Corydoras |
Corydoras semiaquilus
|
Scientific classification |
Kingdom: |
Animalia
|
Phylum: |
Chordata
|
Class: |
Actinopterygii
|
Order: |
Siluriformes
|
Family: |
Callichthyidae
|
Genus: |
Corydoras
|
|
Type Species |
Corydoras geoffroy
Lacepčde, 1803 |
Species |
Corydoras acutus (Blacktop corydoras)
Corydoras adolfoi (Adolf's catfish)
Corydoras aeneus (Bronze corydoras)
Corydoras ambiacus (Spotted corydoras)
Corydoras atropersonatus
Corydoras axelrodi (Pink corydoras)
Corydoras bondi (Blackstripe corydoras)
Corydoras caudimaculatus (Tailspot corydoras)
Corydoras cochui (Barredtail corydoras)
Corydoras elegans (Elegant corydoras)
Corydoras ehrhardti
Corydoras evelynae
Corydoras geoffroy
Corydoras guapore (Guapore corydoras)
Corydoras habrosus (Salt and petter catfish)
Corydoras hastatus (Dwarf corydoras)
Corydoras haraldschultzi (Mosaic corydoras)
Corydoras latus
Corydoras leucomelas (False spotted catfish)
Corydoras loxozonus
Corydoras macropterus (Sailfin corydoras)
Corydoras melanotaenia (Green gold catfish)
Corydoras melanistius (Bluespotted corydoras)
Corydoras melini (Bandit corydoras)
Corydoras metae (Masked corydoras)
Corydoras nanus
Corydoras narcissus
Corydoras nattereri (Blue corydoras)
Corydoras ornatus
Corydoras osteocarus
Corydoras paleatus (Peppered cory)
Corydoras pastazensis (Pastaza corydoras)
Corydoras panda (Panda corydoras)
Corydoras polystictus
Corydoras prionotos
Corydoras pygmaeus (Pygmy corydoras)
Corydoras reticulatus (Reticulated corydoras)
Corydoras schwartzi (Schwartz's catfish)
Corydoras semiaquilus
Corydoras septentrionalis
Corydoras simulatus
Corydoras sodalis (False network catfish)
Corydoras sterbai(Sterba's cory)
Corydoras sychri (Sychr's catfish)
Corydoras trilineatus (Threestripe corydoras)
Corydoras undulatus
Corydoras xinguensis (Xingu corydoras) |
Members of the South American Corydoras
genus are
freshwater temperate and tropical
catfish in the
armored catfish family, and are commonly referred to as
cory catfish, cory cats, or simply corys.
The
type species for this genus is Corydoras geoffroy. The name
Corydoras is derived from the Greek kory (helmet) and doras (skin).
Corydoras is a very large genus with over 180
described species. In addition, many variants exist. Several
hundred Corydoras species are not yet classified, but
kept by aquarists. These species are given C-Numbers,
originally devised by Hans-Georg Evers for the German
fishkeeping magazine DATZ in 1993. As of 2006, are 153 C-numbers assigned, of
which 32 have subsequently been assigned appropriate
scientific names.
Corydoras are native to slow-moving and almost
still (but seldom stagnant) streams and small rivers of
South America where the water is shallow and very clear. The
preferred bottom seems to be sand or sand mixed with mud,
sometimes covered with detritus or dead leaves. The banks
and sides of the streams are covered with a dense growth of
plants, and this is where the corys are found. They inhabit
a wide variety of water types but tend toward soft, neutral
to slightly acidic or slightly alkaline pH and 5-10 degrees
of hardness. They can tolerate only a small amount of salt
(some species tolerate none at all) and do not inhabit
environments with tidal influences. Many species are found
in schools or aggregations of hundreds or even thousands of
individuals, usually of a single species, but occasionally
with other species mixed in.
Their main food is bottom-dwelling insects and insect
larvae and various worms, as well as some vegetable matter.
Although no corys are piscivorous, they will eat flesh from
dead fishes. Their feeding method is to search the bottom
with their sensory barbels and suck up food items with their
mouth, often burying their snout up to their eyes, one of
the reasons a soft sand substrate is preferable.
In the aquarium
Corys are popular aquarium fish and typically measure
around four to seven centimetres in length. 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 is recommended to keep them in
groups of at least six as most species seem to form shoals
in the aquaria (e.g. 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 do not 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 they
will 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 is not an
indication that anything is wrong with the fish.
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 is not
too uncommon.
External links
References
-
"Corydoras".
FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly.
March 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- Evers, Hans-Georg.
A system called “C-Numbers”
(english). Retrieved on
2006-06-08.
-
Burgess, W. E. (1987).
A Complete Introduction to
Corydoras and Related Catfishes. Neptune City, NJ:
T.F.H. Publications.
ISBN 0-86622-264-2.
- Paxton, CGM (1997) Shoaling and activity levels in
Corydoras catfish (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae)
Journal of Fish Biology 51, 496-502.