Corydoras Catfish

Posted March 19, 2009

Corydoras catfish, also known as cory cats, are a number of very popular schooling bottom dwelling fish species. They are relatively hardy and a joy to watch. Add to this the fact that they accept most types of food and can be bred in home aquariums and it is no wonder that they are as popular as they are.

Corydoras catfish belong to the genus Corydoras in the armored catfish family Callichthyidae. They are active, friendly fish that do very well in community setups. They can become older than many other fish and you should not be surprised if your cory cat lives to be 20 years old.

The genus Corydoras contains more than 180 described species and a number of other species are still waiting to be described. Many of these known but undescribed species have been given a C-number similar to the L-numbers given to undescribed plecos. You can rest assured that this genus will grow as time goes by and more species are described.

It is important to remember that corydoras catfish are schooling fish and that they need to be kept in groups of at least 6 individuals to feel secure and show their true beauty and behaviour. A larger school is even better and in South America were they originate from they can often be found in schools containing thousands of fish. Different species sometimes school together in the wild and it is possible to keep several corydoras species in the same aquarium.

In their native South America cory cats inhabit slow moving streams with shallow, clear, soft and neutral or slightly acidic water. Keep the pH-value in the aquarium slightly below 7 and the water soft. Some species do better than others in hard water. Avoid using salt as some cory cat species won’t tolerate salt in the water. This includes even small amounts of salt. Research your species before using salt or any medication in the tank. Melafix and Pimafix are usually safe to use.

Cory cats are sensitive to high levels of nitrate since this makes them susceptible to barbell infections.

Corydoras catfish normally search the bottom of the tank for food but some individuals might start to follow the glass to the surface of the tank to catch food before it sinks. It is important to make sure that all cory cats get enough food and that enough food reaches the bottom. They are not and should not be kept as simply a cleaning crew. Try to feed them a varied diet.

Corydoras catfish prefers well planted aquariums. The bottom substrate should be sand or some other fine grained rounded substrate. If the substrate is too sharp the fish can hurt themselves looking for food.

It is normal for Corydoras catfish to go to the surface to get air and this does not indicate disease as it does in many other species. The fish draws air into its mouth and absorbs it through the wall of its intestine. Left over air is then released through the vent. This fascinating form of breathing is an adaptation to low-oxygen waters.

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