Known for unique patterns, lively schooling behavior, and peaceful dispositions, the Corydoras catfishes are perfect bottom dwellers for many community aquariums. They come in many shapes and sizes ranging from dwarf variants such as C. pygmaeus at about 1” to the almost 4” long C. robustus. Most Corydoras species top out at 2” - 2.5,” including the brightly colored Orange Venezuelan Cory, which is the species we will cover in this article. Similar in size and temperament to the popular C. aeneus, this flashy catfish sports a large amount of orange coloration, making it one of the most colorful species in the genus.
Native to only a select handful of river systems, the Venezuelan Orange Cory is certainly not the most common corydoras species. It can be found most commonly in the Rio Tuy, a primary drainage system between the Venezuelan region of Miranda into the Caribbean Sea. It has also been found in the drainages of Lake Valencia and the Rio Chirgua. The Orange Venezuelan Cory is the only Corydoras species found in the river systems it inhabits.
In the wild, these fish predominantly live alongside other catfish. Dozens of L# Plecostomos, as well as a wide variety of pencil catfish and other species of South American catfish. It also shares its habitat with several species of Characins. The waters in which it is found tend to be quite shallow and dominated by catfish species.
The Rio Tuy is the fastest flowing river in the Miranda region for most of the year. Because of this, the Orange Venezuelan Cory is accustomed to rapid currents and a rocky, sandy substrate. Their habitat is found at the base of the mountains and this, combined with the evaporative cooling resulting from their habitat’s high rate of water flow, means that their native waters are cooler than many tropical climates, rarely rising to above the mid-70’s F. This makes the species an ideal candidate for tanks in basements and other cooler locations. Aquarium strains are accustomed to higher temperatures and will do well in temperatures as high as the upper 70’s F provided the water is clean and well oxygenated.
Like other Corydoras species, the Orange Venezuelan Corys are a schooling fish which finds comfort and security in numbers. In the wild they school together in large groups, often with 100 or more individuals in each congregation. As with other species in the genus, they will appreciate being kept in groups...the more the merrier.
These fish are perfect for just about any community aquarium. They will breed with little difficulty using the typical “T” position incorporated by other members of the genus. Females then carry their eggs between their ventral fins until they can be deposited on plants, spawning mops, filters, or the aquarium glass. The eggs can be incubated just like those of C. aeneus. You can find a video of how to hatch and raise corys HERE.
Although peaceful, all Corydoras are predators. They constantly sift the substrate for small worms and other protein-rich organisms. In the aquarium, they readily dine on sinking pellets, flakes, Repashy, frozen blood worms, frozen brine shrimp, and live blackworms. The occasional algae wafer can help balance their diet, substituting for the vegetable content they would normally obtain by digesting the algae located in the guts of the worms and other small organisms they eat in the wild. Expecting them to live as “sucker fish” or “cleaner fish” that will simply survive on the waste at the bottom in their tank doesn’t cut it. It is important to target-feed these guys with protein-rich foods!
