fundulopanchax is a genus of killifish living in near-coastal fresh water streams and lakes in western africa .

all species were previously biologically classified as members of the genus aphyosemion , with the exception of fundulopanchax avichang , f. gresensi and f. kamdemi , which were all scientifically described after the major revision of the aphyosemion complex .

fundulopanchax

subgenus ( paraphyosemion ) : berkenkamp ( 2003 ) , describing the results of hybridization tests with the other species of the fundulopanchax mirabilis - group , ( fundulopanchax intermittens , fundulopanchax gresensi , fundulopanchax mirabilis and fundulopanchax traudeae ) , indicates that all crosses resulted in a viable f3 generations . these results suggest that , following a biological species concept , these taxa may be considered conspecific .
all of the above are included in fundulopanchax here on sf at the moment .
fundulopanchax moensis occurs in in brooks and small rainforest streams . it is a benthopelagic species .
the distribution of fundulopanchax ( paraphyosemion ) spoorenbergi is not known with precision . the species was imported together with fundulopanchax ndianus from the border area between nigeria ( towards osombo and mamfé ) and cameroon ( romand 1992 ) .
justification : the distribution of fundulopanchax spoorenbergi is not known with precision . the species was imported together with fundulopanchax ndianus from the border area between nigeria and cameroon . more information is needed on the species distribution before an assessment can be made .
fundulopanchax : originally named as a subgenus by myers ( 1924 ) due to members appearing to represent an evolutionary link between the genera fundulus and panchax as they were understood at the time .
fundulopanchax ( paraphyosemion ) amieti occurs in the swampy parts of brooks in the rainforest ( wildekamp et al . 1986 ) . it is usually found in shallows it is a benthopelagic , non - migratory species . fundulopanchax ( paraphyosemion ) amieti is not a seasonal killifish . it is a bottom spawner with 1 month incubation . this species is difficult to maintain in aquarium ( huber 1966 ) .
collier , g . e . , 2010 . the genus fundulopanchax : taxonomic history and molecular phylogeny . j . am . killifish ass . 43 ( 1 ) : 3 - 26 . ( ref . 87109 )
fundulopanchax ( paraphyosemion ) spoorenbergi is a benthopelagic , non - migratory species . it is not a seasonal killifish . it is a bottom spawner with 5 months incubation . this species is difficult to maintain in aquarium ( huber 1996 ) .
the genus fundulopanchax has a somewhat confusing taxonomic history but as currently understood includes the former subgenera paraphyosemion , gularopanchax , and paludopanchax while some authors have considered the species a . marmoratum , a . oeseri and a . scheeli members of the subgenus pauciradius .
fundulopanchax ( pauciradius ) marmoratus is found in swamps and the swampy parts of brooks and small streams in the coastal rainforest ( wildekamp et al . 1986 ) . it is a benthopelagic , non - migratory species . fundulopanchax ( pauciradius ) marmoratus is not a seasonal killifish . it is a bottom spawner with 1 month incubation . this species is easy to maintain in the aquarium ( huber 1996 ) . it can be done semimanuell , the eggs do not need a dry period for hatching . this updates previous information from riehl and baensch 1991 .
malumbres , f . and r . castelo , 2001 . descripción de una nueva especie del género fundulopanchax myers , 1924 ( cyprinodontiformes , aplocheilidae ) , para la ictiofauna continental de guinea ecuatorial . graellsia 57 ( 2 ) : 175 - 180 . ( ref . 44365 )
the plant spawners lay their eggs on floating or submerged plant thickets . they include many genera , such as aphyosemion ( most ) , many fundulopanchax , aphanius , aplocheilus , epiplatys , pachypanchax , fundulus ( most ) and rivulus ( except for rivulus stellifer ) . in the aquarium there are several techniques that can be used to spawn these fish .
the type specimens ( eight in all ) were collected by clausen in 1963 at arum which is situated to the south west of jos plateau in the foothills . at first they were considered to be a new species & he named them aphyosemion ( fundulopanchax ) nigerianus clausen 1963 . he also collected many other forms from other areas of nigeria . scheel later conducted crossing experiments with material from eyoumojok & found them to be genetically related .
group “b” includes killies whose eggs may also undergo a drying period , but this drying period is not a requirement for successful propagation ; full - term water incubation in also acceptable . many of the fundulopanchax species follow this pattern , e . g . fp . walkeri , fp . filamentosus , fp . sjoestedti and fp . fallax . for the most part , this second group has a slightly extended life span and , in some cases , matures at a slower rate than do the true annuals .
in general , killies are kept in small aquaria , often as small as 2 . 5 gallons . for breeding , in particular , small tanks are preferred . besides allowing closer observation of the fish , small tanks allow the aquarist to separate pairs and trios of different species . most killie enthusiasts soon acquire several species , and we may as well mention here that , for the purposes of breeding , it is essential that different species , and even different strains , be kept strictly separate . closely related species can breed and produce hybrids , but serious killie keepers strive to maintain different species in the “pure” state . furthermore , hybrids may be infertile . obviously , tank size must match fish size and larger fish , like fundulopanchax sjoestedti ( the blue gularis ) require 5 or 10 gallon tanks . larger aquaria , for example 10 or 15 gallon , or even larger , are used also for raising young fish .
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adult male ; f . g . nigerianus subspecies , ' p82 ' collection .
gardneri : named for ‘mr . r . d . gard’ner’ , who collected the type specimens .
native to the cross river system in southeastern nigeria and western cameroon plus the benue river drainage in central nigeria .
known populations include akaram , akure , enugu , kluge , lafia , makurdi , nsukka , okwoga and udi mountain .
the type series consists of three specimens collected from ‘head - waters of cross river , calabar…okwoga 7°n , 7°45’e’ which corresponds to the town okwoga in benue state , mideastern nigeria .
of the nominal subspecies ( see ‘notes’ ) , f . g . lacustris is known only from lake ejagham and its tributary stream in western cameroon , f . g . mamfensis occurs in rainforest tributaries of the upper cross river in the mamfe lowlands of southwestern cameroon and f . g . nigerianus is distributed throughout southern , southwestern , central , northern and eastern nigeria including the niger and benue rivers plus minor coastal drainages of southeastern nigeria , and in the benue system it’s also been recorded in western cameroon .
collections of wild fish are generally labelled with some form of code in order that they can be told apart , thus limiting the possibility of hybridisation .
most forms inhabit creeks , swamps , streams and pools in humid , forested , highland savannah and areas of rainforest .
some such habitats periodically dry out but in many cases this is not a regular , annual event and they may retain water year - round .
