The Pygmy Corydoras is a tiny fish, measuring just 1-1.5 inches (2.5-3.8 cm) in length at maturity. They have an elongated and slender body shape with a slightly arched back. Their head is flattened, and they have two pairs of barbels located near their mouth, which they use to detect food in the substrate.
Their body is mainly silver in color, with a distinctive black line running horizontally along their flanks. This line is typically broken up into several smaller spots, giving the fish a speckled appearance. The fins of the Pygmy Cory are clear and transparent, with a yellowish or orange tint.
Natural Habitat
Pygmy Corydoras inhabit the slow-moving tributaries of the Rio Madeira basin in Brazil. They prefer shallow waters with sandy or muddy substrates and are often found among dense vegetation and leaf litter. Pygmy Corydoras are known to inhabit blackwater streams with low pH and low mineral content. They have adapted to these conditions by developing a specialized intestine that allows them to digest plant material more efficiently.
In the wild, Pygmy Corydoras are a shoaling species and are often found in groups of up to 100 individuals. They are a peaceful and social species and prefer the company of their own kind. Pygmy Corydoras have a unique defense mechanism that allows them to produce a toxin from their skin to deter potential predators.
The natural habitat of Pygmy Corydoras is an essential consideration when creating an aquarium environment for them. It is essential to replicate their natural habitat as closely as possible to ensure their health and well-being. A soft sandy substrate and plenty of hiding places, such as plants and driftwood, are essential for Pygmy Corydoras. The addition of dried leaves and botanicals, such as Indian Almond Leaves, can also help mimic their natural blackwater environment.
Keeping Pygmy Corydoras healthy
Pygmy Corydoras are relatively easy to care for and are a good choice for beginner aquarists. They prefer soft, slightly acidic water with a pH range of 6.0-7.0 and a temperature range of 72-78°F (22-26°C). They are sensitive to water quality, so it’s essential to maintain good filtration and perform regular water changes to keep the water clean and stabPygmys are a bit on the delicate side, so it’s best to avoid keeping them with larger, more aggressive fish that may intimidate or harm them.
Special requirements and feeding
Pygmy Corydoras are omnivorous and will eat a variety of foods, including small live and frozen foods, sinking pellets, and flakes. They are bottom-feeders, so it’s best to provide sinking pellets or tablets to ensure they get enough food. They also appreciate a well-planted aquarium with plenty of hiding places and a soft substrate like sand or fine gravel, which won’t damage their delicate barbels.
How many should I keep?
Pygmy Corydoras are social fish and should be kept in groups of at least six individuals to thrive. They are peaceful and do well in community aquariums with other small, non-aggressive fish that share similar water parameters.
Lighting preference
Pygmy Corydoras are not particularly sensitive to lighting, but it’s best to provide them with a natural day/night cycle to ensure they maintain a healthy circadian rhythm. A moderate level of lighting is sufficient, and it’s best to avoid bright, direct light that may cause algae blooms or stress the fish.
Suitable tank mates
Pygmy Corydoras are peaceful and do well with other small, non-aggressive fish that share similar water parameters. Good tank mates include other small Corydoras species, small tetras, rasboras, and guppies. It’s best to avoid keeping them with larger, more aggressive fish that may intimidate or harm them.
Breeding Pygmy Corydoras
Breeding Pygmy Corydoras can be challenging, but with the right conditions and approach, it can be a rewarding experience. Here are some details on breeding Pygmy Corydoras:
- Condition the breeding pair: To encourage spawning, you need to condition the breeding pair with a varied diet of live and frozen foods, such as bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp.
- Provide a suitable breeding tank: Pygmy Corydoras are shoaling fish, so you need to provide a suitable breeding tank with plenty of hiding places, plants, and substrate. The tank should have a pH between 6.0-7.5 and a temperature between 75-79°F (24-26°C).
- Monitor water quality: Ensure that the water quality is stable, with low levels of ammonia and nitrite. Regular water changes of 25-30% each week can help maintain good water quality.
- Observe courtship behaviour: Pygmy Corydoras will typically swim in pairs during courtship, with the male chasing the female around the tank. You may also notice the male quivering and touching the female’s abdomen with his snout.
- Spawning: Once the pair has selected a suitable spawning site, the male will embrace the female in a ‘T’ shape, with the female depositing a single egg. The process will repeat until the female has laid around 30-50 eggs.
- Remove adult fish: After spawning, remove the adult fish from the breeding tank to prevent them from eating the eggs or fry.
- Incubation period: The eggs will hatch within 3-4 days, and the fry will become free-swimming after another 2-3 days.
- Feeding fry: Feed the fry with small live or frozen foods, such as baby brine shrimp, microworms, or finely crushed flakes.
- Grow-out tank: Once the fry are large enough, transfer them to a grow-out tank with similar conditions to the breeding tank.
Breeding Pygmy Corydoras can be a challenging process, but the reward of seeing the tiny fry grow into healthy adults is worth it.
Lifespan
Pygmy Corydoras have a lifespan of around 3-5 years with proper care. However, they can live shorter or longer depending on the conditions in which they are kept.
Distribution
Pygmy Corydoras are native to South America, specifically the Amazon River basin and its tributaries. They can also be found in parts of Colombia, Peru, and Brazil. In the aquarium trade, pygmy Corydoras are often captive-bred rather than wild-caught to reduce stress on wild populations.
Summary
In summary, pygmy Corydoras are a delightful and popular fish species in the aquarium hobby. With their small size, peaceful demeanour, and playful personalities, they make a great addition to any community aquarium. They require a well-maintained aquarium with plenty of hiding places, proper lighting, and a balanced diet to thrive. With the right care, pygmy Corydoras can live for several years and provide endless hours of enjoyment for their owners.
Ron Jones (verified owner) –
A magic tiny Cory. I love these little fish.
Ashleigh Bevan (verified owner) –
Very tiny but active little guy settled well
Raymond Ward (verified owner) –
Beautiful little fish, the packaging was excellent. The 6 I received are doing fine, they look very healthy and have settled in well.
Alan Jones (verified owner) –
Fantastic, 1st class delivery and service from the Abyss team, I cannot fault this company, once my 12 Pygmy Cory had acclimatised , they set about the Algae wafers which had been fed to my Oto’s , and started to shoal with my other Tetra’s… you can’t ask for anymore
Jess (verified owner) –
The tiniest and wiggliest catfish, I love these little guys. I had an existing group that had unfortunately diminished from 6 to 3 over time, and my 3 were not happy. Ordered a big group from Abyss which all arrived in good health and very quickly my three were integrated with the new flock. I think they’re much happier now. They also look gigantic compared to these youngsters.
Thanks Abyss for great communication and care all the way through.
Dr Mitchell Mckenzie –
Adore these little guys. All 8 arrived in fab condition. I’m going to try to breed them in time so hopefully I’ll end up with a nice big shoal of them