FishProfiles.com Message Forums

What's the lifespan of a pepper cory? my guys are getting kinda old now and i lost one of them a few weeks ago. they do spend a lot more time resting then they used too. they're not sick i think. no rapid breathing, no loss of apetite. just tired i guess. maybe i should turn the current down but then my widows wouldnt like that.

I read somewhere that the life span of Peppered Corydoras is about 10 years.


http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos
http://www.geocities.com/s8xi5heh/classic_blue.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buzaqq/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

yup...peppered cory has a long lifespan....somewhere around 10 or even up to 15 yrs.

well my guys arent that old. is that average age or maximum?

They live between 10-15 years.


http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos
http://www.geocities.com/s8xi5heh/classic_blue.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buzaqq/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

Peppered Corydoras (Corydoras paleatus).

The common name is Peppered Cory but the scientific name is Corydoras paleatus. They come from the Callichthyidae family & they live in the coastal rivers in Uruguay and Brazil as well as the Lower Rio Paraná basin. Their life span is about 10-15 years & can reach a size of 5/6cm & in the wild they eat some algae and lower plants as well as insects, crustaceans, and worms. They can take flakes and pellets in captivity, especially those that are earmarked for Corydoras. Shrimp pellets are also greedily attacked. They will take Tubifex and bloodworms greedily, whether they are alive or commercially prepared. The ideal water temperature is 20 to 24 degrees Celsius & the water chemistery has to be soft, but they can be acclimated to a wide range of water conditions. They accept a pH of 6.0-7.0 & they prefer slightly acidic to Neutral water. . Like many fish which are tank bred, they can be acclimatized to a ph slightly outside this range if carried out slowly and carefully.

They are among the "scaleless fishes", so this needs to be considered when adding medication to the tank. They are also able to utilize atmospheric oxygen with their intestines (but this does not mean that water changes may be ignored). The most prominent features of this species, however, are both their barbels and the eyes, which can sometimes be observed in a motion somewhat like a wink.

These are peaceful shoaling fish. While they have been implicated in the deaths of tank mates, it has been said that if a Corydoras is seen snacking on a tank mate, one can rest assured that the Corydoras didn't kill it. They need a shoal of 6+ conspecifics in order to feel comfortable in their surroundings and in order for you to see the range of corydoradine interactions.

Corydoras sense food by smell more often than by sight. This is important for two reasons. For one, they need to have the barbels remain relatively intact, as these are their olfactory sensors. And, secondly, a Corydoras that won't eat when it is immediately chow time may not know that such is the case. I have seen many a time when a Corydoras can have pellets dropped almost literally on top of them and not find it until ten minutes later.

Corydoras will dash to the top to take gulps of air, though they should not be doing this on a frequent basis. One of the first signs that a water change is overdue is the Corydoras taking disproportionate top runs. They prefer planted aquariums with calm water.

The females are slightly larger than males and are more rounded. To breed these Corydoas you must lower the temperature and barometric pressure, when done in conjunction with water changes, may very well induce spawning. Another trick is the feeding of live foods, especially Tubifex and finely chopped earthworms. Two or three males to one female seem to be the optimal rate for successful spawning. Males will pursue the females until they show interest. The female(s) will then clean surfaces (mostly plant surfaces and the glass sides of the tank). There is then more courtship -- the male rubs against the female and touches her head with his barbels. Finally, they start the classic "T-position" during vibrations, which dislodge some eggs into the basket, which the female has made with her ventral fins. They're then fertilized and the female places them throughout the aquarium. There is a quick rest and then the males advance on the females once again. This continues for a few hours (two to three, usually) and the female deposits between 100 to 300 eggs. The parents do not disturb the eggs or fry if well fed, but they might be removed after the spawning so that the fry can be reared separately from their parents. The eggs darken over their five to six day incubatory period. Finally the wrigglers emerge and feed on infusoria for a little while. Supplemental feedings, like microworms can be fed within the first week.

It is truly easier to have success with corydoras if they are not treated as scavengers but as community inhabitants of their own right.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com