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| PET GAZETTE | AQUATIC
PET GAZETTE |
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SHINING LIGHT
ON CATFISH
Simon Strode, key account manager of Tetra UK,
discusses introducing the Corydoras to customers
A
ll aquariums benefit from
having fish throughout the
water body, for example fish
that swim near the surface
such as gouramis, mid-layer
fish such as tetras and bottom
dwelling fish such as a catfish species. Not
only does this provide a visually active
aquarium with plenty to see at all times but
also helps to ensure all food is eaten.
Catfish are very common in aquariums with
many types being easily available from fish
consolers and wholesalers. To the newcomer,
catfish can appear very strange looking with
big heads, tapering down to small bodies and
a flat underside making their shape ideal for
swimming along the bottom. They also have
an armour plate for protection in the wild and
against rough surfaces as well as small barbels
on their mouths to help them feel around and
find food.
FOR THE BEGINNER
For the beginner, catfish can be a hardy fish
and an exciting addition to any aquarium.
For the more advanced fishkeeper they are a
regular challenge for those wanting to breed
or track down some of the rarer species. Not
only are they easy to keep and very placid
but they are also fun to watch, making
them an ideal choice for fishkeepers of all
levels. Here, we focus on one of the most
common and popular catfish from the genus,
Corydoras; cory meaning helmet and doras
meaning skin.
With hundreds of species to choose from,
Corydoras catfish or ‘Corys’, as they are
commonly known, make an ideal fish to keep
in all types of aquarium from those which
are small, big, community, and specialist.
Although they don’t tend to grow very
large, with the majority reaching just 2-3
inches, they do have a long lifespan and so
it’s important to ensure their environment is
comfortable for them to thrive.
There are around 170 types of Corys
available, some of the most common species
being the Julii Cory Corydoras (Corydors
Julii), Peppered Cory (Corydoras paleatus),
and Panda Cory (Corydoras Panda) which
is named because of its black eye markings
which are very similar to that of a Panda. Many
of the Corys you will find in the trade are farm
produced, originating from South America
where they are native to small streams and the
margins of larger rivers as they prefer slow-
moving water with plenty of plant life where
they are able to forage for food.
If a shopper is interested in keeping
Corys then there are a few areas you can
talk through with them to make sure their
aquarium is suitable.
CREATING THE RIGHT
ENVIRONMENT
It’s important to make sure fishkeepers have
a good gravel cleaner. As Corys live mainly
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August 2017
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on the bottom of the aquarium, they like a
substrate without too many sharp edges. For
this reason, it’s best to keep the substrate as
clean as possible by using a gravel cleaner.
This will help to avoid the build-up of nasty
pathogens where solid waste has not been
captured by the filter, alongside uneaten
food as this can affect water quality leading
to poor health in fish and an increase in stress
levels which can cause disease.
Also remind consumers to ensure their Corys
have a place to hide by placing plants – live or
plastic – into the substrate to provide cover.
trust. A species’ specific diet will provide
optimum nutrition tailored to that specific
fish, as well as providing the food where the
fish is most likely to be feeding. In the case
of the catfish, a sinking diet is preferable as it
ensures food reaches the Corys before other
fish have the chance to eat it, whilst also
staying there long enough without breaking
down so the fish are able to find and enjoy it.
Overall, Corys make a great addition to any
aquarium, providing an interesting species
to watch and learn from, no matter what the
level of expertise your fishkeeper has.
FEEDING A NUTRITIOUS DIET
When it comes to feeding, Corydorsas
require an omnivorous diet which contains
a high content of shrimp and crustaceans to
help them thrive. Although many Corys will
survive off the remains of uneaten food from
other fish in the tank, they will only be left
with very small fra gments which lose their
nutritional value on the way to the bottom of
the aquarium.
Feeding Corys offers a great opportunity
to engage with your shopper by highlighting
the species’ specific diets allowing you to
show your expertise and gain consumer
Tetra has many formulas for bottom
feeders including TabiMin, which
provides a complete and balanced diet
in addition to WaferMix, giving catfish
such as Corys a diet enriched with brine
shrimp and algae. Having recognised
the popularity of the catfish, Tetra
has also recently developed the Cory
Shrimp Wafers which specifically
contain a higher content of brine
shrimp and is rich in essential omega 3
fatty acids.
August 2017