Bluespotted corydoras

Bluespotted corydoras
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Callichthyidae
Subfamily:	Corydoradinae
Genus:	Corydoras
Species:	C. melanistius
Binomial name
Corydoras melanistius Regan, 1912

The bluespotted corydoras, blacksail corydoras, blackspotted corydoras, dotted corydoras, Guiana cat, or Guiana corydoras, Corydoras melanistius, is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Corydoradinae sub-family of the Callichthyidae family. It originates in inland waters in South America, and is found in the coastal rivers of French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname. It was originally described by C. Tate Regan in 1912. The specific epithet melanistius means black sail, referring to the dorsal fin.

The fish will grow in length up to 5.1 centimeters (2.0 inches). It lives in a tropical climate in water with a 6.0 - 8.0 pH, a water hardness of 2 - 25 dGH, and a temperature range of 22 - 26 °C (72 - 79 °F). It feeds on worms, benthic crustaceans, insects, and plant matter. It lays eggs in dense vegetation and adults do not guard the eggs. The female holds 2-4 eggs between her pelvic fins, where the male fertilizes them for about 30 seconds. Only then does the female swim to a suitable spot, where she attaches the very sticky eggs. The pair repeats this process until about 100 eggs have been fertilized and attached.

The bluespotted corydoras is of commercial importance in the aquarium trade industry.

See also

• List of freshwater aquarium fish species

External links

• Photos at Fishbase

References

• Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2006). "Corydoras melanistius" in FishBase. March 2006 version.
• William T. Innes (1966). Exotic Aquarium Fishes, 19th Edition. Maywood, New Jersey: Metaframe Corporation, Division of Mattel, Inc.. p. 249.