Corydoras
metae Eigenmann,1914
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his was one of the first Corydoras that
I bred in my early fishkeeping days and didn't realise it until
I spotted the fry darting about the tank. Try to get a ratio of
two males to one female, but if not, a pair will do. Some varieties
have dark flecks on the edges of the bony scutes, while others are
devoid of this.
This species can be confused with Corydoras davidsandsi
and C.melini but the revealing factor is the position of
the black body stripe on C.metae which runs over the ridge
of the back whereas in C.melini it breaks and divides into
two over the back and continues to almost the end of the lower
lobe of the caudal fin, in other words it shows the body colouration
on the ridge of the back, while metae, on the ridge of
the back, is black.
The difference between C.metae and C.davidsandsi
is that the latter has a broader black band which covers the ridge
of the back, whereas metae has a thinner band and has also a thinner
black band over its eyes, compared to C.davidsandsi. The
latter has also a lighter body colour.
Originates from the white waters of the Rio Metae in Colombia
so a higher Ph and not too acidic would suit this species.
Above images showing the difference
in colour pattern in left to right; C.metae, C.melini,
C.davidsandsi (below)
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An easy enough species to keep and while of no great beauty it
does have a pleasing colouration and pattern that even the most
discerning aquarist would find appealing. It would probably make
a good step-up for the beginning Corydoras keeper from
the easier kept species, C. aeneus
and C. paleatus.
Dorsal 1/7; Anal 1/6
Light whitish body colour, often with a pink
tinge. The black stripes consist of a vertical stripe through the
eye (giving the popular name of Bandit cat). The body stripe starts
at the base of the hard ray in the dorsal fin, (in some specimens
there is a black fin). It then proceeds posterially along the outer
back edge of the body, underneath the adipose fin to the top edge
of the caudal peduncle, it then goes down to the base without entering
the caudal fin. There is no colouration in the fins apart from the
dorsal.
Good addition to an average sized community
tank. Purchase at least six specimens to form a group.
Not too hard to spawn. Will usually lay their
eggs in Java Moss or on the tank sides after a water change of cooler
water. Spawing report from U.K.breeder Ian Fuller thus follows."
One pair bred in the typical T-breeding formation, the spawning
activity lasted for 5 hours during this time only 30 eggs were laid,
about 20 of them were deposited in the Java moss, the rest were
deposited on the glass sides." Temperature was 72f (22.2c),
Ph.7.4, GH 14dh, KH;2. The eggs were 100% fertile.
The usual fare of microworm, fry flake and
brineshrimp after the fry have used up their yolksac. Adults can
be fed the usual good quality flake food, frozen bloodworm, tablet
foods, white and grindal worms.
Corydoras:
Cory = helmeted;
doras = leathery skin,(helmeted
Doras) cuirass.
metae:
From the River (Rio) Meta, South America.(Colombia.)
Association
of Aquarists, Catfish Book One
Fuller, A.M.
Ian; Breeding
Corydoradine Catfishes
Top picture:
© 
Bottom Pictures: Allan James @
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| Synonyms:
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| Corydoras
australe |
| Common
Name: |
| Bandit Corydoras |
| Family: |
| Callichthyidae |
| Subfamily: |
| Corydoradine |
| Distribution: |
Colombia,
South America, in the Rio Metae where the species inherited
its name. |
| Size: |
| 5cm (2ins) |
| Temp: |
| 22-25°C
(71-77°F) |
| pH.: |
| 6.0-7.2. |
| Donation: |
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