Tail Spot Pygmy Corydoras (Corydoras hastatus)
Tail Spot Pygmy Corydoras are small, unique, peaceful fish perfect for a nano or planted aquarium. These Corys make excellent community fish
provided they are kept with other smaller peaceful tankmates such as Tetras, micro Rasboras, very small Danios and Shrimp. However, due to their small size, you should not keep these fish with larger, overly aggressive tankmates as they may be intimidated by or preyed upon. Additionally, since these Corys are schooling fish, they should only be kept in groups of 6 or more individuals.
It would be best to keep your aquarium clean, well-aerated, and densely planted so that hiding places are plentiful. A reasonable current provided by a power filter or canister filter is appreciated. In contrast to most Corydoras species, these Corys prefer midwater areas instead of the bottom, spending most of their time on the leaves of plants in dense planted areas.
The Tail Spot Pygmy Corydoras has a more elongated body than other Corydoras species. Their bodies are translucent white to olive in colour, with a narrow dark stripe on their sides from behind the gill cover to the root of the caudal fin. In addition, these Corys have a whitish belly and two white spots at the base of the caudal encircling a large black blotch.
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| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Corydoras hastatus |
| Year Described | 1888 |
| Other Names | Dwarf Corydoras, Dwarf Catfish, Micro Catfish |
| Classification | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Siluriformes |
| Family | Callichthyidae |
| Genus | Corydoras |
| Origins | Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Middle |
| Difficulty | Beginner - Intermediate |
| Shoaling | Yes |
| Best kept as | Groups 6+ |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Layer |
| Lifespan | up to 5 years |
| Water Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| PH | 6.0 - 8.0 |
| GH | 5 - 20 |
| TDS | 36 - 215 |
| Temperature | |
|---|---|
| 68 - 82℉ 20 - 27.8℃ | |
Feeding
In the home aquarium, the Tail Spot Pygmy 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 is relatively straightforward to differentiate between a male and female Tail Spot Pygmy Corydoras. The females will usually grow larger than the males and will be wider when viewed from above.