Corydoras habrosus
Weitzman, 1960
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his is your so-called pygmy species of Corydoras
or as I prefer to call them, a dwarf Cory, along with
C.pygmae sand
C.hastatus.
There is sometimes a difference in body
markings in this species, but basically they have 3 blotches running
along the body, one just under the dorsal fin, one midway between
the dorsal and the adipose fin and a larger blotch on the caudal
peduncle. Sometimes you can get species that have these markings
merging into one band running the full length of the body from
the start of the dorsal fin to the caudal peduncle, or even 2
bands ( see photo), but the spot/blotch on the peduncle is always
larger than the rest of these markings.
There is a very similar species, namely Corydoras cochui from
Brazil but the difference is in the body markings where C.cochui
has 4 blotches and C.habrosus, 3. In place of the large
blotch in the caudal peduncle of C.habrosus, C.cochui
has 2 smaller spots situated between the adipose fin and the caudal
peduncle (where the tail meets the body).
C.habrosus as you may gather now, is
a small species, with the females growing a little bit bigger than
the males. They are just too small to house in a large community
tank and will also suffer at the hands of other larger inhabitants
such as barbs, especially Tiger Barbs who will pick on them as they
sit motionless on the substrate. An ideal tank would be a 18"x12"x12"
or a 24"x12"x12" with peaceful livebearers such as
Guppies or Platies and small characins such as Neons.
You could have the p.H. of this tank
set around neutral (7.0) and it would suit all inhabitants.Another
idea of course, and the one I prefer, is to have them in their own
tank. A 18"x12"x12" would be ideal, with around 8
specimens, 5 males and 3 females or 6 males and 2 females. You could
of course acquire them as juveniles from other breeders and let
them grow on in this tank. A 10% water change every week would
suffice, and the best way to entice them to spawn.
Dorsal 1/7; Shape of head, short and compact.
The ground colour of the head and body is
pale tan. Three dark blotches along middle of body, the first below
the dorsal fin, the second between the dorsal and adipose fins and
the third and darkest is on the caudal peduncle. The three azygous
scutes before the adipose fins have dark pigment on them. There
is a scattered dark pigment on the dorsolateral body scutes. The
ventrolateral body scutes are without dark pigment except for the
upper portions of those scutes associated with the three dark midside
blotches. Dorsal fin has two rows of fine spots. Adipose fin with
some dark pigment on the spine. Caudal fin with four rows of light
spots in the upper lobe and three in the bottom lobe. The remaining
fins are clear.
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 due to their small size.
I set them up ( 2males and 1 female) in a
18"x10"x10" tank with bird sand ( to keep p.H.up
as I have very soft water) a sponge filter and a clump of Java Moss.
My first spawning numbered 20, ( egg size 2mm) and as I had to go
away that particular weekend the eggs hatched when I had come back.
The fry were very small and the parents did not bother them. They
grew with a feeding of Liquifry for egglayers plus the pickings
from the sponge on the filter. They then went on to Brine shrimp
where the parents of course would eat as well.
Smaller foods for this Corydoras such
as crushed flake, tablets, grindal worm and washed brine shrimp.
Small frozen bloodworm is also a good food.
Corydoras:
Cory = helmeted;
doras = leathery skin,(helmeted
Doras) cuirass.
habrosus:
Soft; delicate.
Seuss, Werner;
Corydoras The most popular catfishes of South America. Dähne
Verlag, Ettlingen.
Lambourne, Derek. Corydoras Catfish, An Aquarists
Handbook.
Top Image: Graham
Ramsay
Bottom Image: Allan James @ 
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| Synonyms:
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| None |
| Common
Name: |
| Dainty Corydoras |
| Family: |
| Callichthyidae |
| Subfamily: |
| Corydoradine |
| Distribution: |
Venezuela, in the Rio Cojedes,
near El Baul, State of Cojedes. |
| Size: |
| 3.5cm. (1½ins) |
| Temp: |
| 21-25°C
(69-77°F) |
| pH.: |
| 6.0-7.2. |
| Donation: |
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