Edit Corydoras narcissus

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Name

Scientific name

Corydoras narcissus

Described by

Not recorded

Family

Callichthyidae

Common names

Long-nosed Skunk Cory

Photograph credits

All 5 credited

Summary

The long-nosed skunk cory, Corydoras narcissus, is an armoured catfish that appears to be endemic to the Rio Purus in Brazil. It lives alon…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

75mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 120 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm, Minimum height 30 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 23–25°C, pH 6–7

Hardness

1–12dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Not recorded

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Brazil

Writing

Etymology

Not written yet

Distribution

Appears to be endemic to the Rio Purus, Brazil.

Habitat

Small tributaries, creeks, areas of flooded forest and sand banks.

Aquarium size

As with some other long-nosed Corydoras, males of the species can be somewhat aggressive towards one another. As a result a tank of around 120 ∗ 30 ∗ 30 cm - ~…

Maintenance

In common with other similarly-shaped corys C. narcissus prefers a bit of water flow in the tank. If this can't be provided at least ensure the tank is well-ox…

Water conditions

Temperature: 23 – 25 °C pH: 6.0 to 7.0 Hardness: 1 to 12°H

Diet

Omnivorous and easy to feed. Use a good quality sinking pellet or tablet as the staple diet. Supplement this with live and frozen foods such as Daphnia, Artemi…

Behaviour and compatibility

Very peaceful and suitable for many community tanks. Don't keep it with anything very large or aggressive. Good tankmates include small characins, cyprinids, a…

Sexual dimorphism

Like most corys, it's easily sexed when viewed from above. Females are noticeably rounder and broader-bodied than males, especially when full of eggs. They're …

Reproduction

Can probably be bred in a similar fashion to many other Corydoras species. Set up the breeding tank (18" x 12" x 12" or similar is a good size), with either a …

Can probably be bred in a similar fashion to many other Corydoras species.

Set up the breeding tank (18" x 12" x 12" or similar is a good size), with either a bare bottom, sand or fine gravel substrate. Use air-powered sponge or box-type filtration as fry won't be sucked into these and provide some clumps of vegetation such as java moss. A temperature of around 24 °C75 °F and a pH of 6.5 should be fine. Filtering the water through peat is useful, as is the use of RO water.

It's always better to have a higher ratio of males to females when breeding corys and 2 males per female is recommended. Condition the group on a varied diet of live, frozen and dried foods. When the females are visibly full of eggs perform a large (50-70%) water change with cooler water, and increase oxygenation and flow in the tank. Repeat this daily until the fish spawn.

It's worth observing a couple of notes on general cory breeding at this point. Many species are seasonal spawners, breeding during the wet season in their native countries. This occurs at the same time of year as the UK winter, so if summer breeding attempts are failing, it may be worth waiting until winter before trying again. Additionally, it can take several years for certain species to become sexually mature, so be patient. Finally, different tactics may sometimes be required, such as timing of water changes, oxygenation levels etc. If you aren't having any luck, don't be afraid of trying different approaches.

If the fish decide to spawn, they will usually lay their eggs on the tank glass, often in an area where water flow is quite high. Spawning behaviour is characterised by an initial increase in activity and excitement, before males begin to actively pursue females. A receptive female will allow a male to caress her with his barbels, before the pair take up the classic "t-position", in which the male grasps the females barbels between his pectoral fin and body. He then releases some sperm and it's thought that this passes through the mouth and gills of the female, being directed towards her pelvic fins. These she uses to form a 'basket', into which she deposits a single egg (although up to 4 may be released). Once this is fertilised, she swims away to find a suitable place to deposit the egg, before the cycle is repeated. If you spawn the fish in a group situation, you will often see multiple males chasing a female as she goes to deposit an egg, in an effort to be the next chosen to fertilise them.

The adults will eat the eggs given the opportunity, so once spawning is complete you have a couple of choices. Either remove the adults and raise the brood in the same tank, or move the eggs and raise the fry elsewhere. If you decide to move the eggs, you'll find they're quite robust, and can usually be gently rolled up the glass with a finger. The new container should contain the same water as the spawning tank and be similarly well-oxygenated. Wherever you decide to hatch the eggs, it's always best to add a few drops of methylene blue to the water to prevent fungussing. Even then, some eggs will probably fungus, and these should be removed as soon as they're spotted in order to prevent the fungus spreading. Other options include adding an alder cone to the hatching container (these release various beneficial chemicals). Some hobbyists even use certain species of freshwater shrimp to pick any fungal spores from healthy eggs. Cherry shrimp, Neocardina heteropoda work well. These will eat diseased eggs, but leave healthy ones unharmed.

The eggs hatch in 3-5 days and once the fry have used up their yolk sacs, they'll accept microworm and brine shrimp nauplii as first foods. They seem to be less susceptible to disease when kept over a thin layer of sand, rather than in a bare-bottomed setup.

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Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the pageFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

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Year

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Notes

There are currently over 180 described species of Corydoras (commonly shortened to "cory"), making it one of the most speciose of all South American fish gener…

References

No references

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Common names

Photograph credits

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Aquarium size

Water

Water conditions

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Writing

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References