Xingu Cory

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Endemic to the endless Rio Xingu basin, in Brazil. Its schools populate shady shoals of streams, oxbows, or forest torrents with mild current, stationed on thick mounds of soft and very fine mud mixed with decaying plant remains.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Small and seductive Corydoras (maximum 4.5 cm / 1.8 inches) of the Callichthyidae family. Possesses the classic proportions of a "short-snouted" cory, very stocky, round, and with a compact profile, designed to stubbornly inspect the sediments.

Social Behavior: Intimately gregarious and serene. If deprived of the indispensable support school (6-8 specimens) it will live in lethargic reluctance and lose its appetite. In its flock, it fearlessly patrols the low prairies patrolling the sand in unison in search of food.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Peculiar minutely leopard/spotted livery: silvery base and head/back studded with very dense, very small round black spots. There is no dot (spot) on the dorsal fin. Females stand out to the naked eye for their visibly enlarged abdominal diameter.

Aquarium Setup: Being an unstoppable rooter it categorically needs single bottoms of very soft inert sand. Loves wide open digging spaces but surrounded by labyrinthine shading Jati/bog woods with large leaves (Catappa) as an optical shield.

Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous benthic micro-digger. A predominantly evening diet is recommended: split high-quality tablets must be combined with vital snacks (tri-weekly) of succulent baits such as daphnia, cyclops, microworms, or live nauplii.

Water Quality: Stable climatic standards at 22-26°C (72-79°F). The pH parameter must settle between weakly acidic and neutral (6.0 - 7.2) with soft GH (2-12). As a dwarf, chemical intolerance is high: failure to siphon or nitrite spikes cause lightning-fast bacterial death.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Docile bottom sheep to be used only together with ethereal roommates (Nannostomus, Boraras, small slow Tetras, or Otocinclus). Defenseless and designated victim if placed in large biotopes inhabited by fierce Cichlids or very voracious diggers.

Aquarium Reproduction: Spawning often follows conspicuous osmotic refreshments induced by the breeder in special tanks. Followed by the tight "T" mating with the gluing to the glass of single robust adhesive eggs. Isolate the brood because of the cruel parental cannibalism.

Risks and Diseases: Its very short and delicate tactile barbels lethally regress to necrosis if housed on unsuitable stony bottoms. Marked intolerance and lethality with massive antiparasitics in the tank (Malachite Green, Copper).