Schwartz's Corydoras Care Guide
Corydoras schwartzi is a peaceful patterned armored catfish endemic to the Rio Purus drainage in Brazil, often misidentified in the aquarium trade.
Overview
Corydoras schwartzi is an armored catfish of the family Callichthyidae, described by Rossel in 1963. According to Seriously Fish it is endemic to the Rio Purus drainage in Brazil. FishBase lists a standard length of around 3.9 cm and places the species in the genus Hoplisoma as Hoplisoma schwartzi. It is a patterned cory often confused with similar species in the trade.
Taxonomy
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Genus: Corydoras
- Scientific name: Corydoras schwartzi
- Author: Rossel, 1963
- Recognised combination: Hoplisoma schwartzi (Rossel, 1963)
Habitat
Both FishBase and Seriously Fish record the species from the Purus River basin in Brazil. It is a tropical, freshwater, demersal fish living near the bottom, and FishBase notes it is a facultative air-breather.
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: 5-6 cm (FishBase max 3.9 cm SL)
- Lifespan: 5-10 years
Diet
The species is an omnivore. Seriously Fish recommends a good-quality sinking pellet or tablet as the staple diet, supplemented with live and frozen foods such as Daphnia, Artemia and bloodworm. River sand is the preferred substrate.
Compatibility
Seriously Fish describes the species as very peaceful and suitable for many community tanks. It associates well with small characins, cyprinids, anabantoids, dwarf cichlids and other peaceful catfish, and is most confident in a group of at least six.
Breeding
Seriously Fish reports that the species can be difficult to spawn, requiring conditioning on a varied diet, water changes with cooler water and increased oxygenation to trigger spawning. FishBase notes that females hold a small clutch of eggs between the pelvic fins and attach the sticky eggs to a chosen surface.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 7 November 2018). FishBase records its use in both commercial fisheries and the aquarium trade.