Cat-eLog Right Callichthyidae Right Corydoradinae Right Corydoras  |  | 

Down Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name Corydoras acutus  Cope, 1872
Common Names Black Top Cory
Blækpansermalle (Denmark), Panzerwels/Corydoras - Catfish (Germany)
Type Locality Río Ambiyacu, Shansho Caño, Loreto, Peru.
Pronunciation kor ee doh rass (lineage one). - ah KEW tuss
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. This specific epithet refers to its pointed (acutus = pointed or sharp) snout.
Down Species Information
Size 65mm or 2.6" 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.
Sexing Females grow larger and are more full-bodied, this is best observed from above the fish. Males will typically have more pointed as opposed to more rounded fin tips as they mature.
Down Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Amazon River basin in northern Peru and Ecuador.
Amazon, Upper Amazon, Ampiyacu (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2020.
pH 6.0 - 8.0
Temperature 25.0-28.0°C or 77-82.4°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters dH 2-25.
Down Husbandry Information
Feeding Will accept a wide range of commercial foods including tablets, granules and flakes. Live (or frozen) foods such as bloodworm, white worm, grindal worm, Daphnia and tubifex are readily accepted. User data.
Furniture Shade provided by overhanging rock work, arching bogwood, tall or floating plants are all that is required. Ideally substrate should be sand, but rounded gravel is an imperfect alternative. Avoid keeping over rough edged (chipped) gravel, this will increase this risk of damage the fishes barbels when it tries to dig.
Compatibility A peaceful, shoaling, community fish.
Suggested Tankmates Keep in a shoal of at least 6 individuals.
Breeding Unreported.
Breeding Reports There is but a single breeding report, read it here.
Down Further Information
Reference Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia v. 23, pp 281.
Registered Keepers There are 12 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
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There are 8 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2022 Oct 16 06:09 (species record created: 2001 Apr 19 00:00)