Rescued Corydoras... But What Are They?

[nmonks]

Hope someone can help...

These dwarf catfish really aren't my thing, but a local garden centre had two exiled from a former display aquarium into their goldfish selection. Knowing that Corydoras are at least peaceful and easy to keep, I decided to rescue them. They seem to be doing fine with my halfbeaks.

There's a picture below. Anyone know what these fish are?

Many thanks!

Neale

 

[Mad Duff]

They look like Corydoras Elegans. Young specimens have a spot in the dorsal but that disapears later and gives way to a series of bands in adult fish.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi nmonks

I would say they are C. elegans too. They are lovely little corys and I have had a hard time finding them.

Corys cannot be kept in a brackish water tank though. They are strictly freshwater fish and any long term exposure to salt in the water will injure them. If your halfbeaks need salt, it would be a good idea to find another place to keep them.

 

[nmonks]

Hello Inchworm & Mad Duff,

Thanks for the ID. They're fun little catfish. I actually put in four peppered corys in with them to, to build up some sort of school. They seem to be happy together, even if it isn't exactly ideal. Can't complain about the price, either. Since they weren't listed for sale in the store, the guy gave them to me for the price of the goldfish! 1.25 each!!

Rest at ease... they're not in brackish water. Quite the reverse: the aquarium is neutral, moderately hard water filtered through peat. I use about 50:50 rainwater and the local, very hard, tap water. None of the commonly traded halfbeaks need salt... that's a myth. There are brackish (and marine) halfbeaks of course, but they're very rarely traded.

Oh, and they love the sand! I'd never seen a cory stick it's head right down into the sand, and then forage away with sand being sprayed out of it's gills. Very cute.

Cheers,

Neale