Bonehead Cory Care Guide
Corydoras osteocarus, the bonehead or pepper cory, is a small peaceful catfish from the Orinoco basin and coastal rivers of Suriname.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Corydoras osteocarus, known as the bonehead cory or pepper cory, is an armored catfish of the family Callichthyidae, described by Böhlke in 1951. It is a small Brazilian and northern South American species with subtle dark markings. In the hobby C-Numbers system it was previously designated C60, and some sources now place it in the genus Hoplisoma.
Taxonomy
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Genus: Corydoras
- Scientific name: Corydoras osteocarus
- Author: Böhlke, 1951
- Recognised combination: Hoplisoma osteocarum (Böhlke, 1951)
Habitat
FishBase records the species from the Orinoco River basin and coastal rivers in Suriname. Wikipedia adds that it occurs in the Orinoco basin in Colombia and Venezuela. It is a tropical freshwater, demersal 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
- Size: 4-5 cm (FishBase max 4.0 cm SL)
- Lifespan: 5-10 years
Diet
The species is an omnivore. Wikipedia reports it feeds on worms, benthic crustaceans, insects and plant matter. In aquaria it should be offered sinking dried foods supplemented with small live and frozen foods over a soft sand substrate.
Compatibility
It is a peaceful, diurnal bottom-dweller suited to community aquaria with small, calm species such as tetras, rasboras and otocinclus. It should be maintained in a group of at least six and kept away from aggressive cichlids.
Breeding
According to Wikipedia, the species reproduces by laying eggs in dense vegetation, with no parental care provided afterwards.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 4 October 2020).
Breeding Corydoras osteocarus
Overview
Corydoras osteocarus (also placed in the genus Hoplisoma) is a callichthyid catfish of the Orinoco River basin in Colombia and Venezuela, with FishBase also listing coastal rivers in Suriname. It reaches about 4.0-4.1 cm SL. Recorded water tolerances are pH 6.0-8.0, hardness 2-25 dH, and a temperature of roughly 21-25 C.
Breeding Setup
Within the recorded tolerances (pH 6.0-8.0, 21-25 C, soft to moderately hard water), provide dense, fine-leaved vegetation, since this species attaches its eggs to plants. Adults do not guard the eggs.
Spawning Behaviour & Trigger
The species lays eggs in dense vegetation. As in other Corydoras, a large cooler water change with increased oxygenation and flow is the usual spawning trigger; the documented outcome below is the species-specific record for egg numbers and hatch timing.
Egg & Fry Care
In captivity the species produces up to about 300 eggs, which it usually attaches to plants. Hatching occurs in about 3-4 days at 21.4 C (70.5 F). Because adults do not guard the eggs, eggs and fry are best separated from the parents to prevent predation.
Common Challenges
With large clutches, fungal loss of infertile eggs is a common issue; removing fungused eggs and maintaining clean, well-oxygenated water supports a higher hatch rate.