Adolfos Catfish (Corydoras adolfoi)
The Adolfo's Cory is relatively rare in the aquarium hobby; however, they are in high demand due to their stunning colours. In addition, these Corys are peaceful, sociable, relatively hardy and suitable for smaller softwater aquariums with other temperate species. These Corys are suitable for both beginner and more advanced aquarists alike. Ideally, it would be better to keep these Corys in a group of at least six individuals; otherwise, they will become withdrawn, easily stressed and more susceptible to illness.
Ideal tankmates for the Adolfo's Corys could include Tetras, Pencilfish, Dwarf Cichlids such as Apistogrammas and smaller Barbs. However, you should not house them with aggressive fish, as they may get harmed by this fish's venomous spines if they try to attack them.
It is essential that you house Adolfo's Corys in a well established mature aquarium. Ideally, it would be best to use fine sand as a substrate in your aquarium, although smooth gravel is a satisfactory alternative, provided you clean it regularly. Aquarium decor is not essential; however, you should provide your Adolfo's cory with some cover using driftwood branches and aquatic plants, so these fish have some security if needed. It would also benefit your fish if you added some dried leaf litter. Finally, it is critical that you perform regular water changes in order for these fish to survive as they naturally come from pristine waters.
The Adolfo's Cory has a light pinkish coloured lower body that gradually changes to a jet black on the upper half, giving a saddle appearance. In addition, they have a black stripe over their eyes with a striking orangey-yellow patch that appears on top of their head that ends just before the front of their dorsal fin.
Photos
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Corydoras adolfoi |
| Year Described | 1982 |
| Other Names | Adolfo's cory |
| Classification | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Siluriformes |
| Family | Callichthyidae |
| Genus | Corydoras |
| Origins | Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Bottom |
| Difficulty | Beginner - Intermediate |
| Shoaling | Yes |
| Best kept as | Groups 5+ |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Layer |
| Lifespan | 3 - 5 years |
| Water Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| PH | 4.5 - 7.5 |
| GH | 4 - 18 |
| KH | 0 - 15 |
| TDS | 71.43 - 32 |
| Temperature | |
|---|---|
| 66.2 - 78.8℉ 19 - 26℃ | |
Natural Habitat
Feeding
In the home aquarium, the Adolfos Catfish will readily accept most good quality dried foods such as granules, flakes and sinking pellets. These modern food products have been developed to provide all adequate nutrition to maintain your fish's health and dietary requirements.
Providing additional foodstuffs such as live, frozen, and freeze-dried meals such as bloodworm, daphnia, and tubifex once or twice a week will provide additional benefits to your fish's health and well-being but is not a must for this fish.
It should be noted that bloodworms should only be given as an occasional treat and should not be used as the staple diet as they are difficult for fish to digest and can potentially cause blockages.
This fish is an omnivore in the wild, meaning it will consume some vegetable matter. Although most modern fish foods take this into account and include them in their products, you can still supplement your fish's diet with blanched vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and zucchini. Ensure you do not overfeed your fish and remove any leftovers the following day.
Tank Mates
4 interesting tank mate ideas for the Adolfos Catfish could include:
Sexual Dimorphism
It can be somewhat challenging to differentiate between the male and female Adolfo's Cory, especially when they are juveniles. However, females tend to be slightly bigger and are rounder and broader-bodied than males when full of eggs. In contrast, the males are somewhat smaller and much slimmer than females.