Corydoras elegans • Callichthyidae • Cat-eLog • PlanetCatfish

Male
Female
Dorsal view of pair - female below

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Corydoras elegans** Steindachner, 1876
Common Name(s)	Elegant Cory
Type Locality	Amazon R. at Tefé, Amazonas, Brazil.
Synonym(s)	Corydoras pestai
Pronunciation	Kory DOOR ass - ELL ee ganz
Etymology	Cory = helmet, doras = skin. In this case it was incorrectly used to mean armour (cuirasse) instead of skin in allusion to the dual rows of plates that run along the flanks of this genus. From the Latin, elegans meaning tasteful, fine.
Species Information
Size	55mm (2.2") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Corydoras are identified by their twin rows of armour plates along the flanks and by having fewer than 10 dorsal fin rays. They are most commonly confused with the other genera in the sub-family, namely Brochis, Scleromystax and Aspidoras. A very variable species not made easier to identify by the difference in colouration of mature males and females. Similar to C. napoensis, C. nanus and C. sp. CW044 (often called C. pestai), C. undulatus and a few variations thereof.
Sexing	As depicted above, the male is smaller, less high bodied, slender and more strikingly patterned.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Brazil: Rio Amazonas near Tefé, Rio Solimoes Ecuador: Rio Aguarico system, Rio Napo drainage system Peru: Rio Ucayali, Rio Ampiyacu, Rio Nanay drainage, Rio yavari, Rio Tamaya Colombia: Rio Caquetta, Rio Amazonas, Rio Solimoes Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes) (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) Amazon, Upper Amazon, Napo, Aguarico (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) Amazon, Upper Amazon, Napo (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) Amazon, Upper Amazon, Marañón , Ucayali (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) Amazon, Upper Amazon, Ampiyacu (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) Amazon, Upper Amazon, Nanay (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) Amazon, Upper Amazon, Marañón , Ucayali , Upper Ucayali , Tamaya (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) Amazon, Upper Amazon, Yavari (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes) , Japurá, Caquetá (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)
pH	6.0 - 7.4
Temperature	22.0-25.0°C or 71.6-77°F (Show others within this range)
Other Parameters	Water composition not vital but slightly softer water within the above ranges will bring out the best colouration in the males.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Flake, tablets. Live food such as whiteworm, bloodworm, brineshrimp and tubifex (sparingly). Frozen bloodworm is more easily supplied and seems to bring on growth in sub-adults very satisfactorily.
Furniture	This fish quite likes mid-water and so provide shady open space surrounded by low plants to provide cover and a few refuges at the outskirts of the main swimming area.
Compatibility	As for all Corys, a perfect citizen.
Suggested Tankmates	Other similar Corydoras, dwarf cichlids and tetras. A robust species that will adapt to larger peaceful tankmates. Keep in a shoal of at least 6.
Breeding	Interesting in that this fish is not reported to follow the usual Corydoras method of reproduction. Eggs are laid by the female and placed by the female in the usual manner, but the preceding T-position clinch does not occur. Fertilisation appears to occur after the eggs are placed on plants or the aquarium glass. Fry emerge after 3 days and are free swimming in another two. The fry are quite small and should be offered small foods such as microworm or powdered pre-soaked flake food. It is also reported that males become very aggressive in the lead up to spawning and no more than three are suggested.
Further Information
References	Sitzungsber. Akad. Wiss. Wienv. 74 (1. Abth.) - pp141 [93]
Registered Keepers	(1) Jools (k: 12), who also notes: "This group of fish were collected in the Peruvian amazon by me in 2000.", (2) synoguy, (3) natefrog, (4) Dick F., (5) Chrysichthys (k: 2), (6) hellocatfish, (7) amergim, (8) Coryologist, (9) geoffkemp, who also notes: "Bought this, thinking it was corydoras paleatus", (10) fmagnier, (11) Yan, (12) jdsworld8 (k: 3), (13) loafingloach, (14) Andersonic (k: 3), (15) Birger Amundsen, (16) Coryman (p: 2), (17) fulvioander (k: 3), (18) T4FR (k: 2), who also notes: "I bought one lonely strange looking cory, which was pretending to be a Zebra Danio. I turned out to be a Corydoras elegans Variante V from peru. Sadly I was unable to give it a place in a school of other elegans, so it ended up with one other elegans", (19) foffo (k: 10), (20) corydoras, (21) juliemeikle (k: 3), (22) Bigpig (k: 6), (23) sarae, (24) Julie, (25) mante-religieuse, who also notes: "very small and active!", (26) Brie, (27) jopbgon (k: 5), (28) apisto-nut (k: 14), (29) Kampfer, (30) Kets (k: 3), (31) gem400, (32) AlaskanCorydoras (k: 5), who also notes: "My LFS had elegans in 4 different tanks, at 3 different prices. The tank I bought out of had the least expensive, and most stressed individuals. I bought them intentionally, as my 55 is set right in the ideal zone for the fish. ", (33) emperorted, (34) jha61, (35) Minus, (36) Nick44 (k: 3), (37) saphphx (k: 2), (38) tbm, (39) MichaelC95, (40) irshprncsk, (41) ginagv (k: 8), who also notes: "Just got a group of 6 from Frank Falcone.", (42) corybreed, (43) jp11biod, (44) dave.h, (45) gem997, (46) Mark Roesner, (47) ars (k: 13), (48) CATMANdrew (k: 4), (49) donpetty (k: 7), who also notes: "Have had these Corys for about 1 month and really like the Elegans family. they are great looking catfish.", (50) Decker504, (51) mace, (52) tjudy, (53) CodOnMyRod, (54) GregK. Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species. Add this species to your "my cats" page.
Breeding Reports	(1) ars (b: 34).
More Resources	- CotM 2000 August - Search Planet Catfish for more on Corydoras elegans - BBcode (for use in linking to this page from forum posts) - Look up Corydoras elegans on AquaticRepublic.com - Look up Corydoras elegans on Fishbase, I.T.I.S. or ispecies search. - URL (for use in linking to the species from anywhere on the web)
Hits	21848 hits.
Last Update	2010 Jun 25 02:02 (species record created: 2001 Apr 30 00:00)

Jump to:

Who is online

Registered users: Bing [Bot], gold ocean aqua, Google [Bot], jeff.l, joe323, Majestic-12 [Bot]

Board index

Has this page been useful?
Please donate to our monthly hosting costs and keep us free for everyone to enjoy!

Explore our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter.
The team • Delete all board cookies • All times are UTC [ DST ]

Length Convertor (Hide)
Value	From	To	Result

Temperature Convertor (Hide)
Value	From	To	Result

Volume Convertor (Hide)
Value	From	To	Result