Other Names:
Black Corydoras
Scientific Name:
Corydoras sp. "Black Venezuela"
Range:
South America: the flood plains of the Llanos, Venezuela.
Maximum size:
7,5-8cm. (plusminus 3").
Aquarium:
A tank with dimmed lights and a good amount of hiding places (plants, drift wood, rocks, artificial caves) is ideal for this catfish. A small tank is sufficient for a group of these fish: 24x12x12" (60x30x30cm.) is enough to house a group of 5-6 fish.
Substrate should be sand or smoothened gravel: sharp, jagged gravel can damage the barbels, which do not regrow. Injured Cories often die of starvation.
Like all Corydoras catfish, this species does best in soft, slightly acidic to neutral water, good oxygenation and a moderate amount of currents (not too much, as these fish are very active and can easily exhaust themselves). If a powerful filter or a powerhead is used, it's important to provide a few resting places, away from the currents.
Temperature:
pH:
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Diet:
All prepared and suitably sized live foods, such as flakes, blood worms, mosquito larvae, artemia, tubifex, krill, algae/spirulina/carnivore pellets and discus granules, are readily accepted. By occasionally burying the food up to one centimeter into the substrat, natural fouraging behaviour can be stimulated.
Temperament:
Like all Corydoras, this species too is an easy-going and completely non-aggressive fish that spends its days sifting through the substrat in search of food. And as with all Corydoras species, it is a very social species, and should be kept in a group of at least 5-6 specimen, but preferably 10 or more. When kept in too small a group, this small Armored Catfish becomes shy and reclusive.
Notes:
The Venzuelan Black Corydoras is a as of yet undescribed/classified species, which means its true identity is still unclear. Some people suspect that this species is a form of Corydoras aeneus, where it is possible that it either occurs naturally, or that it is a 'man-made' variety. Others think that it is a variety of Corydoras schultzei, en yet other people think that it is a seperate, still undescribed species.
