Emerald Corydoras Catfish Care Guide

Emerald Catfish
(Brochis splendens)

Common names: Emerald catfish, Emerald cory, Common Brochis.

Size: 8cm

pH: 5.8 – 8.0

Tempº: 22ºC - 28ºC

Tank region: Bottom layer

Origin: Brazil, Ecuador, Peru.

Gender: Mature females are more fuller bodies, especially when viewed from the top. It is ery hard to sex immature Brochis splendens.

Notes: These large cousins of Corys are very hardy and simple to care for, almost identical to Cory care in fact. They need to be kept on a fine substrate (sand is ideal) to prevent barbell erosion (which can lead to mouth rot and other diseases.) This fish is often mislabeled as a Cory but this is no huge problem because it is so similar in it’s requirements.

They are much more suitable for keeping with loaches than Corys as their larger size helps them compete for food where smaller Corys would be outcompeted. They are not scavenger fish like many people believe, they need a proper diet of bottom feeder pellets. Emerald Catfish need to be kept in groups of at least 3. However, they are much more active and happy in a school of 6 or more.


Image credit wikipedia commons

 

Thank you for posting this, they are somewhere in the top of my favorite cory list, even though I didn't know they weren't actually corys until I read this post and I'm glad to find someone else who see's how great they are. I think they are under rated because there are so many flashier cory's to be found, but I happen to find them beautiful in their own right.

I don't know how long they live, but I recently lost my old timers one by one that were around 15 years old and I miss them. I'm now fighting the urge to get more, but I'm currently raising some albino cory fry and once I put them back in the tank with their parents, I just don't think there will be room for more bottom fish. P.S. I do feed the bottom dwellers, they are not just considered clean up crews even though do a great job of it.