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Freshwater   Fishes

Pink corydoras
(Corydoras axelrodi)

Corydoras axelrodi
Verified by the experts

Thanks to Kyllian. As stated by Horlack's scientific article
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Alternative species (click on the thumbnail to see the card)

Names

Scientific name
Corydoras axelrodi
Corydoras deckeri

Common name
Pink corydoras
Axelrod’s Cory
Axelrodi Cory

Origin

what are its countries of origin?

Origin: Colombia
Biotope: Amazonian

Dimorphism

what are the physical differences between males and females?

The female is larger than the male and its abdomen is more bounced

Group

Group

Callichthyidae

Volume

what is the minimum volume for this species?

80 L / 18 imp gal / 21 US gal

Parameters

what is the minimum volume for this species?

T°: 22 to 26°C or 72 to 79°F
pH: 6 to 7
Hardness: 7 to 20°dGH

Difficulty

difficulty

Easy

Size

what is the maximum size of this fish?

4 to 5 cm (1.6 to 2")

Longevity

what is the average Longevity of this fish?

5 to 6 years

Living zone

in which area of the aquarium does this fish live?

Middle and depth

Individuals

sociability of the species

6 or more

Food

How to feed this Corydoras?

Food

How to feed this Corydoras?

You can offer the Corydoras a wide variety of food. However, they will feed exclusively at the bottom of the aquarium. They must have access to their meals in this area. You will find bottom pellets, sold commercially, that will be a good basis for daily food.

You can supplement this diet with vegetable additions (spinach and poached salad, slices of cucumber...). Remove uneaten food in the evening.

It should be noted that, like all members of its species, it is particularly fond of live or frozen bloodworms.

Distribute your daily ration twice, morning and evening, if possible.

Corydoras must be fed specifically. Indeed, they will not survive to eat the few crumbs of other fish tank. If your Corydoras are struggling to eat because other fish in the aquarium are faster, distribute their meal when the lights go out and watch if your Corydoras eat well.

Behavior

What kind of behavior does this Corydoras have?

Behavior

What kind of behavior does this Corydoras have?

Like all Corydoras, it is a fish that lives at the bottom of the aquarium. Nevertheless, it loves to swim against the current to spend itself. You will observe it doing this in the middle zone of the tank or along the windows.

Its intraspecific and interspecific relations are very good because they are discreet, calm and peaceful.

Pink Corydoras live in groups and will have to live together with at least 5 of their congeners to respect its gregarious instinct (in nature, Corydoras form groups of several thousand individuals!). It is only on this condition that your fish will flourish and feel comfortable in your aquarium. Regarding this point, it is estimated that:
group of 6 to 8 individuals: strict minimum
group of 9 to 13 individuals: correct viability
group of more than 14 individuals: behavior similar to natural

They spend most of their time frantically stirring the ground in search of food or rest.

If your Corydoras are completely inactive during the day, this may be due to a problem of cohabitation (other species intimidated), too few individuals, an unsuitable aquarium or a current too weak. Check these points and you will see your Corydoras activate even during the day!

Even if the corydoras are very fearful, you can, with gentleness and patience, accustom them to your presence. For this, you must always make very slow and very calm gestures. When your corydoras do not flee you, it denotes a level of fulfilment, security and confidence well above normal!

Cohabitation

Who can live with this Corydoras?

Cohabitation

Who can live with this Corydoras?

Pink Corydoras will be able to live in a community aquarium because it ignores the other occupants.

Choose very quiet roommates because Corydoras are easily intimidated by species that are too bright or too big. For example, Ember Tetra will make perfect roommates.

Cohabitation with a Common Pleco (30 cm or 12 inches!) should be avoided because it shares the same area of life and can easily hurt a small Corydoras. Likewise, the presence of other bottom species generates stressful food competition for Corydoras.

Avoid associating different species of Corydoras. Indeed, even if it happens sometimes that two species of Corydoras «merge» to form a group, it remains relatively rare. Thus, a Pink Corydoras and a Corydoras panda will not form a group, for example. So avoid putting them with other gregarious bottom fish. Of course, if you have a large enough aquarium, you can install two species of Corydoras that will each form their own group.

Breeding

How to breed this Corydoras?

Breeding

How to breed this Corydoras?

Breeding of this species is not very common but remains feasible.

The optimum age for breeding your corydoras is around 3/4 years old. Note that the older a female is, the higher the thickness of the eggs. They are thus more resistant and have a better chance of success, considerably increasing the number of fry. Before this age, you can get some fry all the same. If you want to make your corydoras breed, you understand the importance of installing them from the beginning in a suitable and well maintained aquarium, in order for them to live as long as possible, for a regular and successful breeding in quantity and in quality!

If you want a maximum of young Corydoras to survive, you can install an aquarium intended for breeding (50/100 L or 11/22 Imp Gal or 13/26 US Gal). Water temperature at 20/22°C or 68/72°F, and pH at 6/7. You can put some plants that will serve as support for the female to lay eggs (if it does not find a place to drop these eggs, it will refuse spawning). Also install a small filter or air diffuser to provide power and oxygenate the water.

