How Fast Do Cory Catfish Grow?

How Fast Do Cory Catfish Grow?

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Cory Catfish (aka Cory Fish, Cory Cats, or just Cory) are a favorite among fish hobbyists worldwide, and for good reason. They are cute, colorful, and will keep you entertained for hours with their playful nature. If you’re new to these fish- then don’t worry, we have got all the answers you’ll need to understand how fast Cory Catfish grow.

How fast do Cory Cats grow?

Newly hatched Cory Catfish grow very quickly. After 10 weeks, Cory babies (or fry) will have grown to around 1 inch in length. Most Cory Catfish then continue growing at a much slower rate until they reach their peak size between 8 and 9 months old.

But it’s not quite that straight forward, lots of other things can impact how quickly your Cory Cats will grow, from species to gender and age- it can get quite complicated! To give your Cory Catfish the happiest life possible, it’s important to learn as much as you can about these special little fish.

Here, we’re going to cover all you need to know about Cory Cats and how quickly you can expect them to grow.

Do all Cory Catfish grow at the same speed?

No! Lots of different factors play a part in how fast your Cory Catfish will grow.

If your Catfish are babies, then they will reach 1 inch long by 10 weeks. If they are already an inch long, then they will continue growing more slowly. Make sure you ask your supplier how old they are when you buy them.

Different types of Cory Catfish will grow at different speeds.

There are hundreds of Cory Cat species, but the main ones are Bandit, Bronze, Panda, Pepper, Skunk, Three Stripe, Julii, and Pygmy Cory Cats.

Although they average sizes between 1 and 3 inches, Pygmy Cory will only grow to ¾ of an inch, whereas the popular Peppered Cory can grow up to 3 inches.

The gender of your fish also affects how fast they grow. Most female Cory Catfish grow faster and become larger than males. Although it can be difficult to tell them apart when they’re young- it’s a good clue to help you work out how big they’ll end up.

Top 3 things to know when getting new Cory Catfish:

  1. Age

Cory Cats grow quickly for the first 3 months, then slow down.

  1. Species

The smallest species is the Pygmy Cory, the largest is the Bandit Cory.

  1. Gender

Females are usually grow larger than males.

When are Cory Catfish fully grown?

Most Cory Catfish have reached their peak size by 8 months to 1 year.

How big do Cory Catfish grow?

Most Cory Catfish end up measuring between 1 and 3 inches long. The largest species, the Banded Cory, can grow up to 4 inches long. On the other end of the spectrum is the tiny Pygmy Cory which only grows to ¾ inches. In all species of Cory Catfish, the females are usually larger than the males.

What’s the best advice for Cory Catfish?

Ultimately, a Cory Catfish will reach its full size at 8-9 months old. They will grow the most quickly when they are newly hatched and will grow more slowly after the first 3 months until they reach their full size. Always check what kind of Cory you have so you know how big they’ll get.  

You should always take into account how fast your Cory Catfish will grow when picking out new fish or choosing a tank. Aim to give them as much space as possible, both when they’re smaller and when they are fully grown.

Related Questions

How many Cory Catfish should I have?

In their natural habitat, Cory Cats like to shoal together in groups of hundreds of fish. Because of this, you should always have at least 2 in your tank so they can look out for each other.

The only upper limit to the number of Cory Cats in your tank is size- a 10-gallon tank is the bare minimum to allow your fish plenty of space.

How long do Cory Catfish live?

In the wild, they live for between 5 and 7 years, and in captivity most live for an average of 5 years. This lifespan can be significantly longer or shorter depending on the conditions they are being kept in. Always do your research to take the best care of your Cory Cats.

How often do Cory Catfish lay eggs?

Having your Cory Catfish lay eggs is tricky, as there are lots of things that must be just right for the correct conditions.

Females can begin laying eggs 7 days after males are added to the tank. They will spawn between 10-20 eggs at a time, and these take 3-6 days to hatch. It’s generally not advised that you breed Cory Catfish unless you have experience in fish breeding.

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