Corydoras trilineatus
Cope, 1872
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his months factsheet takes me back to my favourite
family, the Callichthyidae, namely the Corydoras genus and
a firm favourite for many years in the hobby, the three-lined Corydoras,
Corydoras trilineatus.
Now these monthly factsheets would
not be the same if there wasn't a mystery or two! this month there
is no exception. If you visit your local aquarist establishment
and you are greeted with a tank labelled, Corydoras julii, you
can bet that in 95% of the cases that you will be looking at Corydoras
trilineatus, unless the shop owner is very much "into"
cats and so that will take care of the other 5%!. Why the confusion,
well apart from the reason that C. julli hails from Brazil
and is rarer and trilineatus is found in Peru & Ecuador
there is a marked difference in the markings on the area of the
snout/head.
Below you can see the comparisons as the C. julii on the
right has a fine spotted head and C.trilineatus on left has
what you would term, reticulations in that area.
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Corydoras
trilineatus |
Corydoras julli
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Apart from these obvious differences, julii
is a finer spotted species and not as robust as C.trilineatus.
Keeping the "three-lined corydoras" is not that difficult
and with most Corydoras species will do best kept in a
group of six or more as above all they are social animals.
Another Cory that is similar is Corydoras leopardus but
in this species the longer head is a give-away.
Original description type, locality Peru (
Lectotype designed by Nijssen & Isbrücker 1980 ). Holotype
size: 40.2mm SL. Dorsal1/7;Anal1/7; 23-24 bony scutes in the upper
lateral series, 20-22 in the lower.
Underside pale grey to white. Gill-cover with
a greenish lustre. Markings are variable with three longitudinal
patterned stripes running along the lateral line, reticulated head
pattern, caudal fin with five vertical bands, anal fin spotted,
dorsal fin with dark blotch but specimens have been collected with
clear dorsal fin.
This is akin to most of this genus, very peaceful,
and would be best housed with small to medium tankmates such as
Tetras, Rasboras and Danios or in a
species tank for breeding purposes.
As per standard Corydoras breeding structures.
Set them up with preferably more males than females ( a ratio of
2:1 is good ) in a 18" x 12" x 12" tank with either
fine gravel or sand with either sponge filter or a corner filter
box with a good current. Install some java moss or wool mops, this
gives the females a choice of where to place their eggs but you
will probably find that they will mostly lay them on the glass anyway.
A temperature in the mid-seventies is good with a p.H around about
the neutral (7) mark. Feed a diet of frozen or live food such as
bloodworm, whiteworm (sparingly because of the fat content) grindleworm,
daphnia and a good quality flake or tablet food. Make a 50% water
change, when you notice the female(s) have fattened up, with water
that is cooler so as to bring the temperature down. A good idea
is to also add a small internal filter to push the water around
the aquarium which will also oxygenate it. If successful you can
either take the adults out and leave the eggs in the main tank or
reverse it and take the eggs out by rolling them of the tank sides
with your fingers into a small hatching tank, you can then decide
to add a anti-fungus remedy or to leave alone. If you make the wrong
choice and the eggs fungus you will get another chance as once Corydoras
start to breed the first time they will carry on using the afore-mentioned
process. There are no hard and fast rules to breeding Cory's but
the above method works for me and countless other breeders, you
may find another method that suits you, as long as you are successful
that's what matters.
A good quality flake food and tablet food
for adults with sparodic feedings of frozen or live food will keep
your Corydoras in good health. Feeding the fry after they use up
their yolk-sac with brine shrimp naupli, microworm and fry flake
food.
Corydoras:
Cory = helmeted;
doras = leathery skin,(helmeted
Doras) cuirass.
trilineatus: Three lined Corydoras.
Fuller,
Ian A.M. Breeding
Corydoradine Catfishes
Morris J.T. Catfish Association of Great Britain 1986
Sterba, Günther. Sterba's Freshwater fishes of the World
1
Ian Fuller @  |
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| Synonyms:
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| None |
| Common
Name: |
| Three-lined
Corydoras |
| Family: |
| Callichthyidae |
| Subfamily: |
| Corydoradine |
| Distribution: |
Peru
: in the tributaries of the Rio Ambyiacu.
Ecuador : tributaries of the Rio Napo and the Rio Pastaza
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| Size: |
| 5.5.cm ( 2½ins) |
| Temp: |
| 24-27°C
(75-81°F) |
| pH.: |
| 6.0-7.2. |
| Donation: |
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