Banded corydoras

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iBanded corydoras

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Callichthyidae
Genus:	Scleromystax
Species:	S. barbatus

Binomial name

Scleromystax barbatus
Quoy & Gaimard, 1824

The banded corydoras or bearded catfish, Scleromystax barbatus, is a subtropical freshwater fish belonging to the Callichthyinae sub-family of the Callichthyidae family. It originates in coastal drainages in South America from Rio de Janeiro to Santa Catarina, Brazil. It was originally described as Callichthys barbatus by Jean René Constant Quoy & Joseph Paul Gaimard in 1824, from which it was transferred to genus Corydoras as Corydoras barbatus, a name which by which it is still being referred to in the aquarium industry. The species was further transferred to genus Scleromystax in 2003.

The fish will grow in length up to 3.9 inches (9.8 centimeters). It lives in a tropical climate in water with a 6.0 - 8.0 pH, a water hardness of 2 - 25 dGH, and a temperature of 83 °F (28 °C). It feeds on worms, benthic crustaceans, insects, and plant matter. It lays eggs in dense vegetation and adults do not guard the eggs. In captivity, as the sperm are released the female sinks to the bottom, resting on one of her pectoral fins while she starts fanning with the other pectoral fin. At this time, some eggs are released which fall into the pelvic fin basket and are apparently fertilized at that time.