Salt-and-Pepper Corydoras Care Guide
Corydoras habrosus is a dwarf cory from the upper Orinoco basin in Venezuela and Colombia, well suited to planted nano community tanks.
Overview
Corydoras habrosus, the salt-and-pepper corydoras, is a dwarf armoured catfish of the family Callichthyidae described by S. H. Weitzman in 1960. It is one of the smallest corydoras and occasionally rises to the surface to gulp air, using the intestine as a supplementary respiratory organ.
Taxonomy
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Genus: Corydoras
- Scientific name: Corydoras habrosus
Habitat
The species is native to the upper Río Orinoco basin in eastern Colombia and western Venezuela, in the Llanos Orientales grassland plain that floods seasonally. It inhabits lagoons, tributary streams and slow-moving areas close to vegetation.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 40 L (base of at least 60×30 cm)
- Temperature: 22-26 °C (20-26 °C reported in the wild)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 2-12 °dGH
- School size: 6 or more, ideally 10 or more
- Lifespan: 5-10 years
- Substrate: fine sand
Diet
A foraging omnivore that accepts small sinking dried foods, flake and live or frozen items such as bloodworm and Tubifex. A varied diet keeps the fish in good condition.
Compatibility
Corydoras habrosus is peaceful and gregarious and should be kept in groups of at least six, ideally ten or more. Its small size suits planted nano community tanks alongside small tetras, rasboras and otocinclus; avoid aggressive cichlids.
Breeding
Breeding is challenging. Large water changes with relatively cool, soft water and increased oxygenation can stimulate spawning. Females deposit eggs individually on plants or aquarium surfaces, often on leaf undersides; incubation takes about 3-4 days and fry require excellent water quality and small live foods such as microworm.