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Aspidoras cory-cat

Aspidoras raimundi

FreshwaterFish

Aspidoras cory-cat (Aspidoras raimundi)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–77°F
20–25°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
1.8 in
4.5 cm
Minimum tank
15 gal
55 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Shoaling
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Callichthyidae
Origin
Brazil

Overview

This is a small, shy shoaling catfish, so keep it in a group of at least six and ideally more, since single fish hide away and lose condition. It spends its day on the bottom, sifting fine sand with its barbels for scraps of food. Temperament is gentle, so pair it only with small, calm community fish that will not compete for food at the floor. Feed sinking pellets, crushed wafers, and frozen foods such as bloodworm or daphnia, and make sure enough reaches the substrate. A tank of around 55 liters or larger suits a starter group.

In the wild

Aspidoras raimundi comes from clear, shallow coastal streams in Ceara, in northeastern Brazil, where it lives over sand and leaf litter. Recreate that with a soft sand bed, some driftwood, dried leaves, and shady planted cover. Keep the water on the soft, slightly acidic side, roughly pH 6.0 to 7.5, with a temperature between 20 and 25 C. Gentle flow and clean, well oxygenated water keep this sensitive fish settled.

Good to know

A member of the armored catfish family Callichthyidae, this species belongs to Aspidoras rather than Corydoras. It stays small, reaching about 4.5 cm, and wears rows of fine dark speckling over a pale body. Like its relatives it carries two rows of bony plates along each flank instead of scales. Captive spawning is not well documented for this species, though Aspidoras generally lay sticky eggs that the female carries briefly in a pouch formed by her pelvic fins before attaching them to firm surfaces.

Did you know

Aspidoras take their name from the Greek for shield skin, a nod to the bony armor covering the body. The genus is set apart from the similar Corydoras by a small quirk of the skull: Aspidoras have two soft fontanels on top of the head where Corydoras have only one.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

Aspidoras cory-cat is a peaceful, shoaling species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does an Aspidoras cory-cat need?

An Aspidoras cory-cat needs at least 15 gal (55 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does an Aspidoras cory-cat need?

An Aspidoras cory-cat is comfortable at 68–77°F (20–25°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

How big does an Aspidoras cory-cat get?

An adult Aspidoras cory-cat reaches about 1.8 in (4.5 cm).

Does an Aspidoras cory-cat need a group?

Yes. An Aspidoras cory-cat is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

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