Corydoras loxozonus Care Guide
Corydoras loxozonus is a small Colombian armoured catfish from the Meta River basin, a peaceful schooling bottom-dweller for soft-sand community tanks.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Corydoras loxozonus is a small armoured catfish of the family Callichthyidae. It is a peaceful, schooling bottom-dwelling cory marked with a diagonal dark band along the body.
Taxonomy
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Genus: Corydoras
- Scientific name: Corydoras loxozonus
Habitat
According to FishBase the species is native to the Meta River basin in Colombia, South America. It is a demersal, tropical freshwater fish.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L
- Temperature: 22-26 °C (72-79 °F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 2-12 °dGH
- School size: 6 or more individuals
- Adult size: up to about 5 cm SL
- Lifespan: about 5-10 years
A soft sand substrate protects the sensitive barbels, which can be damaged by sharp gravel and high nitrate.
Diet
Corydoras are omnivores that feed on bottom-dwelling insects, larvae, worms and some plant matter, locating food with their barbels. In the aquarium sinking foods offered once daily are appropriate.
Compatibility
This is a peaceful, active schooling fish best kept in groups of six or more. Tetras, rasboras and otocinclus make good companions, while aggressive cichlids should be avoided.
Breeding
It is an egg-depositor. Breeding is considered of intermediate difficulty.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Vulnerable, assessed in 2020.
Corydoras loxozonus Breeding Guide
Overview
Corydoras loxozonus is a callichthyid catfish from the Rio Meta basin in Colombia, reaching a maximum standard length of about 5.5 cm. Like other Corydoras it is an egg-depositing spawner that uses the characteristic T-position, and it can be bred in a dedicated tank with patience.
Sexing
Females are noticeably rounder and broader-bodied than males, particularly when gravid, and tend to reach larger adult sizes. The most reliable way to compare body shape is to view the fish from above.
Conditioning
Condition the broodstock on a varied diet of live, frozen and dried foods. A spawning group is often arranged at a ratio of two males per female to improve fertilisation.
Breeding Setup
A breeding tank of around 18 x 12 x 12 inches with a sand or fine-gravel substrate is suitable. Eggs are quite robust and can usually be gently rolled up the glass with a finger if they need to be moved.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Spawning is typically triggered by a large 50-70% water change using cooler water, with increased oxygenation and flow, repeated daily until the fish respond. During spawning the pair adopts the T-position: the male grasps the female's barbels between his pectoral fin and body, and the female forms a basket with her pelvic fins into which the eggs are deposited and fertilised.
Egg & Fry Care
Eggs hatch in three to four days. Once the yolk sacs are absorbed, the fry accept microworm and brine shrimp nauplii as first foods.
Common Challenges
The main hurdles are conditioning fish into spawning condition, reproducing the cool water-change trigger reliably, and protecting eggs and fry. Maintaining clean water and a steady supply of small live foods supports fry growth.