Armatus Cory

About

Armatus (Corydoras armatus) is one of over 150 recognized species in the Corydoras genus, a group that makes up one of the largest assemblages of catfish in the world. Native to the upper Amazon basin, with the type locality in the Río Huallaga in Peru, this small cory wears the characteristic bony plates of the Callichthyidae family rather than conventional scales. Hence the common reference to the group as armored or mailed catfishes. One handy identification note: armatus has a noticeably deeper body than the similar-looking C. loretoensis, and its dorsal-fin spine is longer and slightly curved rather than short and straight. Like all corydoras, armatus is a facultative air breather, meaning it can supplement gill respiration by gulping atmospheric oxygen at the surface using a modified, heavily vascularized section of intestine. In the aquarium this behavior is completely normal and actually fascinating to watch. Worth noting for handling: the hardened pectoral-fin spines can pierce skin and cause a genuinely painful sting, and secretions near the spine bases may carry mild venom. Keep armatus in groups of at least four to six. They're noticeably bolder and more active with company. A peaceful community fish, they spend most of their time nosing around the substrate, and patient observers will catch them tilting an eye downward to scan the bottom for food.