Eye stripe armored catfish - Corydoras schwartzi

The high-backed, slightly stocky and in the top view rather narrow eye-line Panzerwels, Bänder Panzerwels or Schwartz' Panz erwels is called with scientific name Corydoras schwartzi. Partly one finds also the deviating spellings Corydoras schwarzii, Corydoras schwarzi and Corydoras schwartzii. This peaceful, up to 7 cm large growing very sociable Corydoras species comes from Brazil, where it lives in the estuary of the Rio Purus in shady zones and in pools in the jungle.

The gregarious eye-line armored catfish has the namesake black eye-line, which runs from top to bottom through the eye, and a silvery body coloration. The body is dotted with dark spots, which may condense into narrow longitudinal bands. The fins are transparent, some with a dark pattern of stripes and dots. The underslung mouth is surrounded by two pairs of medium-length barbels.

Male Corydoras schwartzi are smaller (up to 5 cm body length) and more slender than the thicker and, at 6 to 7 cm body length, also somewhat larger females of the Augenstrich Panzerwelses. Like all Corydoras species, Schwartz's Cory is dependent on a school of conspecifics. We recommend a group size of at least 6-10 of the pretty Corys.

An aquarium with an edge length of 80 cm or more is perfectly suitable for a small school of these great aquarium fish. For the substrate it is best to choose sand or fine gravel with rounded edges, on which the Corys cannot injure themselves. If this is not possible, Corydoras schwartzi should at least be provided with a sandy corner in which the funny fellows can dig.

The eye-lined armored catfish lives predominantly in the lower water layers, but as an intestinal breather it also needs free access to the water surface of the aquarium at all times. In nature, Schwartz' Tank Catfish lives in waters without plants, but the aquarium can still be planted. Only the sand zone for burrowing should be left free. Eye-spotted Corydoras are grateful if you provide them with hiding places in the form of caves in the aquarium. A not too dense blanket of floating plants provides some shade, then the eye line armored catfish are less shy.

As a substrate spawner in the aquarium, the eye-spotted armored catfish likes to lay its eggs on the panes or plant leaves, the aquarium decoration or on a root - preferably in a slight current. It is easily bred in the hobby, but soft and acidic water is advantageous for breeding. After 4-8 days the young larvae of Corydoras schwartzi hatch, which are best separated in a breeding tank, so that the parent fish do not chase them. Fed with Artemia nauplii they grow up quickly.

The eye lined corydoras can live up to 10 years. At a temperature of 22-24 °C in the aquarium water and a water hardness of up to 15 GH as well as a pH value of 6 to 7.5, the pretty, interesting and very social Augenstrich Panzerwelse find ideal conditions.

Corydoras schwartzi is easy to maintain. A group fits very well in a community tank with peaceful small to medium sized by-fish like tetras or danios, and the Banded Cory also gets along very well with shrimp. The eye-striped cory is not an active hunter, but it may eat particularly bold and careless young shrimp. Crayfish and large-armed shrimp are not suitable for socialization with armored catfish, because they can severely injure the bottom-dwelling armored catfish with their claws.

Gladly eats the interesting and contrast-richly drawn eye line armored catfish animal food, for example frost food or also sinking live food. With shiny worms, Grindal and Tubifex one makes him a big joy. Special food for armored cat fish is eaten just as gladly as food flakes or food granulates for omnivores in the aquarium.

Our plant recommendation: Use for planting NatureHolic InVitros. These are free of snails, planaria and other unwanted co-inhabitants. Also free of algae spores, bacteria and fungi.

Expert Tip: We recommend for fish keeping the NatureHolic 3 Phase Liquid. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your animals. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and keeping.

Picture: Enrico Richter - exclusively for Garnelio