Corydoras caudimaculatus Breeding Guide

How to breed the Tail-Spot Corydoras (Corydoras caudimaculatus): two males per female, the cooler-water trigger, T-position spawning, eggs on the glass, a 3-4 day hatch and fry care.

Overview

Corydoras caudimaculatus, the tail-spot cory, is an armoured catfish reaching about 45-50 mm standard length, endemic to the rio Guapore drainage in western Brazil and northeastern Bolivia (Seriously Fish). It is a small, peaceful egg-depositor whose spawning follows the documented Corydoras pattern of a cooler-water trigger and T-position pairing.

Sexing

Females grow larger and sexually mature individuals are noticeably rounder and higher-bodied than males (Seriously Fish). The fuller, higher female body is most apparent when the fish are viewed from above.

Conditioning

The species is a foraging omnivore that consumes sinking dried foods plus small live and frozen varieties such as bloodworm and Tubifex, and should not rely on tank leftovers (Seriously Fish). Conditioning the group on this varied diet over several weeks brings females into spawning condition, using two males per female where possible to improve fertilisation during the brief T-position embraces.

Breeding Setup

Use a separate tank with fine sand, gentle sponge filtration and fine-leaved plants or spawning mops. Soft sand suits this small bottom-sifting cory and protects its barbels. Maintain soft, slightly acidic water within the species' range of pH 6.0-7.0 and roughly 20-26 degrees C (Seriously Fish), keeping it clean and well-oxygenated.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

Perform a large (50-70%) water change with cooler water and increase oxygenation and flow, repeating daily until the fish 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 (Seriously Fish). The female makes repeated passes through a spawning session. A specific egg count is not provided in the consulted source.

Egg & Fry Care

Incubation is about 3-4 days; once the yolk sacs are absorbed the fry accept small live foods such as microworm and Artemia nauplii (Seriously Fish). Protect eggs from the adults by removing the parents or transferring the eggs, and keep water clean during rearing, ideally over a thin sand layer with frequent small water changes.

Common Challenges

Conditioning females, providing a reliable cool-water trigger and protecting the adhesive eggs from predation are the principal challenges. Egg fungus on infertile eggs and poor fry-stage water quality are the usual causes of loss, so hygiene during the egg and early fry stages is essential.