Peppered Cory (Corydoras paleatus) – 3cm

They are hardy, adaptable, peaceful and easily bred.  Peppered Cory Catfish are a great choice for beginners. They are very suited for a small aquarium (50 litres min) and will delight you with their constant activity.  Adult size: 6-7 cm.

Peppered Cory, short for Corydoras, (Corydoras paleatus) are members of the armoured catfish family. The genus name means “helmet skin” and the fish live up to this name as they are rather tough little fish. They also have spines in the leading rays of the pectoral fins to deter larger predators from eating them. Corydoras are sometimes observed taking a gulp of air at the water surface: this is because they can absorb oxygen through their gut. It is not known why cories do this even on oxygen rich waters.  Native to parts of southern Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina.

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Behaviour

They are very suited for a small aquarium and will delight you with their constant activity.  These small catfish will breed rather easily too, and it is very interesting. The female will drop a few eggs and catch them with her ventral fins, carrying them about to deposit them here and there about the plants and decor in the aquarium.

Tank Conditions

Corydoras species prefer sandy substrate as they enjoy rooting about in it looking for morsels of food. They can be prone to infection of the barbels if kept in poorly maintained gravel. Like all catfish, they have barbels (whiskers), one on each side of the mouth that aids them in looking for food. Corydoras will appreciate some cover in the form of rocks or bogwood.

Corydoras require a minimum tank size of 50 litres, but the ideal tank size is going to be between 75 and 80 litres.

Compatibility

They make an excellent addition to any peaceful community aquarium. Good tank mates include Danios, Dwarf Cichlids, Livebearers and Tetras. Because they are schooling fish, they enjoy the company of their own kind as well, and do best kept in groups of at least 3, though 6 or more are better.

Feeding

Feed a varied diet consisting of a good quality dried food for bottom feeders supplemented with regular meals of small live and frozen foods.

Care

As typical of all catfish, Corys cannot tolerate salt or brackish water but they are not picky about their aquarium conditions. Little maintenance has to be done to keep them in good condition. Regular siphoning of the gravel is recommended to remove waste and keep the tank in a clean state. The recommended water change is 10 – 15% every other week to keep up with the bio-load.  High nitrate levels can cause catfish to develop infected barbels; this makes it difficult for them to navigate and eat normally. It is recommended to maintain nitrate levels below 20 ppm.

Be careful when netting them because when they feel threatened they extend their sharp spined fins outward and lock them in a rigid position. Although the spines are small, just like this catfish, they are quite sharp and can pierce your skin.

There are no specific parasites or diseases that Corys carry. The most common disease or cause of death in Cory catfish is nitrite poisoning. If you notice Corydoras swimming higher in the tank or moving sluggishly, they may be suffering from nitrite poisoning.  This can be remedied with quick 25% to 50% water change.

Because they are a scaleless fish, catfish can be treated with API Pimafix or API Melafix but should not be treated with potassium permanganate or copper based medications. Malachite green or Seachem ParaGuard can be used at one half to one fourth the recommended dosage. All medications should be used with caution.

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