Palespotted Cory Catfish

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Easy   • Temperament: Peaceful   • Maximum Size: 2"
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons   • Water Conditions: 72-79° F, KH 1-12, pH 6.0-7.0
• Diet: Omnivore   • Origin: Brazil   • Family: Callichthyidae
• Species: Cory Catfish   • Aquarium Type: Community

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Palespotted Cory Cats (Corydoras gossei) are found living in smaller river tributaries in Brazil near the rivers Mamore and Rondonia. In captivity the Palespotted Cory does best in very peaceful community tanks that do not contain any fish species that are very large or aggressive. Good tank mates include small characins, cyprinids, anabantoids, dwarf cichlids and other similarly peaceful species.

Always try to maintain Cory Cats in groups as they are far more comfortable and confident in the presence of conspecifics. In most aquariums they should ideally be kept in a group of at least six individuals, with a group of at least 3 individuals in smaller aquarium setups. Palespotted Cory Cats do a great job of keeping the aquarium substrate free of excess foods and decaying plant material; as well as, provide plenty of activity at the substrate level of the tank.

As is the case with all species in the genus, Cory Cats will regularly swim quickly to the surface for a gulp of air. The fish swallows the air, which blood vessels in the hind gut extract oxygen from; it is then expelled through the vent the next time the fish breaks the surface for another gulp of air. This adaptation is believed to have evolved so that the fish can survive in poorly-oxygenated water such as stagnant pools during the dry season. It is however essential to the fish's well-being that it regularly swallows air.

The ideal aquarium environment for the Palespotted Cory is one that closely resembles their native tropical river habitat. Basically your typical Amazon biotope setup would be ideal. To achieve this setup hobbyists will want to use a substrate of river sand or a small sized smooth gravel. Plenty of driftwood or tree root along with some low light ground cover plants like java ferns will complete the look.

Ideally dried leaves would be allowed to stain the water and litter the substrate, while this is closer to their natural habitat, it requires the hobbyist to remove the decaying leaves every few weeks to prevent the water from being fouled. Lastly, dim lighting or areas of filtered lighting will complete the look of a tropical stream underneath the cover of a dense jungle tree canopy.

Alternatively, Palespotted Cory Cats also do well in standard planted aquariums and very peaceful community aquariums. Quality water conditions are essential with this species as they are sensitive to deteriorating water conditions and high nitrates. As with all corys, do not use under gravel filtration and ensure the substrate receives some water flow and no large decaying items. Cory Cats are easily affected by poor water conditions, as they live right on the substrate where there is often less water flow and more decaying material and fish waste.

The Palespotted Cory Cat is an omnivorous species that will require a mixture of plant material and meaty foods in their diet in order to provide them all the necessary vitamins and minerals they need. They are very easy to feed as they will readily take to a wide variety of commercial fish foods, algae and decaying plant material.

Some good food choices are freeze-dried bloodworms and tubifex, sinking pellets, shrimp pellets, flake food, brine shrimp, frozen and live foods designed for freshwater tropical fish.