Description
Like all corys, this fish is a small, peaceful, bottom-dwelling catfish that is ideal for mature, softwater community aquaria. Gregarious by nature, corys should be kept in groups of 5 or more; this will not only create a beautiful display, but it will give these sociable, shoaling fish much more confidence to venture out into the open. Like all of its kin, this fish is best kept on a soft sand substrate where it can root around and forage without risk to its barbels which can be damaged by abrasion and bacterial infections from the accumulated waste that often builds up in coarse gravel. Regular maintenance, including frequent partial water changes, should be carried out in order to keep these fish in good condition. Provide some shady retreats amongst bogwood and areas of dense planting, and keep only with small, peaceable tankmates, such as some of the smaller sized characins/cyprinids/anabantoids or dwarf cichlids. Corydoras have the ability to breathe air intestinally, so a small gap should be left between the surface of the water and the cover slides in order for the fish to come up to the surface and take air in. It may do this numerous times per day.
This catfish is similar in markings to the Three-lined cory (Hoplisoma trilineatus). However, C102 grows larger and has a longer snout. Confusion with the more finely-spotted Brazilian B. leopardus is far more likely, with differences in pattern and location being the best way to separate young fishes. Like many Peruvian fishes, they are frequently imported via Colombia and are usually offered as Leopard corys. Recent work on the previously enormous genus Corydoras has moved this species into Brochis, reflecting a close kinship despite some differences such as numbers of dorsal fin rays and a lack of senior synonyms used for the other groups/lineages of former Corydoras species. Further studies will probably result in this fish being placed in a new genus.
