Bandit cory

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Meta River basin in Colombia. Prefers to live in shallow waters, slow tributaries and marginal pools on muddy substrates mixed with leaves.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Bandit Corydoras (Corydoras metae). Sometimes also called Bandit Corydoras like the melini. Unlike the melini, the dorsal band runs straight along the curved back up to the middle of the caudal peduncle, rather than descending obliquely.

Social Behavior: Strongly gregarious and sociable. Tends to explore the tank faithfully following the other individuals of the school. At a minimum, the colony must be 6 units.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Clean pinkish-beige base color. Obvious dark mask passing through the eye and a characteristic continuous black line running parallel to the curve of the back from the (entire) dorsal fin to the tail. Females are more swollen.

Aquarium Setup: Basic aquarium (60-80 cm / 24-32 inches). The bottom must strictly be soft sand. Gravel or crushed quartz will cause fatal injuries to the barbels. Add wood, branches and natural shelters.

Diet and Feeding: Continuously probes the bottom in search of worms and crustaceans. Accepts bottom pellets and omnivorous wafers, but must be regularly fed with live or frozen (tubifex, bloodworms) to keep it healthy.

Water Quality: Very resistant to slight fluctuations but viscerally hates salt, even if used at low concentrations for in-tank therapies. Requires well-oxygenated water and regular water changes.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Extreme pacifist. Ideal tankmate for Characins and Rasboras. Caution with large boisterous cichlids that might try to swallow it, choking due to the corydoras' pectoral spines.

Aquarium Reproduction: Reproduces according to the classic Corydoras pattern: stimulus via a massive cold water change, courtship dance (T-shaped) and adhesive eggs placed on the glass, near the filter outlet.

Risks and Diseases: The lack of adequate nutrition due to food competition with faster fish leads C. metae to wasting and death in a few weeks.