his
is one of my favourite Corydoras species. It
is of course very small, but has a very pretty colour
pattern, in that well looked after specimens will
have black chevron markings running from the caudal
peduncle to the mid-dorsal area. There can also be
a golden lateral line running through the body and
a black blotch to the dorsal, the underside is white.
Corydoras
pauciradiatus
It is still known
in the scientific community as Aspidoras pauciradiatus
but it is certainly a Corydoras and when
it is reclassified it will be placed in Lineage 5
the "Elegans group". A revision could involve
the resurrection of the genus name Gastrodermus
(Cope, 1878) with the designated type
species of C. elegans.C. pauciradiatus
has 6 soft rays in the dorsal while the rest of the
genus has 7, (pauciradiatus means, few fin
rays).
In earlier aquatic
literature this species was erroneously captioned
as Corydoras
cochui a small species
very similar to Corydoras
habrosus from Brazil.
As mentioned, specimens in good condition, especially
females, will have black markings that will stand
out and usually sends a signal to the aquarist that
they are happy in their surroundings.
The above (very bad!) photo
shows the one youngster from my January 2001 spawning.
You can just see the fantastic black colouration in
the caudal fin and also in the dorsal. My breeding
experience of this species you can read about further
down in the reproduction table.
Remarks:
Corydoras pauciradiatus
when reclassified will be placed in Lineage 5 the
"Elegans group". A revision could involve
the resurrection of the genus name Gastrodermus
(Cope, 1878) with the designated type
species of C. elegans.
Common
Name
False Corydoras
Synonyms
Aspidoras pauciradiatus
Family
Callichthyidae
Subfamily
Corydoradinae
Distribution:
South America:
Brazil : Upper Araguaia River basin. Type
locality: Brazil, Rio Araguaia, near Aruanã,
Est. Goiás (14º58'S, 51º04'W).
Size
Male: 2.5cm (1ins) Female:
3.0cm (1¼ins)
Temp.
22-25°C (71-77°F)
p.H.
6.0-7.0.
Characteristics
Dorsal 1/6; Anal i,6; Pectorals;
1/7; Ventrals 1/5. 23 Dorsolateral body scutes. 20
Ventrolateral body scutes. 2 pre-adipose scutes.
Colouration
Ground colour of head and body
pale tan. No mask present but melanophores dense between
eyes and on top of head producing a dark brown colour.
Top of snout pale brown with 7-8 moderate sized black
spots in a triangular pattern with one end of triangle
at tip of snout. Small black spots on head and body,
the spots on the body tend to be in rows which converge
into the scute junctions. (The effect vaguely resembles
a series of posteriorly pointing chevrons). Belly
region pale tan, without dark pigment. Dorsal fin
with a large black blotch at the base, with one or
two narrow horizontal bands above. Pigment of these
bands confined to the fin rays. Pectoral and ventral
fins clear. Anal fin with one or two rows of pigment,
confined to the fin rays and formimg a band. Adipose
fin with some on the spine. Caudal fin with about
five rows of narrow black bars, third from anterior
band being the darkest, this pigment confined to the
fin rays.
Aquarium
Care & Compatibility
Corydoras
pauciradiatus does
not do well in a mixed community tank with larger
tankmates due to its size and retiring nature. A better
idea is a smaller tank with small characins/tetras
or even a tank on their own. Buy at least 6 or more
as they do better in their own company and when settled
will come to the front of the tank at feeding time.
I find that Java Moss and Java Fern plants with a
sand substrate and a box or sponge filter in a 18"
x 12" x 12" tank will keep them happy, with
weekly water changes of 30 to 50% adequate.
Reproduction
Very difficult
to breed but has been done on a few ocassions. They
do tend to eat their eggs, so removing parents or
eggs after spawning is a good idea. They lay their
eggs in Java moss or on the aquarium glass and you
can raise the young as per the Corydoras genus.
Update: I did
manage to spawn this species after many years of frustration
(Jan.2001). Tank parameters were: 18" x 10"
x 10" with loads of Java Moss and a sand substrate.
I added an internal pump to the sponge filter which
already resided in the tank to really make the water
move around the tank. I carried out a 75% cool water
change and they laid 40 eggs on the outside of the
internal power filter. I then removed the very small
eggs to a small rearing tank. The temperature was
77f, p.H 6 and GH 1. I only managed to raise one fry
as the rest of the eggs fungused, but now that they
have spawned once the chances are greatly enhanced
for a second spawning.
Diet
Prefers small live food such
as newly hatched brine shrimp but will also take small
frozen foods and good quality crushed flake food,
plus tablet food.
Etymology
Corydoras:
Cory=helmeted;doras=leathery
skin,(helmeted Doras) cuirass. pauciradiatus: With few
(fin) rays (6 rays in dorsal.)
References
Alexandrou,
Markos & Taylor, Martin. (2011). Evolution,
ecology and taxonomy of the Corydoradinae revisited. Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist
of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes),
and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa
1418:1-628.
Ian A. M. Fuller & Hans-Georg Evers (2011).
Identifying Corydoradinae Catfish Supplement 1. Ian
Fuller Enterprises.
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