Fowler's Corydoras Care Guide
Corydoras fowleri is a long-snouted armoured catfish from the western Amazon basin of Peru and Colombia, kept in soft-water community aquaria.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Corydoras fowleri is a small armoured catfish of the family Callichthyidae, described by Böhlke in 1950. According to FishBase and Wikipedia it occurs in the western part of the Amazon basin in Peru and Colombia. It is a long-snouted, demersal species reaching a maximum standard length of about 6.5 cm. Like other Corydoras it is a facultative air-breather, periodically rising to the surface to gulp atmospheric air.
Taxonomy
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Genus: Corydoras
- Scientific name: Corydoras fowleri
- Author: Böhlke, 1950
Habitat
Seriously Fish records the species from the Amazon basin in Peru, ranging from the rio Ampiyacu westward toward Iquitos and including the rios Napo, Nanay and Itaya. The type locality is Chancho Caño near Pebas in Loreto, Peru. It is reported to favour smaller, quiet tributaries with clear, acidic water over substrates of fine sand and leaf litter.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 120 L
- Temperature: 22-26 °C (72-79 °F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 2-12 °dGH
- Substrate: soft sand
- School size: 6 or more individuals
- Lifespan: 5-10 years
Diet
The species is an omnivorous forager. Seriously Fish notes that it accepts sinking dried foods as well as live and frozen items such as bloodworm and Tubifex, although it can be selective and newly imported wild specimens may initially refuse dried foods and require live food during acclimatisation.
Compatibility
Corydoras fowleri is a peaceful, bottom-dwelling fish suited to larger community aquaria. Seriously Fish reports that it is best kept in groups of at least 4-6 individuals; males can show aggression toward conspecifics, particularly when breeding. Suitable companions are similarly peaceful species; avoid large or aggressive tankmates.
Breeding
Breeding follows the typical Corydoras pattern. Seriously Fish reports that spawning is triggered by large water changes (around 50-70%) with cooler water and increased oxygenation. Eggs are deposited on the aquarium glass or vegetation and hatch in roughly 3-4 days; fry accept microworm and Artemia nauplii.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2014). FishBase lists the species as having high resilience and low vulnerability to fishing pressure.
Breeding Corydoras fowleri (Fowler's Cory)
Overview
Corydoras fowleri is one of the larger armoured catfish (family Callichthyidae), reaching about 60–70 mm and native to the Amazon basin in Peru, from the río Ampiyacu region westward to Iquitos. It is an egg-depositor that spawns in the Corydoras T-position and needs a base footprint of at least 120 × 45 cm.
Sexing
Females tend to grow larger, and sexually mature individuals are noticeably broader and deeper-bodied than males, with noticeably rounded ventral fins. Males show thickened anterior pectoral-fin rays.
Conditioning
Condition adults on a varied diet of small live and frozen foods until the females are full of eggs. A surplus of males per female improves fertilisation.
Breeding Setup
- Temperature: 20–28 °C
- pH: 5.0–7.5
- Hardness: 36–215 ppm
- Provide glass, fine-leaved plants and/or sunken spawning mops as egg sites
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Trigger spawning by performing a large (50–70%) water change with cooler water and increasing oxygenation and flow. Repeat daily until the fish spawn. The female cups the sticky eggs between her pelvic fins, fertilises them in the T-position, and deposits them on glass, vegetation or a mop.
Egg & Fry Care
Remove either the adults or the eggs after spawning. Incubation is normally 3–4 days; once the yolk sacs are absorbed, fry accept small live foods such as microworm and Artemia nauplii. They require excellent water quality and perform better over a thin layer of sand than on bare glass.
Common Challenges
Most breeders add a few drops of methylene blue or an alder cone or two to the egg container to prevent the eggs developing fungus.