ExploreFish

Corydoras Catfish

Corydoras condiscipulus

Corydoras Catfish are small and have a cute, whiskered face! They like to scurry around the bottom of the tank looking for food.

Appearance

The Corydoras Catfish is a small, stout fish with a distinctive armored body covered in overlapping bony plates. It often has mottled brown, grey, or greenish patterns, sometimes with metallic spots or stripes. Its small downward-pointing mouth is surrounded by sensitive barbels, making it visually distinct from most other small freshwater fish.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassActinopterygiiOrderSiluriformesFamilyCallichthyidaeGenusCorydoras

Corydoras Catfish

Interesting facts

Corydoras are super social, always happier when swimming in big groups of their friends!

If caught by a predator, Corydoras can lock their fins stiff to escape!

Some species can quickly change their skin color to blend in with their surroundings!

Their scientific name means 'helmeted dorado,' like a tiny armored golden fish!

Special abilities

Corydoras Catfish has strong bony plates that cover its body, helping them stay safe from predators in the river.

Corydoras Catfish can use its whisker-like barbels to sniff out tiny food hidden deep in the mud and sand.

Corydoras Catfish can gulp air from the water's surface using its intestines, helping them breathe when water oxygen is low.

Measurements & details

Length: 2-8 cm
Weight: 0.001-0.015 kg
Lifespan: 3-8 years
Swim Speed: 5 km/h
Max Depth: 5 m
Water Type: Freshwater

Diet & Feeding

These tiny fish are bottom-dwelling omnivores, eating all sorts of small foods found on the riverbed.

Primary Foods

small worms
insect larvae
small crustaceans
algae
plant detritus

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Peacock Bass

Cichla ocellaris

Larger predatory fish, like bass, hunt small Corydoras.

eaten by

Great Egret

Ardea alba

Wading birds often feast on small fish from shallow waters.

eats

Sludge worm

Tubifex tubifex

Corydoras love to forage for tiny worms in the riverbed.

eats

Water flea

Daphnia pulex

Tiny crustaceans like water fleas are a snack for these catfish.

Traits

Whiskered

Look for animals with cool whiskers, which help them feel their way around and understand their world!

Spotted

Discover animals and plants adorned with beautiful dots and splotches, making them unique and easy to spot!

Social

Discover creatures that love to live and work together! These animals form groups, helping each other find food, stay safe, and raise their young.

Omnivorous

Meet versatile eaters who enjoy a wide variety of foods, from plants to other animals, allowing them to adapt to many different environments. They're nature's flexible diners!

Filter Feeder

Discover amazing animals that filter their food right from the water! They have special ways to strain tiny bits of plants or other creatures to eat.

Longevous

Marvel at organisms that have an incredible capacity to live for a very, very long time, sometimes spanning centuries or even millennia. They are the elders of the natural world!

Freshwater

Discover animals and plants that live in non-salty water, like rivers, lakes, and ponds! These watery homes are vibrant with life.

Keystone Species

Discover the hidden heroes of nature! These special species play an incredibly important role in their habitat, holding the entire ecosystem together like a crucial piece of a puzzle.