Bronze corydoras

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Bronze corydoras
Corydoras aeneus 2.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Callichthyidae
Genus: Corydoras
Species:
C. aeneus
Binomial name
Corydoras aeneus
(T. N. Gill, 1858)
Synonyms
  • Hoplosoma aeneum. T. N. Gill, 1858.
  • Corydoras microps. C. H. Eigenmann & C. H. Kennedy, 1903.
  • Corydoras venezuelanus. Ihering, 1911.
  • Corydoras macrosteus. Regan, 1912.
  • Corydoras schultzei. Holly, 1940.

The bronze corydoras (Corydoras aeneus), also known as the green corydoras, bronze catfish, lightspot corydoras or wavy catfish, is a species of freshwater fish in the armored catfish family, Callichthyidae, often kept as an aquarium fish. It is widely distributed in South America on the eastern side of the Andes, from Colombia and Trinidad to the Río de la Plata basin; [2] however, as presently defined it is a species complex and a taxonomic review is necessary. [3] It was originally described as Hoplosoma aeneum (based on a specimen from Trinidad) by Theodore Gill in 1858 and has historically also been referred to as Callichthys aeneus. [2]

Contents

Appearance and anatomy

The adult size is 6½ cm for males and a slightly larger 7 cm for females (2½ to 2¾ inches). [4] Females have a slightly higher body frame than males in accordance with their larger abdominal region. Their average life span is 10 years. It has a yellow or pink body, white belly, and is blue-grey over its head and back. Its fins are yellow or pink and immaculate. In common with most Corydoras the dorsal, pectoral and adipose fins have an additional sharp barb and have a mild poison which causes fish which try to attack them to get stung. A brownish-orange patch is usually present on the head, just before the dorsal fin, and is its most distinctive feature when viewed from above in the stream. Their upper sides are often a greenish color, which is the reason another common name for this fish is the green corydoras.


Ecology

They are found in quiet, shallow waters with soft bottoms that can sometimes be heavily polluted by clouds of disturbed mud from the bottom, but it also inhabits running waters. [2] In its native habitat, it inhabits waters with a temperature range of 25 °C to 28 °C (77 °F to 82 °F), pH 6.0–8.0, and hardness 5 to 19 DGH. [2] Like most members of the genus Corydoras, these catfish have a unique method of coping with the low oxygen content that prevails in such environments. In addition to utilizing their gills like any other fish, they rapidly come to the surface of the water and draw air in through their mouth. This air is then absorbed through the wall of the intestine and any surplus air is expelled through the vent. [2] It typically stays in schools of 20 to 30 individuals. [2] It feeds on worms, benthic crustaceans, insects, and plant matter. [2]

Reproduction

Albino Corydoras aeneus spawning Albino Cory Spawning.JPG
Albino Corydoras aeneus spawning

Reproduction occurs with the onset of the rainy season, which changes the water chemistry. [2] Females spawn 10–20 egg-clutches with multiple males at a time, but an entire egg clutch is inseminated by the sperm of a single male. [5]

In laboratory observations, it was found that bronze corydoras have a unique method of insemination. When these fish reproduce, the male will present his abdomen to the female. The female will attach her mouth to the male's genital opening, creating the well-known "T-position" many Corydoras exhibit during courtship. The female will then drink the sperm. The sperm rapidly moves through her intestines and is discharged together with her eggs into a pouch formed by her pelvic fins. The female can then swim away and deposit the pouch somewhere else alone. Because the T-position is exhibited in other species than just C. aeneus, it is likely that they also exhibit this behavior. [6] In the wild, eggs are laid on waterweeds. [5]

Males do not form territories or compete over females; interference between males might only happen when two males present their abdomens simultaneously. On the other hand, females do not choose between males. Mating is more or less random; therefore, male reproductive success is directly related to courtship frequency. [5]

The eggs of C. aeneus exhibit a unique surface pattern with small villi-like protuberances which resemble attaching-filaments of teleost eggs. These structures allow the eggs to be adhesive and stick to a specific place or to each other. The presence of these structures may be related to the turbid habitat in which this species lives. [7]

In the aquarium

Bronze corydoras are probably the most popular Corydoras species. [8] It is annually bred and shipped in large quantities all over the world [9] It is easily bred and is produced in commercial quantities in the United States, Europe, and Singapore. Most of the available fish are therefore domestic strains. Wild imports are reported to be less easy to breed.[ citation needed ]

They are a hardy and useful aquarium fish despite having a coloration that is by no means striking or unusual. Many aquarists are fascinated by the habits of these fish. They ceaselessly comb the bottom of the aquarium for food and therefore disturb it slightly, sending up detritus and waste material that has settled loosely on the bottom. They prefer being kept in groups of 5 or more, being sociable fish and are ideal fish for a community tank. [2] Other Corydoras species can be placed in the same aquarium, and despite the strong resemblance many species bear to one another, the species will tend to separate out and only move about among their own kind.

