False Corydoras Blochi

About

The false corydoras blochi (Corydoras delphax) is a small armored catfish native to the blackwater drainages of the Inírida River and upper Orinoco basin in Colombia. Like all members of the family Callichthyidae, it is covered in bony plates rather than scales. Hence the 'armored' or 'mailed' catfish nickname the group carries. Identification can be tricky, since this species is regularly confused with several close relatives in the trade and is sometimes sold under the name C. punctatus. Key features include a relatively elongated snout, body spots that tend to fade in adults, a dark patch at the front of the dorsal fin that reaches its upper edge, and spots visible in the caudal fin. One of the more interesting things about this fish is that it is a facultative air breather, using a highly vascularized section of intestine to extract oxygen from air gulped at the surface. You will see this behavior in the aquarium and it is completely normal. Worth mentioning: the stiffened pectoral spines can pierce skin, and the associated gland secretions may be mildly venomous, so handle with care during net transfers. Keep a group of at least four to six, as these fish are genuinely social and behave more confidently in numbers. With a potential lifespan stretching well past a decade, this is a long-term commitment.