FW Fish Profile: Adolfo's Cory

[ChilDawg]

Adolfo's Cory (Corydoras adolfoi)

(Got any pictures? I'd be happy to use them here...)

Name: Adolfo's Cory
Scientific Name: Corydoras adolfoi
Family: Callichthyidae
Subfamily: Corydoradinae

Distribution: São Gabriel de Cachoeira on a Brazilian tributary to the upper Rio Negro
Length: 1.5"
Water Temperature: 73 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit (23-27 degrees Celsius)
Diet: In the wild, small invertebrates and some plants. In captivity, they will take many prepared sinking foods.
Water Chemistry: dH 5-15
pH: 6.5-7.2
Lifespan: Potentially 10 years but 2-5 is much more common.

Species Description These look like Corydoras aeneus but with black masks, a black dorsal stripe and some rusty red in a region between the two.

Species Behaviour These are peaceful shoaling fish. While they have been implicated in the deaths of tankmates, it has been said that if a Cory is seen snacking on a tankmate, one can rest assured that the Cories didn't kill it.

They need a shoal of 6+ conspecifics in order to feel comfortable in their surroundings and in order for you to see the range of corydoradine interactions.

One note that is of the utmost importance: Cories sense food by smell more often than by sight. This is important for two reasons. For one, they need to have the barbels remain relatively intact as these are their olfactory sensors. And, secondly, a Cory that won't eat when it is immediately chow time may not know that such is the case. I have seen many a time when a Cory can have pellets dropped almost literally on top of them and not find it until ten minutes later after taking a circuitous route reminiscent of the most convoluted Bil Keane comic.

Cories will dash to the top to take gulps of air, though they should not be doing this on a frequent basis. One of the first signs that a water change is overdue is the Cories taking disproportionate top runs.

They will also feed at the top if they discover that their tankmates do that and pick up on cues that this is the day's method of feeding.

Cories have the ability to segregate themselves into conspecific groups even though humans may not be able to tell them apart.

Natural Conditions Slow-flowing blackwater.

Natural Range São Gabriel de Cachoeira on a Brazilian tributary to the upper Rio Negro

Minimum recommended tank size 10 gallons for a small shoal

Water Temperature 73 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit (23-27 degrees Celsius)

Water Quality A dH between 5 and 15 and a pH between 6.5 and 7.2 are in this species' best interest.

Sexing Females are slightly larger than males and are more rounded.

Breeding A lowering of temperature and barometric pressure, when done in conjunction with water changes, may very well induce spawning. Another trick is the feeding of live foods, especially Tubifex and finely-chopped earthworms. Two or three males to one female seems to be the optimal rate for successful spawning.

Males will pursue the females until they show interest. The female(s) will then clean surfaces (mostly plant surfaces and the glass sides of the tank). There is then more courtship -- the male rubs against the female and touches her head with his barbels. Finally, they start the classic "T-position" during vibrations which dislodge some eggs into the basket which the female has made with her ventral fins. They're then fertilized and the female places them throughout the aquarium. There is a quick rest and then the males advance on the females once again.

The parents do not disturb the eggs or fry if well-fed, but they might be removed after the spawning so that the fry can be reared separately from their parents. The eggs darken over their five to six day incubatory period. Finally the wrigglers emerge and feed on infusoria for a little while. Supplemental feedings may start within the first week and advancement to fry foods for egg-layers should occur at the end of their first week.

A note: The fry of C. adolfoi are, for some reason, reluctant to start feeding. Some breeders of this species try to keep the fry together with those of other species so that they can learn to feed from the actions on their congeners or older conspecifics (though the latter are not recommended as tankmates, sometimes this arrangement is one on which the breeder of Adolfo's Cory must rely).

Feeding In the wild, they eat some algae and lower plants as well as insects, crustaceans, and worms. They can take flakes and pellets in captivity, especially those that are earmarked for Cories. Shrimp pellets are also greedily attacked. They will take Tubifex and bloodworms greedily, whether they are alive or commercially prepared.

Miscellaneous Info There are no synonyms for C. adolfoi, which was described for the first time by Dr. Burgess in 1982. C. imitator is a closely related species which looks very similar, except for its longer snout.

Sources:
Adolfos Cory (Corydoras adolfoi)
Corydoras adolfoi
"Colored Atlas of Miniature Catfish" by Dr. Warren E. Burgess
http://www.fishbase.org

[markalot]

Howdy,

I think length should be 2.5", not 1.5"

[WyldFya]

Great little cory. I'm getting 6 of them next week, and am planning a breeding tank of them