Mailed Cory

About

Found in the upper Negro River basin of Brazil, this small armored catfish, Corydoras amandajanea, belongs to one of the largest catfish genera on the planet, with over 150 described species and likely many more still awaiting formal identification. Like all members of the family Callichthyidae, it carries rows of bony plates rather than scales along its body. Hence the collective nickname 'armored' or 'mailed' catfish. One of the more unusual traits you'll notice in any Corydoras is the habit of darting to the surface to gulp atmospheric air. This isn't a sign of distress. These fish possess a modified, highly vascularized section of intestine that allows them to extract oxygen directly from air, a genuine adaptation to low-oxygen waters. The pectoral-fin spines are worth knowing about too: they're sharp enough to pierce skin, and the glands at their base may produce mild secretions, so use a soft mesh net rather than bare hands when moving these fish. C. amandajanea is genuinely scarce in the hobby, and individuals show some variation in the size and distribution of their dark body markings. Keep them in groups of at least four to six. They're more active and confident in numbers, and you'll get to observe their quirky habit of tilting an eye downward to inspect the substrate.