Lacerda's Cory

Geographic Origin and Biotope: South America, endemic to Brazil. Frequents calm and sheltered river bends, as well as small streams covered by dense riparian vegetation. The river bed is constantly covered by decaying leaf debris that dyes the waters with tannin.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Corydoras belonging to the Callichthyidae family. The species sports the classic round snout and well-developed lateral armor. Maximum dimensions in the aquarium are around 5 cm (2 inches).

Social Behavior: Extremely peaceful and moderately shy. It does not conceive of isolation: inserting single specimens or pairs into the aquarium leads the animal to apathy and chronic starvation. A school of 6-8 individuals will work in harmony, frantically patrolling the bottom.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Very dense leopard pattern and minute irregular spots on an ocher/silvery background. Typically presents a dark line that horizontally divides the flanks and a modest black shading in the dorsal area. Dimorphism: females much rounder and more corpulent.

Aquarium Setup: The only tolerable substrate is fine sand. Set up massive intertwined roots and coconuts to act as shelters, shielding the upper water column through the use of Eichhornia or Pistia to mitigate bright lights.

Diet and Feeding: Benthic omnivore. Feed it specifically and not with mere fallen "crumbs": sinking tabs for Loricariids and Siluriformes are indispensable, accompanied 2-3 times a week by strictly well-rinsed or frozen bloodworms or tubifex.

Water Quality: Demands classic South American conditions: stable temperature between 22 and 26°C (72-79°F), weakly acidic or neutral (pH 6.0 - 7.2) and soft waters (GH 2-12). Efficient slow-release filter combined with mild siphoning to avoid lethal bottom bacterial loads.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Ideal companion in peaceful Amazonian biotopes. Superb pairing with broods of Tetras (Neons, Petitella), mild-mannered Cichlids or shy small Loricariids. Avoid cohabitation with aggressive, territorial fish or large bottom eaters.

Aquarium Reproduction: Hardly documented in purity, but replicable via "T-mating" induced by cold water changes and abundant live diet. The few sticky eggs are placed on the glass; strictly remove the breeders when spawning is concluded.

Risks and Diseases: If housed on a rough bottom, it will lose the use of its short barbels, incurring certain fatal wasting. Severe and deadly reaction to anti-ich products based on copper sulfate.