Common Name: Bronze Cory, Albino Cory (for the albino variety)

Scientific Name: Corydoras aeneus, previously Hoplosternum aeneum

Origin: Trinidad (from Planet Catfish)

Family: Callichthyidae

Average size: 3 inches

Care: These cute critters couldn't be easier to look after. All they really need is good water (as with any fish), somewhere to hide and food. Oh yes, and other cories, as they like to be in groups of 6+. Bronze cories also come in albino, and are one of the few readily available albinos on the market. They are very peaceful fish, and will never nip any other fish. They can also be kept in cooler water, providing they are properly accimaltised (as most you find are kept in tropical conditions). Not to fussy about water params, and are a fairly hardy begginers fish.

Feeding: As with most cories, anything. Suggested foods include- flakes, algae pellets/wafers, bloodworm, cucumber, courgette. Just make sure the food actually reaches the bottom.

Sexing and Breeding: Sexing- Females are larger than the males, and grow larger as they bacome full of eggs. There is also a difference in the fins, but this is less reliable as you cannot always see the fins.

Breeding- Generally easy to breed
1. Condition the cories for about a week with live food until the females are laden with eggs.
2. Do a 20 ish percent water change on the tank with cooler water.
3. Leave them.

The cories *should* go into spawning behaviour, which involves the T position. The eggs are laid on the sides of the tank, the floor... Anywhere really. After the fry hatch, feed on MW, BBS, Liquifry, or whatever, until big enough to take flake. Viola! Your own baby cories. For a ore detailed account, check the profile on other cories.

Here are pics of one of my bronze and an albino too!

A Young 1" bronze cory (look at the styrofoam at the bottom of the picture to scale how small it is)

These are the best corys I have had to watch
They have been the most active breed I have had

here's a picture of my albino cory