Bronze corydoras
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| iBronze corydoras | ||||||||||||||||
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| Corydoras aeneus Gill, 1858 |
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Callichthys aeneus (Gill, 1858) |
The bronze corydoras (Corydoras aeneus), bronze catfish, lightspot corydoras or wavy catfish is a tropical freshwater fish in the "armored catfish" (Callichthyidae) family. It was first discovered in clear streams in Trinidad, but mostly originates in the tributaries of the Amazon River in Río de la Plata, Rio Grande do Sul, and Santa Catharina. They were originally described as Hoplosoma aeneum by Theodore Gill in 1858 and have also been referred to as Callichthys aeneus.
The adult size is 6.5cm for males and a slightly larger 7.0cm for females (2.5 to 3 inches). Their average lifespan is 15 years. It has a yellow or pink body, white belly, and is blue-grey over its head and back. Its fins are yellow or pink and immaculate. In common with most Corydoras the dorsal, pectoral and adipose fins have an additional sharp barb and have a mild poison which causes fish which try to attack them to get stung. A brownish-orange patch is usually present on the head, just before the dorsal fin, and is its most distinctive feature when viewed from above in the stream.
They are found in quiet, shallow waters with soft bottoms that can sometimes be heavily polluted by clouds of distrubed mud from the bottom, but it also inhabits running waters. It typically stays in schools of 20 to 30 individuals. Like most members of the Corydoras genus, these catfish have a unique method of coping with the low oxygen content that prevails in such environments. In addition to utilizing their gills like any other fish, they can by come to the surface of the water and draw air in through their mouth. This air is then absorbed through the wall of the intestine and any surplus air is expelled through the vent. In its native habitat, it inhabits waters with a temperature range of 25°C to 28°C (77°F to 82°F), pH 6.0-8.0, and Hardness 5 to 19 DGH. It feeds on worms, benthic crustaceans, insects, and plant matter.
[edit] In the aquarium
Bronze corys are popular, hardy and useful aquarium fish despite having a coloration that is by no means striking or unusual. It is easily bred and is produced in commercial quantities in the United States, Europe, and Singapore. Most of the available fish are therefore domestic strains. Wild imports are reported to be less easy to breed.
Many aquarists are fascinated by the habits of these fish. They ceaselessly comb the bottom of the aquarium for food and therefore disturb it slightly, sending up detritus and waste material that has settled loosely on the bottom. They prefer being kept in groups of 6 or more, being sociable fish and are ideal fish for a community tank. Other Corydoras species can be placed in the same aquarium, and despite the strong resemblance many species bear to one another, the species will tend to separate out and only move about among their own kind.
Corydoras aeneus is not particular about the composition of the water. Adequate conditions are: temperature range 20°C to 28°C (68°F to 82°F), pH 6.0-8.0, Hardness 2-30 DGH. A fairly dense growth of plants with a number of possible hiding places is greatly appreciated. Corys are easy to feed, they are omnivores eating all flake and pelleted food and also live and frozen foods. When it comes to cleaning up leftover foods that fall to the bottom of the tank, they are much more thorough than snails.
Corydoras aeneus is an egg-laying species. The spawing site chosen by the female may consist of the leaves of plants, the glass tank sides, or rocks, although it seems to prefer flat surfaces. The male clasps the female and deposits the sperm, then the female glues the eggs, only a few in number, to the chosen substrate and then (sometimes) quickly touches them with her mouth. After several acts of spawning, which span a total of two to three hours, one female will have produced up to 200 eggs. Frequently, two males are used for each female, as one male has difficulty fertilizing all the eggs. The eggs gradually grow darker in color, and just prior to hatching (ranging from three days at 28°C to a week at 20°C) they turn dark brown. The fry keep to the bottom of the tank, feeding on detritus and any fine foods available. The parents may spawn again within two to three weeks.
The albino variety is very similar to the normally colored individuals, although some breeders report that the fry are a little slower to develop. Others say that the albinos are practically blind and that the males are somewhat sterile, although this may be due to extensive inbreeding. Albino bronze corys are frequently injected with bright dye (via a needle) and sold in aquariums. This controversial practice is known as "painting" or "juicing" fish.
[edit] References
- Corydoras aeneus (TSN 164292). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 18 April 2006.
- "Corydoras aeneus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. March 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- Burgess, Dr. Warren E. (1987). A Complete Introduction to Corydoras and Related Catfishes. Neptune City, NJ: T.F.H. Publications. ISBN 0-86622-264-2.
- Zukal, Rudolf (May 1982). "Breeding Corydoras aeneus". Tropical Fish Hobbyist: 9-10.