the set - up need not be too complicated but be sure to cover the aquarium well since this species is a prodigious jumper .
provide plenty of cover in the form of aquatic plants , wool mops , etc . , and if using filtration air - powered , sponge - type units are best as these will not harm eggs or fry .
lighting is unimportant but can be used if you wish , and growth of filamentous algae should not be discouraged .
primarily a micropredator feeding on small aquatic crustaceans , worms , insect larvae and other zooplankton although algae and other plant material may also be taken .
in the aquarium dried foods are accepted in most cases but regular meals of small live or frozen fare such as artemia , daphnia or bloodworm should also be offered .
this is a robust killi that can be kept with other fishes but is not suitable for the general community .
males can be aggressive towards one another but provided the aquarium contains sufficient refuges a group can normally be maintained together .
ideally stock 2 - 3 females per male in order that no individual is singled out for excessive attention from the male ( s ) .
males grow larger , are more brightly - coloured and develop more - extended fins than females .
the unpredictable nature of many of this species’ natural habitats have resulted in it evolving what’s often referred to as a ‘switch’ or ‘semi - annual’ breeding strategy whereby the eggs are able to withstand a period of drying but will also incubate and hatch when permanently submerged in water .
if conditions are suitable most forms are not difficult to breed with eggs deposited among live plants , aquatic mosses , synthetic mops , etc . , while some breeders prefer to use a small tray of peat which is removed and dried post - spawning .
eggs are best removed on a daily basis as the adults will eat any they find .
under water they normally hatch within 14 - 21 days depending on temperature while 3 - 4 weeks tends to be the ‘standard’ period of drying .
the fry are free - swimming almost immediately and can be offered artemia nauplii , microworm and similar as first foods .
this species is also known as ‘gardner’s killi’ and ‘blue lyretail’ and the commonly - available aquarium forms are perhaps among the best choices for those new to keeping killifishes being relatively hardy , colourful and easy to breed .
a number of ornamental strains have also been line - bred by aquarists including ‘gold’ and albino .
wild populations exist in numerous colour forms of which three , f . g . lacustris , f . g . mamfensis and f . g . nigerianus , have been described as nominal subspecies .
boulenger , g . a . , 1911 - annals and magazine of natural history ( series 8 ) v . 8 ( no . 44 ) : 260 - 268 descriptions of new african cyprinodont fishes .
myers , g . s . , 1924 - american museum novitates no . 116 : 1 - 9 a new poeciliid fish from the congo , with remarks on funduline genera .
stiassny , m . l . j . , g . g . teugels and c . d . hopkins ( eds ) , 2007 - publications scientifiques du museum , mrac . vol . 2 : 1 - 603 the fresh and brackish water fishes of lower guinea , west - central africa .
“male f . g . gardneri are very aggressive towards one another and sufficient space must be provided if more than one is to be kept . ’
if anything , “may be aggressive” . i have several gardneri tanks ( different strains ) with multiple males and never saw aggression…
albinos are mine , sure use them . i was not able to track reliably which locale the strain originates from .
if i can get decent shots of the other strains i have ( latia , innidere ) i’ll post them .
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thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the iucn red list of threatened species website , we are grateful for your input .
brummett , r . , mbe tawe , a . n . , dening touokong , c . , reid , g . m . , snoeks , j . staissny , m . , moelants , t . , mamonekene , v . , ndodet , b . , ifuta , s . n . b . , chilala , a . , monsembula , r . , ibala zamba , a . , opoye itoua , o . , pouomogne , v . , darwall , w . & smith , k .
justification : the mungo river basin location is threatened by sedimentation and pollution from banana plantations ( pers . comm . victor mamonekene , cyrille dening ) . the species is also threatened by the oil palm plantations in the region . part of the species distribution is situated in the korup national park . both the eoo and the aoo qualify for the endangered status . the species is known from maximum of five localities .
a lower guinea endemic , only known from the area northeast of mbonge , western cameroon . the present distribution is probably relict .
the mungo river basin location is threatened by sedimentation and pollution from banana plantations ( pers . comm . victor mamonekene , cyrille dening ) . the species is also threatened by the oil palm plantations in the region .
to make use of this information , please check the < terms of use > .
a lower guinea endemic , only known from the upper cross river basin , in the mo , me and man rivers , around the village of numba , western cameroon .
none known . taxonomic uncertainties need to be resolved , and more information on the species distribution is required .
justification : the species is threatened by oil palm plantations . it is potentially threatened by the sunda gorge dam on the lower nyong river , the construction of which was started before the war and it is unknown if the construction will recommence ( pers . comm . , mamonekene , v . ) . the species is known from fewer than five localities . both the eoo and aoo qualify this species for the endangered category .
a lower guinea endemic , found in the mangombe and ngombe river systems , which are tributaries of the larger sanaga and dibamba river drainage basins , respectively . all known populations , except one , are from the area to the north of the sanaga river in southwestern cameroon .
the species is threatened by oil palm plantations . it is potentially threatened by the sunda gorge dam on the lower nyong river , the construction of which was started before the war and it is unknown if the construction will recommence ( pers . comm . , mamonekene , v . ) .
freshwater ; benthopelagic ; ph range : 6 . 0 - 8 . 0 ; dh range : 5 - 19 ; non - migratory . tropical ; 23°c - 26°c ( ref . 1672 )
africa : niger delta in southern and southeastern nigeria and southwestern cameroon . reported from ghana ( ref . 11235 ) .
maturity : l m ? range ? - ? cm max length : 13 . 0 cm sl male / unsexed ; ( ref . 31256 )
occurs in temporary swamps , raphia - swamps and swampy parts of slow flowing brooks in the swampy coastal rainforest . 14 cm tl ( ref . 3788 ) . not a seasonal killifish . bottom spawner , 2 months incubation . is easy to maintain in aquarium ( ref . 27139 ) .
huber , j . h . , 1996 . killi - data 1996 . updated checklist of taxonomic names , collecting localities and bibliographic references of oviparous cyprinodont fishes ( atherinomorpha , pisces ) . société française d ' ichtyologie , muséum national d ' histoire naturelle , paris , france , 399 p . ( ref . 27139 )
phylogenetic diversity index ( ref . 82805 ) : pd 50 = 0 . 5000 [ uniqueness , from 0 . 5 = low to 2 . 0 = high ] .
bayesian length - weight : a = 0 . 01023 ( 0 . 00462 - 0 . 02264 ) , b = 2 . 84 ( 2 . 65 - 3 . 03 ) , in cm total length , based on lwr estimates for this species & ( sub ) family - body ( ref . 93245 ) .
trophic level ( ref . 69278 ) : 3 . 4 ±0 . 4 se ; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
vulnerability ( ref . 59153 ) : low vulnerability ( 10 of 100 ) .
