Elegans Cory Cat

General information

These fish are yellowish, they have a darker tone in the upperside of their body, a dark stripe from the head to the caudal peduncle and dark spots alongside the flanks. Corydoras elegans is a facultative air breather that possesses a modified, highly vascularized  intestine which allows it to breathe atmospheric air. It often goes to the surface for a gulp of air. To keep this species in captivity, water pH should be between 6.0 and 7.4 and water temperature should be between 71.6ºF and 77ºF. The tank should  have a sandy substrate, open areas for swimming, floating vegetation to provide some cover and hiding places. This species is peaceful and can be kept in a community aquarium, good tankmates are other Corydoras, dwarf Cichlids and tetras. Corydoras elegans should be kept in groups of at least 6.

This species is omnivorous. It can be fed with sinking dried pellets and with live and frozen food.

Mature females are larger and rounder than males while males have more intense coloration and more dark markings on their bodies.

To breed these fish in captivity, there should be 2 males per female in the tank. When the female is full of eggs, the water should be changed for cooler water and with higher oxygenation. This water change should be repeated daily until the fish spawn. Eggs can be deposited in the glass or in the vegetation. Once they spawn, the adults should be removed to another tank to avoid having them eat the eggs. Fry usually take 3 to 4 days to hatch, at first they will feed on the yolk sac and once they finish it they can be fed with small live foods.

This species can be found in the Amazon basin in Brazil.

Corydoras elegans has hardened pectoral spines that can pierce human skin, also, these spines become easily entangled in the mesh of a net so a plastic container should be used to move them.