Corydoras Foods and Feeding : 

Corys are omnivorous and are mostly bottom feeders, so offer a good quality sinking pellet or tablet as the staple diet, but supplement this regularly with live and frozen foods such as Daphnia, Artemia, bloodworm and similar. If flake foods are used, special care should be taken to prevent these from being eaten by faster moving tank mates at the higher levels of the aquarium tank.

Corydoras Water : 

As we said, most corys prefer soft, acidic water, meaning 6.0 to 7.6 pH, and a
temperature range between 24 to 28°C. They can, however, tolerate a wide range of water conditions, including temperatures that are cooler than tropical. However, they do not do well in fish tanks with high nitrate levels as nitrate leads to the infection of their barbels, which result in shortening and eventually loss, removing the fish’s sensory tool for finding food. So a good maintenance regime is essential with this species. As with all corys, don’t use undergravel filtration and ensure the substrate is kept scrupulously clean. Their barbels may also be affected by constant contact with a sharp substrate. They are more
likely to thrive if there is an open area of soft substrate, like river sand, on the bottom of the tank where they can go to obtain submerged food. Aquatic plants are not a feature of this species’ natural waters, but they do well in wellplanted
tanks.

Corydoras Suitability : 

These fish are easy to keep – they are peaceful, small, hardy, active, and very
entertaining. But do not place them in with large aggressive tank mates. Their longevity in
the aquarium is noteworthy; C. aeneus is said to have lived 27 years in captivity and a lifespan of 20 years is not uncommon. Occasionally corys will dart to the surface, and stick their snouts above the water for an instant to take a “breath” of air. This behavior is perfectly normal and is not an indication that anything is wrong with the fish. All corys are facultative air breathers, meaning they have the ability to breathe atmospheric air to acertain extent, if necessary. They possess a modified, highly vascularised intestine to aid in
the uptake of atmospheric oxygen. This adaptation allows them to survive if their habitat
becomes oxygendeprived for any reason. However, if surface breathing happens in excess, it can indicate poor water conditions.

Lastly, remember that Corys are part of the “armoured” catfish group, and instead of
scales possess two rows of bony plates running along the flanks. They also have very sharp pectoral fin spines, which are easily caught in the mesh of aquarium nets and can also produce a painful “sting” if they penetrate the skin. Care should therefore be exercised when handling or moving corys for any reason.