Page 123 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

CATFISH/ARMORED CATFISH 121

Brochis multiradiatus Corydoras splendens
BONY CASING
Long-Finned Brochis Common Brochis
The body covering of the so-called armored
ORIGINS South America, occurring in the upper Napo ORIGINS South America, in the upper Amazon region; catfish, which form the Callichthyidae family,
River in Ecuador. recorded in parts of Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil. differs significantly from that of other fish.
1
SIZE 4 in (10 cm). SIZE 3 ⁄4 in (8 cm). They are covered not with scales but with two
DIET Prepared foods and small live foods. DIET Prepared foods and small live foods. rows of bony plates, sometimes described as
WATER Temperature 70–75°F (21–24°C); soft WATER Temperature 70–82°F (21–28°C); soft scutes, which meet in the midline on each
(50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.5). (50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.5). side of the body. The scutes form a more rigid
TEMPERAMENT Social and nonaggressive. TEMPERAMENT Social and nonaggressive. barrier than scales and thus provide better
protection against would-be predators.
Scientific name changes mean that not all catfish now However, this body casing may make it harder
included in the genus Corydoras have this description for the fish to breathe via their gill flaps, so
incorporated into their common name, as typified by armored catfish should always be kept in
the case of the Brochis catfish. Green iridescence is well-oxygenated surroundings.
particularly prominent in this Brochis species, covering
the head as well as much of the body. The underparts
have a pinkish suffusion, which is most evident in
males. For breeding purposes, it is recommended to
keep a small group of three males and two females.
The eggs are scattered among aquatic vegetation,
and the catfish must be removed before they eat them.
This species looks similar to the Greenhump
Catfish, but a longer head profile helps to set it Emerald-green sheen Sloping head
apart from its close relative. The Long-Finned
Brochis also lacks the bony plate that covers the
underside of the jaw in the Greenhump. A
standard diet of catfish pellets needs to be
supplemented with other foods, such as pieces of
shrimp. This is likely to encourage spawning.

Corydoras britskii
Greenhump Catfish To maintain good water quality, change
about 30 percent of the water every two
ORIGINS South America, in the Mato Grosso, Brazil, and weeks or so. The male and female are not
also in the Rio Paraguay, Paraguay. easy to tell apart, but the male may be
SIZE 5 in (13 cm). slightly smaller overall, with a more
DIET Prepared foods and small live foods. colorful appearance. Increasing
WATER Temperature 73–77°F (23–25°C); soft the amount of live food in the
(50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.5). diet should encourage
TEMPERAMENT Social and nonaggressive. the fish to spawn.
Greenhump Catfish are orange beneath and
iridescent green on top. The intensity of their
coloration depends on lighting conditions. The
long mouth ends in prominent barbels on
the jaws. Greenhump Catfish resemble
corydoras, although they can be
distinguished at a glance by their
more compressed body shape and
longer dorsal fin. They do not
grow to a particularly large size,
and they are generally suitable
for a community aquarium.
Young individuals often swim in the
mid-water zone, while adults spend more
time close to the floor of the tank, seeking food.
They dig in the substrate with their mouthparts,
so make sure that this is sandy. If kept on sharp
gravel, Greenhump Catfish are likely to develop
sore mouths, which can in turn become infected.

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