Pygmy Corydoras (Corydoras Pygmaeus) Fish Species Profile
The Pygmy Corydoras is a peaceful, hardy and small fish, relatively common and quite popular in the aquarium hobby as they make a great addition to smaller tanks as well as community tanks as long as you think carefully when choosing their tank mates. Avoid bigger fish as this small catfish can be intimidated and maybe out-contended for food.
The Pygmy Corydoras displays a silvery body, with an uninterrupted black line that runs horizontally along the centre of the sides of the fish from the tip of its nose to its caudal peduncle. Along the bottom of the side of the body is a second black line, starting behind the ventral fins and proceeding into the tail. The top part of the body has a light black or dark grey shading that begins on the top of its nose and ends at the rear. Its upper body is visibly darker than the lower body.
| Scientific Name | Corydoras Pygmaeus |
|---|---|
| Other Names | Pygmy Catfish, Pygmy Cory Catfish |
| Family | Callichthyidae |
| Genus | Corydoras |
| Origins | South America |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Bottom |
| Difficulty | Beginner - Intermediate |
| Shoaling | Yes |
| Best kept as | Trios |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Layer |
| Lifespan | up to 3 year |
| Maximum Size | up to 3 cm |
| Water Type | Freshwater |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 72 - 79 ℉ (22.2 - 26.1 ℃) |
| PH | 6.0 - 8.0 |
| GH | 2 - 25 |
Origins
The Pygmy Corydoras is found in the smaller tributaries to more generous rivers in the Nanay River in Peru, the Mediera river in Brazil and the Aguarico River in Ecuador in South America.
They inhabit slow-moving tropical waters with plenty of light. You will find them hiding amongst debris such as fallen leaves and branches as well as plants on sandy silt.
Diet
Pygmy Corydoras will accept nearly anything you feed them but to maintain them in good health a variety of foods should be given. Things like flake food, to frozen or freeze-dried foods such as daphnia, mosquito larvae, blackworms, brine shrimp and bloodworms are all excellent choices.
Because these fish are bottom feeders sinking algae wafers and pellets are also advisable.
Sexing the Pygmy Corydoras
There isn't much difference between the male and female Pygmy Corydoras, except the fact that the females tend to be much broader than the males, especially when carrying eggs and they are also slightly larger than the males.
Breeding the Pygmy Corydoras
Getting this species to breed is moderately simple
They constantly mate, so the most challenging part is caring for the fry. If you thought the adults were small, wait until you see the offspring.
Producing should happen naturally as long as the water conditions are maintained and kept healthy, and they are fed a nutritional diet.
During mating, a female may lay around 100 eggs at a time. She carries a few eggs at a time in a pouch next to the pelvic fin until the male fertilises them. She will then attach the eggs to the plant's surfaces where they will remain until they are ready to hatch. After this, the parents should be removed from the tank as they may very well consume them.
Once hatched, you will need to feed the fry with crushed flakes or infusoria as their mouths are so tiny.
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