Flag Tailed Panda Cory

About

The Flag Tailed Panda Cory (Corydoras oiapoquensis) is a small, armored catfish native to the Oyapock River basin on the border of Brazil and French Guiana. And as far as anyone can tell, it simply doesn't exist anywhere else in the wild. Even within that system, it's only been recorded upstream of the first set of rapids, which tells you something about how specific its natural habitat is. In the wild it shares its home with the nearly identical Corydoras condiscipulus, and the two species are so similar that the longer snout of condiscipulus is reportedly the most reliable way to tell them apart. They're even known to school together in nature, which is fitting given that condiscipulus literally translates to 'schoolmate.' Like other cories, this species is a facultative air-breather, occasionally surfacing to gulp air. Completely normal behavior, nothing to worry about. It's a gentle community fish that does best in a group of at least six, where individuals will be noticeably more confident and active. Keep it with other small, peaceful species and avoid anything large or boisterous. What makes this little fish genuinely remarkable is its potential lifespan. Well-kept individuals can live well into their teens or even longer, so this is a long-term commitment for the attentive keeper.