Spotted catfish - Corydoras atropersonatus

The high-backed, rather narrow-bodied Spotted Corydoras atropersonatus comes from Ecuador and Peru in South America. This small gregarious Corydoras species with its silvery body dotted with dark small dots and its dark elongated eye spot, the black eye patch, is a real feast for the eyes in the aquarium. The fins are transparent with a fine dark dot pattern.

Male Corydoras atropersonatus grow to 4.5 inches long, while females reach a head-to-tail length of about 5 inches. They are also slightly more plump than the males. Like all armored catfish, the spotted armored catfish prefers the safety of its school of conspecifics. They should be kept as a group of at least 6-10 animals. An aquarium of at least 60 cm edge length is well suited for them.

As a bottom dweller, the pretty little schooling fish Corydoras atropersonatus prefers the lower water layers. Like all Corydoras, however, it is a gut-breather and must have free access to the surface of the aquarium water at all times.

Breeding is possible in the aquarium. As a substrate spawner, the female of Corydoras atropersonatus attaches up to 100 eggs individually to substrates such as the glass, plants or aquarium decorations after mating. The larvae of the Spotted Catfish hatch after a few days. The best way for the larvae to grow up is to take the parents out of the breeding aquarium so that no one predates on the larvae. With Artemia nauplii you can grow the small Spotted Catfish without problems.

The Spotted Catfish can live up to 10 years. At a temperature of 23-26 °C in soft to medium hard water and a pH between 6 and 7,5 the small Spotted Catfish feel well. The aquarium should have a substrate of sand or fine rounded gravel. At least one sand corner is mandatory in any case. The armored catfish chew sand for fine food and clean their gills with it at the same time. Hiding places are also important furnishings for the lively little armored catfish. Edge planting also provides them with the necessary cover.

Very easy to care for, the adaptable Corydoras atropersonatus is a good candidate for a community tank with other peaceful small fish such as tetras or danios. It is also a perfect match for shrimp . It does not actively hunt, although it is quite possible that careless shrimp babies may be eaten. Crayfish and large-armed shrimp, on the other hand, are not good aquarium mates for the Spotted Catfish; the scissor knights live in the same aquarium zone and can severely injure the Spotted Catfish with their claws.

Happy to eat animal foods such as frozen foods or sinking live foods, the beautiful spotted armored catfish is a good choice. Shiny worms, grindal and tubifex he slurps like spaghetti. Special food for armored cat fish is eaten just as readily as food flakes or food granules for omnivores in the aquarium.

Our food recommendation: The NatureHolic Catfish Feed for all aufwuchs feeding sucking catfish in the aquarium is a balanced tablet food, which does not cloud the water and the fish like to eat. The catfish tablets also contain NatureHolic active ingredient complexes that provide sucker catfish with everything they need for a strong immune system, healthy growth and great, contrasting coloration.

Our plant recommendation: Use for planting NatureHolic InVitros. These are free of snails, planarians 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