Burgess' cory

About

Found in the upper Negro River basin of South America, Corydoras burgessi is a small armored catfish belonging to one of the largest catfish genera currently known, with well over 150 valid species described and more still awaiting formal names. Like all corydoras, its body is covered in bony plates rather than scales, and the pectoral-fin spines deserve respect. They can pierce skin and are thought to carry mildly toxic secretions, so handle these fish carefully. What sets this species apart from its closely related look-alikes, including C. adolfoi and C. duplicareus, is a black body saddle confined to the area beneath the dorsal fin, which extends into that fin itself, paired with a distinctly yellowish patch on top of the head rather than the orange seen on similar species. That yellow wash is your best field mark when sorting through a mixed school. In the aquarium, watch for the periodic surface dash to gulp air. This is completely normal, as these fish possess a modified intestine adapted for extracting oxygen from the atmosphere, not just the water. Keep them in groups of at least six to bring out natural behavior and reduce shyness. A forgiving species in many respects, though their potential lifespan of several decades makes them a genuine long-term commitment.