Bandit Cory

About

The bandit cory (Corydoras metae) is a small armored catfish from the Meta River basin in Colombia, and its common name tells you everything you need to know about its most recognizable feature: a bold dark band sweeps across the face like a mask, while a second oblique bar runs diagonally across the rear of the body and stops cleanly at the base of the tail fin without splitting or extending onto it. That clean termination point is actually the key to telling it apart from several lookalike species in the genus. Like all members of the family Callichthyidae, the body is covered in bony plates rather than scales, giving it that classic armored look. One trait that surprises new keepers is the occasional surface dash to gulp air. This is completely normal. Corydoras possess a modified intestine capable of extracting oxygen from the atmosphere, an adaptation for low-oxygen environments in the wild. Worth noting: the pectoral spines can pierce skin and are thought to carry mild venom, so handle with care during net transfers. Keep a group of at least four to six, since these are genuinely social fish that become more active and confident in numbers. They're peaceful tankmates for almost anything that won't fit them in its mouth, and with proper care they can live surprisingly long lives.