Treitl's Corydoras

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Resides in northeastern Brazil (State of Maranhão). Predominantly inhabits rivers and small forest tributaries with slow to moderate flow, incessantly patrolling large expanses of very fine sand interrupted by piles of drifting wood.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Callichthyidae with a powerful and muscular look, reaches 6 centimeters (2.4 inches). Ascribed to the "long-snouted" group, boasts a distinctively developed wedge-shaped snout to penetrate and probe deeply the anaerobic layers of the riverbed.

Social Behavior: Peaceful and industrious; manifests lethal behavioral stress (hiding forever) if kept single or in small groups. Merge flocks of at least 6-8 individuals to see them dig bravely and incessantly throughout the aquarium.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Very fascinating "stealth" livery: a dark brown, almost purplish/chocolate in darkened aquariums, fused with heavy black mottling on the back and sides, with slightly smoky fins. As usual, the pregnant female will be extremely corpulent and swollen on the sides.

Aquarium Setup: Abolish sharp substrates, large volcanic gravel and sharp stones: obligatorily set up immense beds of round inert sand. Add woven Jati branched woods or coconuts to provide shady dens and decaying oak leaves.

Diet and Feeding: Energy-intensive benthic predator. Will disdain flakes, preferring fast-sinking bottom tablets. However, the indispensable vital nourishment must be based on thawed and live blocks of robust prey: mysis, fattened brine shrimp, huge bloodworms and falling tubifex.

Water Quality: Likes stable and unchanged parameters: average temperature (22-26°C / 72-79°F), pH between 6.0 and 7.2 (tendentially acidic-neutral) and low hardness (GH 2-12). Demands waters pristine from nitrates, manageable with powerful filtrations that move the water surface.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Sweetest companion for communities composed of placid free-water Tetras (Neon tetras, Emperor) or quiet non-giant scavenger loricariids. Decidedly unsuitable for cohabitation with frantic Asian bottom feeders or fish of incompatible size.

Aquarium Reproduction: Conditionable with high live protein content combined with sudden and imposing cold thermal shocks during RO changes (which mimic the imminence of monsoons in nature). Will lay single egg spheres on the walls after "T" matings: isolate instantly against cannibalism.

Risks and Diseases: Wear due to mechanical causes (abrasive gravel) of the long nose and delicate barbels will inevitably result in devastating lethal fungal ulcerations in the mouth. Confirmed lethality with over-the-counter medicines at full doses (Malachite Green).