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Has anyone had any success breeding corydoras sterbai? I've got a small group, which are quite large now and I'm hoping to breed them soon. What did you do/how did you get them to breed?

No doubt they are harder than aenus (mine even spawn in the community tank), but do the sterbais need the whole 'wet season' imitation thing?

Thanks for any help

I haven't bred them, but I can probably help you a bit based on the information I've read...

Corydoras sterbai are indeed somewhat tougher to spawn than C. aeneus, but spawns have been reported in home aquaria with some frequency. They aren't too difficult to breed, especially when you compare this species to certain others of Corydoras. It's definitely a good idea to have the spawning group in its own tank. Conditioning the fish is important; live and frozen worms and brine shrimp are of course devoured. The females should become nice and plump during the process. Many times a spawn can be induced merely by a large water change, with the replacement water being three to five degrees C cooler than the tank water. Ian Fuller (A Corydoras expert) typically changes thirty percent of the water weekly in his cory breeding tanks. You shouldn't necessarily need to imitate the dry season to wet season change to spawn your cories.

Hope that puts you on the right track.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Although sterbai differs from Pandas susbstantially in several respects, my notes on pandas should be applicable here, because sterbai will appreciate the same care and attention as Pandas. As Sirbooks said above, live foods will be VERY helpful in conditioning your fishes if you can obtain supplies. If the aquarium is subject to a diligent water change and gravel vac régime, then this too will be a major inducement to spawn. If your stock consists of aquarium bred individuals, then they will be easier to induce to spawn than wild caught specimens (as is always the case with Corydoras).

My Panda article is here. Take note where the similarities with your sterbai end and the differences begin, and modify the information contained therein accordingly.


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Thanks for the help. My group of four sterbai are definitely at the age to begin breeding, however I'm concerned about the male:female ratio. Maybe I should add a couple more?

Calilasseia, your article is very good and I'm sure it will come in handy. Pandas have always been a favourite of mine, but the group I had before slowly died one by one over a period of about 6 months.. not sure what happened there.

How many males and females do you have? Two males to every female is a typical ratio that works well with many species of Corydoras.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."