Virginia's Cory

About

Found in the Ucayali River basin of Peru, Corydoras virginiae. Sometimes called Virginia's catfish or traded under the names C. sp. 'Sangama' or 'Zangama'. Is a small, armored catfish that went unrecognized as its own species for years, having been misidentified as both Corydoras bicolor and C. delphax before being formally described. Like all members of the family Callichthyidae, it wears rows of bony plates instead of scales, giving it that familiar tank-like look the group is known for. One of its more surprising traits is facultative air breathing. It has a specialized, highly vascularized section of intestine that can extract oxygen directly from the atmosphere, so you will periodically see it dart to the surface for a quick gulp of air. That behavior is completely normal, not a sign of poor water quality. It also has the endearing habit of tilting its eyes downward to examine the substrate, which gives the impression it is actually blinking. Handle with care, though. The stiffened pectoral spines can pierce skin and deliver a genuinely painful wound, possibly with mild venom from glands at their base. Keep this peaceful schooling species in groups of at least five or six, where it will be noticeably more active and confident. With good care it is remarkably long-lived for a fish this size.