(Callichthyidae)
Useful Websites:
Planet Catfish
I Love Corydoras!
Cory = helmet, doras = skin.
In this case it was incorrectly used to mean armour (cuirasse) instead of skin in allusion to the dual rows of plates that run along the flanks of this genus.
There are dozens and dozens of species of Corydora. The ones you are most likely to find in a store are Bronze Corydora (c.aeneus), Albino Corydora (also c.aeneus), Peppered Corydora (c.paleatus), Panda Corydora (c.panda). You may also find several other types but the above are the most commonly seen.
Origin - Amazon Freshwater Rivers (Brazil, Venezuela, Peru), South America
Sizes - Average around 3 inches. Some species can be larger and the Pygmy Cory (c.pygmaeus) does not grow above 1 inch.
Feeding - Omnivore, pellets, sinking, frozen/live food taken
Sexing - The females are much wider than the males when viewed from above, relatively easy to breed in captivity if you know what you're doing.
Tank Habits - Shoaling fish, ideally kept in groups of around 6, very social active fish. Make excellent community fish and clean up scraps of food dropped by other tankmates. Need light substrate, sand or small gravel, no sharp gravel as this will damage their barbels. They also enjoy hiding in and around rocks, plants and bogwood