Rusty tank catfish - Corydoras rabauti

The beautiful Rusty Cory or Rabauts Cory Corydoras rabauti comes from South America, the Amazon Basin and the Rio Negro in Peru. This pretty and interestingly patterned cory has a great variable orange to rust base color that lightens in places. Along the back, a dark longitudinal band extends to the base of the caudal fin. The fins are orange to light gray transparent. The mouth of Corydoras rabauti is surrounded with the typical paired barbels. On the gill covers and the head there is a nice metallic shimmer.

Juveniles up to about 3 cm body length have no longitudinal band, but a broad dark belt between the head and the dorsal fin. The males of Corydoras rabauti, like most armored catfishes, are much less plump than the females. They reach a total length of about 5 cm. The females grow about 6 cm a little larger and definitely appear more bulky. However, from the drawing there are no differences.

The Rusty Cory is like all Corys a really sociable group fish, which needs the group and must not be kept without conspecifics. The group should consist of at least 5-10 animals. As a Corydoras species, the Rusty Cory inhabits mainly the bottom area of the aquarium. Because all Corydoras are intestinal breathers of atmospheric air, it always needs free access to the water surface, which is swum to from time to time.

The Rusty Corydoras rabauti is a funny and peaceful fish for the aquarium, which fits super in the community aqu arium with other peaceful and not too big aquarium fish, gladly from South America. Also the keeping with shrimps usually does not cause any problems, Rabaut's Corydoras do not actively chase the small crawlers. They may accidentally snatch a baby shrimp, but this is the exception. Crabs or shrimps can hurt or even eat the Corydoras rabauti, therefore these Corydoras should not be socialized with the quite rabid crustaceans.

In the aquarium Rusty Corydoras can be reproduced, but a species tank is much better for the yield of the young fish. In the community tank, either the eggs or the fry of the Rusty Tank Catfish will be eaten. Feed the breeding pair of Rusty Tank Catfish set up in the breeding aquarium with high quality live food and good frozen food to increase their readiness to spawn. With a large water change with 2-3 degrees cooler water, simulate the beginning of the rainy season, which the Rusty Catfish usually see as a stimulus for courtship. The Rusty Cory female lays up to 100 sticky eggs individually on hard surfaces and the plants in the aquarium when mating , sometimes sometimes even on the aquarium glass. The tiny, almost transparent larvae of the Rusty Catfish hatch after 3-5 days. After spawning, the parents are returned to the community aquarium. The larvae and later the fry of the Rusty Catfish are fed first with infusoria and later with Artemia nauplii and microworms.

The Rusty Tank Catfish can live about 8 to 10 years with good care. A water temperature of 23-57 °C is suitable for Corydoras rabauti. This Corydoras needs soft to medium hard, clear and oxygen-rich water in the aquarium and a pH value between 6 and 8. The aquarium should have a length from 80 cm for a group of 10 Rusty Corydoras . Fine sand as substrate or at least a sufficiently large sand corner allow the armored catfish to burrow in the fine substrate. At the same time they rinse their gills and clean them. The aquarium should be well structured with roots, stones and caves. Planting is also possible, but the Rusty Tank Catfish should be left enough space on the bottom to burrow.

The Rusty Cory is an omnivore that will go well on flake or granular food as well as live food and good frozen food. Animal food should be fed preferentially.

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.