Incolicana Corydoras Care Guide
Corydoras incolicana is an armoured catfish of the rio Icana in the upper rio Negro basin, requiring soft, acidic blackwater conditions.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Corydoras incolicana is an armoured catfish of the family Callichthyidae, described by Burgess in 1993 and currently placed by FishBase in the genus Brochis. It occurs in Brazil and reaches a maximum standard length of about 5.2 cm. It is a slender, long-snouted species sometimes traded under the code C001.
Taxonomy
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Genus: Corydoras
- Scientific name: Corydoras incolicana
- Author: Burgess, 1993
- Current placement: Brochis incolicana (FishBase)
Habitat
FishBase records the species from Brazil. Seriously Fish localises it to the rio Icana in the upper rio Negro basin of Amazonas state, northern Brazil, with possible occurrence in eastern Colombia. It inhabits pristine blackwater tributaries and flooded forest with tea-coloured, very soft water of low conductivity, alongside small characids, lebiasinids and dwarf cichlids.
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 that a varied diet is essential rather than relying on aquarium leftovers.
Compatibility
Corydoras incolicana is described by Seriously Fish as peaceful and gregarious, requiring groups of at least 4-6 individuals. As a blackwater species it is best kept with similarly adapted, peaceful South American fishes in soft, acidic conditions.
Breeding
Seriously Fish reports that spawning is triggered by large water changes with cooler water and increased oxygenation. Eggs are deposited on the glass or spawning mops and hatch in roughly 3-4 days; fry require excellent water quality.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Data Deficient (assessed 2020), reflecting limited data on the species.
Breeding Corydoras incolicana
Overview
Corydoras incolicana (also placed in the genus Brochis) is a callichthyid catfish from the Rio Icana in the upper Rio Negro basin, Amazonas state, Brazil (and possibly Colombia). Seriously Fish gives a maximum standard length of 70-80 mm; FishBase records a maximum of about 5.2 cm SL with a tolerance of pH 6.0-8.0, hardness 2-25 dH, and 22-26 C.
Sexing
Females tend to grow larger, and sexually mature individuals are noticeably broader and deeper-bodied than males.
Conditioning
Use a ratio of two or more males per female if possible, and condition them well so that females become visibly full of eggs before spawning is attempted.
Breeding Setup
Provide deposition sites in the form of aquarium glass, fine-leaved vegetation, or sunken spawning mops, the latter recommended. Fry are reported to be less susceptible to ailments when maintained over a thin layer of sand.
Spawning Behaviour & Trigger
When the females are visibly full of eggs, perform a large 50-70% water change with cooler water and increase oxygenation and flow. Repeat this daily until the fish spawn.
Egg & Fry Care
Eggs are placed on the glass, among fine-leaved vegetation, or within spawning mops. Incubation is normally 3-4 days, after which yolk-absorbed fry accept small live foods such as microworm and Artemia nauplii. Fry require excellent water quality.
Common Challenges
Seriously Fish notes the fry are not the easiest to raise and depend on excellent water quality; rearing them over a thin sand layer helps reduce losses.