Bronze Cory

About the Bronze Cory

Species Type: Freshwater Fish
Category: Catfish

Care Level: Moderate. May tolerate only a narrow range of water parameters, have specific dietary requirements including frozen or even live foods, may have behaviors that severely limit potential tankmates or may require a specialized aquarium setup.

Origin: Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad , Brazil

Compatibility/Temperament: Avoid keeping Cory's with fish that would regard them as food. Ideally Cory's are kept in groups of 6-8 and more if tank size permits it; when housed in small groups you will often find them being very skittish tank mates. They are very peaceful tank mates.

Description

This very species is nicknamed "helmet skin" amongst hobbyists and they really live up to it, being amongst the 'hardier' one's of the Cory family.

Just like any other Cory they will also swim up to the surface taking in air which is why its advisable when housing Cory's to top of your tank with a cover across the tank or a sheet plexi-glass on the tank so that the air above the water surface stay's at a warmer temperature for them.

The C. aeneus is amongst the oldest Cory housed in fish tanks and bred in captivity; resulting from that is a wide verity of coloration today ranging from albino's to gold shimmer one's or even a almost dark gray/ black coloration.
The species you find available in stores today are bred in captivity more likely then not therefore adapt to a wider verity of water parameters then the wild caught one. However even if captivity bred they still will do best in a pH ranging from 5-7.5 and a hardness less then 20°

Set up: Corydoras prefer sand or fine gravel without any sharp edges. As their barbels are sifting through the substrate continuously looking for food it is essential when housing Cory's that the Substrate is cleaned each week with a vacuum; it is suggested by many reputable authors that Cory's housed on substrate that is not regularly maintained it can cause barbels infections. They appreciate cover within the tank; may that be larger plants or caves or large pieces of driftwood to hide in/under during the day.

Bronze Cory Diet

Frozen Foods such as Brine shrimp, Bloodworms; Quality Flake or Pellet food; Algae wafers; Vegetables such as Lettuce, Peas, Cucumber. As any fish a verity of quality foods offered make for a healthier fish long term.

Size

2.5-3" (~7.5 CM)

Minimum Tank Suggestion

15g (60L)

Ideal water parameters for Bronze Cory

Temperature: 67° - 83° F (20°C - 30°C) Ph: 5-7.5 Gh: < 20°