Schwartz's catfish

Corydoras schwartzi, commonly referred to as Schwartz’s Cory or Schwartz’s Catfish, is a peaceful armoured catfish endemic to the Rio Purus drainage in Brazil. It reaches a maximum size of approximately 7 cm and should be maintained in groups of at least six individuals in a tank measuring 60 × 37.5 cm or larger. A soft sand substrate is essential for protecting the barbels, and the aquarium can be decorated with driftwood, twisted roots, and dried leaves to replicate a South American blackwater biotope. Water conditions should be soft and slightly acidic to neutral, with a temperature of 22–24 °C, pH of 6.0–7.5, and hardness of 1–15 °H. Dim lighting and the addition of aquarium-safe peat in the filter further simulate natural conditions, making the fish more confident and active. Schwartz’s Cory is omnivorous and readily accepts high-quality sinking pellets or tablets as a staple, supplemented with live and frozen foods such as Daphnia, Artemia, and bloodworm. It is a very peaceful species suitable for community tanks with small characins, cyprinids, anabantoids, and dwarf cichlids. As with all Corydoras species, never keep it with large or aggressive tankmates. Females are noticeably rounder and broader-bodied than males when viewed from above. Breeding this species can be challenging, requiring cool water changes with increased oxygenation to trigger spawning, with eggs typically deposited on aquarium glass or plant leaves.