Everything about Corydoras totally explained
Members of the South American
Corydoras genus are
freshwater temperate and
tropical catfish in the
armored catfish family (
Corydoradinae subfamily), and are commonly referred to as
cory catfish,
cory cats, or simply
corys.
Taxonomy
The name
Corydoras is derived from the
Greek kory (helmet) and
doras (skin).
Corydoras is by far the largest genus of
neotropical fishes with over 142 species.
Brochis had been differentiated from
Corydoras due to the higher number of
dorsal fin rays; however,
Brochis has recently been suggested to be a
synonym of
Corydoras.
Corydoras species are distributed east of the
Andes to the
Atlantic coast, from
Trinidad to the
La Plata River drainage in northern
Argentina.
Description
Species assigned to
Corydoras display a broad diversity of body shapes and coloration.
A unique form of insemination has been described in
Corydoras aeneus. When these fish reproduce, the male will present his abdomen to the female. The female will attach her mouth to the male's genital opening, creating the well-known "T-position" many
Corydoras exhibit during courtship. The female will then drink the
sperm. The sperm rapidly moves through her intestines and is discharged together with her eggs into a pouch formed by her pelvic fins. The female can then swim away and deposit the pouch somewhere else alone. Because the T-position is exhibited in other species than just
C. aeneus, it's likely that this behavior is common in the genus.
In the aquarium
Corydoras are well known among aquarists for its many ornamental species. They are well suited to
tropical freshwater community aquariums, as they get along well with other species and are not at all aggressive. Corys are shy fish and it's recommended to keep them in groups of at least six as most species seem to form shoals in the aquaria (for example Paxton 1997). Corys are mostly bottom feeders, so they should be offered flake foods (which do sink), sinking pellets, and supplements of live and frozen foods, but care should be taken to prevent all the food from being eaten by the faster-moving fish at the higher levels of the tank.
Most corys prefer soft, acidic water. However, they can tolerate a wide range of water conditions. They don't do well in fish tanks with high
nitrate levels. This ion leads to the infection of the
barbels, which will shorten and become useless. The barbels may also be affected by constant contact with a sharp
substrate. These are easy fish to keep, being peaceful, small, hardy, active, and entertaining. Occasionally that'll dart to the surface, sticking their snout above the water for an instant, appearing to take a "breath" of fresh air. This behavior is perfectly normal and isn't an indication that anything is wrong with the fish. However, if done in excess, this behavior may indicate poor water conditions.
Where investigated
Corydoras sp. have been shown to be diurnal and
crepuscular rather than nocturnal and activity can even peak at twilight (Paxton 1997).
Corydoras are very good choices for a community aquarium, and are widely kept throughout the world. Their longevity in the aquarium is noteworthy;
C. aeneus is said to have lived 27 years in captivity and 20 years isn't too uncommon.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Corydoras'.
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