Corydoras habrosus

[Bwhiskered]

I had and spawned Corydoras habrosus at least 20 years ago. A couple of years ago I bought a dozen with the intention to spawn them again. For some reason this group has resisted all efforts to spawn. Yesterday I was surprised to find about three dozen eggs in their aquarium. They do show up at fish stores periodicaly but are usually sick and dying. A lot of the problems are that most catfish do not adjust well with the systems where the water is too fresh and only suitable for African Cichlids and Livebearers.

[jlloydb]

...A lot of the problems are that most catfish do not adjust well with the systems where the water is too fresh and only suitable for African Cichlids and Livebearers.

would you please elaborate on this topic? i have heard mention, by some other very experienced keepers, that a variety of species of catfish/pleco prefer a bit of 'dirt' in the tank. is this accomplished by monitoring tds levels? what is missing for substrate dwellers in "systems where the water is too fresh"?

[Bwhiskered]

would you please elaborate on this topic? i have heard mention, by some other very experienced keepers, that a variety of species of catfish/pleco prefer a bit of 'dirt' in the tank. is this accomplished by monitoring tds levels? what is missing for substrate dwellers in "systems where the water is too fresh"?

What is missing is necessary bacteria and tannins from plant and fish waste. A balance needs to be found between clean and dirty.

[jlloydb]

do all sp. corydora fit into this 'dirty water' preference list, or just a few like the habrosus?

[Bwhiskered]

All corys like clean clear water. Water can be aged without being dirty. An oak leaf in a tank with corys helps to supply the tank with tannin and good bacteria and they even decay and break up after a while leaving crumbled pieces that look messy but the water is not dirty it is still clear and clean.