Corydoras eques
Steindachner, 1877 |
orydoras eques was, not so long
ago, the holy grail for Corydoras catfish keepers but
now with imports of this beautiful species and aquarium spawning's
as well, this is the Cory that we now feature in this months October
2013 factsheet. First described (as Osteogaster eques)
as long ago as 1876 by the Austrian zoologist Franz Steindachner
and it has only intermittently appeared on importers lists.
There are three species that are very similar
to Corydoras eques. The first species depicted here was
collected in the type locality for C. eques in Brazil
and is the true C. eques. The other two species that
are alike are from Peru, one is caught alongside C.
rabauti in the upper Ucayali, Corydoras cf. eques,
which has been given the CW number of CW043
and is almost identical to C. eques apart from a slight
difference in body shape and colour pattern, and the other is
captured alongside C. zygatus
and has been given the CorydorasWorld number of
CW007.
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|
Corydoras
sp. CW043 |
Corydoras
sp. CW007 |
The first thing that you notice when you
acquire this species is the relentless swimming motions in the
aquarium, especially in a species only breeding tank setup. They
will come to the front of the tank as soon as you approach the
aquarium and will swim up and down on the front glass. This was
a pleasant surprise for me and water changes are a source of delight
for them. After having previously purchased a group of CW010s,
and there crepuscular habits, this was a nice change.
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Type Locality:
Brazil;
Rio Amazonas at Codajas |
Aquarium Care:
This is akin to most of this genus, very peaceful, and would be
best housed with small to medium sized tankmates such as Tetras,
Rasboras and Danios or in a species only tank for breeding purposes.
Best to purchase 6 individuals or more, although they are still
quite expensive, as they will be happier in a group
Short and compact body shape.
Body with a turquoise to blue colouration.
Supraoccipal with an orange blotch. In a certain light you can
see a darker band running along the top of the body from the nape
to the adipose fin. All fins are clear with a light orange colouration
to the soft rays and darker to the hard rays. The chin and underbelly
are white. The colouration of this species very much depends on
the colour of the substrate.
This is akin to most of this genus, very peaceful,
and would be best housed with small to medium sized tankmates such
as Tetras, Rasboras and Danios or in a species only tank for breeding
purposes.
These fish have proven to be rather difficult
to breed but it can be done (Graham Ramsay). Place a conditioned
pair or two in a smallish tank with a sponge filter and lots of
fine-leaved plants. Include floating plants as the fish like to
lay their eggs near the surface. A period of stability of several
weeks can be followed by a large water change with cooler water.
If you are lucky, the fish will spawn in the usual corydoras manner
laying several hundred eggs in the process.
| Sexual
differences |
Females grow larger
and have a heavier looking body shape. Males are slimmer
by comparison.
|
| Diet |
Readily accepts a mixed and varied diet
which includes granular foods, tablet food, frozen bloodworm and
good quality flake to name but a few.
| Etymology |
Corydoras:
Cory from the Greek meaning helmeted; doras meaning leathery
skin (helmeted Doras) cuirass.
eques: From ‘eques’, a horse.
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| References |
Fuller, I.A.M.
& Evers, H-G: 2005 Identifying Corydoradinae
Catfish 384 p
Seus, Werner; Corydoras The most popular
armoured catfishes of South America. Dähne Verlag.
218p.
Google Maps - ©2013
Google
Ramsay, Graham;
Corydoras eques – the horseman’s corydoras.
The Fair City Aquarist Society web page http://fcas.wordpress.com/2012/07/04/corydoras-eques-the-horsemans-corydoras/
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| Glossary
of Terms |
Adipose fin:
Fleshy finlike projection without rays, behind the rayed
dorsal fin.
Supraoccipal: Unpaired
bone at the back of the skull, usually with a crest.
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Top
image: © Allan
James @ 
Bottom
images: ©
Ian Fuller @
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