Spotted Cory

About

The Spotted Cory (Corydoras brevirostris) is a small, bottom-dwelling catfish native to the Orinoco River basin and coastal drainages of Suriname, where it navigates the kind of slow, oxygen-poor waters that would challenge most fish. Like other members of the armored catfish family Callichthyidae, its body is protected by rows of bony plates rather than scales, and the stiffened spines at the base of its pectoral fins deserve respect. They can pierce skin and are thought to carry mildly toxic secretions, so handle with care. One of the more charming quirks you'll notice is the occasional dash to the surface for a gulp of air. This isn't distress. These fish have evolved a modified, highly vascularized intestine that can extract oxygen from the atmosphere, a genuine survival adaptation. Identification can be tricky, since this species is frequently confused with close relatives like C. melanistius and C. delphax. The combination of a short, rounded snout and dark bars in the tail fin is the most reliable way to tell brevirostris apart from its lookalikes. Keep them in groups of at least four to six. They're gregarious fish that become visibly more active and confident with company. With proper care, these little catfish are remarkably long-lived, which is worth factoring in before you commit to a group.