Pastaza Corydoras Care Guide
Corydoras pastazensis is a long-snouted Ecuadorian and Peruvian catfish, peaceful and gregarious, kept in groups on soft sand.
Overview
Corydoras pastazensis is a long-snouted armoured catfish. Seriously Fish gives a standard length of 60-70 mm and FishBase records 6.1 cm SL. It is a peaceful, gregarious bottom-dweller for soft-water community aquaria.
Taxonomy
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Genus: Corydoras
- Scientific name: Corydoras pastazensis
Habitat
Seriously Fish reports the species from the upper Pastaza river basin in Ecuador and the Rios Ucayali and Puinahua in Peru, with the type locality near a tributary of the Rio Bobonaza in Ecuador. FishBase associates it with the Pastaza basin.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 100 L
- Temperature: 22-26 °C (72-79 °F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 2-12 °dGH
- School size: 6-8 or more individuals
- Lifespan: 5-10 years
Diet
A foraging omnivore. Seriously Fish notes it accepts sinking dried foods plus small live and frozen items such as bloodworm and Tubifex, and stresses it requires a varied diet rather than tank leftovers.
Compatibility
Peaceful and gregarious; Seriously Fish recommends keeping it in groups of at least 6-8 individuals. Like other Corydoras its stiffened pectoral spines can pierce skin, so it should be handled carefully.
Breeding
An egg-depositor. Seriously Fish notes sexual dimorphism with females larger and rounder when gravid, and suggests a base footprint of about 90 by 30 cm for breeding setups.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2014).