Corydoras aeneus is not particular about the composition of the water. Adequate conditions are a temperature range of 20 to 28 °C (68 to 82 °F), pH of 6.0–8.0, and hardness of 2–30 DGH. The water should have no salt added to it. [8] A fairly dense growth of plants with a number of possible hiding places is greatly appreciated. Corys are easy to feed, they are omnivores eating all flake and pelleted food and also live and frozen foods. When it comes to sperm, then the female glues the eggs, only a few in number, to the chosen substrate and then (sometimes) quickly touches them with her mouth. After several acts of spawning, which span a total of two to three hours, one female will have produced up to 200 eggs. Frequently, two males are used for each female, as one male has difficulty fertilizing all the eggs. The eggs gradually grow darker in color, and just prior to hatching (ranging from three days at 28 °C to a week at 20 °C) they turn dark brown. The fry keep to the bottom of the tank, feeding on detritus and any fine foods available. The parents may spawn again within two to three weeks.

Albino corydoras Corydoras Albino.jpg
Albino corydoras

Albino corydoras

The albino corydoras is an albino variety of the bronze corydoras that has been developed for the aquarium trade, with a pale pink or orange body and red eyes. It is physically similar to normally-colored individuals, although some breeders report that the fry are a little slower to develop. [10] Others say that the albinos are practically blind and that the males are somewhat sterile, although this may be due to extensive inbreeding. [11] Albino bronze corydoras are frequently injected with bright dye (via a needle) and sold in aquariums. This controversial practice is known as "painting" or "juicing" fish.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Callichthyidae</span> Family of fishes

Callichthyidae is a family of catfishes, called armored catfishes due to the two rows of bony plates along the lengths of their bodies. It contains some of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish, such as many species in the genus Corydoras.

<i>Corydoras</i> Genus of fishes

Corydoras is a genus of freshwater catfish in the family Callichthyidae and subfamily Corydoradinae. The species usually have more restricted areas of endemism than other callichthyids, but the area of distribution of the entire genus almost equals the area of distribution of the family, except for Panama where Corydoras is not present. Corydoras species are distributed in South America where they can be found from the east of the Andes to the Atlantic coast, from Trinidad to the Río de la Plata drainage in northern Argentina. Species assigned to Corydoras display a broad diversity of body shapes and coloration. Corydoras are small fish, ranging from 2.5 to 12 cm in SL., and are protected from predators by their body armor and by their sharp, typically venomous spines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sterba's corydoras</span> Species of fish

Sterba's corydoras is a member of the South American Corydoras genus of freshwater aquarium catfish and one of the most popular species of Corydoras due to its attractive markings. The fish is native to the Guaporé River region between Bolivia and Brazil.

<i>Corydoras paleatus</i> Species of fish

Corydoras paleatus is a species of catfish of the family Callichthyidae. Its common names include blue leopard corydoras, mottled corydoras, and peppered catfish. It originates from the lower Paraná River basin and coastal rivers in Uruguay and Brazil.

<i>Corydoras panda</i> Species of fish

Corydoras panda is a species of catfish belonging to the genus Corydoras, of the family Callichthyidae, and is a native member of the riverine fauna of South America. It is found in Peru and Ecuador, most notably in the Huánuco region, where it inhabits the Río Aquas, the Río Amarillae, a tributary of the Río Pachitea, and the Río Ucayali river system. The species was first collected by Randolph H. Richards in 1968, and was named Corydoras panda by Nijssen and Isbrücker in 1971. The specific name is an allusion to the appearance of the fish, which possesses large black patches surrounding the eyes, reminiscent of those found on the giant panda. Accordingly, the common names for this fish, which is a popular aquarium species, are panda corydoras and panda catfish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adolfo's catfish</span> Species of fish

Adolfo's catfish is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Corydoradinae sub-family of the family Callichthyidae. It originates in inland waters in South America, and is found in the Rio Negro basin and the Rio Uapes in Brazil. It is also known as Adolfo's corydoras. It has similar patterns to the C. imitator but it has a shorter snout and red coloration in front of its dorsal fin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banded corydoras</span> Species of fish

The banded corydoras or bearded catfish is a subtropical freshwater fish belonging to the subfamily Corydoradinae of the family Callichthyidae. It originates in coastal drainages in South America from Rio de Janeiro to Santa Catarina, Brazil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elegant corydoras</span> Species of fish

The elegant corydoras or elegant catfish is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the subfamily Corydoradinae of the family Callichthyidae. It originates in inland waters in South America, and is found in the Upper Amazon River basin in Brazil, Colombia and Peru. The specific epithet elegans means elegant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salt and pepper catfish</span> Species of fish

The salt and pepper catfish is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Corydoradinae sub-family of the family Callichthyidae. It originates in inland waters in South America, and is found in the Upper Orinoco River basin in Venezuela and Colombia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwarf corydoras</span> Species of fish

The dwarf corydoras, dwarf catfish, tail spot pygmy catfish, or micro catfish is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the subfamily Corydoradinae of the family Callichthyidae. It originates in inland waters in South America, and is found in the Amazon River and Paraguay River basins in Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil. The specific epithet hastatus means with a spear, in reference to the spearhead-like spot on the tail root.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pygmy corydoras</span> Species of fish

Corydoras pygmaeus, or the pygmy corydoras or pygmy catfish is a tropical and freshwater fish belonging to the subfamily Corydoradinae of the family Callichthyidae. It originates in tropical inland waters in South America, and is found in the Madeira River basin in Brazil.

