Corydoras pulcher Breeding Guide

How to breed the Pulcher Corydoras (Corydoras pulcher): sexing, conditioning, the cooler-water spawning trigger, T-position pairing and fry care, based on the documented genus pattern.

Overview

Corydoras pulcher (catalogued by FishBase as Brochis pulcher, Isbrucker & Nijssen, 1973) is a long-snouted armoured catfish reaching about 5.0 cm standard length, recorded from the Purus River basin in Brazil (FishBase). It is a facultative air-breather and a peaceful egg-depositor. IUCN lists it as Least Concern. No species-specific spawning reports are available, so the procedure below follows the documented Corydoras genus pattern and species figures are approximate.

Sexing

As in the genus, mature females are the larger, rounder and broader-bodied sex, most evident from above when they are gravid. Species-specific sexing notes are not documented in the consulted sources.

Conditioning

Condition the group on a varied diet of sinking dried foods plus small live and frozen items to bring females into spawning condition. Keeping the species in a group of six or more supports the natural behaviour that precedes spawning, and well-fed females fill visibly with eggs.

Breeding Setup

Provide a separate tank with fine sand, gentle sponge filtration and fine-leaved plants or spawning mops. Fine sand suits this long-snouted, bottom-sifting cory and protects its barbels. Keep the water within the species' tolerated range of pH 6.0-8.0, a hardness of about 2-25 dH and roughly 21-24 degrees C (FishBase), favouring soft, slightly acidic water during conditioning.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

Genus spawning is induced by a large cooler water change with increased oxygenation and flow, repeated daily until the fish respond; this simulates the rainy season. Pairs adopt the T-position, the female cupping eggs in a pelvic-fin basket while collecting milt and then attaching sticky eggs to glass, broad leaves or a mop in successive passes. Egg counts specific to C. pulcher are not documented in the consulted sources.

Egg & Fry Care

Adults predate eggs, so remove the parents or the eggs after spawning. Genus eggs typically hatch in about 3-5 days; fry take microworm and newly hatched brine shrimp once the yolk sac is absorbed. Maintain stable, clean water throughout rearing, ideally over a thin sand layer with frequent small water changes.

Common Challenges

The absence of published spawning data, the need to condition females and deliver a cool-water trigger, and egg predation are the main challenges. Egg fungus on infertile eggs and fry-stage water quality are the usual causes of loss, so hygiene during the egg and early fry stages is essential.