Corydoras aeneus

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Bronze Cory
Common Brown Cory
Species	Corydoras aeneus
Difficulty	Easy
Min. Tank Size	56.781 liters 56,781.177 mL 15 US Gallons (56.8L)
Size	1.969 in 3-5 cm (1.2-2")
pH	5.8 - 7.5
Temp.	295.15 K 71.6 °F 531.27 °R 299.15 K 78.8 °F 538.47 °R22 -26 °C (71.6-78.8°F)
Water Hardness	20-30
Stocking Ratio	1:1 M:F
Availability	Common
Diet	Omnivore Pellet Foods Flake Foods Other (See article)
Life Span	5-15 years

[edit] Alternative names

Aeneus Cat, Bronze Cory, Brown Cory, Albino Cory

[edit] Other Scientific Names

Callichthys aeneus, Corydoras macrosteus, Corydoras microps, Corydoras venezuelanus, Hoplosoma aeneum

[edit] Sexing

Females have a larger underbelly, when viewed from the top will look a lot wider than a male. Males are smaller in length than females also.

[edit] Tank compatibility

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.

[edit] Diet

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!

[edit] Feeding regime

These fish are most active at night, so feeding once before lights out is typically enough. Though they can be persuaded to feed during the day.

[edit] Environment Specifics

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.

[edit] Behaviour

• The Corydora 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 least 2 or more of the same species. The more you have, the more secure they are and therefore the more you will see them.
• Known to 'blink' its eyes to the amazement of onlookers. The Cory has the ability to tilt its eye down to examine the nearby substrate.

[edit] Identification

Brown color, ribbed pattern along its sides, green iridescence on gills and head. Aeneus is Latin for brazen of copper. Albino variation also common. Albino and the regular Bronze will breed and shoal together.

[edit] Special notes

• 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 have a very sharp barb just under each eye, one in the adipose 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 certain 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).
• Be wary of coloured Bronze Corys. Sightings of red dye injected into the caudal area are becoming less rare as suppliers try to pretty them up to unsuspecting shop customers. These animals are often diseased and usually have a short life span.

[edit] The Poison of Corydoras

Several species of Corydoras have a poisonous self-defence mechanism against being eaten by much larger fish. All Cories 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]

[edit] Self-poisoning

A rare but recorded event is that at least some some species of Cories 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. ^[3][4]

[edit] References

1. ↑ Book: Catfish of the World vol. 1 by David Sands, 1982
2. ↑ Poisonous spines
3. ↑ PFK issue 10 Oct 2008:page 26-Ian Fuller
4. ↑ new atropersonatus batch

• The Bronze Cory is usually the species of fish the albino cory derives from. Though there are others but they are more rare, these include the Corydoras sterbai.

[edit] Pictures

Albino Bronze Cory

Barbs of a male Bronze Cory

Closeup of the barbels of a female Bronze Cory

[edit] Videos

[edit] External links

• Fishbase
• Planet Catfish
• About.com Freshwater Aquariums
• Ian Fuller's Articles on Corys
• Seriously Fish
• Corydoras Aeneus Profile & Image

[edit] References to poisonous barbs

• David Sands in his 1982 publication "Catfishes of the World" vol. 1. ISBN 0-444-42282-X
• Frank Schafer in My Corydoras by - Aqualog Mini Series. ISBN 3936027250
• Corydoras owners discussing this topic