Rust Corydoras Care Guide

Corydoras rabauti, the rust or rusty cory, is a peaceful catfish from the upper Amazon with a rusty-orange body and a dark dorsal band.

Overview

Corydoras rabauti is an armored catfish of the family Callichthyidae, described by La Monte in 1941. The adult has a rusty-orange body with a dark band along the back; juveniles look very different. Some taxonomic sources now place it in the genus Osteogaster.

Taxonomy

Family: Callichthyidae
Genus: Corydoras
Scientific name: Corydoras rabauti
Author: La Monte, 1941
Recognised combination: Osteogaster rabauti (La Monte, 1941)

Habitat

FishBase records the species from the upper Amazon, Solimões and Negro river basins. Seriously Fish reports it mainly from the rio Javarí, an Amazon tributary on the Brazil–Peru border, likely occurring in both countries and possibly Colombia. It is a tropical freshwater, demersal fish; aquaria use fine sand with driftwood.

Tank requirements

Minimum tank volume: 80 L (base around 90 × 30 cm)
Temperature: 22-26 °C (72-79 °F)
pH: 6.0-7.5
GH: 2-12 °dGH
School size: 6 or more individuals
Size: 5-6 cm (FishBase max 5.0 cm SL)
Lifespan: 5-10 years

Diet

The species is an omnivorous forager. Seriously Fish notes it accepts sinking dried foods plus small live and frozen options such as bloodworm and Tubifex, and should not rely on leftovers from tank mates.

Compatibility

Seriously Fish describes it as peaceful and gregarious, best kept in groups. It suits community aquaria with small, calm tank mates such as tetras, rasboras and otocinclus, and should be kept away from aggressive cichlids.

Breeding

According to Seriously Fish, breeding is triggered by large water changes of 50–70% with cooler water. Eggs are deposited on glass or spawning mops and incubate for three to four days; fry require small live foods and excellent water quality. Females grow larger and are noticeably broader and deeper-bodied than males when mature.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 15 October 2020).