pick. The decision is really about the look you're after.
Do Salt and Pepper Cory and Sterbai Corydoras need the same water?
Close to it. Aim for 24 to 26 °C and pH 6 to 7.5 and you're in the shared sweet spot for both. Full ranges are in the table above.
What's the main difference between the Salt and Pepper Cory and the Sterbai Corydoras?
Space. The Salt and Pepper Cory wants about 45 litres minimum and the Sterbai Corydoras around 75, so tank size can settle it.