Albino cory catfish are among the smallest catfish species, ranging from 1-3 inches in length, reaching a maximum of 2.5 – 3 inches when fully grown, which makes them well-suited to live in smaller tanks. Their individual size is impacted by factors including genetics, nutrition, and environment.
Whether you are considering buying albino cory catfish for the first time or are worried about population density in your tanks, read on for everything you need to know about the size of albino cory catfish, the factors that influence their growth, and how their size impacts their care.
How Big Do Albino Cory Catfish Get?
Albino cory catfish are one of the smaller catfish species, which makes them better suited for living in smaller or community tanks than their larger growing cousins (which include the common pleco and the suckermouth catfish). So, how big do albino cory catfish get?
Albino cory catfish reach an average length of just two inches (five cm) long in adulthood. The maximum size that these little catfish may reach is 2.5-three inches (6 -7.5 cm) long, and their size typically ranges on an individual level from one to three inches (2.5-7.5 cm) in length.
Albino cory catfish are usually purchased when they are about an inch long and reach their full size at eight to nine months.
What Factors Influence An Albino Cory Catfish’s Growth?
While albino cory catfish grow, on average, to 2 inches long, there is a lot of individual range in size.
The size that your specific albino cory catfish grows to reach is dependent on several factors, including:
- Your fish’s genetic code. The size of your albino cory catfish will be, in part, determined by the size of its parents.
- Your fish’s nutrition. Your albino cory catfish requires an omnivorous diet and will not reach its full potential size if you do not expose it to sufficient and balanced nutrition throughout its development.
- The amount of space that is available to your fish. Your albino cory catfish can be on the smaller side if it grows up in a tank that does not offer its inhabitants sufficient space.
- The tank’s environment. A stressful tank environment (such as an overcrowded tank or aggressive tank mates) can similarly stunt your albino cory’s growth, as it may stop growing prematurely.
- The tank’s water perimeters. These freshwater fish require clean water of a neutral pH that is regularly changed and kept at 70-82 degrees Fahrenheit. If this is not the case, your albino cory catfish may not reach their full size.
Therefore, if you want to ensure that your albino cory catfish reach their full potential size, it is essential to pay attention to their diet and living conditions, as these promote healthy growth and development.
How Big Should An Albino Cory Catfish’s Tank Be?
As the size of a fish typically determines its tank size, you may be wondering how much tank space these little catfish need to be happy and healthy.
Albino cory catfish need a tank that holds a minimum of ten gallons of water for three individuals. However, this may be a little cramped, and more tank space is preferable.
If you plan on keeping a school of the species with more than six albino cory catfish, a larger tank (at least 15-30 gallons) is required to ensure that they thrive and grow to reach their full size.
Tanks that are too small may cause albino cory catfish to become despondent or even stunt their growth.
Additionally, waste may build up in the tank, which can cause illness or even the death of some of your fish.
How Many Albino Cory Catfish Should Be Kept Together?
Another critical factor that is affected by both tank and fish size is the number of fish of one species that you keep together. So, should albino cory catfish be kept together, and if so, how big a school should you keep?
As a result of their small size, albino cory catfish are happiest when living in schools. A school provides them with safety and protection in numbers, which is particularly important if you plan on keeping your albino cory catfish in a mixed community tank with larger, more aggressive fish.
Albino cory catfish should be kept in a school of at least three individuals. However, larger schools are preferable, with tropical fish experts recommending a group of six or more individuals as the optimum school size.
When kept in a school, albino cory catfish do everything together, including feeding and resting.
While most albino cory catfish can survive alone, they have been known to pine away, which shows how important community is for these little fish and their overall health.
Can You Keep Albino Cory Catfish With Other Fish?
Albino cory catfish work well in community tanks and are often recruited for the ‘cleaning team’ in mixed tanks, as their filtered bottom-feeding tidies up scraps and thus keeps the water fresh.
However, when keeping albino cory catfish in community tanks, there are a few things you need to consider:
- Choose peaceful tank mates. Albino cory catfish are generally docile and may be bullied or injured if kept with more aggressive fish.
- Consider top or middle-feeding fish. Albino cory catfish are bottom feeders, so you reduce the risk of conflict by choosing tank mates that favour the top of the tank.
- Consider small tank mates. Albino cory catfish cohabit well with most other small fish. However, they may be in danger of being eaten if kept with much larger fish.
Therefore, when choosing what fish to keep with your albino cory catfish, it is essential to consider their small size and peaceful temperament.
Conclusion
Albino cory catfish are among the smaller catfish and thus well suited for smaller tanks. They reach an average size of 2 inches in length (with a maximum size of 2.5-3 inches in larger fish).
Albino cory catfish are fully grown at approximately eight months of age. However, their growth is influenced by many factors, including their genetics, nutrition, and living conditions.