Smudge Spot Corydoras (Corydoras similis)

The Smudge Spot Corydoras is very uncommon in the aquarium hobby, but it is in high demand due to its striking dark violet colouration as it matures. These Corys are spirited, distinctively patterned fish perfect for the nano, community, and planted aquarium.

The Smudge Spot Corydoras is a peaceful shoaling fish that is best kept in groups of at least six individuals. Keeping these Corys in more significant numbers will result in a much more natural-looking aquarium and makes for an interesting display.

You can house Smudge Spot Corydoras with most fish available in the hobby, including Dwarf Cichlids, Tetras, small to medium-sized Barbs, Gouramis and other peaceful Catfish. These Corys may prey on some smaller Dwarf Shrimp but are safe with larger shrimp and other ornamental invertebrates. However, you should avoid keeping these fish with larger, more aggressive fish as they will feel intimidated and get outcompeted for food.

Smudge Spot Corys will thrive in an aquarium set up to imitate an Amazon biotope. You will need a sandy or smooth gravelled substrate, a few driftwood branches, and some dried leaf litter to achieve this. You will not find aquatic plants in these Cory's natural habitats; instead, allow the wood and leaves to stain the water a brown colour, then remove old leaves and replace them every few weeks, so they don't decay and degrade the water. If a biotope setup is not your cup of tea, these Corys will also do well in a typical well-planted aquarium.

Smudge Spot Corys are sensitive to deteriorating water conditions, so it is essential that you have a good maintenance regime and avoid any sudden changes. It would be best to perform frequent water changes and not overfeed your Corys; other than that, these fish are undemanding and relatively easy to look after.

Smudge Spot Corys have cream colouration on the base of their bodies and periodic small brown spots on their heads. These spots continue down their bodies from their dorsal fin in consistent rows above their lateral line, decreasing in size the closer they get to the caudal peduncle.

The area of the body beneath the lateral line is tan-coloured, and these fish have a blueish blotch that begins behind the dorsal fin base, ending at the caudal peduncle. This blue blotch gets darker as it gets closer to the caudal peduncle. In addition, the ventral surface is whiteish-cream, and the fins are hyaline. Although their fins have no colour, their body colour is genuinely stunning when they are in spawning conditions.

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Feeding

In the home aquarium, the Smudge Spot Corydoras 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.

Sexual Dimorphism

It can be somewhat straightforward to differentiate between the male and female Smudge Spot Cory. The females are generally larger and more rounded than the males, the pectoral fins are more deeply convexed posteriorly, and they have larger ventral fins. In contrast, males are slimmer and slightly smaller than females.