Introduce several males for one female previously conditioned (live or frozen food). Make a good change of water with a cooler and softer water for the aquarium to go down several degrees. Spawning will normally occur the next day. If this is not the case, repeat the operation the next day.

Another alternative is to gently harvest the eggs after the laying in order to place them in an aquarium specific to fry rearing.

For more safety, you can treat eggs with methylene blue, but it is not mandatory.

Eggs are incubated for 3 to 4 days. Note that fry appear less susceptible to diseases on a substrate of fine sand (small layer) than on bare soil.

Fry food: artemia nauplii, finely crumbled dry flakes, infusoria.

Its aquarium

Which aquarium for this Corydoras?

Its aquarium

Which aquarium for this Corydoras?

In general, two parameters are essential for the Corydoras aquarium: a non-cutting substrate and good filtration generating current.

Firstly the soil: it is imperative to use very fine gravel or sand (like beach sand). Indeed, it was discovered in early 2018 that sand played a key role in the oral hygiene of Corydoras. In addition, by swallowing this sand at full speed and spitting it by their gills in order to look for food, the Corydoras get rid of any parasites that could be fatal to them. It is imperative to avoid sharp ground like quartz, which damages the barbels of your fish, and is going to mutilate them completely.

Then the current: more than the length of the facade, it is especially the current that is important in an aquarium for Corydoras. Indeed, they are excellent swimmers and are... athletes! So, steer a strong current on the "middle" area of the aquarium, leave the bottom and the surface with a little less current. You will see your Corydoras feast on going swimming against the current in this area (if no other species intimidates them)! For everyone to rest, lower the intensity of the current during the night or stop it.

Corydoras's aquarium

As for decoration, if you want to recreate the natural environment of the Corydoras Adolfoi and promote its well-being, create a decoration with driftwood roots that will form beautiful hiding places and do not plant too much. You can add alder fruits and dried leaves to the aquarium, which will have a nice natural effect (you will have to renew them before they rot). You can leave on a proportion of 50 to 80% of sand beaches essential for the search, 30 to 40% of wood and 10 to 20% of plants. If your fish are comfortable in your aquarium, they will not hesitate to move. A Corydoras that does not swim is a fish uncomfortable in its environment.

For plants, choose sturdy plants with slow growth and broad leaves. As fertilizer is strongly discouraged in an aquarium in Corydoras, opt for plants that do not require this type of feed.

Whatever your choices in terms of layout, still keep enough sandy beach to Corydoras so they can search the substrate.

Corydoras are quite sensitive to water pollution. Make water changes of 10 to 20% of the volume per week.

Good To know

Find all additional information!

Good To know

Find all additional information!

There are over 200 species of Corydoras! Moreover, it should be noted a risk of hybridization between Corydoras of the same line.

Corydoras are often considered "cleaners". It is true that they are scavengers but they will never replace the work of the aquarist! For example, they do not eat their excrement or those of other fish. Thus, these fish are often bought for "practical" purposes (which remains questionable) to the detriment of their welfare. But you will understand, the Corydoras are nice fish that deserve all your attention!

The Pink Corydoras has no scales, which makes it particularly sensitive to salt, chemicals and drugs. This also requires maintenance, clean water and stabilized parameters (do not introduce Corydoras in immature aquariums). IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED TO PUT FERTILIZER in a container containing Corydoras. If you notice signs of stress, such as fast breathing and then lethargy (stay still, sometimes near the surface), immediately change 50% of the water (provide a good water conditioner). Be careful, the new water must have the same parameters as the tank, including the temperature. If you isolate your sick fish, it may wilt even faster. Try to stick the hospital tray to the main aquarium so that the sick Corydoras can see its congeners.

Like all Corydoras, this species is able to swallow an air bubble on the surface. Indeed, it is a kind of "intestinal" breathing that allows the fish to supplement its oxygen supply when necessary.

Its barbels are used to search the ground for food. It is because of these «whiskers» that Corydoras are called «catfish».

Corydoras are capable of killing a human in exceptional conditions. Pay close attention to their backbones or pectorals! Depending on the species, they have hemotoxic toxins, hepatotoxic toxins, neurotoxic, etc. Did you know that they do not have a natural predator? It is thanks to this weapon with which they are able to kill their assailant in a very virulent way. Even the piranhas refuse to attack the corydoras! Here is a small zoom on their dorsal or pectoral spines:
corydoras spines
As you can see, in the case of a sting, it is impossible to remove the real sting, it’s like a real harpoon. In addition, the corydoras injects at this time a maximum dose of toxins. Rest assured, the corydoras are very much scared, so it is rare that a situation of deadly contact happens. Most of the time, they will flee for such a situation to happen. But be careful when you put your hands in the water!

Use a large mesh net to prevent stuck in it.

According to individuals, the appearance of the Pink Corydoras changes somewhat: the black lateral lines can be 1,2 or 3.

This species of Corydoras is not very common in aquariums. Get in touch with specialised clubs to buy them.

Yours photos!

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