Elegant corydoras

The elegant corydoras is a small armored catfish of the family Callichthyidae, native to the upper Amazon basin in Peru, Brazil, and Ecuador. It has a slender tan body with variable dark marbling and reticulation, and males show more contrast and can display distinctive markings when breeding. It is a peaceful, gregarious bottom-dweller that must be kept in groups of six or more, where it forages actively in the substrate. Unlike many cories it will often swim in mid-water, adding movement to the lower levels. A soft-substrate planted tank with gentle flow and good water quality suits it. It accepts sinking pellets, frozen foods, and biofilm sifted from fine sand, which protects its sensitive barbels. It is an egg-layer that can be bred in cooler, well-oxygenated soft water.