Masked corydoras

Masked corydoras
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Callichthyidae
Subfamily:	Corydoradinae
Genus:	Corydoras
Species:	C. metae
Binomial name
Corydoras metaes Eigenmann, 1914

The masked corydoras, bandit catfish, bandit corydoras, or Meta River corydoras, Corydoras metae, is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Corydoradinae sub-family of the Callichthyidae family. It originates in inland waters of South America, and is found in the Meta River basin in Colombia. It was originally described by Carl H. Eigenmann in 1914.

The fish can grow in length up to 1.8 in (4.8 cm). 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 72 - 79°F (22 - 26°C). It feeds on worms, benthic crustaceans, insects, and plant matter. The female holds 2-4 eggs between her pelvic fins, where the male fertilizes them for about 30 seconds. After fertilization the female swims to a suitable spot, where she attaches the very sticky eggs. The Masked Corydoras lays eggs in dense vegetation without adult protection. The pair repeats this process until about 100 eggs have been fertilized and attached.

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

See also

• List of freshwater aquarium fish species

External links

• Photos from Fishbase

References

• Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2006). "Corydoras metae" in FishBase. March 2006 version.