Albater Cory

About

Found in the upper Tocantins River basin of Brazil, Aspidoras albater is a small armored catfish that sits within a genus closely related to Corydoras but distinct enough to earn its own group. Adults rarely exceed an inch and a half, making this one of the more compact catfish you'll come across, yet what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in longevity. Well-kept individuals can live for decades, which is worth keeping in mind before you commit. One of the more interesting things about this species is its ability to breathe air facultatively, meaning it can gulp atmospheric oxygen when dissolved oxygen levels drop, a handy adaptation for life in streams that can fluctuate seasonally. Unlike many of its nocturnal relatives, this little catfish tends to be active during the day, which makes it more visible and engaging in a display tank. It's a social animal by nature, so keeping a group rather than just a pair or trio will bring out more natural behavior. Care is considered intermediate, mostly because matching the soft, slightly acidic water of its native habitat takes some attention. A well-filtered, planted setup with gentle flow suits it well.