Prionotos cory

Scleromystax prionotos

Also known as Corydoras prionotos, Prionotos catfish

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 68–77°F (20–25°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 2.4 in (6 cm)
Minimum tank: 29 gal (110 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Coastal rivers of southeastern Brazil, including the Rio Doce system.
Family: Callichthyidae

Overview

Keep this Scleromystax in a group of six or more over smooth sand in cooler water around 20 to 25 C with gentle flow. It prefers steadier, oxygen rich water and calm tankmates. Feed sinking pellets and small frozen foods such as bloodworm and daphnia.

In the wild

The prionotos cory lives in cooler coastal rivers of southeastern Brazil rather than the warm Amazon. It forages over sand and gravel in flowing, well oxygenated water. Groups keep to shaded areas near wood and roots.

Good to know

Scleromystax are cory relatives from cooler subtropical rivers, and this species was once placed in Corydoras as Corydoras prionotos. Like the banded cory, mature males grow bristle like odontodes on the sides of the snout. Males are also more strongly marked than females.