Many-spotted Cory

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Rio Paraguay and Rio Guaporé basins in Brazil. Frequents the calm lowland oxbows and flooded areas ("Pantanal"), resting on extensive sandy banks full of soft mud, tufts of dense aquatic vegetation and clear waters.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Delightful compact and rounded Callichthyidae. Belonging to the "dwarf" corys (maximum 4.5 cm / 1.8 inches), its extremely "rounded" and spherical profile, combined with the stocky and rounded snout (short-snouted), makes it a perfect microfauna rooter.

Social Behavior: Unbelievably peaceful. Its marked need for a school (6-8 specimens) must be strictly respected: the flock moves in unison feverishly probing the substrates and canceling the deep latent stress of the solitary animal.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Bright golden-beige background adorned with the typical "polystictus" (many spots) pattern: innumerable and highly elegant small circular black spots that irregularly cover the flanks. The female body appears absurdly spherical (seen from above) in contrast to the slender males.

Aquarium Setup: Gravel substrates are a death sentence for it. The exclusive use of very soft river sand is mandatory. Shade areas, crucial for its well-being, will be obtained by inserting oak leaves on the bottom and thick plant shelters.

Diet and Feeding: Tiny carnivorous devourer. Select very fine protein flakes or crumbled specific granules, without ever forgetting full-bodied rations (tri-weekly) of live food such as mysis, daphnia, cyclops and tubifex to support its immunity.

Water Quality: Classic parameters: temperatures at 22-26°C (72-79°F). The water, kept immaculate (nitrates kill it slowly), must have a weakly acidic to neutral pH (6.0 - 7.2) and low mineral hardness (GH 2-12). Vigorous biological filtration but mild currents at the bottom.

Compatibility and Tankmates: First-class inhabitant for docile communities and "micro-aquariums". Join it exclusively with tame companions: Paracheirodon, Ember tetras or Otocinclus. Banned combination with large Cichlids and restless Loaches that will destroy all its feeding ambitions.

Aquarium Reproduction: Obtainable by mimicking the onset of heavy cold downpours (massive osmotic partial changes). Classic "T" fertilization on leaves: the mother will fix single adhesive and robust eggs in every crevice. Remove the eggs due to insatiable parental voracity.

Risks and Diseases: Designated victim for fungal necrosis of the whiskers if bred on calcareous material or angular substrates. It has shown marked sensitivity and very high lethality towards curative compounds based on Malachite green.