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it is a form selected in my breeding over the past 3 years . m . dudziński
videnskabelige meddeleser fra dansk naturhistorisk forening 125 : p 197 - 201 , figures a - c .
this is a very complicated species of vastly varying colour forms even within a population . click population links ( where available ) below for more information / images ) .
because this species has so many populations & these can vary even within a population so many photographs can be included i have split the populations up into there own pages . just a few photos are put on this page for comparisons . please follow links in blue .
abakaliki - this population may be abakalbi . i did a search for this name but it could not be found . toyin ojo considered abakaliki to be the true name . this population has most probably not been in the uk . a line drawing was put into the bka newsletter no . 322 , july 1992 , page 14 but i am unable to insert it due to copyright problems .
akkamkpa - fred wright collected here in the ' 70 ' s & was adamant that the village had 2 k ' s . the site has been adjusted accordingly . ruud wildekamp & ton cooymans collected from this area in january 1990 .
baissa in circulation in the usa 2002 . note red line to the rear of the dorsal fin which is still evident . photo courtesy of allen boatman .
ntc 07 / 2 - collected by thibault cavelier 2007 14 kms north of iwo on the road to oban . see dkg newsletter 42 ( 3 ) for photo .
weh - adl 13 / 20 - already a corrupted spelling going around - wei is not correct .
arum , north of wamba & on the foothills south west of the jos plateau . the biotope was a swamp .
this species has a large distribution area covering the river niger delta in the south of nigeria northwards to the jos river plateau & on towards kano which appears to be the northern boundary . eastwards , distribution follows the river benue into the cameroon mountains where the misajé population is found .
with such a wide distribution area it ' s not surprising that this species is found in a variety of biotopes . they have been caught in mountain streams ( misajé ) , 200 foot wide rivers ( makurdi ) , seasonal flood plains ( lokoja ) & small roadside pockets of water .
also known to inhabit swampy parts of pools , brooks & small streams in secondary forested areas .
first recorded collection of this species goes back to 1955 where h . s . clausen discovered them at akure , western nigeria . in 1957 fish from this population line were taken live to j . j . scheel in denmark by j . birket smith . in 1958 scheel distributed 60 eggs to other fish keepers as far away as new zealand & uruguay . originally he distributed these as aphyosemion calliurum . ulf hannerz caught 2 small males from wokocha river , near port harcourt , eastern niger delta . these were sent to scheel . h . s . clausen in 1962 collected live fish from owo east of akure . these were also sent to scheel .
photo showing ( modern ) aquarium bred fp . nigerianus showing spotted & marginal bands . photo courtesy of dick cox
black & white photos ( parts ) in ' naturalists guide to freshwater fish ' by j . j . hoedeman showing some of the earliest fish imported . certainly pre 1975 . two different varieties called yellow & blue .
a visiting german aquarist ( unnamed ) came to the uk on january 17th 1966 & brought with him a few sp . including eggs of the then known a . nigerianum . this was probably the first introduction to the uk . see bka killi - news no . 7 , march 1966 .
an easy species to breed , laying eggs on top & bottom mops . they will also lay in peat . eggs are very tough & capable of withstanding fairly long periods of dry incubation . the lokoja population is well adapted to this capable of dry storage periods up to two months . other populations will take 4 - 6 weeks of dry incubation on damp peat . fry are large enough to take newly hatched brine shrimp on hatching .
scheel found that eggs taking a long time to hatch ( resting fry ) did so ' depending on the type of water used for the eggs ' although he did not say what the types were . see bka newsletter no . 387 , december 1997 .
the west african killifish hails from the cross river drainage of nigeria and western cameroon streams . via violaine2 , france / wikipedia
many killifish hobbyists keep f . gardneri in small aquariums , sometimes keeping a pair in just a gallon of water . this might seem cruel at first glance , but it replicates the natural habitat pretty neatly . in the wild , they are found in water barely an inch deep , sometimes over a leaf - strewn bottom , other times in a weed - choked area , and even over mud . adaptation to this extreme environment has lead to another evolutionary “leap” ( please excuse the pun ) —they are excellent jumpers . often in this extremely shallow environment , they need to move from one small water hole to another . they do this by jumping , flipping , and otherwise hopping from leaf to leaf and pool to pool .
my late friend , well - known aquarium fish international contributor al castro , used to tell the humorous story of his first experience with a pair of f . gardneri . he brought them home and put them in a gallon jar . he walked outside to call his wife in from the garden to come and see them . she asked him if he meant the fish that had followed him out . he turned around , and there on the ground was the male , flipping and flopping down the sidewalk . he went inside and found the female flipping her way across the floor . learn from al , and keep them tightly covered !
a setup for keeping f . gardneri can be as simple as a gallon jar or as elaborate as a well - decorated planted aquarium . they are ideally suited for the desktop aquariums with built - in filtration and lighting now becoming popular . these nano tanks , from 5 to 10 gallons in size , and with a variety of beautiful plants , would be an ideal home for a couple of pairs .
water changes are very important . keep the water as clean as possible , especially in a smaller aquarium , and doubly so if you have no filter in the aquarium . room temperature is fine , so no heater is necessary , unless the temperature drops into the low 60s fahrenheit . then a small heater set to the low 70s will be all that is needed . no filter is necessary , again as long as you change water frequently . water parameters are not that important , as f . gardneri comes from a wide range of habitats and is pretty adaptable . ideal conditions would be a ph just below neutral with low hardness . some killifish hobbyists add salt to the water ; others don’t . i’m one of the aquarists who doesn’t , and i’ve never had a problem with them .
as i mentioned , many killifish hobbyists keep them as pairs or trios in small “critter tanks” ( the kind with the tight - fitting lids ) . there is no filtration or lighting , though f . gardneri are not shy , as are many other killifish , and they love bright light . these killifish hobbyists do water changes two or three times a week , and feed live foods exclusively , so there is little pollution in the water . the idea here is breeding . for this , they use a couple of nylon yarn mops . i’ll have more on this method of breeding in just a bit .
i like to use a planted 10 - gallon aquarium . i prefer to use what killifish hobbyists call the “permanent method” for keeping and breeding them . this means setting up a standard 10 - gallon aquarium with a nice grouping of plants at all levels of the aquarium , including floating plants . i use water sprite ( ceratopteris sp . ) . the adults live in this aquarium all the time . fry appear on occasion , and i remove them with a small cup to a separate rearing aquarium . this method is not as productive as using mops , but it is a lot easier .
