Leopard Cory (Corydoras julii)
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Leopard Corydoras
Corydoras julii
57 Litres (15 US G.)
5.1-6.4cm (2-2.5 ")
Freshwater
6.5 - 7.8
22 -24 °C (71.6-75.2°F)
2-20 °d
1:2 M:F
15-25 years
Family
Callichthyidae
This animal is available captive bred
Contents
Additional names
Origin[edit]
- Found in eastern Brazil, only available during dry season from Belem.
Sexing[edit]
- 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[edit]
- 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[edit]
- 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[edit]
- 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[edit]
- 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[edit]
- 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[edit]
- This fish has a silver body with lots of interconnected merged black dots. It also has a row of connected dots travelling the length of each side of the body. It has a black flash on the tip of its dorsal fin and the caudal has unconnected black dots on it.
- This Cory is often mistaken for species Corydoras trilineatus as they are very similar. C. julii has distinctive black dots on its head and body whilst C. trilineatus has these dots joined up into groups. C. julii is more rare than C. trilineatus, this will be reflected in the price of the fish.
- A lot of aquatic stores sell fish marked as C.julii where in fact they are C. trilineatus.
Special notes[edit]
- 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).
The Poison of the Corydoras[edit]
- 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.[1] 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.[2] [3]
Self-Poisoning[edit]
- 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. [4][5]
Pictures[edit]
External links[edit]
- Fishbase (Mirrors:
)
- Planet Catfish
- AquaHobby
- Seriously Fish
- ↑ 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
