Reynoldsi Cory

About

Found in shallow, slow-moving sandy stretches of the upper Caquetá River basin in Colombia, this obscure little catfish, Corydoras reynoldsi, is one of the smaller members of its genus, topping out at barely over an inch. What it lacks in size it more than makes up for in personality and longevity. Well-kept individuals can live for decades, which is worth keeping in mind before you buy. Like other corydoras, it is a facultative air-breather, meaning it will periodically dart to the surface to gulp air, which it absorbs through the stomach lining. This is completely normal behavior, but you do want to leave a couple of inches of clearance between the waterline and your hood so the fish can surface without bumping into the glass. One particularly charming trait is the ability to tilt its eyes downward to inspect the substrate, which looks almost like a deliberate blink and tends to catch new observers off guard. This species is genuinely social and does best kept in groups. The larger the group, the more relaxed and visible the fish will be. Sandy or fine-substrate bottoms are ideal, mimicking the shallow, gently flowing habitat it comes from in the wild. An intermediate care rating is fair, mostly because of its preference for stable, clean water.