if you want maximum productivity , there are several things to do to increase egg production . first , separate the adults for a week or two . feed them heavily on live foods and meaty frozen foods , such as bloodworms and brine shrimp . give them a lot of water changes . this is known as conditioning the breeders . after about two weeks of conditioning , put the pair together in a breeding aquarium with a couple of nylon spawning mops lying on the bottom . the fish will start spawning within hours . by the next day , the mops should be full of eggs . the eggs can be easily seen in the mops as clear round “bubbles . ” remove the mops to a separate small aquarium or plastic shoebox filled with water of similar parameters as the spawning aquarium . then add a couple more mops to the aquarium . give the pair another day or so , and then move them back to the main aquarium . the mops can be added to the same hatching container as the previous mops .
some breeders add a bit of salt and a drop of methylene blue to the hatch water , along with a slowly bubbling airstone . others add acriflavine instead of the methylene blue . still others add nothing special to the hatch water . the idea is to keep any fungus that develops on infertile eggs from infecting the fertile eggs . a variation on this is to use a small dish filled with a hatch mix ( water , methylene blue , salt ) . hand - pick individual eggs , and drop them one at a time into this hatch container . this is very labor intensive , but it gives the breeder good control , so they can quickly remove any eggs that go bad .
whatever method you choose , the eggs will hatch in about 14 days . upon hatching , the fry have used up their yolk sacs and are hungry . they will take newly hatched brine shrimp , vinegar eels , microworms or walter worms , and other small foods such as commercial fry foods . i gently remove each baby fish from the hatch container immediately after they hatch and move them to a plastic shoebox filled with clean water of the same parameters . i add a clump of java moss ( taxiphyllum sp . ) to the box and a couple of small ramshorn snails to help clean up uneaten food .
the fry grow quickly and in just about 7 or 8 weeks , the young males will begin to color up . if you reach this point , congratulations ! you’ve had another successful adventure in fish breeding .
the author outlines the complex history and classification of this popular killifish , with a focus on optimal living conditions , breeding , and its widely variable populations .
maturity : l m ? range ? - ? cm max length : 2 . 6 cm tl male / unsexed ; ( ref . 44365 ) ; 2 . 5 cm tl ( female )
lives in small temporary pools of the river ecucu drainage systems ( ref . 44365 ) .
bayesian length - weight : a = 0 . 01072 ( 0 . 00442 - 0 . 02595 ) , b = 2 . 92 ( 2 . 71 - 3 . 13 ) , in cm total length , based on lwr estimates for this ( sub ) family - body shape ( ref . 93245 ) .
trophic level ( ref . 69278 ) : 3 . 1 ±0 . 4 se ; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
resilience ( ref . 69278 ) : high , minimum population doubling time less than 15 months ( ) .
freshwater ; benthopelagic ; non - migratory . tropical ; 22°c - 26°c ( ref . 2059 )
africa : lower cross river system , southeastern nigeria . also known from the ndian river in southwest cameroon ( ref . 7372 ) .
maturity : l m ? range ? - ? cm max length : 6 . 0 cm tl male / unsexed ; ( ref . 27139 )
occurs in brooks and small streams in the coastal rainforest and forested savanna , mainly in waters on tertiary sedimentary soil ( ref . 3788 ) . not a seasonal killifish . is easy to maintain in the aquarium ( ref . 27139 ) .
bayesian length - weight : a = 0 . 00389 ( 0 . 00180 - 0 . 00842 ) , b = 3 . 12 ( 2 . 94 - 3 . 30 ) , in cm total length , based on all lwr estimates for this body shape ( ref . 93245 ) .
trophic level ( ref . 69278 ) : 3 . 2 ±0 . 4 se ; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
freshwater ; benthopelagic ; ph range : 6 . 0 - 7 . 0 ; dh range : 5 - 12 ; non - migratory . tropical ; 20°c - 23°c ( ref . 1672 )
africa : bandama , comoé and bia river drainages in central , southern and eastern côte d ' ivoire . the bia , tano , ankobra and oda river drainages in southwestern ghana .
occurs in swamps , pools , brooks and small streams in the coastal rainforest and forested savanna ( ref . 3788 ) . bottom spawner , 2 months incubation . is easy to maintain in the aquarium ( ref . 27139 ) .
teugels , g . g . , c . lévêque , d . paugy and k . traoré , 1988 . état des connaissances sur la faune ichtyologique des bassins côtiers de côte d ' ivoire et de l ' ouest du ghana . rev . hydrobiol . trop . 21 ( 3 ) : 221 - 237 . ( ref . 272 )
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we parsed the following live from the web into this page . such content is managed by its original site and not cached on discover life . please send feedback and corrections directly to the source . see original regarding copyrights and terms of use .
freshwater ; benthopelagic ; ph range : 6 . 5 - 7 . 2 ; dh range : ? - 10 ; non - migratory . tropical ; 21°c - 23°c ( ref . 1672 )
maturity : l m ? range ? - ? cm max length : 5 . 5 cm tl male / unsexed ; ( ref . 27139 )
occurs in swamps and swampy parts of shallow brooks in the coastal rainforest ( ref . 3788 ) . feeds on worms , crustaceans and insects ( ref . 7020 ) . bottom spawner , 1 . 5 month incubation . is very difficult to maintain in aquarium ( ref . 27139 ) .
bayesian length - weight : a = 0 . 00389 ( 0 . 00180 - 0 . 00842 ) , b = 3 . 12 ( 2 . 94 - 3 . 30 ) , in cm total length , based on all lwr estimates for this body shape ( ref .
) : 3 . 4 ±0 . 43 se ; based on food items .
