Simulated Cory

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic to the Meta river basin in Colombia. Finds a home in small clear streams (creeks), silent inlets, and flooded oxbows, whose gentle currents travel in dense gallery forests offering substrates dense with botanical residues and silt.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Belonging to the Callichthyidae family. 5 cm (2 inches) Corydoras (medium structure), its epithet "simulatus" alludes to the incredible mimicry with Corydoras metae (its short-snouted counterpart). C. simulatus instead boasts the hydrodynamic long-snouted structure.

Social Behavior: Constantly in exploratory motion. Shy only if forced into isolation; acquires extreme boldness grouped in flocks of minimum 8-10 individuals, patrolling in broad daylight every area and sinking their long snouts into the sand in unison.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Almost perfect mimic of C. metae: light ochre base coat (tan) framed by a clear black bar over the eye ("bandit mask") and by a powerful dark line, a real block of color, extending from the back to the caudal. Very round females, elusive males.

Aquarium Setup: Bottom in strictly fine sand to support drilling ability. "Clearwater" setup but very shady: they need large root tangles (spider, bog) and tufts of low epiphytic plants (Anubias/Microsorum) to retreat from danger.

Diet and Feeding: Voracious benthic carnivore. To be foraged in the evening by offering massive compressed high-protein rations mixed with swarms of Daphnia, white worms, small frozen bloodworms, and occasional tubifex, hunted as a group in the sand.

Water Quality: Requires tropical Amazonian ranges: 22-26°C (72-79°F). The water must be slightly hard (GH 2-12) and the pH stably attested between 6.0 and 7.2 (acidic/neutral). Mandatory filter efficiency, loathes ammoniacal putrefaction and drastic nocturnal oxygen drops.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: Ideal and robust companion. Place alongside peaceful Amazonian dither fish (Paracheirodon, Rummy nose tetras, Hatchetfish). Encounters with large cichlids or territorial burrowing fish (e.g. large Eartheaters or impetuous Loaches) which inhibit feeding are banned.

Aquarium Breeding: Made difficult, requires prolonged stimulation via cold RO "downpours". In T-position, the female individually fixes large and adhesive eggs to the glass. Ravenous predator of itself: suddenly extract the breeders saving the clutches.

Risks and Diseases: In addition to the inexorable devastation of the long snout on gravel or crushed quartz bottoms, it is very fragile to Ichthyophthirius attacks. Attention to Copper or Malachite green baths, often pure poison if not dosed meticulously.