Corydoras semiaquilus Care Guide
Corydoras semiaquilus, the Peru black cory, is a long-snouted armored catfish from the western Amazon basin in South America.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Corydoras semiaquilus is an armored catfish of the family Callichthyidae, described by Weitzman in 1964. According to FishBase it occurs in the western Amazon River basin in South America, and Wikipedia records it as endemic to the Amazon basin. It is a long-snouted species, and Wikipedia lists the common name Peru black cory.
Taxonomy
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Genus: Corydoras
- Scientific name: Corydoras semiaquilus
- Author: Weitzman, 1964
- Subfamily: Corydoradinae
Habitat
FishBase records the species from the western Amazon River basin, and Wikipedia describes it as endemic to the Amazon basin in South America. It is a tropical, freshwater, demersal fish, living near the bottom of slow-moving waters, and FishBase notes it is a facultative air-breather.
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 or more individuals
- Size: 5-7 cm (FishBase max 6.0 cm SL)
- Lifespan: 5-10 years
Diet
The species is an omnivore. Wikipedia reports that it feeds on worms, benthic crustaceans, insects and plant matter. In aquaria it should be offered sinking dried foods supplemented with small live and frozen items, foraging along a soft sand substrate that protects its barbels.
Compatibility
It is a peaceful, diurnal bottom-dweller suited to community aquaria with calm species such as tetras, rasboras and otocinclus. It should be maintained in a group of at least six and kept away from aggressive cichlids.
Breeding
Wikipedia describes it as an egg-laying species that deposits its eggs in dense vegetation; the adults do not guard the eggs after spawning.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (FishBase assessment dated 15 October 2020).
Corydoras semiaquilus Breeding Guide
Overview
Corydoras semiaquilus is a long-snouted catfish from the western Amazon River basin (Peruvian Amazon), recorded by FishBase at up to 6.0 cm SL and listed as Least Concern by the IUCN (2020). No species-specific aquarium spawning report is available; the guidance below is explicitly anchored on the documented breeding pattern for the genus Corydoras and should be treated as such.
Sexing
Following the general Corydoras pattern, females grow rounder and broader-bodied than males, most obviously when carrying eggs and viewed from above.
Conditioning
Condition a mixed-sex group on a varied diet of live, frozen and dried foods until females fill out. FishBase reports maintenance parameters of 22-26 degrees C, pH 6.0-8.0 and hardness 2-25 dH for this species.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
For the genus, spawning is typically triggered by a large cooler water change with increased oxygenation and flow. In the T-position described for Corydoras on Wikipedia, the female attaches her mouth to the male's vent; sperm passes rapidly through her gut and is released with the eggs into a pouch formed by her pelvic fins, which she then carries to a deposition site. Note: this describes the genus, not a confirmed observation of C. semiaquilus.
Egg & Fry Care
By the genus pattern, eggs are attached to glass, plants or spawning mops and hatch within a few days; fry take small live foods such as microworm and brine shrimp nauplii once the yolk sac is absorbed. Species-specific incubation figures for C. semiaquilus are not documented.