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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 that should be kept in a group of at least six. It forages across the sandy bottom with its barbels and mixes well with calm community fish, though it can be sensitive to water quality and is best suited to an established, well maintained tank. Feed sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm and daphnia, and a little wafer, making sure enough reaches the floor. A group is comfortable in a tank of around 75 liters or larger.

In the wild

Corydoras schwartzi comes from the Rio Purus in the Brazilian Amazon, living over sand in warm, soft, slightly acidic, often tannin stained water. Give it a soft sand bed, driftwood, dried leaves, and shaded planting, with very clean, gently filtered water. Keep the temperature between 22 and 26 C and the pH from about 6.0 to 7.5, and stay on top of water changes, as this species is demanding about quality.

Good to know

This armored catfish of the family Callichthyidae reaches about 7 cm and carries fine radiating markings on the head and a barred, spotted body. It is named after Hans-Willi Schwartz, an aquarium fish exporter based in Manaus. Regarded as one of the more demanding cories to keep and spawn, it has been bred in aquaria but is rated difficult, needing soft, spotless water and well conditioned fish.

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.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

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.

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.

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