Corydoras species are by far the most popular of all the catfish kept in aquaria. Most are hardy, adaptable, peaceful shoalers, and they have an appealing habit of seeming to “wink” at their owners. The effect is, in fact, created by rotating the eyes quickly. As the eye is rotated downward, the pupil and iris disappear briefly from view, and the surrounding reflective tissues become momentarily visible. As the eye rotates back into its more normal orientation, the illusion of a wink is created. Of all the Corydoras species, Bronze Corydoras is the best known and one of the most popular. Several naturally occurring color forms include Belem, Peru Gold Shoulder Red, Gold Shoulder Green, Peru Green Stripe, Peru Gold Stripe, and even Aeneus Black. There is also a cultivated albino.
Other common name
- Bronze Catfish
Family
- Callichthyidae
Subfamily
- Corydoradinae
Distribution
- Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru. Sunname, Trinidad, and Venezuela.
Size
- Around 2 3/4in (7cm); occasionally a little larger.
Behavior
- Peaceful shoaler that looks impressive in a group.
Diet
- Wide range of foods accepted, particularly bottom-dwelling livefoods and sinking commercial formulations.
Aquarium
- Well planted, with open swimming areas, and fine-grained substratum. Water chemistry not critical but excessively acid conditions must be avoided. Temperature range: 64-79 F (18-26 C); avoid prolonged exposure to lower temperatures.
Breeding
- The female swallows the male’s sperm and releases them from her gut onto her cupped pelvic fins, into which she has released a few eggs. She deposits the eggs on a surface, where they hatch 5 6 days
