Gosse's Corydoras Care Guide
Corydoras gossei is an armoured catfish from the rio Mamore basin of Brazil and Bolivia, kept in peaceful soft-water community aquaria.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Corydoras gossei is an armoured catfish of the family Callichthyidae, described by Nijssen in 1972 and currently placed by FishBase in the genus Hoplisoma. It occurs in the Mamore River basin of Brazil and Bolivia and reaches a maximum standard length of about 5.5 cm. The name honours the Belgian ichthyologist Jean-Pierre Gosse.
Taxonomy
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Genus: Corydoras
- Scientific name: Corydoras gossei
- Author: Nijssen, 1972
- Current placement: Hoplisoma gossei (FishBase)
Habitat
FishBase records the species from the Mamore River basin in Brazil and Bolivia. Seriously Fish localises it to the rio Mamore watershed in Rondonia state of north-western Brazil within the upper rio Madeira system, with the type locality a creek near Guajara Mirim. The Mamore is described as an acidic, tannin-stained river with warm, clear water, and the fish inhabits forest creeks.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 100 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, bloodworm and Tubifex, and emphasises that it should not be expected to survive on leftovers from other tank inhabitants.
Compatibility
Corydoras gossei is described by Seriously Fish as peaceful and gregarious, requiring groups of at least 4-6 individuals. It is suited to calm community aquaria with a fine sand substrate; large or aggressive species should be avoided.
Breeding
Seriously Fish reports that spawning follows a simulated rainy season induced by a large (50-70%) cooler water change. Eggs are deposited on the glass or spawning mops and hatch in roughly 3-4 days; fry accept microworm and Artemia nauplii, though the species is noted as not the easiest to raise.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2020). FishBase records it as a commercial aquarium species not taken by fisheries.
Breeding Corydoras gossei (Gosse's Cory)
Overview
Corydoras gossei is an armoured catfish (family Callichthyidae) from the Rio Mamoré watershed in Rondônia, northwestern Brazil, and likely northern Bolivia, reaching about 50–55 mm. It is an egg-depositor that spawns in the Corydoras T-position.
Sexing
Females tend to grow larger, and sexually mature individuals are noticeably broader and deeper-bodied than males, most obvious from above when females are full of eggs.
Conditioning
Condition adults on a varied diet of small live and frozen foods until the females are full of eggs. Use a male-to-female ratio of 2:1 or higher.
Breeding Setup
- Temperature: 24–28 °C
- pH: 5.5–7.5
- Hardness: 36–179 ppm
- Provide glass, fine-leaved plants and/or sunken spawning mops; mops are recommended for easy egg removal
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Trigger spawning by performing a large (50–70%) water change with cooler water while increasing oxygenation and tank flow. Repeat daily until reproduction occurs. 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
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 sand than on a bare substrate.
Common Challenges
To prevent egg fungus, breeders typically add methylene blue or alder cones to the egg-rearing container.