Blue Corydoras Care Guide
Corydoras nattereri is a hardy cory with a bluish-green sheen, endemic to eastern Brazil from Espírito Santo to Paraná.
Overview
Corydoras nattereri, known as the blue corydoras, is an armoured catfish of the family Callichthyidae described by Franz Steindachner in 1876. It has a light yellowish body with a dark horizontal stripe, gold eyes, greenish highlights around the gill plates and clear fins.
Taxonomy
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Genus: Corydoras
- Scientific name: Corydoras nattereri
Habitat
The species is endemic to eastern Brazil, ranging from Espírito Santo to Paraná. It is a tropical freshwater fish that lives near the bottom of these coastal drainages.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L
- Temperature: 22-26 °C (Wikipedia reports a 20-23 °C wild range)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 2-12 °dGH
- School size: 6 or more individuals
- Lifespan: 5-10 years
- Substrate: soft sand
Diet
Corydoras nattereri is an omnivore. In the wild it feeds on worms, benthic crustaceans, insects and plant matter; in aquaria it takes sinking dried foods supplemented with small live and frozen items.
Compatibility
A peaceful bottom-dwelling species best kept in groups of six or more. It is suited to community aquaria with tetras, rasboras and otocinclus and should not be housed with aggressive cichlids.
Breeding
The species lays eggs in dense vegetation and the adults do not guard them.