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Schwartz's catfish

Hoplisoma schwartzi

Also known as Corydoras schwartzi

FreshwaterFish

Schwartz's catfish (Hoplisoma schwartzi)
Thomas Land · Public domain

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
2.8 in
7 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Shoaling
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Callichthyidae
Origin
Brazil

Overview

Schwartz's catfish is a peaceful, shoaling cory for the bottom of a calm community tank. It is a fish for experienced keepers.

Did you know

Schwartz's catfish honors Hans-Willi Schwartz, a well-known ornamental fish exporter in Manaus, Brazil. Another cory from the same Amazon trade, Corydoras adolfoi, is named for the exporter Adolfo Schwartz.

Caring for the Schwartz's catfish

Keep Schwartz's catfish in a group of at least six, in a tank of 20 gal (75 L) or larger. Give them a soft sand bed, driftwood, dried leaves and shaded planting. They forage across the sandy bottom with their barbels.

Schwartz's catfish is one of the more demanding cories, sensitive to water quality and best in an established, well-maintained tank. Keep the water very clean and gently filtered, at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Stay on top of water changes.

Feed sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm and daphnia, and a little wafer, making sure enough reaches the floor. It is peaceful and mixes well with other calm fish.

It has been bred in aquaria, but spawning it is hard. Breeding needs soft, spotless water and well-conditioned fish.

Good to know

Schwartz's catfish belongs to Callichthyidae, the family of armored catfish. It has fine radiating markings on the head and a barred, spotted body.

In the wild

Schwartz's catfish comes from the Rio Purus in the Brazilian Amazon. It lives over sand in warm, soft, slightly acidic water that is often stained with tannins.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Schwartz's catfish 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 a Schwartz's catfish need?

A Schwartz's catfish needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Schwartz's catfish need?

A Schwartz's catfish is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a Schwartz's catfish eat?

Schwartz's catfish eats sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm and daphnia, and a little wafer. Make sure enough food reaches the floor.

How big does a Schwartz's catfish get?

An adult Schwartz's catfish reaches about 2.8 in (7 cm).

Does a Schwartz's catfish need a group?

Yes. A Schwartz's catfish is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How does a Schwartz's catfish breed?

Schwartz's catfish has been bred in aquaria, but it is one of the harder cories to spawn. Spawning takes soft, spotless water and well-conditioned fish.

Related species