PlanetCatfish.com - Gastrodermus pygmaeus (Callichthyidae) Cat-eLog

Shoal
Head-on view
Dorsal view
Lateral view
Egg
Egg
Fry
Juvenile
Albino

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Gastrodermus pygmaeus** (Knaack, 1966)
Common Names	Pygmy Cory Panzerwels/Corydoras - Catfish (Germany), Pygmæpansermalle (Denmark)
Type Locality	Near Calama, 8°05'S, 62°52'W, along Rio Madeira near mouth of Rio Jipiraná (= River Machado), Rondônia State, Brazil.
Synonym(s)	Corydoras pygmaeus
Pronunciation	gas trow derr muss - pig MAY uss
Etymology	This specific epithet literally means dwarf (pygmaeus=dwarf).
Articles	- Shane's World Reproduction Breeding Corydoras pygmaeus
Species Information
Size	21mm or 0.8" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Dark band runs from tip of snout onto the caudal fin of this small species.
Sexing	Females fuller, when viewed from above and larger.
General Remarks	Hardy if diminutive. Acclimatization in soft water helps but generally this is an easy species to keep.
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: Madeira River basin. Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Madeira (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Not Evaluated
pH	6.4 - 7.4
Temperature	22.0-26.0°C or 71.6-78.8°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	Prefers slightly soft water.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Sinking wafers, flakes, brine shrimp and live black worms if available. User data.
Furniture	Substrate of fine sand or gravel. Open areas of substrate surrounded by plants, rocks and/or bogwood.
Compatibility	A peaceful fish exhibiting typical Corydoras behavior. A mid-water swimming Cory.
Suggested Tankmates	Non-aggressive fish such as small South American Characins.
Breeding	Spawns in pairs or groups, having more than one trio (2 females and one male) increases chances of spawning. Eggs deposited around the tank, on glass and plants. Perhaps prefers plants. Eggs are 1mm in size, female carries only one egg at a time in ventral pouch. One female can lay up to 100 eggs per spawning cycle. C. pygmaeus rarely eat their eggs. Fry will feed on micro organisms in the tank and on an open sponge filter if present. If hatched out of spawning tank microworms, vinegar eels, rotifers and small daphnia such as Cerio daphnia will be accepted.
Breeding Reports	There are 23 breeding reports, read them all here.
Further Information
Reference	Die Aquarien- und Terrarienzeitschrift (DATZ) v. 19 (no. 6), pp 168, 2 figs.
Registered Keepers	There are 368 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There are 11 wishes to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 126 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
Forum BBCode

	Search for G. pygmaeus
	Look up G. pygmaeus on AquaticRepublic.com
	Look up G. pygmaeus on Fishbase
	Look up G. pygmaeus on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up G. pygmaeus on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.1.1581.283
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:36 (species record created: 2001 Apr 30 00:00)