Corydoras trilineatus

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Leopard Cory
Leopard Cory
Species	Corydoras trilineatus
Difficulty	Moderate
Min. Tank Size	56.781 liters 56,781.177 mL 15 US Gallons (56.8L)
Size	5.08 cm 1.5-2 " (3.8-5.1cm)
pH	6.5 - 7.8
Temp.	295.372 K 22.222 °C 531.67 °R 297.039 K 23.889 °C 534.67 °R72 -75 °F (22.2-23.9°C)
Water Hardness	2-20
Stocking Ratio	2:3 M:F
Availability	Common
Diet	Omnivore Pellet Foods Flake Foods Live Foods
Life Span	8-15 years

[edit] Alternative names

Leopard Cat, Leopard Cory, Threestripe Corydora

Often mistaken for Corydoras julii ^{*see below}

[edit] Sexing

Females have a larger underbelly and will look wider when viewed from above.

[edit] Tank compatibility

A very peaceful, docile community fish.

[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 suplemented with flake food or other sinking foods like catfish pellets.

[edit] Feeding regime

These fish are more active at night so feed just before lights out is typically enough. But if they have adjusted to feeding by day then feed when most active.

[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

Silver body with lots of interconnected merged black dots. It also has a row of connected dots traveling the length of each side of the body. It has a black flash on the tip of its dorsal fin and the caudel has unconnected black dots on it.

This Cory is often mistaken for species Corydoras julii as they are very similar. C. julii has distinctive black dots on its head whilst C. trilineatus has these dots joined up into groups.

[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 irritant to aquarists if they get stung also. Though this is very rare.

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.

[edit] Pictures

		Very placid indeed, here a DAF pushes through with not so much as a shrug

[edit] Videos

[edit] External links

• Fishbase
• Planet Catfish
• AquaHobby Profile
• Seriously Fish