Mixing different Corydoras species?

[TBoss]

Since it would be better to keep them in a group of at least six, is it possible if these six are of different speciments? For example, a mixture of Albino, the Leopard - C. julii and the Panda Cory - C. panda?

[stormhawk]

Yes it is possible. I very seldom keep six or more per species. Right now I have 5 trilineatus happily co-existing with 5 sterbai. They have a metae, melini, kanei? and some panda for tankmates and are doing fine.

[TBoss]

oh.. Thanks a lot. Cleared my doubts. Then I'm going to get different types and put them together. Hope they will make good friends with each other

[teos]

i mix my fishes too. they wouldnt be stressed or anything as long as each of them has ample swimming space

[berlinjs]

l mixing mine with green 6, sterbai 6 into cherry shrimp, hope its ok especially babies cherrys!

[Savant]

Will they interbreed?

[mad scientist]

Depending on the "proximity" of the species within and across "Corydoras groups". Though defunct in academic studies, the "Corydoras groups" system was innovated by Gosline more than 50 years ago and expanded upon by Nijssen and Isbrucker in the 1970s. Though the latter two later threw this classification system out of the window, it may serve as a rough guideline to hobbyist on the "closeness" of Corydoras species.

In short, species within the same group have a greater chance of interbreeding e.g. a Corydoras elegans with a Corydoras napoensis (both from the elegans group) or a Corydoras aeneus with a Corydoras venezuelanus (both from the aeneus) etc. But less likely with species across groups e.g. C. semiaquilus with C. aeneus or taken to the extreme, Corydoras hastatus with Corydoras robustus.

Hope this helps.

[celticfish]

Here's a list by Heiko Bleher on cories that school together in the wild ---> here

[chooz]

I have C. paleatus and albinos (not sure whether the albinos are C. paleatus or C. aeneus) but they don't mix. They only mix with their own kind.