Carla's cory

About

A small armored catfish from the Lower Iguazu River basin in South America, Corydoras carlae belongs to one of the largest catfish groups in the world, a genus currently containing well over 150 described species with more almost certainly awaiting formal description. This one is genuinely uncommon in the hobby. It was first brought to hobbyists' attention by collector Hans-Georg Evers around 2010 and has never made it into mainstream commercial trade. It closely resembles several relatives, including C. erhardti and C. paleatus, but the key identifier is a pair of large, somewhat diffuse dark blotches along the midline of each flank. C. erhardti has similar markings, though they tend to be sharper and better defined. Like all callichthyids, it carries bony plates instead of scales, giving it that characteristic armored look. Worth noting: the pectoral fin spines are stiff enough to puncture skin and are potentially associated with mild venom from glands at the spine base, so handle with care when netting or transferring fish. In the aquarium, Corydoras carlae is relaxed and entirely peaceful, best kept in a group of at least four to six individuals. You will occasionally catch it surfacing to gulp air. A genuine physiological adaptation that lets it cope with low-oxygen conditions in the wild, not a sign that anything is wrong.