Bronze Corydoras (Corydoras aeneus) – juvenile

Colours and Markings

Small, active, and peaceful, the bronze cory is just a color variation of the same species known as the green cory. In addition to color variations of green, bronze, albino, and even black, this species is one of many fish that is sometimes injected with dye to enhance its color. Do not purchase any fish specimens that are suspected of being color-dyed as this causes long term health problems for the fish. It is also wise to avoid any that have damaged barbels, or those having a sunken belly, which indicates inadequate feeding and susceptibility to disease.

Like all corydoras, this species is armored with overlapping scales known as plates or scutes. Their fins possess a leading spine, which can be locked in place to make it difficult for larger fish to swallow them. This spine can also make netting them difficult, and care should be taken when doing so. In the home aquarium, corys are prized for being charmingly expressive.

Tankmates

Bronze corys are a schooling fish. Keep them in groups of at least five. Cory catfish tankmates may include most community tank species as long as they are non-aggressive and friendly in nature. Otocinclus catfish, tetras, swordtails, and other corys can be a good fit. Avoid putting corys in the same tank with oscars, Texas cichlids, or Jack Dempseys. These species can injure corys or may try to eat them.

Habitat and Care

Bronze corys tolerate a wide variety of water conditions. However, they prefer acid to neutral pH, soft to slightly hard water, and temperatures in the middle 70s. They are not tolerant of salt and should always be moved if the tank is going to be salted.

All corys like to dig in the substrate in search of food. To avoid irritation to their barbels, use small, smooth-edged gravel or sand as the substrate. They tend to be shy and should be provided with hiding places (preferably of wood or stone), as well as floating plants to subdue the lighting. They prefer low water levels similar to the shallow waters near the banks of the Amazon tributaries that are their native habitat.

Diet and Feeding

In the wild, corys mainly feed on small crustaceans, worms, and insects. Bronze corys are omnivorous and will accept everything from flake to frozen foods. To maintain them in good health, a variety of foods should be offered, including their favorite live foods: bloodworms, blackworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp.

Corys tend to ignore live foods that remain near the surface of the water. They are bottom feeders, which can prove to be a problem; other fish may consume most of the food before it reaches the bottom. Owners should use tongs to place foods lower and then closely observe at feeding time to ensure they are getting a sufficient amount of food.

Breeding

Spawning bronze corys is relatively easy. Purchasing a half dozen or more young specimens at the same time will ensure having at least one or two breeding pairs. Males and females are usually quite easy to differentiate, as males tend to be smaller and more slender than females, particularly when viewed from the top. Before breeding, they should be conditioned with high-quality flake foods, as well as fresh or frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp.

Water should be slightly acidic. Rainwater is often used to lower the pH in the breeding tank, however, care should be taken to ensure that the rainwater is not runoff water that may be contaminated with toxins. A large water change (up to 50 percent) with water that is several degrees cooler than the breeding tank, will often trigger spawning. If you are having difficulties inducing spawning, try simulating actual rain by slowly adding water to the tank using a sprinkler.

Normally shy, this catfish becomes very active during courtship. Males will pursue females throughout the aquarium at a breakneck pace, stopping to rub their body and barbels against the female whenever the opportunity arises. Once the female consents, it will search for suitable egg-laying sites and begin cleaning several suitable locations. As the courtship progresses, roles eventually reverse, and the female begins pursuing the male.

Spawning begins in earnest when the pair assumes the classic “T” position. This position triggers the release of sperm as well as one to 10 eggs, which the female will grasp with the pelvic fins.

Once fertilised, the female will deposit the eggs at the site it has previously cleaned. The eggs are sticky and will adhere firmly to the nesting site. Shortly after that, the pair will spawn again, depositing a few more eggs each time. This process continues until the female has released all of the eggs, which can number as many as 200 to 300. Spawning may continue over a period of several days.

Once spawning is complete, the adults should be removed, or the eggs should be moved to another tank where the fry can be reared. If moving the eggs, wait for twenty-four hours before moving them. Eggs are initially translucent but will darken as they develop.

In approximately four to five days the eggs will hatch, although that may vary based on the environment. After they hatch, the fry will live on the yolk sac for another three to four days. Initially, they may be fed infusoria or very fine powdered fry food. You can gradually feed freshly hatched brine shrimp and eventually adult foods. Frequent water changes (10 percent daily or every other day) are critical during this growing period.

These Bronze Corydoras are bred locally (Malta) by one of our partner breeders and are therefore used to the local water parameters. The size being sold are juvenile Bronze Corydoras.