Cory Catfish are extremely popular catfish to keep in an aquarium, and it’s easy to see why. Their playful temperament (I love watching them actively digging through the substrate) and care make them an attractive choice.

On top of that, these fish are on the cheaper side making them accessible for beginners. Not all species are as cheap (or expensive) though. Read further to learn more about some of the most expensive Cory Catfish.

How much do Cory Catfish cost?

As stated above, how much Cory Catfish cost depends on the species. Yet, the most common species do fall in a certain price range, which is part of why they are so common.

The average price of Cory Catfish is $3,00 to $10,00 per fish. How much your fish costs depends on the species, how old it is and whether it has been caught in the wild or not. Some expensive Corydoras species cost more than $100/fish.

Please not that these are the prices as this article is being written. Even though we try and keep updating this page, these prices may fluctuate over time.

Albino Cory Catfish Price

The average price of Albino Cory Catfish (C. aeneus) is $3,00 to $6,00, depending on how old the fish is and how it has been bred.

Online Store
Price
Live Aquaria
$5,99
Aquariumfish.net
$5,39
Arizona Aquatic Gardens
$2,99
Consolidated Fish Farms
$3,00

Bronze Cory Catfish Price

The average price of Bronze Cory Catfish (C. aeneusà is $3,00 to $5,00, depending on how old the fish is and whether it is wild caught or not.

Online Store
Price
Aquariumfish.net
$4,99
Aqua Huna
$3,82

Julii Cory Catfish Price

The average price of Julii Cory Catfish (C. julii) is $4,00 to $7,00, depending on how old the fish is and whether it is wild-caught or not.

Online Store
Price
Aqua Huna
$4,33

Panda Cory Catfish Price

The average price of Panda Cory Catfish (C. panda) is $6,00 to $10,00, depending on how old the fish is and whether it is wild-caught or not.

Online Store
Price
Aquariumfish.net
$10,89
Live Aquaria
$8,99
Arizona Aquatics Garden
$5,88
Consolidated Fish Farm
$5,00

False Julii Cory Catfish Price

The average price of False Julii Cory Catfish (C. trilineatus) is $5,00 to $7,00, depending on how old the fish is and whether it is wild-caught or not.

Online Store
Price
Live Aquaria
$6,99

Pygmy Cory Catfish Price

The average price of Pygmy Cory Catfish (C. pygmeaus) is $5,00 to $7,00, depending on how old the fish is and whether it is wild-caught or not.

Online Store
Price
Aquariumfish.net
$2,99
Arizona Aquatics Garden
$3,99
Aqua Huna
$4,00

Sterba's Cory Catfish Price

The average price of Peppered Cory Catfish (C. sterbai) is $8,00 to $12,00, depending on how old the fish is and whether it is wild-caught or not.

Online Store
Price
Aquariumfish.net
$10,89
Aqua Huna
$6,50
Live Aquaria
$11,99
Arizona Aquatic Gardens
$12,99
Consolidated Fish Farms
$12,00

Peppered Cory Catfish Price

The average price of Peppered Cory Catfish (C. paleatus) is $4,00 to $7,00, depending on how old the fish is and whether it is wild-caught or not.

Online Store
Price
Aquariumfish.net
$5,89
Aqua Huna
$3,82
Live Aquaria
$5,99
Arizona Aquatic Gardens
$3,88
Consolidated Fish Farms
$4,00

Save on your Corydoras fish

Use our coupon "KEEPINGCATFISH" for 10% off

Price of captive bred vs. wild caught Corydoras

Did you know that a reasonable part of all aquarium fish sold are wild-caught? Yes, they are taken from South American habitats

In the industry, fish will mostly be sourced the cheapest way. Albino and Bronze Corys f.e., are produced in mass quantities.

This makes the price for this fish rather cheap, although they are still being imported and caught in the wild. These wild-caught fish will thus be more expensive than captive-bred, because the supply chain is more complex.

Initial costs of setting up a Cory Catfish Tank

Apart from the costs associated with buying the fish itself. Before buying Cory Catfish, you have to set up a tank, which is in most cases more expensive than buying the fish.

Filter

Even though they might eat left-overs of the food, they will produce waste and thus need a filter. They don’t need a filter as strong as f.e. pleco catfish, which produce tons of waste, but do need a reasonable filter to have optimal water parameters.

For a 20 gallon tank, a hang-on back comes at around $20-30.

Estimated cost: $25

Tank

This will probably be the biggest upfront expense. The recommended tank size for Cory Catfish is around 20 gallons. This gives you the volume to house a reasonably sized group (>6 fish) and gives your fish enough place to swim. 

Depending on what’s included in your tank, a 20-gallon tank costs anywhere between $70 and $120. 

Estimated cost: $100

Heater

Cory Catfish need a heater in their tank since they come from the tropical rainforests of South America. This way the water temperature never drops under 72°F.


There are various different types of heaters on the market, all with different price tags. For Cory Catfish, a normal heater will do just fine though.

Estimated cost: $20

Lighting

Lighting is something that’s essential for every tank, especially if you have live plants. Most aquariums come with in built LEDs, but if you bought a regular tank, you can expect to spend around $20-30.

Estimated cost: $25

Plants

Plants are essential for Cory Catfish to feel happy and healthy. Plants create natural cover and improve the water parameters by adding oxygen and filtering. 

It’s important to buy live plants and not fake plants. Cory Catfish will notice it when you use fake plants and feel better in a natural setup. 

You can buy your plants at a local pet shop, or online at stores such at Aquarium Co-Op. Wonder what are the best plants for Corydoras? Read our full guide.

Estimated cost: $20

Ongoing costs of caring for Cory Catfish

Apart from setting up your tank, you need to regularly make ongoing investments.

Food

Cory Catfish do need their own diet to survive. Since they don’t eat algae and can’t survive off of rests (a common myth), you need to provide them with their own sinking foods.

Cory Catfish are mainly carnivorous. There are luckily many different options available and even pellets specifically made for Corydoras.

You can also feed live foods. These are a great way to bring a little variation into their diet, although they cost more than commercial foods.

Estimated cost: $5-10/month

Electricity

An aquarium can become quite expensive in terms of electricity. Both your heater and filter will be running day and night, and the lighting will also cause a higher electrical bill.

Because this is very different for everyone, it’s hard to set an exact amount. With newer technology such as LED lighting, it has become cheaper though.

Medication

Although Cory Catfish are hardy fish, they can get sick and possibly die. In order to minimize the chance of diseases, it’s important to try and create an optimal living environment. But even then, your fish might get sick and you will need to purchase medication.

Summary

On average, Cory Catfish cost anywhere between $3 and $10 per fish. This highly depends on the species though and some rare species can cost more than $60/piece!

Apart from the fish themselves, there are some initial and ongoing costs to take into consideration.

Initial costs
Cost
6 Cory Catfish
$36
Tank
$100
Filter
$25
Heater
$20
Lighting
$25
Plants
$20
Total
$226
Ongoing costs
Cost
Food
$7/month
Medication
$2/month
Total
$9/month

Save on your Corydoras fish

Use our coupon "KEEPINGCATFISH" for 10% off