Corydoras barbatus, Quoy & Gaimard, 1824

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Origin:South-America, Brazil, from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo.

Etymology: barbatus, bearded.

Synonyms:Callichthys barbatus, C, kronei, C. eigenmanni

First import:cr

Description:See picture. Fully grown adult males seem to have bristles on the cheeks, which can be seen in conserved specimens. The fish nowadays imported seem to have lost this feature, or have never reached the age when the bristles start to grow. It may also be that the fish described was C. Macropterus, which does show this feature.

Care:A 100 cm tank since the fish can grow quite large. As they occur in very different habitats, no special waterrequirements are necessary. In soft acidic water with high tannin levels the colors are much brighter.

Temperature:18-24

Feeding:May be given larger food as well.

Size:Males 8.0-12.0 cm, females smaller.

pH: 5.0-7.5

Breeding: A 80 cm tank. No special waterrequirements, will spawn in any water. Fry seem to have problems breaking through the thick eggshell in higher pH, so it may be better to breed them at lower pH. Spawning is slightly different from other corydoras, after the T-position is broken off, the eggs are produced. Eggs are layed in large clumps. Eggs and fry are no larger than other corydoras. Hierronimus describes that these fish breed in pairs, not in schools. Other C. barbatus are chased away! Hardness: 2-20

Sexual dimorphism:Males are larger and more colorfull than the females. Fins are longer in the male.

Prices:Netherlands 5-8 Euro for normal fish.

Additional:

Picture references:Pictures: E. Naus

References:Lambourne, D.(1995); Hieronimus, H.(1997).