Atropersonatum Cory

About

Found in the upper Amazon basin, this small armored catfish, Corydoras atropersonatus, is one of those species that rewards a patient keeper with decades of company. Individuals can live well beyond fifteen years under good conditions. Like all callichthyids, its body is encased in bony plates rather than scales, and it occasionally darts to the surface to gulp atmospheric oxygen using a specialized, highly vascularized section of intestine. This is perfectly normal behavior, not a sign of distress, though you do want enough clearance between the waterline and the lid to keep them from bumping into it. It is a genuinely peaceful, sociable fish that does best in groups of six or more. The larger the group, the more confidently they move around and explore. One identification note worth knowing: this species is sometimes mixed up with C. sychri and an undescribed form traded as C097, which is sold as C. sychri longnose. Atropersonatus tends to have a shorter snout and less defined spotting than C097, which is a useful thing to check at the store. Handle any cory with care. The stiffened pectoral-fin spines can puncture skin and the sting is genuinely unpleasant. A sandy substrate is worth providing, both for their natural foraging behavior and for the wellbeing of any fry if you attempt breeding.