Gomez's Cory
Brochis gomezi
Robust spotted Corydoras with a marked resemblance to C. leopardus and C. julii. Showy dark spot at the base of the dorsal fin and a silvery/gray body.
Temperatura da água
22 - 26 °C
Valor de pH
6 - 7.2
Tipo de água
Água doce
Nível do tanque
Parte inferior
Tamanho adulto
5 cm
Volume mínimo do tanque
>= 80 L
Grupo mínimo
>= 6
GH
2 - 12 dGH
KH
2 - 10 dKH
TDS
50 - 280 ppm
Condutividade
78 - 438 uS/cm
Descrição da espécie
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic to the borders between Colombia and Brazil (Orinoco / Rio Negro Basin, border rivers). Populates small slow-moving tributaries, seasonally flooded swamps (igapó) rich in organic matter, where waters tend to be dark (blackwater).
Taxonomy and Morphology: Callichthyidae family. Medium-sized Corydoras (5 cm / 2 inches) belonging to the "round-snouted" species group. Phenotypically, and sometimes mistakenly, traded in stores as C. leopardus (which is long-snouted) or C. trilineatus.
Social Behavior: Typically gregarious and shy character. Requires the visual and tactile support of the school to operate on the bottom. Do not keep in quantities fewer than 6; in schools of 10 or more, it displays coordinated swimming patterns of exceptional beauty.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Light silver livery, densely covered by a broken black reticulation and spots. A solid dark bar horizontally crosses the eyes forming the typical mask. The dorsal is transparent with spots on the base. Females wide in the upper profile and equipped with rounded pelvic fins.
Cuidado, criação e companheiros de tanque
Aquarium Setup: Mandatory bottom of fine inert sand. The aquarium must simulate a flooded forest: intricate roots (red moor, manila) and abundant leaf litter on the bottom (Catappa). Low lighting guaranteed by epiphytic and floating plants to alleviate their natural shyness.
Diet and Feeding: In nature, it hunts benthos and microorganisms by digging the mud. Must be fed according to its needs, not just with leftovers: provide nocturnal carnivore wafers mixed with abundant live and frozen baits (red and white mosquito larvae).
Water Quality: Requires classic South American waters: constant temperatures between 22 and 26°C (72-79°F). The ideal pH for this species should remain acidic-neutral (6.0 - 7.2) and hardness low or medium (GH 2-12). Powerful filter and bottom free of putrefactive bacteria.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Excellent fish for Amazonian community aquariums. Perfect alongside schools of Cardinals, Rummy Nose Tetras, Hatchetfish, and peaceful Loricariids (Ancistrus or Otocinclus). Extremely stressable if forced into a tank with hyper-active Loaches or turbulent earth-eating Cichlids.
Aquarium Breeding: Possible via the classic "trick" of the rainy season (robust cold RO water changes) combined with very live foods. T-mating, with the deposition of viscous eggs on broad-leaved plants. Parents ignore the offspring only if separated or stuffed.
Risks and Diseases: Extremely prone to secondary infections if the very delicate whiskers are eroded by inadequate substrates (sharp gravels). Any Copper-based (Cu) medicine used in the tank is often irremediably lethal to them.
Origem e distribuição geográfica
Endemic to the borders between Colombia and Brazil (Orinoco / Rio Negro Basin, border rivers). Populates small slow-moving tributaries, seasonally flooded swamps (igapó) rich in organic matter, where waters tend to be dark (blackwater).
Origem
Amazônia, Orinoco e Guianas
Perfil de peixe
- Temperamento
- Semi-aggressive
- The temperament of Brochis gomezi is incredibly peaceful, sociable, and somewhat shy when kept individually. They are an obligate schooling fish that absolutely requires the company of their own kind to feel secure and behave naturally. When kept in groups of at least six, they become active and highly entertaining as they constantly interact with one another. If kept alone or in inadequate numbers, they will likely become stressed, reclusive, and more susceptible to disease. They show zero aggression towards other tank inhabitants and are a model citizen for any peaceful community aquarium.
- Dieta
- Omnivore
- In the wild, Brochis gomezi is a micro-predator and scavenger, feeding on tiny worms, crustaceans, and plant matter. In the home aquarium, they readily accept a wide variety of sinking foods such as high-quality pellets, wafers, and granules. It is essential to supplement their diet with live or frozen foods like bloodworms, Daphnia, and brine shrimp to ensure optimal health and coloration. Because they are bottom feeders, you must ensure that enough food reaches the substrate before being consumed by mid-water fish. A varied diet prevents nutritional deficiencies and promotes a robust immune system.
