Bronze Catfish

The Bronze Catfish, Corydoras aeneus, originally comes from South America, where it is mainly found in rivers in Napo (Ecuador). The colors of this cory catfish vary from yellowish and greenish to bronze, copper and silvery and the maximum body size is about 8 cm.

Care in the aquarium

Classically for Corydoras, the Bronze Catfish is a schooling fish that feels comfortable with at least 8 members of its species. In the aquarium, which should hold at least 100 liters, it needs a fine, non-sharp-edged substrate as well as sufficient hiding places in the form of plants and, for example, catfish caves, roots or stones. A well-planted tank with free surfaces is important for the catfish, as it needs space to hide as well as space to breathe. The water that is optimal for the Bronze Catfish is soft to medium hard, clean and has a temperature between 24 and 28°C. There should also be a slight current in the aquarium. The robust Bronze Catfish is quite easy to keep if these needs are met.

Feeding

Corydoras aeneus is an omnivore, so it can be fed a variety of sinking live and frozen foods, as well as forage and sinking commercial fish food.

Sexual characteristics and breeding

The females of the Bronze Catfish are recognizable by their fuller build and are slightly larger than the males. Corydoras aeneus is an egg-laying fish that attaches around 40 to 80 eggs to the plants or hardscape of the aquarium. For targeted breeding, the eggs should be hatched and raised in a separate breeding tank. About 2 – 3 days after hatching, the young animals can be fed with newly hatched Artemia nauplii or dust food.