Corydoras sterbai

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 each pectoral fin, 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 and are surprisingly heavy for their size. 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).

*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
 * Diversity, phylogenetic distribution, and origins of venomous catfishes by Jeremy J Wright, 2009.