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Corydoras paleatus, Jenyns, 1842

Origin: Brazil, La Plata region. Uruguay, Montevideo, and Argentina, In a small lake near Beunos aires and Rio Parana. Paraguay, at the border with Uruguay and Argentina.

Etymology: Paleatus(L) means with dappled markings

Synonyms:Callichthys paleatus, Jenyns, 1842. Corydoras marmoratus, Steindachner, 1879. Corydoras maculatus, Steindachner, 1879. Corydoras punctatus var. argentina, Steindachner, 1879. Corydoras microcephalus, Regan, 1912.

First import:France, 1880. The fish were first discovered by Charles Darwin during his voyage at the Beagle.

Description: See picture

Care: Minimum a 40 cm tank, with a reasonable waterquality. One of the hardiest fish available, and extremely adaptable. Very suitable for the community tank and a good beginner fish. The only thing to watch out for is sharp gravel, but even here this corydoras is one of the hardiest, and it's barbs are hardly ever damaged.

Temperature:5-30 degrees

Feeding: Omnivorous, all food is accepted. The fish cannot live on detritus alone!

Size: Up to 7.5 cm(females)

pH: 6.0-7.5

Breeding:Easy, spawns in the typical T-formation. The up to 300 eggs are 1.5-2mm large, and hatch after approximately 4 days. Three days later the fry can be fed on small foodparticles, and after three more days the fry will accept artemia nauplii. Usually a single coldwaterchange induces spawning.

Sexual dimorphism:Males remain smaller.

Prices:1-2€

Additional: An albino form exists, which can be distinguished from the Aeneus albino by longer snout and a bit more slender appearance. See also the albino corydoras page.
Corydoras paleatus is the most southern occuring Corydoras, and can stand extremely low watertemperatures. It has survived Dutch and German winters in ponds!!! Please refrain from introducing the fish in the wild!!

Wildcaught specimens have an elongated dorsal fin extending beyond the base of the caudal fin according to Lambourne, similar to C. steindachneri and or C. macropterus. Unclear is whether or not all these are species or varieties or subspecies, which is a nice thing for the ichthyologists to figure out.

Picture references:All pictures E. Naus

References:Baensch, H. A., Riehl, R.(1982): Aquarien Atlas I. Mergus Verlag, Melle, Germany.(click on the link to buy this book)Hoedeman, J. J.(1968): Aquariumvissen encyclopedie 1. Elsevier Nederland B. V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands.Lambourne, D. ((1995): Corydoras catfish, An Aquarist's Handbook. Blandford, London, UK.