Corydoras pygmaeus
Knaack, 1966 |
e concentrate this month on the last
of the three so called "Dwarf Cory" factsheets. We have
compiled already on C.habrosus
and C.hastatus
and this months subject, C. pygmaeus, is probably the
easiest to keep of these three.
This small Corydoras has a lot
going for it as it is easy to keep and breed and has been popular
with Cory enthusiasts even although there has been an influx of
C-numbers to even challenge the many L-numbers of the huge, in
numbers, Loricariidae family.
This Cory has even done well on the show
bench at fish shows up and down the country as it is small, and
if in good condition can be hard to beat.
Showing good healthy barbels.
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C.pygmaeus is
a bit like C.hastatus in that it likes to shoal in midwater
and as such should be kept in a group of at least six. Substrate
can be of fine sand and plants such as java moss and java fern
can be used alongside rockwork for further effect. If kept in
a species tank for breeding, a fine substrate, java moss and a
sponge filter would suffice with weekly 50% water changes to keep
the water pure.
Head, short and compact.
Ground colour of head and body grey/green.
A blackish line runs from the tip of the snout through the junction
of the body scutes and ends at the caudal peduncle, where it broadens
out into a triangular shape. Dorsal parts of dorsolateral body
scutes with darker pigment on the posterior edges. Ventrolateral
body scutes creamy white except for a dark line which runs from
the ventral fins to the anal fin.
Best kept in a species only tank but can be
housed in a small community tank if co-inhabitants are picked carefully;
such as small tetras and dwarf rasboras.
Relatively simple, will breed in typical
Corydoras T-mating fashion with usually one single egg
laid on plants or the aquarium glass, they can lay up to 100 eggs
this way. The parents very rarely predate on the eggs. The resulting
fry are quick growing on a diet of microworm and crushed flake.
You can access the breeding section on Corydoras spawning
methods here.
| Sexual
Differences |
Females are noticably
heavier when in breeding condition. They also grow larger
than the smaller males.
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| Feeding |
Small foods such as microworm, grindal worm,
good quality flake and tablets. Frozen foods such as bloodworm.
| Glossary
of Terms |
Caudal Peduncle:
The area between the dorsal fin and the tail.
Dorsolateral: Extending from the top to
the side.
Ventrolateral: Extending from below and
to the side.
Ventral Fin: The paired fins, between the
pectorals and the anal fins.
Anal Fin: The fin forward from the anal
cavity.
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| Etymology |
Corydoras:
Cory = helmeted;
doras = leathery skin,(helmeted
Doras) cuirass.
pygmaeus: From
the Latin pygmaeus = 'dwarf', alluding to its small
size.
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| References |
Catfish Association
Great Britain: Volume
1. 1983; 138 p.
Fuller, A. M. Ian;
Breeding Corydoradine Catfishes. Ian
Fuller Enterprises, Kidderminster. 248 p.
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| Photo
Credits |
Top © Graham
Ramsay
Bottom: © Reinhold Wawrzynski
@
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