Order Siluriformes
Family Callichthyidae
Subfamily Corydoradinae
Continued…
Genus Corydoras.
— Axelrod’s Corydoras — Corydoras axelrodi [Rossel, 1962]. (Eng. Axelrod’s Corydoras, Pink Cory). Colombia, Meta River. 5 cm. Main coloration is brownish. A black transverse stripe runs across the head through the eye; another stripe runs down the middle of the body, starting at the dorsal fin level and ending at the base of the lower caudal fin lobe. A small dark stripe lies at the base of the dorsal fin. However, there are specimens with only one stripe or even completely stripe-free. Males are smaller and more slender than females.
Shoaling fish (keep in groups of 6+), very peaceful and suitable for many community aquariums. Food is almost always taken from the bottom, so fine sand is required, never gravel. Use river sand as a substrate and add some driftwood and twisted roots. Peat can be added to the filter. They need free access to the water surface.
Lighting should be dim. Special attention should be paid to water and food quality, as they are sensitive to deteriorating water conditions and polluted substrate. They spawn in dense vegetation; parents do not guard the clutch. dH 8-20°; pH 6.5-7.5; T 20-28°C, optimal 24-26°C.
— San Juan Cory — Corydoras bilineatus [Knaack, 2002]. (Eng. San Juan Cory). Bolivia, Cochabamba, Beni, Mamore rivers. 5-6 cm. A high-backed cory with a metallic green sheen, especially on the upper half of the body. At various developmental stages, completely different patterns appear, while the adult coloration forms definitively and can change depending on mood from reticulated to solid with a greenish sheen. Two whitish longitudinal stripes run along the sides between the black pigmented zones. The substrate should be fine sand with areas for digging. pH 7.0; T 24-26°C.
— Spotback Corydoras — Corydoras blochi [Nijssen, 1971]. (Eng. Spotback Sorydoras). Venezuela, Guyana, Northern Brazil. 5 cm. A silvery-gray variety covered with numerous small dark spots and a black dorsal fin. Males have a taller dorsal fin. Shoaling, keep in groups of 6 or more individuals with other small, peaceful species. pH 6.0-8.0; T 22-26°C.
— Blackstripe Cory — Corydoras bondi [Gosline, 1940]. (Eng. Blackstripe Cory). Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname. 4-6 cm. Back and head are brown with small black spots, body is yellowish-silvery, belly is white. A black stripe runs from about the middle of the body to the base of the caudal fin. The subspecies Corydoras b. coppenamensis has round and uniformly large spots on the head and upper body. Eyes are smaller, the first ray of the dorsal fin is shorter.
Shoaling fish (keep in groups of 6+), very peaceful and suitable for many community aquariums. Food is almost always taken from the bottom, so fine sand is required, never gravel. Use river sand as a substrate and add some driftwood and twisted roots. Peat can be added to the filter. Needs free access to the water surface. Dim lighting. dH up to 12°; pH 6.5-7.2; Temperature up to 28°C.
— Tail Spot Cory — Corydoras caudimaculatus [Rossel, 1961]. (Eng. Tail Spot Cory). Brazil and Bolivia, Guaporé rivers. 5 cm. Body is golden-yellow with a greenish tint, sprinkled with small dark dots, including the fins. The fish has a pinkish-brown tint tending slightly toward gold around the cheeks. A large black spot is present on the caudal peduncle. Females are plumper than males.
Similar to C. similis and C. spectabilis. However, C. similis has a larger and more diffused spot at the base of the tail without clear boundaries. The caudal and dorsal fins are usually transparent, without dots. The body is less deep. C. spectabilis grows larger, has a golden body background, and the body spots are much larger and often merge into interrupted longitudinal stripes.
In the wild, they live in groups, sometimes numbering several hundred individuals. Almost always in motion, they rarely sit or hide. Keep in a shoal of 6-9 fish. Substrate of fine particles. Intolerant to high nitrate levels. In case of illness (rarely happens), they cannot tolerate the presence of salt, even in very small amounts. They mature at 5-6 months. Females prefer to glue their eggs to the inner surfaces of leaves of any broad-leaved plants (Cryptocoryne, Anubias). Lifespan is 10 years. dH 8-20°; pH 6.0-7.5; temperature 22-26°C.
Identification: Tail Spot Cory — Corydoras caudimaculatus.
Corydoras cochui, delphax, duplicareus, elegans, ellisae.
Corydoras adolfoi, aeneus, agassizii, arcuatus. 