<i>Corydoras reticulatus</i> Species of fish

Corydoras reticulatus, also called the reticulated corydoras, mosaic corydoras, network catfish, or network corydoras, is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Corydoradinae sub-family of the family Callichthyidae. It originates in inland waters in South America, and is found in the Lower Amazon River basin in Brazil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Threestripe corydoras</span> Species of fish

The three stripe corydoras, leopard catfish, false julii corydoras, or three line catfish is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the subfamily Corydoradinae of the family Callichthyidae. It originates in inland waters in South America, and is found in the central Amazon River basin in Brazil and Colombia, Peruvian [Amazon and coastal rivers in Suriname.

Britski's catfish is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the subfamily Corydoradinae of the family Callichthyidae native to South America where it is found in the upper Paraguay River basin in Brazil. This species was formerly classified as Brochis britskii.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emerald catfish</span> Species of fish

The emerald catfish is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Corydoradinae sub-family of the family Callichthyidae native to the Amazon Basin in South America. It has traditionally been known as Brochis splendens. The fish has appeared on a stamp in Brazil.

<i>Callichthys callichthys</i> Species of fish

Callichthys callichthys, the cascarudo, armored catfish, bubblenest catfish, hassar, or mailed catfish, is a subtropical freshwater fish belonging to the subfamily Callichthyinae of the family Callichthyidae.

<i>Corydoras julii</i> Species of fish

Corydoras julii is a small freshwater catfish native to eastern Brazil. It is often confused with Corydoras trilineatus, the three stripe corydoras. Corydoras julii are small, peaceful shoaling fish, and are typically kept in groups in captivity.

<i>Corydoras agassizii</i> Species of fish

Corydoras agassizii is a species of catfish found in the Amazon basin. It can be found in the border area of Peru and Brazil. It lives in tropical waters with a water temperature of 22 - 26 °C, a pH of 6.0 - 8.0 and a hardness of 2 - 25 dH.

<i>Corydoras rabauti</i> Species of armoured catfish

Corydoras rabauti, also known as the rust corydoras, or Rabaut's corydoras is a small species of tropical freshwater armoured catfish native to the Upper Amazon, Solimões, and Rio Negro basins in South America. It was first described by the American ichthyologist Francesca Raimonde La Monte in 1941, and is frequently seen in the aquarium trade.

<i>Corydoras imitator</i> Species of armoured catfish

Corydoras imitator is a small species of tropical freshwater armoured catfish native to the Upper Amazon, Solimões, and Rio Negro basins in South America. It was first described by the Dutch icthyologists Han Nijssen and Isaäc J. H. Isbrücker in 1983, and is frequently seen in the aquarium trade.

References

  1. ↑ "Corydoras aeneus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species .
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2011). "Corydoras aeneus" in FishBase . December 2011 version.
  3. ↑ Tencatt, L.F.C.; Gomes, V.d.C.; Evers, H.-G. (2023). "A new species of Corydoras (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae) from the rio Madre de Dios basin, Peruvian Amazon, with comments on Corydoras aeneus identity". Neotrop. Ichthyol. 21 (2). doi: 10.1590/1982-0224-2023-0023 . S2CID   258460079.
  4. ↑ Dawes, John. "The Complete Encyclopedia of the Freshwater Aquarium". Interpet Publishing, 2001, p. 137.
  5. 1 2 3 Kohda, Masanori; Yonebayashi, Kanako; Nakamura, Miyako; Ohnishi, Nobuhiro; Seki, Satoko; Takahashi, Daisuke; Takeyama, Tomohiro (2002). "Male reproductive success in a promiscuous armoured catfish Corydoras aeneus (Callichthyidae)". Environmental Biology of Fishes . 63 (3): 281–287. doi:10.1023/A:1014317009892. S2CID   41594346.
  6. ↑ Kohda, Masanori; Tanimura, Masayo; Kikue-Nakamura, Miyako; Yamagishi, Satoshi (1995). "Sperm drinking by female catfishes: a novel mode of insemination". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 42 (1): 1–6. doi:10.1007/BF00002344. S2CID   45023164.
  7. ↑ Huysentruyt, Frank; Adriaens, Dominque (2005). "Adhesive structures in the eggs of Corydoras aeneus (Gill, 1858; Callichthyidae)". Journal of Fish Biology . 66 (3): 871–876. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.492.9081 . doi:10.1111/j.0022-1112.2005.00647.x.
  8. 1 2 Axelrod, Herbert, R. (1996). Exotic Tropical Fishes. T.F.H. Publications. ISBN   978-0-87666-543-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ↑ Huysentruyt, Frank; Adriaens, Dominique (2005). "Descriptive osteology of Corydoras aeneus (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae)" (PDF). Cybium. 29 (3): 261–273. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-07-31.
  10. ↑ Davis, Ben. "How long do cory catfish live?". mvorganizing.org. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  11. ↑ Davis, Ben. "How long do cory catfish live?". mvorganizing.org. Retrieved 8 November 2021.

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