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  • Gastrodermus pygmaeus
  • Gastrodermus pygmaeus
  • Gastrodermus pygmaeus
  • Gastrodermus pygmaeusShoal
  • Gastrodermus pygmaeusHead-on view
  • Gastrodermus pygmaeus
  • Gastrodermus pygmaeus
  • Gastrodermus pygmaeusDorsal view
  • Gastrodermus pygmaeus
  • Gastrodermus pygmaeusLateral view
  • Gastrodermus pygmaeus
  • Gastrodermus pygmaeus
  • Gastrodermus pygmaeusEgg
  • Gastrodermus pygmaeusEgg
  • Gastrodermus pygmaeusFry
  • Gastrodermus pygmaeusJuvenile
  • Gastrodermus pygmaeusAlbino
  • Gastrodermus pygmaeus
Hop to next section All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name Gastrodermus pygmaeus  (Knaack, 1966)
Common Names Pygmy Cory
Panzerwels/Corydoras - Catfish (Germany), Pygmæpansermalle (Denmark)
Type Locality Near Calama, 8°05'S, 62°52'W, along Rio Madeira near mouth of Rio Jipiraná (= River Machado), Rondônia State, Brazil.
Synonym(s) Corydoras pygmaeus
Pronunciation gas trow derr muss - pig MAY uss
Etymology This specific epithet literally means dwarf (pygmaeus=dwarf).
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 21mm or 0.8" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Dark band runs from tip of snout onto the caudal fin of this small species.
Sexing Females fuller, when viewed from above and larger.
General Remarks Hardy if diminutive. Acclimatization in soft water helps but generally this is an easy species to keep.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Madeira River basin.
Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Madeira (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category
Not Evaluated
pH 6.4 - 7.4
Temperature 22.0-26.0°C or 71.6-78.8°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters Prefers slightly soft water.
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding Sinking wafers, flakes, brine shrimp and live black worms if available. User data.
Furniture Substrate of fine sand or gravel. Open areas of substrate surrounded by plants, rocks and/or bogwood.
Compatibility A peaceful fish exhibiting typical Corydoras behavior. A mid-water swimming Cory.
Suggested Tankmates Non-aggressive fish such as small South American Characins.
Breeding Spawns in pairs or groups, having more than one trio (2 females and one male) increases chances of spawning. Eggs deposited around the tank, on glass and plants. Perhaps prefers plants. Eggs are 1mm in size, female carries only one egg at a time in ventral pouch. One female can lay up to 100 eggs per spawning cycle. C. pygmaeus rarely eat their eggs.

Fry will feed on micro organisms in the tank and on an open sponge filter if present. If hatched out of spawning tank microworms, vinegar eels, rotifers and small daphnia such as Cerio daphnia will be accepted.
Breeding Reports There is but a single breeding report, read it here.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Die Aquarien- und Terrarienzeitschrift (DATZ) v. 19 (no. 6), pp 168, 2 figs.
Registered Keepers There are 5 registered keepers, view all "my fish" data.
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There are 11 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2024 Nov 05 11:24 (species record created: 2001 Apr 30 00:00)