Sailfin cory

Scleromystax macropterus

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 64–70°F (18–21°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 3.5 in (9 cm)
Minimum tank: 44 gal (165 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Very rare
Origin: Brazil, Paraguay
Family: Callichthyidae

Overview

The sailfin cory is a larger, cool water catfish that should be kept in a group of six or more near the bottom. It is generally peaceful, though mature males may spar and display with one another, so give it space and calm tankmates that share its taste for cooler water. It forages over sand and takes sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm, and wafers. Because it is big and needs cool, oxygen rich water, plan on a tank of around 165 liters or larger.

In the wild

Scleromystax macropterus comes from cooler, well oxygenated streams of southern Brazil and Paraguay in the upper Parana system. It needs cool water, roughly 18 to 21 C, rather than tropical warmth, so keep it in an unheated or lightly cooled tank. Provide a sand bed, driftwood, and smooth rocks, with strong filtration and steady current, and a pH from about 6.0 to 7.5.

Good to know

This robust armored catfish of the family Callichthyidae reaches about 9 cm and sits in Scleromystax, a genus of stout, cool water species split from Corydoras. Its name macropterus means large fin, after the tall dorsal fin, which is especially high in mature males. The sexes differ in color and finnage. Aquarium spawning of this species is not widely documented.

Did you know

The name macropterus means large fin, and it fits: mature males raise a tall, flag like dorsal fin that gives the sailfin cory its common name and sets it off during their displays to one another.