Bronze corydoras

The bronze corydoras is one of the most widely kept and recognisable catfish in the freshwater hobby, currently treated as Osteogaster aenea, with Corydoras aeneus retained as its familiar older name. Its common name comes from the greenish-bronze iridescence that sweeps across its flank when light catches it just right, set against a pale cream underbelly. Like all corydoras, it is armoured with overlapping bony plates rather than scales and uses its whisker-like barbels to sift through soft substrate for food.

Bronze cories are peaceful, social catfish; keep a group of four to six or more. In a group they are endlessly entertaining — constantly resting on leaves, glass, and each other, occasionally darting to the surface for a gulp of air (corydoras can breathe atmospheric oxygen via their highly vascularised hindgut). They are generally compatible with suitable peaceful community fish and make excellent bottom-dwelling companions for tetras, rasboras, gouramis, and dwarf cichlids. Being true omnivores, they accept sinking pellets, wafers, and frozen foods with equal enthusiasm. A varied diet that includes bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp keeps them active and healthy.

Provide a base of at least 80 × 30 cm; allow more space for larger groups, with a soft sand substrate that protects their sensitive barbels — rounded gravel is an acceptable alternative if kept very clean; avoid sharp or dirty substrate. Keep water at 22–26°C and pH 6.0–8.0. They spawn readily in captivity: the classic 'T-position' mating embrace is followed by the female holding eggs between her pelvic fins before attaching them to a selected surface. Eggs hatch in about three to four days; after absorbing their yolk sacs the fry need appropriately small foods such as microworms or Artemia nauplii.