Blacktop Corydoras (Corydoras acutus) Care Guide
Corydoras acutus is a pointed-snouted armoured catfish from the upper Amazon, with a black-tipped dorsal fin and faint diagonal markings.
Overview
Corydoras acutus, the blacktop cory, is a pointed-snouted armoured catfish of the family Callichthyidae. It has a black-tipped dorsal fin and faint diagonal markings on the body. It is a peaceful, schooling species best kept on soft sand in groups.
Taxonomy
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Genus: Corydoras
- Scientific name: Corydoras acutus
- Common synonyms: Pointed-Snout Cory, Blacktop Cory
Habitat
The species occurs in the Amazon River basin in northern Peru and Ecuador and has been recorded from the Machado River basin in Rondônia State, Brazil. It is a demersal freshwater fish.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L
- Temperature: 25-28 °C (77-82 °F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 2-12 °dGH
- School size: 6 or more individuals
- Lifespan: 5-10 years
Diet
An omnivore (trophic level around 3.0) that forages along the bottom, accepting sinking prepared foods alongside live and frozen items.
Compatibility
A peaceful bottom dweller best kept in groups of six or more on soft sand. Suitable companions include tetras, rasboras and Otocinclus; aggressive cichlids should be avoided.
Breeding
Corydoras acutus is an egg-depositor; breeding difficulty is considered intermediate.