Gomez's Corydoras Care Guide
Corydoras gomezi is a small armoured catfish from the western Amazon where Brazil, Colombia and Peru meet, kept in peaceful soft-water aquaria.
Overview
Corydoras gomezi is a small armoured catfish of the family Callichthyidae, described by Castro in 1986 and currently placed by FishBase in the genus Brochis. It occurs in the Amazon basin near the border of Colombia and Brazil. The specific name honours Juan A. Gomez, a Colombian research director who supported its collector.
Taxonomy
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Genus: Corydoras
- Scientific name: Corydoras gomezi
- Author: Castro, 1986
- Current placement: Brochis gomezi (FishBase)
Habitat
FishBase records the species from the Amazon basin near the Colombia-Brazil border, while Seriously Fish places it in the 'Tres Fronteras' region where Brazil, Colombia and Peru meet. The type locality is given as lakes of the Isla de Mocagua near Leticia, Colombia. Collection records are described as scarce.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 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 plus live and frozen items such as bloodworm and Tubifex, and stresses that a varied diet is essential rather than relying on leftovers from other inhabitants.
Compatibility
Corydoras gomezi is a peaceful, gregarious bottom-dweller. Seriously Fish recommends maintaining it in groups of at least 4-6 individuals in calm community aquaria; large or boisterous tankmates are unsuitable.
Breeding
Seriously Fish suggests a ratio of about two males per female and reports that spawning is triggered by large water changes (50-70%) with cooler water and increased oxygenation. Eggs are deposited on glass, vegetation or spawning mops and hatch in roughly 3-4 days; fry need excellent water quality and small live foods.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Data Deficient (assessed 2020), reflecting limited information on its distribution and population.