Jumbo Cory

About

The Jumbo Cat (Corydoras multiradiatus) is one of the bigger members of the cory world, and it carries an interesting taxonomic history to go along with its size. It was long classified under the genus Brochis and you'll still see it sold under that name in some shops, sometimes labeled as 'long-finned brochis'. What sets it apart from close relatives is a noticeably extended snout and an unusually high dorsal-fin ray count of 17 to 18, compared to the 6 to 8 rays typical of most other corydoras. It hails from the western Amazon basin in South America, where it lives alongside other armored catfishes in the family Callichthyidae. Fish covered in bony plates rather than ordinary scales. Like its relatives, this species can breathe atmospheric oxygen by gulping air at the surface, a handy adaptation for low-oxygen conditions in the wild. You'll see it do this in the aquarium too, which is perfectly normal behavior. Worth knowing: the pectoral-fin spines are sharp enough to break skin and may carry mild toxic secretions, so use a net or wet hands when moving them. Keep a group of at least six, as these are social fish that do much better with company. A solid, forgiving choice for beginners who want something a little out of the ordinary.