) : high , minimum population doubling time less than 15 months ( ) .
endangered b1ab ( ii , iii , v ) + 2ab ( ii , iii , v ) ver 3 . 1
justification : this species is endemic to niger delta of nigeria . it is restricted to temporary swamps and swampy parts of smaller brooks in the coastal rainforest between warri to port harcourt . the eoo is less than 5 , 000 km² , and the aoo is less than 500 km 2 . this area is not only highly polluted by oil exploration and vandalization of oil pipelines as a result of civil conflict ; it is an area of massive urban and industrial development in petrochemical and steel . the population size is not known but it may be being reduced at a very rapid rate as their habitat is presently been drained for urban development . in addition to habitat destruction , this species are also been collected for aquarium trade .
this species is a small semi - annual bottom spawning killifish that grows to 5 cm in sl . the eggs incubate in the substrate for 2 months and can withstand some degree of water restriction . it inhabits temporary swamps and swampy parts of small rivers and brooks in the coastal rainforest . it is non - migratory .
this is an aquarium trade species . eggs can be transported in damp moss - easy to maintain and breed .
this species is targeted for the aquarium trade . it is polluted by oil exploration and vandalization of oil pipelines as a result of civil conflict ; it is an area of massive urban and industrial development in petrochemical and steel .
major threats are unknown as the location is not confirmed , although it has been harvested for the aquarium trade .
none known . more information is needed on the distribution and threats of this species .
this guide is intended to provide basic information for newcomers to keeping killifish . the information provided here was derived largely from the aka’s beginners guide , by alan c . markis and roger w . langton . the latest edition of this booklet , edited by edd kray , is more complete than this online version and contains more photos . it is provided free to all new members of the aka . click on join aka at the top of the page to access an online application .
it can be difficult for beginners to know exactly what fish to purchase because killifish are generally referred to ( especially amongst enthusiasts ) by their scientific names and some familiarity is needed to know what fish these names represent . as you read about the various species in publications like the journal of the american killifish association ( jaka ) and a variety of books that are available , you will develop a sense for the fish .
when the time comes to choose your first killies , do so with care . needless to say , choose healthy fish , but be careful also to choose fish that are correctly identified . many species and strains of killifish look very similar and killies sold in pet stores are frequently misidentified . furthermore , many killifish are maintained as known locality strains . for example nothobranchius rachovii beira ’91 , a very beautiful fish , represents a particular strain of this species identified by the locality and the year in which it was collected . it is strongly felt , in the killie hobby , that such strains not be crossed with others , even when they appear to be the same fish . such crossings can produce hybrids , which may be sterile , or at least are fish that nature never produced .
the remainder of this section will briefly discuss some of the genera of killifish , and some of the species found within them , with a particular emphasis on those that are suitable for beginners .
this is one of the most popular of the killifish genera among hobbyists , and it contains a large number of species that are maintained in the hobby . these species hail from west africa , many are beautiful and relatively easy to maintain and breed . most are spawned on floating mops ( see below ) .
one of the most commonly seen and a suitable beginner’s fish , is aphyosemion australe , one the few killies that does have a common name , the lyretail . this species spawns in floating mops . it comes in three color strains . the chocolate is the natural form , while the gold and the orange were developed in aquarium populations . other species in this genus that are suitable for beginners are a . calliurum , a . ahli , and a . bivittatum . aphyosemions with the same species name are often identified as coming from specific populations or locations . different populations may or may not be genetically identical .
this genus contains several very colorful species that are suitable for beginners . these include the popular fp . gardneri , fp . filamentosus , and the emblem fish of the aka , fp . sjoestedti . many of the strains of fp . gardneri are relatively easy to maintain and breed as is fp . filamentosus . fp . sjoestedti is a little more challenging , although it can be hard to resist its charms . all of these species come in several strains . some fp . gardneri are top spawners , while fp . gardneri nigerianus and fp . gardneri garderni are switch ( top / bottom ) spawners . the other two species mentioned are bottom spawners .
there a several popular genera and species amongst the south american annuals . nematolebias whitei is an excellent beginner’s fish , easily bred and cared for in the aquarium . it is a truly elegant fish and its spawning behavior is fascinating . perhaps its only disadvantage is that , like many other annuals , the beginner has to wait for some months between first spawning and first hatch .
species in this genus are surface fish , feeding on insects that fall into the water . they prefer to lay their eggs at the top of floating mops or plants . they are hardy , many are of good size , and many are easily bred and maintained in aquaria . good examples , and good choices for beginners are e . sexfasciatus and e . fasciolatus . the genus also contains some challenging species . for example , the diminutive e . annulatus , although strikingly beautiful , would not be a good beginner’s choice .
there are many other interesting genera , including the north american native killies , including the desert pupfish and the florida flagfish , jordenella floridae , the genera rivulus , rachovia , austrofundulus , and on and on . many of these are discussed elsewhere on this site .
as discussed already , it is easy to hybridize some of the killies species . it is the policy of the american killifish association to discourage hybridization except for scientific and research purposes . the organization believes that the fishes should remain as they are in nature and that hobbyists should not intentionally change color patterns , form , or identity . every member of the aka is urged to maintain this policy .
everyone is urged to maintain the highest standards in his fish keeping by maintaining optimum environmental standards for his or her fish and by only passing on fish to other hobbyists that meet the highest standards of good health and color .
good luck with your hobby and may you have many years of success and enjoyment with killies . if you are not yet a member of the aka , we look forward to having you join and meeting you .
as will be discussed later in this document , fry are often hatched in smaller containers , such as plastic “shoe boxes” or other storage boxes . in a typical fishroom for killifish , therefore , you will usually see tanks and containers in a wide variety of sizes . how these are arranged is a matter of personal taste , but killie fishrooms often have racks of tanks with small breeding tanks on top and larger rearing tanks below . one advantage of a fishroom is that the whole room , rather than individual tanks , can be heated . the fishroom shown here is that of norbert dadaniak in germany . you can click on the image to see it at larger size . use the back button to return to this page .
planted tanks are pleasing to view , and plants help to utilize organic wastes produced by the fish and , to some degree , in oxygenating the water . however , many killie keepers avoid the use of plants in breeding tanks , and even in rearing tanks . plants can make the collection of eggs , described later , difficult . furthermore , bottom spawners may spawn in the gravel substrate , which is may be undesirable . on the other hand , one technique for spawning the “plant spawners” involves the use of a permanently planted tank and some breeders spawn bottom spawners over gravel . a common compromise is to use bare breeding tanks , and planted rearing tanks .
what plants to use is a matter of choice for the aquarist but , because killies often do best in tanks with relatively low lighting levels , plants tolerant of low light conditions are best . these include the cryptocorynes , java moss , and java fern . if gravel is used as a substrate it usually should be of a type that will not harden the water . a quartz sand or fine gravel favored by aquatic plant enthusiasts is # 3 blasting sand , available at many hardware stores .
many killies , such as the aphyosemions , come from forest streams that are protected from direct sunlight , and prefer subdued lighting . in brightly lit aquaria , plants may provide some shading for killies that prefer low light conditions . many killies appear at their best when light falls from above and to the front of the tank . because of this , many killie enthusiasts illuminate their tanks , especially breeding tanks , by ceiling lights , with fixtures over only those tanks where more intense lighting is required .
