This is going to sound so stupid but can a cory cat hurt a person?

melissasroja

melissasroja

AC Members
Sep 28, 2010
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Connecticut
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Melissa
I know this sounds stupid! When I think of a catfish I think of the HUGE nasty buggers we have in our lake. Touch one of those with your hand and ouch. So now I have this cute little cory cat and Im wondering if I ever have to scoop him up with my hand can he hurt me? Please dont think Im nuts but I had to ask! lol

Melissa
 
nope he can't hurt you.
Cory's NEED to be in schools though, they can stress themselves to death if they are by themselves
 
Thanks. Yes my husband didnt know they need a group when he came home with him today. The fish store told him oh no one is just fine. Im going to head out and get two more tomorrow for him.
 
my corys have never hurt me. I have about 36 >.<
 
Cories have tiny barbs that they use as defense if a fish tries to swallow them. It is questionable if these barbs could penetrate human flesh. If very stressed, cories may bare these barbs & tangle himself in a fish net so they really should be handled/moved as little as possible.

Specifically answering your question, no a corydoras will not hurt you, but please try not to catch/handle them unless in an emergency situation.
 
I"ve yet to be stuck by one of mine, either, but I don't really handle them very often either. I don't know how many I have, it's a lot.

I have been stuck by plenty of catfish while fishing though, both fresh and salt, while trying to remove a hook, or not watching where i step :(
 
Cory barbs have a mild toxin, but I have not found any first hand account of a person being "stung" by a (max 3") corydoras.

Clown loaches have a larger spine that I think has a stronger toxin, and I have also not found firsthand reports of any injuries...
 
Stepping on them is exactly how Ive gotten it here too. Man does it ever hurt! I definitely dont plan to move or handle him. I rarely take my fish out of the tank. Ill be moving my females soon but thats just a tank to tank switch so net them and drop em in. That wont involve moving the cory though.
 
melissasroja said:
Thanks. Yes my husband didnt know they need a group when he came home with him today. The fish store told him oh no one is just fine. Im going to head out and get two more tomorrow for him.
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I would get enough cories so the total number of cories in the tank is six. Six is the generally accepted minimum number of cories to keep in one tank.

Cories do have barbs but I am not sure if they could hurt a human.
 
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