Seuss' cory

About

Found in the Mamoré River basin of South America, Corydoras seussi is a small armored catfish that closely resembles its relative C. gossei, though it can be told apart by its slightly less rounded snout. It is also catalogued in the hobby under the C-number designation C027. One of its more curious traits is facultative air-breathing: individuals will periodically dart to the surface to gulp air, which is completely normal behavior, not a distress signal. Just make sure there is adequate clearance between the waterline and the tank lid so they can do this without injury. Like most corydoras, seussi is thoroughly peaceful and fits well into a community tank with small characins, cyprinids, dwarf cichlids, and other non-aggressive species. Avoid housing them with anything large or boisterous enough to intimidate them. These fish are notably social and should be kept in groups of at least six. A lone individual will be shy and inactive, while a proper group brings out confident, curious behavior. They are also surprisingly long-lived for their size, with lifespans that can stretch well beyond a decade under good conditions. No captive breeding records exist for this particular species, but standard corydoras techniques are likely to apply. Care is intermediate overall, making this a solid choice for hobbyists who already have some experience with smaller catfish.