Breeding Corydoras pinheiroi

Breeding guide for Corydoras pinheiroi, an adolfoi-group cory: T-position egg-depositor bred on the standard Corydoras pattern, with single eggs hatching in 3-4 days.

Overview

Corydoras pinheiroi is a small callichthyid catfish of the adolfoi species group, reaching about 6.5 cm standard length and recorded at 25-28 C and pH 6.0-7.2 (Seriously Fish). It is rare in the hobby. No captive breeding information is available for the species, but Seriously Fish notes it can probably be bred in the same way as other Corydoras, so the standard genus protocol applies.

Sexing

Females are noticeably rounder and broader-bodied than males, an effect that is most apparent when they are carrying eggs (Seriously Fish).

Conditioning

Condition adults on a varied diet of live, frozen and dried foods to bring females into spawning condition. A group with a surplus of males to females tends to produce better results.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

Spawning is typically triggered by a large water change of 50-70 percent using cooler water. During spawning the male pursues the female and the pair adopt the characteristic 'T' position; the female then deposits her eggs singly, holding up to four at a time in a basket formed by her pelvic fins (Seriously Fish).

Egg & Fry Care

Eggs are attached to surfaces such as plants or glass and are not tended by the parents. According to Seriously Fish the eggs hatch in 3-4 days, after which the fry accept microworm and brine shrimp (Artemia) nauplii as first foods.

Common Challenges

As a rare blackwater-group species, sourcing a viable sexed group is the principal difficulty. Soft, slightly acidic water within the recorded range and clean, stable conditions support spawning and fry survival.