small aquaria , such as are often used for housing killies , are more easily polluted than large aquaria . the relatively small volume of water easily accumulates waste products , generating ammonia and nitrites , which are extremely toxic to fish . most killie keepers , at least in the united states , therefore utilize some form of aeration and filtration . air driven filters provide a home for aerobic nitrifying bacteria , which break down the harmful ammonia and nitrite to nitrate , a much less toxic end product .
various types of filters can be used , but for small tanks the most popular are simple box filters , containing filter “wool” , or sponge filters . both provide a large surface area for bacteria to colonize and filter particulate matter from the water . sponge filters have the advantage of not entrapping fry , a potential problem with box filters . in larger aquaria where a substrate is being used , under - gravel filters may also be used .
ideal water temperatures vary depending on the species , but for most killifish the temperature should be in the range of 72 - 75 °f . conventional aquarium heaters may be used , but because serious killie keepers have several or many tanks , it is common for the whole room to be heated . another advantage of this approach is that tank covers do not have to accommodate heater cables . many killies are great jumpers and will exit the tank , and this life , through such small openings . the killie fancier , therefore , must ensure that tank covers are closely fitted .
it is impossible to generalize about the water conditions required by killies . some , such as a . cameronense come from soft , acid waters , while others come from harder , alkaline waters , and others from brackish waters . some killies must have particular water conditions . others , such as nothobranchius species , can tolerate a range of water conditions . naturally , no fish should be subjected to sudden changes in ph and hardness .
the ph of water may be changed using weak acids , such as sodium biphosphate ( nah 2 po 4 ) or weak bases , such as sodium bicarbonate ( nahco 3 , or baking soda ) . it is easy to change ph excessively using these chemicals , and the ph change produced may not be stable . a better way to reduce ph is to filter the water through peat moss . the peat moss is best boiled and rinsed then placed in a box filter between layers of filter wool . after a day or two the water will be amber and somewhat more acid . to increase ph it is best to include some form of calcium carbonate in the tank , such as a lime sand or gravel . carbon dioxide ( co 2 ) released as a waste product by the fish dissolves in water to produce carbonic acid , which will react with calcium carbonate to produce soluble calcium bicarbonate . the latter provides buffering capacity , helping to stabilize the ph of the water in the aquarium .
a varied and balanced diet is a practical necessity to achieve any degree of success with killifish , particularly in breeding them . many killifish do really well only if supplied with livefood . others do well on frozen foods and some , on dry foods . at any rate , exclusive use of a single food should be avoided , as this practice is likely to lead to nutritional imbalances and deficiencies . you will find useful information on foods on other sites , such as the krib .
this food is a staple of many killie fishrooms . in some areas live adult brine shrimp can be purchased . these are a good nutritional source and are eagerly taken by most killies . as they live in strong salt water , they are less likely to carry parasites and bacteria harmful to freshwater fish . frozen brine shrimp are widely available and widely used . they are readily accepted by most fish but , as with any non - live food , care must be taken not to overfeed .
this little crustacean is one of the most widely used live foods . daphnia can be cultured artificially , at least in limited quantities , but most aquarists collect them from pools and ponds . a drawback to use of daphnia collected in this way is the danger of collecting other organisms potentially dangerous to aquarium fish . daphnia are said to act as a laxative for fish and , like other foods , daphnia should not be fed exclusively .
this is an excellent live food for killies , although available only seasonally . they may be collected from standing water and ponds , either by swiftly passing a net through the water near the surface , or by collecting the egg “rafts” , which can be allowed to hatch in a container of water in the fishroom . many aquarists recommend culture of mosquito larvae by leaving out a container of water , which is allowed to become green with algae . the egg rafts or larvae are then collected under controlled conditions . care must be taken to avoid allowing the larvae to complete the life cycle and become mosquitoes . that is a good way to make yourself unpopular with the neighbors and should be avoided because of the mosquito borne west nile virus . as with the collection of other live foods , there is a risk of introducing fish enemies with the food .
tubifex worms are small worms that live in filthy places , such as sewage run - offs and the like . they can be collected from such sites , or purchased from some stores . tubifex are an excellent food for killifish , but they carry the reputation of transmitting a variety of diseases . this risk may be reduced somewhat by holding the worms for a time in a shallow tray through which cold water runs . in this way evacuated matter and detritus from dead worms are washed away .
blackworms are similar to , but distinct from , tubifex worms and are also an excellent food . they can be purchased , either from a store , or directly from companies that grow them for profit . some of these producers are associated with fish farming operations . others are dedicated purely to growing blackworms . those associated with fish farms may be more likely to transmit fish diseases . like tubifex , blackworms carry a reputation for transmitting diseases . however , some breeders swear by them . blackworms may be maintained for some time under running , cold water or refrigerated in dishes with enough water to barely cover them .
two fruit fly ( drosophila ) mutants , vestigial wing and flightless , make excellent food for killies . by virtue of the mutations they bear , they cannot fly . they can crawl , though , so it is advisable to feed just enough that the fish will eat them immediately . these flies are usually cultured in some sort of bottle into which a fruit fly medium , with a sprinkle of dry yeast , has been placed . the bottle is plugged with a piece of plastic sponge , or some such thing , after the flies are added . after some days larvae will appear , which then pupate , and eventually adult flies will emerge , at which stage they can be fed to the fish . fruit fly medium can be cooked , but this is a time consuming and messy business . instant medium can be obtained from biological suppliers such as carolina biological , and is much easier to use . a starter culture of flies can be purchased from similar sources , or obtained from other hobbyists . starter cultures , again , are often listed in the f & el .
beef heart , trimmed of fibrous tissue and fat , can be frozen , then grated to produce “worm - like” pieces . many hobbyists use beef heart as the basis for a prepared food containing vegetable matter , vitamins and other additives . others prepare similar paste foods based on shrimp and fish . these are fed as small pieces or gratings . care must be taken to feed only as much as will be eaten immediately , as remnants of this type of food can quickly foul the water . here is a recipe for a ( non - beef heart based ) paste food . recipes can also be found on the krib .


corydoras seussi is a south american catfish , family callichthyidae .

it was named after german ichthyologist dr werner seuss .

it quite strongly resembles the corydoras gossei .

however , it can be differentiated by its longer snout ; nonetheless , it is not a ' true ' longnose corydoras in the manner of , for example , corydoras septentrionalis .

the captive spawning of this catfish has not been documented .

