| Common Name | Black-spot Corydoras.
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| Species/genus | Corydoras melanistius melanistius
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| Keeping | Cute, comical, hardy and friendly, this common
aquarium fish adds activity to the lower regions of the tank. Classified as a scavenger,
Cory's will clean up excess food, up to a point. But they are not garbage disposal agents and
won't eat fish wastes or old rotten food, and they are not a substitute for proper aquarium
maintenance. These are very peaceful fishes and need to be kept in groups of at least 4.
Good beginners fish. Body colouration light grey covered with small dark spots. Black line extending
from forehead down through the eye. A golden coloured saddle adorns area from back
of eye to dorsal. Front part of dorsal fin is black extending into the top of the fish’s back.
Ensure that these bottom feeders are not depirved of their due share
of pellet food and live foods.The males have a pointed dorsal fin and are larger than the females.
Corydoras has a rather unique ability to take atmospheric air into the mouth and pass it
on to their intestine where oxygen is extracted, which explains why some of them can live
in swampy low oxygen content habitat. Also in tanks they often rush to the surface and take
a quick breath and return to the bottom. This is more frequent when the water looses its
oxygen, which is an indication that you need to change water partly and increase circulation.
Do not keep sharp bottom materials as they can injure their barbels. While handling be careful
since their fins are sharp. Care also should be taken as they can get caught in a net due to
their sharp fins.
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| Breeding | Not difficult. One of the few species of Corydoras
that can be bred in an aquarium. Use a pH of 6.5 and temperature 26°C. Also try raising the
temperature of the tank to 28°C for a few days and then lowering the temperature back to 26°C,
changing 25% of the water. Pairs remain loyal. These catfish can spawn many times per year.
Corydora catfish do not pratice brood care. They attach their eggs to plants, rocks or even
the glass walls of the tank. You can remove them and place them in a separate rearing tank.
When the fry have used up their yolk sac, they can be fed newly hatched Brine shrimp or crushed
flake food. As with all fish, water quality must be maintained to get good results. People have
also reported success by putting many pairs in together to breed. Some have used strong aeration
to induce the cory's to breed. You can try all.
It's best to separate the breeding pair cause they are usually quite helpless in protecting
the eggs, unlike cichlids. Spread some sand at the base of tank, add in leafy plants
(e.g. amazon sword) and cover half the water surface with floating/loose plants. These helps
to calm the pair. Use fresh water, maintain at 24 degrees Celsius and keep the level low,
not exceeding 20 cm. When they spawn, the female sucks the male's vent and retains the sperm
in her mouth. Then she will blow the sperm out to fertilize the eggs that's held under her
pelvic fins, and place them in selected spots. Eggs normally hatch in 3 to 5 days and brine shrimp
should be prepared. Important to keep water clean. Add a few drops of methylene blue to the
tank having eggs to avoid fungus attack and also keep light aeration and water circulation.
Fry may need Infusoria at the beginning and after a couple of days freshly hatched brine
shrimps and they grow fast and can take other powdered flakes and worms soon. Keep water
shallow in the fry tank so that it is easy for fry to get air from the atmosphere.
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| Origin | Temp | Water | Temper
| Size | Tank | Food | Breeding
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| Guyana | 65-80 °F | Neutral to Soft
| Peaceful, Community | 1.5-2.5 inch | 5 Gallon
| All, Worms | Egg Layer, Easy
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