Order Siluriformes
Family Callichthyidae
Subfamily Corydoradinae
Continued…
Genus Corydoras
— Cochu’s Catfish — Corydoras cochui [Myers & Weitzman, 1954]. (Eng- Cochu’s Catfish). (C 022). Central Brazil, Araguaia and Santa Maria Nova rivers. 3 cm. Body yellow-brown with shapeless dark spots on the head and back, back is sandy colored. Flanks with a silvery sheen, belly white. There are four dark spots on the sides: one under the dorsal fin, the second between the dorsal and adipose fins, the third under the adipose fin, and one on the caudal peduncle. The upper and front parts of the gill cover are also dark.
Dorsal fin with a scattering of dark spots forming two irregular rows. The caudal fin has a pattern of 5 transverse narrow irregular stripes formed by clusters of small dark dots. Pectoral fins with a strong spine ray. Pectoral and pelvic fins are well developed. In the male, the upper tip of the dorsal fin is pointed with 2 rows of small spots, in the female it is rounded. The female is larger and fuller than the male. They like shelters, but also willingly rest on stones and driftwood. A group of fish can be kept in a community aquarium with patches of plants, stones, and driftwood. Can freely swim in middle water layers. pH 6.0-7.2; T 22-26°C.
— Corydoras concolor — Corydoras concolor [Weitzman, 1961]. Synonym: Corydoras esperanzae. Orinoco and Meta river basins, Venezuela and Colombia. 5.5 cm. Body bluish-gray with an emerald-green sheen on the gill covers. The posterior half of the body is rusty-orange. A dark mask around the eyes. Males have a high dorsal fin, which can reach a large size in adulthood. Unpaired fins are reddish-brown.
Females are similar to males, but fuller and do not have such large fins. They are less timid and show more natural behavior when kept in a group of 6 or more individuals. They feed on sinking pellets and frozen foods; live food should be given once or twice a week. Difficult to breed. pH 6.0-8.0; dH 2-25°; T 22-26°C.
— Sailfin Cory — Corydoras delphax [Nijssen & Isbrucker, 1983]. (Eng- Sailfin Cory). Colombia, Inírida River. 5-6 cm. Yellowish-brown with a greenish sheen, with numerous black dots all over the body. Bone plates in the middle of the body are yellow with brownish-greenish edges. A dark spot at the base of the dorsal fin extends onto the dorsal fin, head brown to the tip of the snout. Dorsal fin brownish (its first ray is reddish-brown), reddish during spawning, almost red-brown. Females are larger, fuller, with rounded fins. Caudal fin yellow-brown with light dots.
Aquarium with plenty of hiding places made from coconut shell halves, driftwood, stones, and plants. They look most impressive in an aquarium with a dark substrate and floating plants on the water surface. Should be kept in a school of 6 or more; in smaller numbers, they tend to hide. A sandy bottom should be used to prevent them from damaging their barbels. Omnivorous (literally, delphax – “little pig”). Live up to 5 years. dH 4-22°; pH about 7; T 21-28°C, optimal 23-25°C.
Identification: Genus Corydoras — Corydoras cochui, concolor, delphax.
— Duplicate Cory — Corydoras duplicareus [Sands, 1995]. (Eng- Duplicate Cory, False Adolfoi). Brazil, Amazon, Rio Negro, Rio Puranga rivers. 5 cm. Lower part of the body pale cream, gradually turning to coal black on the upper half. A wide dark black stripe runs along the back from the base of the dorsal fin to the caudal fin. There is also a transverse black stripe on the head passing through the eyes to the gill cover.
The dorsal fin has a small amount of black coloration at the base, while the rest of the fins are light yellow. The most striking feature is a bright orange/gold area that starts behind and above the eyes and ends in front of the dorsal fin. When viewed from above, this area resembles a “V”. Very similar to C. adolfoi, which has much thinner black stripes running from the base of the dorsal fin to the caudal fin.
Schooling fish. Feels better and more confident in a school. A group of fish can be kept in a community aquarium with patches of plants, stones, and driftwood. Swims leisurely and prefers to spend most of its time at the bottom. Needs dense vegetation among which it can hide. Areas with free access to sand are necessary. Always takes food from the bottom, so fine sand or rounded gravel should be used, never crushed stone. Requires free access to the water surface. Does not tolerate high concentrations of salt or copper in the water. Prefers temperatures below 26°C. At high temperatures, lifespan decreases. pH 6.4-7.4; dH 2-20°; T 20-24°C.
Identification: Duplicate Cory — Corydoras duplicareus.
— Elegant Corydoras — Corydoras elegans [Steindachner, 1877]. (Eng- Elegant Corydoras). Brazilian part of the Amazon, Ampiyacu River. 6 cm. Body yellowish, approaching pale ochre, with a marbled pattern. Head gray-brown, adorned with a pattern of yellowish and brownish dots and convoluted stripes. A dark, diffuse-edged, wedge-shaped stripe extends from the head to the caudal peduncle. Below it runs a pale stripe, which in turn has a series of dark spots along its lower edge.
Gill covers with a green-blue sheen, a small streak of the same color is located behind the eye. The back of the fish is light, yellowish-olive. Below it runs a wide dark stripe, under which a narrow yellowish-golden stripe passes, the lower part of the body is light, yellowish. Pectoral, pelvic, anal, and caudal fins are almost colorless or gray; on the transparent dorsal fin, there are three uneven dark stripes.
Males have more intricate and patterned spots than females, as well as three black stripes on the dorsal fin, which females lack. The male in the spawning period is very bright and beautiful, slightly smaller and slimmer. Juveniles differ quite significantly in coloration from adults: three even, unbroken dark stripes run along the grayish flanks. The likeness of adult coloration begins to appear at about half a year of age.
Schooling fish. Unpretentious. Takes food almost always from the bottom, therefore fine sand should be used, never crushed stone. Requires free access to the water surface. Readily accepts various foods, including pellets, tablets, flakes, and frozen bloodworms. Mature at one year of age. dH 4-20°; pH 6.8-7.8; T 23-28°C.
— Ellis’s Catfish — Corydoras ellisae [Gosline, 1940]. Paraguay, Argentina. 6 cm. Main coloration gray, with greenish-bronze patches on the head, below the dorsal fin, and near the tail base. Aquarium with a dark substrate of small smooth-edged gravel or sand. They do not like bright lighting, so floating plants should be added to the surface. They feel more comfortable in groups of several individuals of the same species. Sensitive to rapidly changing water parameters and water quality, and very intolerant of salt, chemicals, and medications. pH 6.0-7.5; T 22-26°C.
Corydoras eques, guianensis, habrosus, haraldschultzi, hastatus.
Corydoras axelrodi, bilineatus, blochi, bondi, caudimaculatus. 