corydoras seussi

orydoras seussi has been available to the hobbyist for a few years now , and shares a similar colour pattern with corydoras gossei , which has a rounded snout . before being described scientifically as corydoras seussi this magnificent catfish was referred to as c27 .
corydoras seussi belongs to the family callichthyidae from brazil ; namely the rio poranga a tributary of the upper rio negro and the mamore river basin .
as with all the other corydoras that i have had the pleasure to keep over the years , corydoras seussi readily accepts a mixed and varied diet . i personally feed all of my corydoras on sinking pellets , good quality flake foods , granular foods , cultured whiteworm and frozen foods such as bloodworm to name but a few .
there are no reported cases of this species of corydoras breeding in the aquarium .
corydoras on fine sand instead of gravel . great for loaches and apistogrammas as well .
always use fine gravel or sand for the tank substrate to prevent the barbels on this fish being damaged . corydoras seussi should be kept in groups of at least 5 fish and add hiding places to the tank . always keep these fish with other peaceful species .
no captive breeding information is available , but it can probably be bred in a similar fashion to many other corydoras species .
these catfish are very peaceful towards their own kind and indeed other species of corydoras . these catfish are ideally suited to being kept in a community aquarium environment with other non - aggressive species of fish such as tetras and dwarf cichlids . whilst corydoras seussi are not cheap to purchase , wherever possible i would recommend that you purchase a minimum of six specimens , as they are naturally found in the wild in large shoals .
like most corys , c . seussi is most easily sexed when viewed from above . females are noticeably rounder and broader - bodied than females , especially when full of eggs .
very similar in appearance to c . gossei , seussi can be distinguished by its less rounded snout . it may also be referred to by its c - number , c027 .
whilst this is a species of corydoras that i am fortunate to have kept in recent years i was unable to persuade the fish to breed . whilst there are documented records for spawning the similar coloured corydoras gossei , i am not personally aware of any successful accounts for spawning corydoras seussi to date . i would however , envisage that when breeding these catfish would adopt the typical corydoras “t” clinch when mating , which involves the female transferring sperm from the male to her eggs held in her ventral fins prior to them being laid carefully on a chosen surface . it is documented and observed that the female takes the sperm from the male into her mouth which is then passed out of her vent and on to the eggs which she holds in small numbers between her ventral fins .
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 . shares a similar colour pattern with corydoras gossei , which has a rounded snout .
corydoras seussi prefer to be kept in water which has a ph in the range of 6 . 5 - 7 . 2 ( although it has been known for this species to tolerate a much wider range of ph 6 . 0 - 8 . 0 ) , and hardness in the range of 2 . 0 - 25 . 0 dgh . this catfish is ideally suited to temperatures in the range of 22 - 26ºc .
these fish are armoured , not scaled , catfish . they have two rows of overlapping bony plates running down each side and large plates covering their head . indeed , the name corydoras is derived from the greek kory ( helmet ) and doras ( skin ) .
these fish are incredibly docile , very peaceful and are a wonderfully easy fish to own . however it is a remarkably little known fact that corydoras species have a very sharp barb just under each eye , one in the adipose fin , and a large one in the front of their dorsal fin .
the corydoras group of fish frequently gulps air . this is normal and is not a cause for concern . if too little room is available between the water surface and the hood ( < 2
) the fish may hit the hood . they hold the air in their stomach and the thin lining dissipates the oxygen .
very peaceful and suitable for many community tanks . don’t keep it with anything very large or aggressive . good tankmates include small characins , cyprinids , anabantoids , dwarf cichlids and other peaceful catfish . always try to maintain corydoras in groups as they’re far more confident and active in the presence of conspecifics . a group of at least 6 individuals is suggested .
what is also little known is that most species of corydoras have a poison gland in their barbs which causes fish which try to eat them to get stung . this causes the attacking fish to suffer a lot of pain rather like a jellyfish sting . needless to say this causes an annoying , but harmless , irritant to aquarists skin if they get stung also .
small side stream of rio pacas - novos , side branch of rio mimoré , near guajar - mirim , rondôndia , brazil .
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 catfish was specifically named after ( dedicated to ) mr . werner seuss , a well known german aquarist and author .
70mm or 2 . 8
sl . find near , nearer or same sized spp .
the males tend to be slightly smaller and more slender than the females . the dorsal and pectoral fins of the males tend to be more pointed than those of the females . sexing of these catfish is easier when being viewed from above .
rio poranga a tributary of the upper rio negro and the mamore river basin .
suggested foods are high quality flake foods , sinking wafers , frozen blood worms , grindal worms , tubificid worms .
sandy bottom with an open swimming space lined with bogwood and plants to retreat into .
( 1 ) coryologist ( k : 12 ) , ( 2 ) coryman , ( 3 ) yan , ( 4 ) philtre , ( 5 ) angjo , ( 6 ) jollysue , ( 7 ) gem400 ( k : 4 ) , ( 8 ) corries , ( 9 ) reticulata , ( 10 ) bamboosticks ( k : 4 ) , who also notes :
big and confident fish .
, ( 11 ) tony57 , ( 12 ) jpod , ( 13 ) mark roesner , ( 14 ) gossei ( k : 5 ) , ( 15 ) aspidoras ( k : 7 ) , ( 16 ) valb68 ( k : 8 ) , ( 17 ) lee meadows , ( 18 ) sean b , ( 19 ) kamas88 ( k : 5 ) , ( 20 ) charliem9 , ( 21 ) amli , ( 22 ) krawallo ( k : 27 ) , who also notes :
homemade photos follow
, ( 23 ) per jensen , ( 24 ) matte s , ( 25 ) evojoey , ( 26 ) coolcorycats , ( 27 ) don kinyon ( k : 10 ) , ( 28 ) protopterus , ( 29 ) mexnotex . click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species . you can also view all
my cats
data for this species .
get or print a qr code for this species profile , or try our beta label creator .
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urltoken
24″ x 15″ x 12″ ( 60cm x 37 . 5cm x 30cm ) – 71 litres .
use a substrate of fine sand and provide shelter in the form of smooth rocks and chunks of bogwood . areas of thick planting are also appreciated , as is the provision of some floating cover . also provide some surface turbulence and flow , as it prefers well - oxygenated water . as with all corys , don’t use undergravel filtration , and ensure the substrate is kept scrupulously clean , as these catfish are sensitive to poorly - maintained or dirty substrates and can lose their barbels if kept in poor conditions .
will accept most sinking dried foods , as well as small live and frozen varieties such as bloodworm , brine shrimp and chopped earthworm . feeding a varied diet will ensure the fish are in the best condition .
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 75°f and a ph of 7 should be fine . 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 . also , some species can take several years to become sexually mature , so be patient . finally some species simply require different tactics , including 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 eggs .
the adults will eat their spawn given the opportunity , so once spawning is complete you have 2 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 .
the eggs hatch in 3 - 4 days and once the fry have used up their yolk sacs , they will accept microworm and brine shrimp nauplii as first foods . the fry seem to be less susceptible to disease when kept over a thin layer of sand , as opposed to in a bare - bottomed setup .