- Expectativa de vida
- 5 years
- Tamanho adulto
- 5 cm
- Proporção sexual
- Group
- For Brochis gomezi, maintaining a specific strict sex ratio is not strictly necessary for general community keeping, as they do not exhibit aggressive territorial behavior towards each other. However, if breeding is the primary goal, a ratio of two or three males for every single female is strongly recommended. This higher male-to-female ratio encourages competitive courtship and generally results in a higher fertilization rate for the eggs. In a standard display tank, simply ensuring they are in a suitably sized group of six or more individuals is more important than the exact gender makeup. Females are typically noticeably rounder and broader when viewed from above, especially when full of eggs.
- Frequência de alimentação
- Twice daily
- It is highly recommended to feed Brochis gomezi small portions one to two times a day. They have relatively small stomachs, so multiple small meals are much better than a single large one. Observe their feeding behavior carefully; all offered food should be consumed within roughly two to three minutes. If there is uneaten food left on the substrate, reduce the portion size during the next feeding. Foraging is a natural behavior, so spreading the food slightly can encourage natural scavenging activity.
- Carga biológica
- Low
- The bioload of Brochis gomezi is generally considered to be quite low compared to larger freshwater fish. They are small, efficient scavengers that do not produce excessive amounts of waste in the aquarium. However, because they must be kept in groups of at least six, the cumulative bioload should be factored into your filtration capacity. Regular water changes and good mechanical filtration are still necessary to maintain optimal water quality. Overfeeding can quickly spike ammonia, so moderation is key.
- Fluxo
- Stagnant
- As a species that often inhabits slow-moving to moderately flowing streams in South America, Brochis gomezi appreciates gentle to moderate water circulation. They do not fare well in highly turbulent environments where they must constantly struggle against strong currents. Providing areas of calmer water, especially near the bottom where they spend most of their time, is important for their rest. The filter return should provide adequate oxygenation without turning the tank into a whirlpool. Natural river stones and driftwood can be used to break the flow and create comfortable resting zones.
- Risco de salto
- Yes
- The jump risk for Brochis gomezi is generally considered to be quite low under normal, stress-free aquarium conditions. They are primarily bottom-dwelling fish that focus their activities on foraging in the substrate. However, like many Corydoras, they will occasionally dart to the surface to gulp atmospheric air, a completely normal behavior linked to their specialized intestinal respiratory system. If water parameters deteriorate or if they are severely startled, they might accidentally launch themselves out of an open tank. Therefore, a well-fitting lid is still highly recommended to prevent any unfortunate accidents.
- Reprodução
- Oviparous
- Breeding Brochis gomezi in captivity is entirely possible but requires some dedicated preparation and conditioning. They are egg scatterers, typically laying their adhesive eggs on broad plant leaves, aquarium glass, or smooth stones after a lively courtship display. To trigger spawning, aquarists often perform a large, slightly cooler water change to simulate the onset of the rainy season in their natural habitat. Once eggs are laid, the parents may eat them, so it is often necessary to remove the eggs or the adult fish to a separate rearing tank. The fry are quite small and require infusoria or finely powdered foods before graduating to freshly hatched brine shrimp.
- Compatibilidade e companheiros de tanque
- Community
- Brochis gomezi is an extremely peaceful community fish that thrives in the company of other calm species. They should never be housed with large, aggressive, or highly active bottom-dwellers that might outcompete them for food or nip at their fins. Ideal tank mates include small tetras, rasboras, peaceful dwarf cichlids, and other similarly sized peaceful fish. Keeping them with small freshwater shrimp is usually safe, though tiny shrimplets might occasionally be eaten. Their peaceful nature makes them an excellent addition to almost any tranquil community setup.
- Nível do tanque
- Bottom
- Like the vast majority of its relatives, Brochis gomezi is a dedicated bottom-dwelling fish that spends most of its time resting or foraging on the substrate. They use their sensitive barbels to constantly sift through sand or fine gravel in search of edible morsels. Providing a soft, sandy substrate is crucial to prevent their delicate barbels from wearing down or becoming infected. While they do occasionally dart to the water surface to gulp air, they will immediately return to the lower levels of the tank. Ensure there is plenty of open swimming space along the bottom alongside shaded resting areas under plants or driftwood.
Modelos e parâmetros científicos
FishBase
Acesso aos dados científicos oficiais da espécie
FishBase v25.04Dados sincronizados em: 15/06/2026
- Nível trófico
- 3 ± 0,3 se
- Resiliência
- Alta (menos de 15 meses)
- Unicidade filogenética (PD50)
- 0.5
- Relação bayesiana comprimento-peso
- a = 0.00741, b = 3.14
- VulnerabilidadeVulnerabilidade baixa (10 / 100)
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