Animal-World > Aquarium Tropical Fish > Catfish > Julii Cory

Julii Cory

Leopard Catfish ~ Armored Catfish

Family: CallichthyidaeCorydoras julii

   The Julii Cory is probably the most popular and often sold Cory. It is active and very pretty! It has bold central horizontal stripes, a spotted body, and six spotted bands on it's tail!

   The Jullii Cory or Leopard Catfish does not grow very large, growing up to only 2.0 inches (5 cm). which makes it very suitable for a small aquarium. Like all the Corys, they are quite hardy, very peaceful, and they help keep the bottom of the aquarium clean by eating up leftover foods! 

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Habitat: Distribution / Background

   The Julli Cory or Leopard Catfish are found in Peru, Rio Ampiyacu, Rio Ucayali and the Yarina Cocha.

• Scientific Name: Corydoras julii
• Social Grouping: Groups - Best in a school of 6 or more fish.
• IUCN Red List: NE - Not Evaluated or not listed

Description

Julii Corys are a beautiful fish with an interestingly patterned body. Their appearance, along with their disposition and lively character, make them are favorite among aquarists. The body is a white or gray color with small, black spots all over and a stripe running horizontally down their body. This large horizontal stripe and a dark black spot on their top fin makes them easily identifiable from other striped corys. They are smaller member of the cory family and grow to about 2 inches.

• Maximum Size: 2.0 inches (5.08 cm)

Fish Keeping Difficulty

• Aquarium Hardiness: Moderately hardy
• Aquarist Experience Level: Beginner

Foods and Feeding

   Since they are omnivores, the Julli Cory or Leopard Catfish will generally eat all kinds of live, fresh, and flake foods. To keep a good balance give them a high quality sinking pellet or flake food everyday. Feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen) or blood worms as a treat.

• Diet Type: Omnivore
• Flake Food: Yes
• Tablet Pellet: Yes - Although this fish will scour the bottom for leftover food, the aquarist should ensure a complete diet by offering a sinking tablet or pellet.
• Live foods (fishes, shrimps, worms): Some of Diet
• Vegetable Food: Some of Diet
• Meaty Food: Some of Diet
• Feeding Frequency: Several feedings per day

Aquarium Care

• Water Changes: Bi-weekly

Aquarium Setup

• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gal (38 L)
• Substrate Type: Any
• Lighting Needs: Moderate - normal lighting
• Temperature: 72.0 - 79.0° F (22.2 - 26.1° C)
• Range ph: 6.0-8.0
• Hardness Range: 2 - 25 dGH
• Brackish: No
• Water Movement: Moderate
• Water Region: Bottom

Social Behaviors

   The Julli Cory or Leopard Catfish generally a good community fish. They swim in schools and can be kept with almost every other community type fish.

• Venomous: No - Corydoras species have spines that can cause a stinging sensation if they penetrate the skin.
• Temperament: Peaceful - This gregarious fish appreciates the company of its own kind.
• Compatible with:
  • Same species - conspecifics: Yes
  • Peaceful fish (): Safe
  • Semi-Aggressive: (): Monitor
  • Aggressive: (): Threat
  • Shrimps, Crabs, Snails: Safe - not aggressive
  • Plants: Safe

Sex: Sexual differences

   Males are usually smaller and skinnier. The female belly is often rounder than the males so their mouth may sit up off off the substrate when resting. These are only indications and not foolproof, in short, sexing is difficult, and breeding is best accomplished by natural pairing.

Breeding / Reproduction

   The Corys have a very interesting breeding routine. After bumping the male on the vent, the female will receive the males sperm into her mouth. She then discharges a few eggs which she catches and clasps with her ventral fins. Then the female will swim around and deposit a bit of sperm and just a few eggs at a time in select spots, such as a strong plant, the heater tube or ever the aquarium glass. When she has runs out of sperm, she will go back to the male and repeat the process until the spawn is complete. See the section on Corys in Breeding Freshwater Fish.

• Ease of Propagation: Difficult

Availability

   The Julli Cory or Leopard Catfish is readily available.

References

Animal-World References
Freshwater Fish and Plants Tropical Fish ~ Freshwater Fish ~ Aquatic Plants

Author: David Brough. CFS.

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Lastest Comments on Julii Cory View all 14 comments on Julii Cory Add Your Comment

Brandon T - 2009-05-25 Julli Corys are great! I used to have one but since they get along with my 4 Zebra Danios and 4 Neon Tetras, I'm going to get another one in a couple of days. Reply

Brenda - 2008-08-14 Are they high matinence and are they freshwater or saltwater? Don't want any surprises when I get them. Click For Replies (2) Emily - 2010-08-18 Low maintenance. Freshwater. They need docile tank-mates though - nobody that will nip at their fins, as cories are not very adept at protecting themselves. BMN - 2011-01-14 They are low maintenance. They are freshwater. They are gregarious. Buy at least two. I have six in a 30 gal. community tank with other fish. Reply

FISH FANATIC - 2010-05-06 What is the maximum amount of julii corys in a 24" tank? Click For Replies (1) Emily - 2010-08-18 24" by what? 24" x 24" x 24"? I'm assuming you're talking about a 20 gallon long tank, but a 29 high I think is also 24" wide. And the number also depends on the tankmates you wish to add (or that are already present). A group of cories should never be less than 3, and unless they are pygmy cories, they shouldn't be in anything smaller than 10 gallons at a minimum. Bigger is always better here. In a 20 gallon, if no other fish are present, you might be able to get 10 or 12 in there comfortably. If other fish are present, this number will drop, and if the tank is less than 20 gallons, the number will drop too. Lots of factors apply here. Reply

Anonymous - 2009-03-03 Just as a word to the wise, a lot of corydoras sold as juliis are actually trilineatus. You have to look at the two, very closely to figure out which is which. The trilineatus has a reticulated head pattern (little squiggly lines) whereas the true julii has a head pattern made up of little individual dots. ps: the photo for this section appears more like trilineatus than julii. A clearer photo would help people identify the correct corydoras species. Editor's Note: Anyone with a clearer picture, please enter it into the gallery and we can replace this one. Click For Replies (1) Amanda - 2010-07-27 What are the difference between the two? If one was looking for a Julii, and ended up with a Trillneatus, for example. Reply

Jami Thomas - 2009-10-13 When adding cory cats to your aquarium, unless you have an extremely small tank, under 2 1/2 gallons, always get two cory cats. They do much better in pairs, and are much more fun to watch. Reply

Mick the fish - 2008-12-30 I have a school / shoal of 10 jullis in my 5" tank, they have been in for 2 months now and are exceptional tank mates for the rest of the fish , even inducing some of their more stoic tankmates to imitate their erratic behavior at times. I would recommend the species as an excellent addition to any starter tank, but please let the tank become established first as they seem to thrive on the detritus and residue. Another note, as was posted earlier, ensure the substrate does not contain sharp / angular gravel as this not only could damage their undersides, it will also, eventually wear away their barbels. Reply

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