Burgess's Corydoras Care Guide
Corydoras burgessi is a black-and-white cory endemic to the upper Rio Negro in Brazil, adapted to soft, acidic blackwater.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Corydoras burgessi is an armoured catfish of the family Callichthyidae, endemic to the upper Rio Negro basin in Brazil. It is a black-and-white cory carrying a pale patch of pigmentation anterior to the dorsal fin. The species is peaceful and gregarious.
Taxonomy
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Genus: Corydoras
- Scientific name: Corydoras burgessi
Habitat
The type locality is the Rio Unini, a tributary of the Rio Negro in Amazonas, Brazil. It inhabits blackwater tributaries and flooded forest with tea-coloured, low-hardness, low-conductivity water that can be markedly acidic, with pH reported as low as 4.0-6.0 in nature.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L (base of at least 80×30 cm)
- Temperature: 22-26 °C (20-28 °C reported in nature)
- pH: 5.5-7.0
- GH: 1-8 °dGH
- School size: 6 or more individuals
- Lifespan: 5-10 years
- Substrate: fine sand with driftwood and leaf litter
Diet
A foraging omnivore that accepts sinking dried foods together with live and frozen items such as bloodworm and Tubifex. A varied diet is recommended rather than relying on leftovers.
Compatibility
Corydoras burgessi is peaceful and gregarious and should be maintained in groups of at least six. It suits soft-water community tanks with tetras, rasboras and otocinclus, and should be kept away from aggressive cichlids.
Breeding
Females grow larger and become noticeably rounder and broader-bodied than males when carrying eggs. Spawning can be triggered with large (50-70%) cooler water changes and increased oxygenation; eggs are scattered on plants or spawning mops, hatch in about 3-4 days, and fry accept microworm and Artemia nauplii once the yolk sac is absorbed.
Corydoras burgessi Breeding Guide
Overview
Corydoras burgessi, Burgess's cory, is an armoured catfish reaching about 50-55 mm standard length, apparently endemic to the upper rio Negro basin in Brazil, with its type locality on the Rio Unini, a tributary of the Rio Negro (Seriously Fish). It is a peaceful egg-depositor that prefers soft, acidic blackwater conditions, and its breeding requirements reflect that demanding water chemistry.
Sexing
Females grow larger and, when sexually mature, are noticeably rounder and broader-bodied than males, especially when gravid (Seriously Fish). The fuller female outline is clearest when the fish are viewed from above.
Conditioning
Feed a varied diet: the species is an omnivorous forager accepting sinking dried foods plus small live and frozen items such as bloodworm and Tubifex (Seriously Fish). Condition the group until the females are visibly full of eggs, using two males per female for spawning.
Breeding Setup
Use a separate tank with a thin sand layer, sponge filtration and fine-leaved plants or fine spawning mops as egg sites. The species' blackwater origin means soft, acidic water is important; the lower pH range it tolerates is well below that of most congeners. Maintain soft, acidic water within the species' range of pH 5.0-7.0 and roughly 20-28 degrees C (Seriously Fish).
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
When the females are visibly full of eggs, perform a large (50-70%) water change with cooler water and increase oxygenation and flow, repeating daily until they spawn; this simulates the cool, oxygen-rich rainy season. Eggs are normally deposited on the aquarium glass, with fine-leaved vegetation or spawning mops offered as alternatives. A user report cited by Seriously Fish describes typically 10-20 eggs per spawn at 2-3 week intervals.
Egg & Fry Care
Incubation is normally 3-4 days; once the fry have fully absorbed their yolk sacs they accept small live foods such as microworm and Artemia nauplii (Seriously Fish). Fry require excellent water quality and do better over a thin sand layer than on bare glass, with frequent small water changes to keep parameters stable.
Common Challenges
Holding genuinely soft, acidic blackwater, conditioning females, and protecting eggs from the adults are the principal challenges. Egg fungus on infertile eggs and lapses in water quality during the fry stage cause most losses, so blackwater chemistry and hygiene both demand close attention.