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the last month of 2006 brings another factsheet from our resident
guru
chris ralph and a look at a relatively new cory which has only been in the hobby for the last 10 years , and is coincidental in that scotcat will be celebrating 10 years next month also , so i will hand you over to chris to guide you along .
i would suggest a minimum size of 24” x 15” x 12” for a shoal of these fascinating catfish . the preferred substrate for keeping these catfish should be good quality aquarium sand such as bd aquarium sand , or very smooth rounded gravel in order to prevent their barbels from being damaged . the aquarium should provide some shelter in the form of rocks , bogwood and aquatic plants . as with all other species of fish , water quality and general husbandry is very important , and i would recommend that the aquarist undertake a minimum of 25 % water change on a fortnightly basis .
the base colour of the body is tan overlapped by a much darker coloured pigment which is slate grey / blue . the dorsolateral scutes are much darker exhibiting the slate grey / blue colour than the ventrolateral scutes which are tan coloured . the head region is overlaid with an orange to almost gold colour , which in natural sunlight is truly magnificent . the head area around the barbels and eyes is also overlaid with light coloured spots . the first rays of the dorsal , pectoral and ventral fins are orange in colour interspersed with some slate grey / blue colouration . the soft rays of the pectoral and ventral fins are orange in colour , whilst the remaining fins ( dorsal , anal , adipose and caudal ) are light ( white ) coloured with slate grey to black coloured almost stripy markings . the caudal fin has 5 - 6 distinct vertical black bands / stripes . in bright sunlight there is a green sheen which can be seen over the top half of the body of this catfish .
cory = helmet , doras = skin . this catfish was specifically named after ( dedicated to ) mr . werner seuss who is a well known german aquarist and author .
chris ralph ; 19 / 04 / 05 first published in tropical fish magazine june 2005 .
dorsolateral refers to the area above the lateral line and below the dorsal fin . ventrolateral refers to the area below the lateral line and above the ventral fins .
70mm s . l . - 7cm , - 2¾ins . ( standard length – this is the measurement of the fish from the tip of the snout to the base of the caudal peduncle ) .
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greek , kory = helmet + greek , doras = skin ( ref . 45335 )
freshwater ; demersal ; ph range : 6 . 0 - 8 . 0 ; dh range : 2 - 25 . tropical ; 22°c - 26°c ( ref . 13371 )
maturity : l m ? range ? - ? cm max length : 6 . 0 cm sl male / unsexed ; ( ref . 37395 )
reis , r . e . , 2003 . callichthyidae ( armored catfishes ) . p . 291 - 309 . in r . e . reis , s . o . kullander and c . j . ferraris , jr . ( eds . ) checklist of the freshwater fishes of south and central america . porto alegre : edipucrs , brasil . ( ref . 37395 )
phylogenetic diversity index ( ref . 82805 ) : pd 50 = 0 . 5000 [ uniqueness , from 0 . 5 = low to 2 . 0 = high ] .
bayesian length - weight : a = 0 . 01660 ( 0 . 00670 - 0 . 04111 ) , b = 2 . 94 ( 2 . 73 - 3 . 15 ) , in cm total length , based on lwr estimates for this ( sub ) family - body shape ( ref . 93245 ) .
trophic level ( ref . 69278 ) : 3 . 0 ±0 . 3 se ; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
resilience ( ref . 69278 ) : high , minimum population doubling time less than 15 months ( preliminary k or fecundity . ) .
vulnerability ( ref . 59153 ) : low vulnerability ( 10 of 100 ) .
confused by a class within a class or an order within an order ? please see our brief essay .
to cite this page : myers , p . , r . espinosa , c . s . parr , t . jones , g . s . hammond , and t . a . dewey . 2018 . the animal diversity web ( online ) . accessed at https : / / animaldiversity . org .
disclaimer : the animal diversity web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students . adw doesn ' t cover all species in the world , nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe . though we edit our accounts for accuracy , we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts . while adw staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable , we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control .
this material is based upon work supported by the national science foundation grants drl 0089283 , drl 0628151 , due 0633095 , drl 0918590 , and due 1122742 . additional support has come from the marisla foundation , um college of literature , science , and the arts , museum of zoology , and information and technology services .
usually when properly conditioned , the difference between the male and female corydora becomes quite evident . females have a larger underbelly , when viewed from the top will look a lot wider than a male . males are smaller in length than females also .
very peaceful community fish . will not intentionally bother tank inhabitants , however their bumbling about the tank may bother more delicate fish or other bottom dwellers . are best kept in groups of 5 - 6 or more .
, these fish will eat most food which sinks to the bottom of the tank . sinking
. vegetable - based foods offer little nutrition to them . they will also eat any dead , dying , or even injured fish , that sit on the substrate too long . they ' re very opportunistic !
these fish are most active at night , so feeding once before lights out is typically enough . though they can easily be persuaded to feed during the day . since they are slower eaters they should be allowed at least 30 minutes to consume their food .
requires a sand or small gravel substrate and prefers a planted tank . keeping a
, as with other scaleless fish , adding salt to the tank will cause them harm .
this fish likes the company of its own kind . it is recommended to keep at least 2 , or better yet , several of the same species . the more you have , the more secure they are and the more you will see them .
they are known to ' blink ' their eyes to the amazement of onlookers . the cory has the ability to tilt its eye down to examine the nearby substrate .
typical corydora in shape . this corydora has a cream belly with dark iridescent flanks . the caudal fin has dark bars .
the fish uses these barbs to protect itself from being swallowed by a larger fish . therefore when using a net to catch these fish , be prepared for the cory to become caught up in the mesh of the net . also , ensure you don ' t try to catch this fish in your hand !
the cory has a sensitive sense of smell and its barbels allow it to taste food hidden in the substrate .
this page was last edited on 13 december 2017 , at 03 : 16 .
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usual size in fish tanks : 5 - 7 cm ( 1 . 97 - 2 . 76 inch )
recommended water hardness ( dgh ) : 5 - 24°n ( 89 . 29 - 428 . 57ppm )
feed seuss’ corys with a quality flake or sinking pellets . algae wafers will be beneficial to these fish as are treats of brine shrimp and blood worms . always ensure these fish get there fair share of the food .
south america ; seuss’ corys are to be found in the waterways of brazil .
when viewed from above , the female will be slightly larger with a plumper body shape .
netting a fish pond will keep cats and birds away and your fish will be safe .
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