Corydoras sp.

Corydoras: from the Ancient Greek κόρυς (korus), meaning ‘helmet’, and δορά (dora), meaning ‘skin, hide of an animal’, in allusion to the rows of bony plates on the flanks of genus members.

Collected in the upper Río Madre de Dios in Madre de Dios region, southern Peru, from the Manú National Park near its headwaters at least as far as the city of Puerto Maldonado downstream.

The Madre de Dios rises in Peru but much of its 1100 km lie in Bolivia where it eventually joins with the Río Beni to form the rio Madeira, a tributary of the central Amazon basin.

Ideally use a substrate of fine sand, although rounded gravel is an acceptable alternative provided it's kept scrupulously clean.

Other décor is largely down to personal choice, but some cover should be provided to give the fish security.

Corydoras spp. are foraging omnivores and will accept most sinking dried foods, as well as small live and frozen varieties such as bloodworm, Tubifex, etc.

Feeding a varied diet will ensure the fish are in optimum condition.

Under no circumstances should they be expected to survive on 'left-overs' from other inhabitants of the aquarium or relied on to 'clean' the aquarium.

Peaceful and gregarious. Should be maintained in a group of at least 6-8 individuals.

Females tend to grow larger, and sexually mature individuals are noticeably rounder and broader-bodied than males, especially when gravid.

This unidentified species was originally traded under the C-numbers C115 and C116 but these two are now thought to represent the same species, while fish collected from Manú National Park and sold as C. sp. 'Manu 1 long nose', C. sp. 'Manu 4', C. sp. 'Manu 7', and C. sp. 'Manu 8' may represent this species as well.

It's highly variable in terms of colour pattern, particularly in respect of the extent of dark pigmentation in the anterior portion of the body.

The genus Corydoras is among the largest catfish groups and currently contains over 150 valid species.

It's included in the family Callichthyidae, of which members are often referred to collectively as 'armoured' or 'mailed' catfishes group due to the presence of bony plates in place of scales on the body.

Their taxonomy can be confusing, and numerous undescribed species are also thought to exist.

Fish of unconfirmed identification entering the aquarium hobby are therefore typically assigned a 'C' or 'CW' number for purposes of reference and organisation.

They are facultative air breathers and possess a modified, highly vascularised intestine which has evolved to facilitate uptake of atmospheric oxygen and aid survival in oxygen-deprived environments. In the aquarium you'll occasionally see them rising to the surface to take in gulps of air.

The stiffened pectoral-fin spines are capable of piercing human skin and a 'sting' can be very painful indeed, so care should be exercised when handling them.

It's thought that secretions from the axillary glands at the base of each spine may even be mildly toxic or venomous.