Bronze Cory (Corydoras aeneus)

Bronze Cory

Common Brown Cory

Corydoras aeneus

Difficulty

Easy

Min. Tank Size

76 Litres (20 US G.)

Size

3-7 cm (1.2-2.8")

sg

Freshwater

pH

5.8 - 7.5

Temp.

22 -26 °C (71.6-78.8°F)

Water Hardness

20-30 °d

Stocking Ratio

1:1 M:F

Availability

Common

Diet

Omnivore
Pellet Foods
Flake Foods
Other (See article)

Life Span

15-25 years

Habitat

South America

Family

Callichthyidae

This animal is available captive bred

Additional names

Aeneus Cat, Bronze Cory, Brown Cory, Albino Cory

Additional scientific names

Callichthys aeneus, Corydoras macrosteus, Corydoras microps, Corydoras venezuelanus, Hoplosoma aeneum

Origin

Currently it’s accepted to occur throughout much of South America from Colombia and Trinidad in the north as far south as the Río de la Plata drainage at the border of Uruguay and Argentina.

Sexing

When properly conditioned, the difference between the male and female Corydoras is usually quite evident. Females will look a lot wider when viewed from the top, as they have a larger underbelly. Males are also shorter in length than females.

Tank compatibility

Very peaceful community fish. Will not intentionally bother tank inhabitants, however their bumbling about the tank may bother more delicate fish or other bottom dwellers. Are best kept in groups of 5-6 or more.

Diet

As with most Corydoras, these fish will eat most food which sinks to the bottom of the tank. Sinking algae pellets should be supplemented with flake food or other sinking foods like catfish pellets.

Be aware these fish do have a carnivorous side to them and love foods such as Bloodworm and Brine Shrimp. Vegetable-based foods offer little nutrition to them. They will also eat any dead, dying, or even injured fish, that sit on the substrate too long. They're very opportunistic!

Feeding regime

These fish are most active at night, so feeding once before lights out is typically enough. Though they can easily be persuaded to feed during the day. Since they are slower eaters they should be allowed at least 30 minutes to consume their food.

Environment specifics

Requires a sand or small gravel substrate and prefers a planted tank. Keeping a cory on sharp or large gravel can lead to damage to their barbels, which when infected will make it hard for the cory to find food.

Corys are sensitive to salt, as with other scaleless fish, adding salt to the tank will cause them harm.

Behaviour

• The Corydoras group of fish frequently gulps air. This is normal and is not a cause for concern. If too little room is available between the water surface and the hood (<2") the fish may hit the hood. They hold the air in their stomach and the thin lining dissipates the oxygen.
• This fish likes the company of its own kind. It is recommended to keep at least 2, or better yet, several of the same species. The more you have, the more secure they are and the more you will see them.
• They are known to 'blink' their eyes to the amazement of onlookers. The Cory has the ability to tilt its eye down to examine the nearby substrate.

Identification

The flanks of this fish are shimmering brown colour with a typical ribbed pattern along its sides and green iridescence on the gills and head. Aeneus is Latin for brazen of copper. An albino variation is also common. Albino and the regular Bronze variety will breed and shoal together.

Special notes

• These fish are incredibly docile, very peaceful and are a wonderfully easy fish to own. However it is a remarkably little known fact that Corydoras species have a very sharp barb just under each eye, one in the adipose fin, and a large one in the front of their dorsal fin.
• The fish uses these barbs to protect itself from being swallowed by a larger fish. Therefore when using a net to catch these fish, be prepared for the Cory to become caught up in the mesh of the net. Also, ensure you don't try to catch this fish in your hand!
• What is also little known is that most species of Corydoras have a poison gland in their barbs which causes fish which try to eat them to get stung. This causes the attacking fish to suffer a lot of pain rather like a jellyfish sting. Needless to say this causes an annoying, but harmless, irritant to aquarists skin if they get stung also.
• The Cory has a sensitive sense of smell and its barbels allow it to taste food hidden in the substrate.
• These fish are armoured, not scaled, catfish. They have two rows of overlapping bony plates running down each side and large plates covering their head. Indeed, the name Corydoras is derived from the Greek kory (helmet) and doras (skin).

• Be wary of coloured Bronze Corys. Sightings of red dye injected into the caudal area are becoming less rare as suppliers try to pretty them up to unsuspecting shop customers. These animals are often diseased and usually have a short life span.

The Poison of the Corydoras

Many species of Corydoras have a poisonous self-defence mechanism against being eaten by much larger fish. All Corys have very sharp fin spines and some seem to give off a low level toxic chemical into the water when frightened or highly stressed. This toxin is believed to be only mildly irritating to people and only if the person is stressing and handling the Cory with their bare hands and is stung.

Self-Poisoning

A rare but recorded event is that at least some some species of Corys appear to be capable of releasing a poisonous mucus from its gills when alarmed which causes itself and other fish in confined volumes of water to rapidly die. Species believed to show this trait are C. adolfoi, C. arcuatus, C. melini, C. metae, C. panda, C. robineae', C. rabauti, C. atropersonatus, C. sterbai and C. trilineatus. This ability is poorly researched and other Corydoras species may be affected.

• The Bronze Cory is usually the species of fish the albino cory derives from. Though there are others but they are more rare, these include the Corydoras sterbai.

Pictures

• 

  Albino Bronze Cory

• 

  Barbs of a male Bronze Cory

• 

  Closeup of the barbels of a female Bronze Cory

Videos

Feeding in a community tank:	1 month old albino fry:

Bronzes Feeding:	Albinos Feeding:

External links

• Fishbase (Mirrors: )

• Planet Catfish
• About.com Freshwater Aquariums
• Ian Fuller's Articles on Corys
• Seriously Fish
• Corydoras Aeneus Profile & Image
• Bronze Catfish Fact Sheet

References to poisonous barbs

• David Sands in his 1982 publication "Catfishes of the World" vol. 1. ISBN 0-444-42282-X
• Frank Schafer in My Corydoras by - Aqualog Mini Series. ISBN 3936027250
• Corydoras owners discussing this topic

David Sands in his 1982 publication "Catfishes of the World" vol. 1. ISBN 0-444-42282-X

Corydoras owners discussing Poisonous spines in Corys

Diversity, phylogenetic distribution, and origins of venomous catfishes by Jeremy J Wright, 2009.

PFK issue 10 Oct 2008:page 26-Ian Fuller

new atropersonatus batch