Corydoras narcissus • Callichthyidae • Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Corydoras narcissus** Nijssen & Isbrücker, 1980
Common Name(s)	Long nosed Arched Cory, Purus Cory
Type Locality	Creek into Rio Ipixuna, 7°31'S, 63°16'W, 30 km west of Humaitá, Rio Purus system, Amazonas, Brazil.
Pronunciation	Kory DOOR ass - nar SISS uss
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. Greek Mythology, After Narkissos, son of the Greek river god Kephissus. See catfish of the month article for a more detailed discussion.
Species Information
Size	75mm (3") 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. C. narcissus is the long snouted ''version'' of C. arcuatus and is readily identifiable by this characteristic. Two species exist that are commonly sold as C. narcissus. The real one is longer (the ratio of body height to length being significantly different), has a more pronounced concave head and a slightly darker basic colouration. The other, shorter fish is currently undescribed but can sometimes be labelled under the common name of mega narcissus or narcissus II.
Sexing	Female larger and stouter especially when viewed from above. Male has more pointed fin tips.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Brazil: Amazonas state, Rio Humaita tributary of Rio Purus System Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Purus, Humaita (click on these areas to find other species found there) (Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)
pH	6.0 - 7.0
Temperature	23.0-25.0°C or 73.4-77°F (Show others within this range)
Husbandry Information
Feeding	All prepared foods and frozen foods especially bloodworm and brineshrimp. Adults gorge on chopped mussel.
Furniture	A little shading helps makes the fish feel at home. Sandy substrate brings out the best in these fish although because of the large size of the adult fish small pea gravel can also be employed.
Compatibility	Peaceful and not anti-social with other catfish excepting occasional quarrels with it's own species. Youngsters appear sociable to each other but become quarrelsome with age. Rival adult males may bully each other to death if kept in too small an aquarium.
Suggested Tankmates	South American dwarf Cichlids, larger Characins such as Silver Dollars (Metynnis spp.) are ideal although medium sized Central American Cichlids and Asian anabatids are good alternatives if your are not a biotope purists.
Breeding	Unknown
Further Information
References	Neth. J. Zool.v. 30 (no. 3) - pp497 - Fig. 2
Registered Keepers	(1) Keithj (k: 4), who also notes: "Kept in a 90cmWx60cmHx45cmL community tank at 24C. Low nitrates - heavily planted - and neutral pH. Enjoy all types of food. Spawned 23 Nov 2007. 24C and pH 7, with rising air pressure. Only two fish took part, the others showing no interest. Eggs deposited in ones or twos in areas of strong current, mostly on the edges of giant vallis leaves but a few put on the glass.", (2) hka148, (3) Zebadee, (4) Yann (k: 4), (5) Nx7, (6) percyplec, (7) corybreed, (8) Mark Panaque (k: 10). Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.
Breeding Reports	None.
Articles	- CotM 1999 December
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Last Update	2006 Nov 28 06:44 (species record created: 2001 Apr 30 00:00)

Cat-eLog Data Sheet

Scientific Name

Corydoras narcissus Nijssen & Isbrücker, 1980

Common Name(s)

Long nosed Arched Cory, Purus Cory

Type Locality

Creek into Rio Ipixuna, 7°31'S, 63°16'W, 30 km west of Humaitá, Rio Purus system, Amazonas, Brazil.

Pronunciation

Kory DOOR ass - nar SISS uss

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. Greek Mythology, After Narkissos, son of the Greek river god Kephissus. See catfish of the month article for a more detailed discussion.

Species Information

Size

75mm (3") 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.

C. narcissus is the long snouted ''version'' of C. arcuatus and is readily identifiable by this characteristic. Two species exist that are commonly sold as C. narcissus. The real one is longer (the ratio of body height to length being significantly different), has a more pronounced concave head and a slightly darker basic colouration. The other, shorter fish is currently undescribed but can sometimes be labelled under the common name of mega narcissus or narcissus II.

Sexing

Female larger and stouter especially when viewed from above. Male has more pointed fin tips.

Habitat Information

Distribution

Brazil: Amazonas state, Rio Humaita tributary of Rio Purus System
Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Purus, Humaita (click on these areas to find other species found there)

(Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)

6.0 - 7.0

Temperature

23.0-25.0°C or 73.4-77°F (Show others within this range)

Husbandry Information

Feeding

All prepared foods and frozen foods especially bloodworm and brineshrimp. Adults gorge on chopped mussel.

Furniture

A little shading helps makes the fish feel at home. Sandy substrate brings out the best in these fish although because of the large size of the adult fish small pea gravel can also be employed.

Compatibility

Peaceful and not anti-social with other catfish excepting occasional quarrels with it's own species. Youngsters appear sociable to each other but become quarrelsome with age. Rival adult males may bully each other to death if kept in too small an aquarium.

Suggested Tankmates

South American dwarf Cichlids, larger Characins such as Silver Dollars (Metynnis spp.) are ideal although medium sized Central American Cichlids and Asian anabatids are good alternatives if your are not a biotope purists.

Breeding

Unknown

Further Information

References

Neth. J. Zool.v. 30 (no. 3) - pp497 - Fig. 2

Registered Keepers

(1) Keithj (k: 4), who also notes: "Kept in a 90cmWx60cmHx45cmL community tank at 24C. Low nitrates - heavily planted - and neutral pH. Enjoy all types of food. Spawned 23 Nov 2007. 24C and pH 7, with rising air pressure. Only two fish took part, the others showing no interest. Eggs deposited in ones or twos in areas of strong current, mostly on the edges of giant vallis leaves but a few put on the glass.", (2) hka148, (3) Zebadee, (4) Yann (k: 4), (5) Nx7, (6) percyplec, (7) corybreed, (8) Mark Panaque (k: 10).

Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.

Breeding Reports

None.

Articles