Emerald Corydoras care guide
Emerald Corydoras (Brochis splendens) — minimum tank 100 L, temperature 22-28 °C, pH 6-7.5.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
The Emerald Corydoras (Brochis splendens, also placed in Corydoras as C. splendens) is a stout armoured catfish from the upper Amazon basin. Adults display a metallic green or bronze body and a comparatively large dorsal fin with many rays.
Taxonomy
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Genus: Brochis
- Scientific name: Brochis splendens
- Common synonyms: Emerald Catfish, Green Catfish
Habitat
Native to small, slow-flowing streams and flooded forests of the upper Amazon drainage in Peru, Ecuador and Brazil, with soft, slightly acidic water and abundant leaf litter.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 100 L (26.4 US gal)
- Adult size: 7-9 cm
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 6-7.5
- GH: 2-15 °dGH
- Water flow: moderate
- Lifespan: 5-10 years
- School size: ≥6 individuals
Diet
A bottom-feeding omnivore. Offer sinking pellets, granules and live or frozen foods such as bloodworms and daphnia. The species sifts sandy substrate for invertebrates.
Compatibility
A peaceful shoaling species best kept in groups of at least six. Suitable tankmates include peaceful characins, dwarf cichlids and similarly sized loricariids.
Breeding
Egg-laying. Spawning is induced by cool water changes and high-protein feeding; adhesive eggs are placed on plants and tank glass.
Emerald Corydoras Breeding Guide
Overview
The emerald corydoras (Brochis splendens, also placed in Corydoras) is the largest commonly kept Corydoras relative, reaching about 7.5 cm, and is native to the upper Amazon basin including the Ucayali River and waters of Peru, Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador. It is an egg-laying, T-position-style spawner that pastes eggs onto surfaces.
Sexing
Females are larger and more robust than males and have a more pinkish belly, while males show a more yellowish underside; mature females are noticeably rounder and higher-bodied.
Conditioning
Condition a breeding group on live foods; a setup of about three males to two females has been used successfully. Live worms are especially valued for bringing the fish into condition.
Breeding Setup
House the group in clean water within the species' general range of about 22-28 C (72-82 F), pH 5.8-8.0 and a hardness of 2-30 dGH. As with related catfish, a cool, oxygen-rich water change is commonly used to encourage spawning, with plants and surfaces available for egg deposition.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Unlike many similar species, the pair spawns while sitting on the bottom rather than while swimming. The female collects eggs in her pelvic-fin basket and pastes them individually onto plants and surfaces, with eggs laid close to the water surface that are easy to relocate for rearing.
Egg & Fry Care
Eggs hatch in about four days, and the fry become free-swimming roughly two days later. Parents do not usually consume the eggs immediately, but moving the eggs to a separate rearing container with matching water is the safest option; feed the fry small live and powdered foods.
Common Challenges
Because this is a larger Corydoras relative, mature breeders and a generous tank are needed for good condition. As with other corys, fungus on eggs and predation are the main risks, which is why eggs are commonly reared separately.