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Hans-Georg Evers (1) Johnny Jensen's Photographic Library (2) Adrian Taylor (4)

The reason for the common name of "Black fin" is that the juveniles have a black caudal fin in the first few weeks and lose this trait as they get older, and into adulthood. The Aspidoras genera differ from Corydoras by their different behaviour such as their swimming habits. The eyes are smaller, body smaller and a smaller head shape in Aspidoras compared with Corydoras. Lineage: All Aspidoras belong to Lineage 2 with the exception of A. pauciradiatus which will prove to be a Corydoras and if a revision is carried out will be Gastrodermus (Cope, 1878) and a member of Lineage 5 alongside members of the "elegans group". Aquarium Care: Inoffensive catfish which will suffer at the hands of aggressive tank mates. Will do well in a species tank or a community tank with smaller inmates such as tetras and rasboras. Best to keep in a shoal of at least four. Diet: Prefer live foods such as newly hatched brine shrimp but will also take frozen food and good quality flake, plus tablet food. Reproduction: Has been bred. Similar to Corydoras in this respect but they do tend to eat their eggs, so removing parents or eggs after spawning is a good idea. They lay their eggs in Java moss or on the aquarium glass and you can raise the young as per the Corydoras genus. Remarks: CW052 has now been proposed to be a hybrid.

Aspidoras "Black fin", CW052

None

Callichthyidae

Unknown: Aquarium specimen.

Male: 3.5cm (1¼ins) Female: 4.0cm (1½ins)

22-25°C (71-77°F)

6.0-7.2.

Alexandrou, Markos & Taylor, Martin. (2011). Evolution, ecology and taxonomy of the Corydoradinae revisited.
Ian A. M. Fuller & Hans-Georg Evers (2011). Identifying Corydoradinae Catfish Supplement 1. Ian Fuller Enterprises.
www.corydorasworld.com