Elegant Corydoras Care Guide
Corydoras elegans is a slender cory from the upper Amazon basin that, unusually, often swims in the upper water column rather than the bottom.
Overview
Corydoras elegans, the elegant corydoras, is an armoured catfish of the family Callichthyidae described by Franz Steindachner in 1876. It has dark double longitudinal stripes over an olive background and a slimmer body than related species, with eyes set relatively low.
Taxonomy
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Genus: Corydoras
- Scientific name: Corydoras elegans
Habitat
The species occurs in the upper Amazon River basin in Brazil, Colombia and Peru. It lives in tropical freshwater and, unusually for the genus, tends to swim in the upper levels of the water column rather than only at the bottom, disturbing the sediment less than most corydoras.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L
- Temperature: 22-26 °C (72-79 °F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 2-12 °dGH
- School size: 6 or more individuals
- Lifespan: 5-10 years
- Substrate: soft sand
Diet
Corydoras elegans is an omnivore that feeds on worms, benthic crustaceans, insects and plant matter in the wild. In aquaria it accepts sinking dried foods supplemented with small live and frozen items.
Compatibility
A peaceful schooling species best kept in groups of six or more. It suits community aquaria with tetras, rasboras and otocinclus and should not be combined with aggressive cichlids.
Breeding
Males display territorial behaviour during spawning while females hide among plant roots. Both sexes clean the underside of plant leaves; eggs are fastened under the leaves and to plant roots, and the adults do not guard them.