Gold Laser Corydoras (Corydoras melanotaenia) Care Guide
A beautiful corydoras featuring a bright metallic gold or green iridescent stripe running along the upper body, resembling a laser beam. The rest of the body shows a greenish-bronze sheen.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Corydoras melanotaenia is a species in the family Callichthyidae. A beautiful corydoras featuring a bright metallic gold or green iridescent stripe running along the upper body, resembling a laser beam. The rest of the body shows a greenish-bronze sheen. Hardy and does well in community tanks.
Taxonomy
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Genus: Corydoras
- Scientific name: Corydoras melanotaenia
- Other names: Green Laser Cory, CW009
- Origin: South America, Colombia
Habitat
Native to the Madeira River basin in north-western Brazil, including the lower Río Madre de Dios in Bolivia and adjacent Peruvian Amazon. Inhabits soft, slightly acidic, sand-bottomed streams in primary rainforest. Both wild-caught and tank-bred specimens are widely traded.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 60 L
- Temperature: 22-27 °C
- pH: 5.5-7.5
- GH: 2-12 °dGH
- Water flow: moderate
- Adult size: 4-5.8 cm
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
- Recommended group size: ≥ 6
- Difficulty: beginner
Diet
Classified as omnivore. Recommended feeding frequency: 2x daily. In captivity, offer a varied diet appropriate to the species — quality prepared foods supplemented with frozen or live items of suitable size.
Compatibility
- Temperament: peaceful
- Swimming level: bottom
- Compatible tank mates: Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora, Cherry Shrimp
- Avoid with: Large Cichlids, Aggressive Fish
Breeding
- Breeding strategy: egg-depositor
- Breeding difficulty: intermediate
Gold Laser Corydoras (Corydoras melanotaenia) Breeding Guide
Overview
Corydoras melanotaenia (often sold as the gold or green laser cory, CW009) is a South American corydoras that breeds following the classic egg-depositing T-position method common to the genus, with eggs laid on solid surfaces and no parental care.
Sexing
Females are noticeably rounder and broader-bodied than males, especially when full of eggs, while males remain slimmer.
Conditioning
Condition the fish on varied live, frozen and dried foods using a ratio of about two males per female. A breeding tank around 18 x 12 x 12 inches with a bare, sand or fine-gravel bottom works well, with reported conditions of about 24 °C (75 °F) and pH around 6.5.
Breeding Setup
Eggs are usually laid on the tank glass, often in an area of higher water flow, so leave clear glass surfaces available. A thin sand layer is preferable for the fry stage.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Trigger spawning with large 50-70% water changes using cooler water while increasing oxygenation and flow, daily until spawning. A receptive female lets the male caress her with his barbels before adopting the classic T-position, in which the male grasps the female's barbels between his pectoral fin and body; he releases sperm toward her pelvic fins, which form a basket holding single eggs (up to about four may be released at a time).
Egg & Fry Care
Eggs hatch in around three to five days. The fry accept microworm and brine shrimp nauplii as first foods and seem less susceptible to disease when kept over a thin layer of sand rather than in a bare-bottomed setup.
Common Challenges
Maintaining good water quality during the fry stage and providing appropriately small first foods are the main practical concerns, as with most egg-depositing corydoras.