Undulated Cory

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Indigenous to southern Brazil and northern Argentina (Rio Paraná basin). Stations in subtropical waters with moderate/slow current or calm flooded lowland oxbows, inspecting sandy/silty bottoms enriched by thick layers of rotting vegetation.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Small and elegant "short-snouted" cory (does not exceed 4.5 cm / 1.8 inches). Stocky, round and compact physiology as a benthic micro-digger. Belongs to the Callichthyidae family boasting the common and powerful overlapping plate armor.

Social Behavior: Without a school it perishes from starvation. Demands mass gatherings (minimum 6-8 specimens, ideal >10). Gregarious beyond belief, in the aquarium it will show itself dynamic and cohesive, peacefully turning the sandy surface of the bottom in mass.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: A golden-silvery mantle exquisitely decorated by a disorderly constellation ("undulatus") of small spots, dark veins and small broken wavy lines. Dimorphism is revealed from above: mature females reveal swollen flanks and spherical proportions compared to the straight male.

Aquarium Setup: Absolute ban on quartz gravels: prepare huge carpets in pure inert rounded sand. Ensure a large and very thick set of dark hiding places created by massive submerged wooden weaves covered with epiphytes to shield it from the light.

Diet and Feeding: Tireless omnivorous-carnivorous sifter. It is not an algae cleaner. Feed it generously in the evening with crushed bottom pellets combined with indispensable live or frozen feasts of small daphnia, juicy microworms and minced bloodworms.

Water Quality: Cooler sub-tropical tolerances than usual: thrives at 20-25°C (68-77°F). The pH gently fluctuates from weakly acidic to neutral (6.0 - 7.2), with low GH (2-12). A drastic requirement is the total absence of pollutants (nitrites lethal in 24h), guaranteed by manic siphonings.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Peaceful to the extreme. Wonderful supporting character for tanks populated only by small fast dither fish (Nannostomus, Boraras, small Tetras). Strictly forbidden housing with angular Loaches or massive Cichlid bottom devourers.

Aquarium Reproduction: Obtained by biologically "shocking" the parents through copious cold osmotic inflows following long hyper-protein meals. T-position and gluing of eggs in clusters on every smooth flat surface: eggs to be removed promptly to stem the parental cannibalistic consumption.

Risks and Diseases: Very fragile fish, ruinously atrophies its short barbels contracting oral mycotic infections if placed on abrasive rocks or non-rounded silica. Hypersensitive and at risk of death with any medicinal compound based on Copper or Malachite Green.