Salt and pepper cory

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Orinoco River basin (Colombia and Venezuela). Populates oxbow lakes, swamps, slow streams and flooded plains with very dense vegetation and very shallow waters.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Dainty Corydoras / Salt and Pepper Corydoras (Corydoras habrosus). One of the 3 true "dwarf" corydoras (along with pygmaeus and hastatus). However, unlike the other two, it has strictly benthic habits.

Social Behavior: Extremely peaceful and shy. Must live in schools of at least 10-15 specimens; in lower numbers it will hide all day. Very active on the sand, which it incessantly sifts with its tiny barbels.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Silvery/transparent livery decorated with black spots forming an irregular "salt and pepper" pattern and a dashed dark line on the flanks. The female is noticeably rounder and reaches 3.5 cm (1.4 inches), the male only 2 cm (0.8 inches).

Aquarium Setup: Perfect for nano-aquariums (minimum 40 cm / 16 inches). Strictly requires extra-fine sand, lots of vegetation and tangled branches to offer shelter. A powerful filter risks sucking them up or exhausting them with the current.

Diet and Feeding: Bottom micro-predator. Given its tiny size, it needs very fine granules for bottom fish, live brine shrimp nauplii, microworms and chopped bloodworms.

Water Quality: Very sensitive species. Does not tolerate high temperatures (keep at 21-25°C / 70-77°F max) or the slightest spike in ammonia or nitrites. Nitrates must remain very low. Soft and clean water.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Only tiny fish: Microrasboras, Boraras, small Nannostomus, Neocaridina (they do not eat shrimp) and snails. Any fish larger than a cardinal could bully or prey on them.

Aquarium Reproduction: Simple if well kept. The female will lay isolated, sticky eggs hidden in thick bushes of moss (e.g. Java moss) or on the glass in dark corners. They prey on their own eggs.

Risks and Diseases: Very high mortality in case of summer thermal stress (prolonged > 28°C / 82°F) and wasting if placed in tanks where faster fish steal all the food before it reaches the bottom.