All Fishes ⇒ Callichthyidae ⇒ Corydoradinae ⇒ The genus Corydoras(ln1)

Hop to next section Summary of Corydoras(ln1)
Pronounced kor ee doh rass (lineage one).
Etymology Cory = helmet, doras = skin. In this case it was incorrectly used to mean armour (cuirasse) instead of skin in allusion to the dual rows of plates that run along the flanks of this genus.
Identification Corydoras are identified by their twin rows of armour plates along the flanks and by having fewer than 10 dorsal fin rays. They are most commonly confused with the other genera in the sub-family, namely Brochis, Scleromystax and Aspidoras.
Feeding Will accept a wide range of commercial foods including tablets, granules and flakes. Live (or frozen) foods such as bloodworm, white worm, grindal worm, Daphnia and tubifex are readily accepted.
Compatibility A peaceful, shoaling, community fish.
Furniture Shade provided by overhanging rock work, arching bogwood, tall or floating plants are all that is required. Ideally substrate should be sand, but rounded gravel is an imperfect alternative. Avoid keeping over rough edged (chipped) gravel, this will increase this risk of damage the fishes barbels when it tries to dig.
Sexing Females grow larger and are more full-bodied, this is best observed from above the fish. Males will typically have more pointed as opposed to more rounded fin tips as they mature.
Size Smallest 40mm, largest 80mm, average 61mm, most commonly 65mm. All SL.
Species There are 83 "species" in the database
New spp. / time
1750 1770 1790 1810 1830 1850 1870 1890 1910 1930 1950 1970 1990 2010 
Distribution

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