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Albino Cory |
Bronze Cory |
Pepper Cory |
Albino Cory / Bronze Cory
One of the easiest fish to keep is the funny, playful Bronze, Peppered or Albino Cory. The word "Cory" is shortened for "Corydoras" meaning "little armoured fish." A corydoras could be likened to a sherman tank - it features a protective scale structure that helps them in the wild with predators. These fish also feature "catfish whiskas" that when eaten can lodge in the throat of a predator.
Originating in South America, where they are widely distributed through streams and rivers, these fish are an undemanding bottom dweller that will help to keep the substrate clean of left over food in your home aquarium. They are a scavenger, but they will not eat decomposing food and it is never a good idea to rely on them eating any decomposed food.
Extremely robust in the home aquarium, Bronze, Peppered or Albino Cory's flourish in water PH between 6.0 to 8.0 making them suitable to be housed with a wide variety of tropical fish. In the wild these fish prefer cooler water but can sometimes end up in a shallow pool of water. These shallow pools can become quite warm so an Albino or Bronze Cory have developed a labirynth organ and are able to survive in these pools by coming to the surface and breathing - much the same as a Gourami.
Cory's grow to only a small size and have been known to live for up to 5 years. The Albino Cory is a recessive gened form of the Bronze Cory.
A good point about these fish is compared with other catfish (who often hide and roam in the dark) is that Cory's are very active when the light is on in the aquarium.
These fish love to "play" in the bubbles excreted from the filter or air stone. It is quite comical to watch them play within a group swimming up into the bubbles - only to be pushed away by the force. It is like a playground within the aquarium for them.
Corys are a bottom dwelling fish
that will either be busy foraging or sitting still taking a break. It is suggested that a sinking pellet be offered to them if food does not reach the bottom of the tank.
Sexing them isn't too hard. Females have a wider girth when looking directly overhead than a male, and the females will grow to a longer size. Unlike many other Cory's, the Bronze, Peppered or Albino are quite easy to breed. They can breed several times a year. It has been suggested to add a tray of ice cubes to the water (that simulates rainfall) and the Cory's go to work. Another method to stimulate rainfall and encourage these fish to spawn is to kick the temperature up to 28ºC for a few days, then drop the temperature to 26ºC and complete a 25% water change.
Albino Cory
