▷ Metal armored catfish in the aquarium | All information and details

Data sheet metal armored catfish

German name:
metal armored catfish

Scientific name:
Corydoras aeneus

Origin:
South America

Size:
Body length 6cm – 8cm

Aquarium

Length:
Length from 60 cm wide and 30 cm wide

Contents:
from 54 liters

water values

Temperature:
25°- 30° C

pH:
6 – 8

GH:
3° – 19° dH

Behave

Area:
middle and lower area

Lining:
Live food, dry food

Behave:
active, peace-loving, adaptable

Number:
Schooling fish, groups of 5 – 10 animals

Difficulty level:
Beginner

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Corydoras aeneus – metal armored catfish – Image 1 | © Fishtopia GmbH

The common German name for Corydoras aeneus is metal armored catfish.

But he will too Green Armored Catfish or Goldstreak Armored Catfish called. Metal armored catfish are six to eight centimeters long.

Breeding of metal armored catfish

Corydoras aeneus Source: Image on Wikimedia Commons License: CC Attr. SA 3.0 Author: Pharaoh Hound

In principle, the general instructions for armored catfish breeding apply.

In order to stimulate metal armored catfish to spawn, the female has to get into spawning condition by being fed almost round. In addition, frozen black and red mosquito larvae are fed from time to time.

The triggering factor for spawning is mostly a rainy season simulation. Metal armored catfish courtship preferably in the evening and after water changes with cool water. During courtship, the coloring becomes significantly lighter and females and males adopt the T-position.

About 15 eggs are laid per spawning session. A total of 400 eggs can be laid in a troop. The eggs are about 1.8 mm in size.

Corydoras aeneus Source: Image on Wikimedia Commons License: CC Attr. SA 3.0 Author: WIKIFAN-UL

Metal armored catfish eat their newly hatched offspring. The eggs will therefore be placed in a shallow dish or bowl after being laid. The largest possible floor area is more important than the height of the container. Of course, a rearing aquarium is only suitable for the young. Disadvantages of a bowl are the susceptibility to water pollution because of the small amount of water and susceptibility to temperature fluctuations.

The bowl can be filled with water from the aquarium. The water for refilling can be taken from the main basin if enough water is changed there. The water must not have high nitrate values. Even slightly increased nitrate levels can disrupt the growth of young armored catfish. If in doubt, it is better to use stagnant fresh water. Pure osmosis water can also be used. Then only after hatching is it slowly hardened.

Unfertilized eggs remain white, fertilized ones soon reveal a black core. Eggs that have turned white are sucked out.
There should be no snails in the rearing tank before hatching. Otherwise they will eat the eggs.

The young have used up their yolk sac 2 to 3 days after hatching. From then on it can be fed with very fine feed.

Suitable first food:

Rearing young metal armored catfish

© Daniel Nimmervoll Fotolia.com

Live food, frozen food and dry food can be used. If necessary, mix the feed with a little water before feeding so that it sinks to the bottom. Snails are added to clean the floor.

Because young fish always need food, they are fed 3 to 5 times a day. The first 1 to 2 days are crucial. If the young starve during this period, they will always remain runts.
On the other hand, you shouldn’t feed them too much because the water will quickly become dirty. Daily water changes of approx. 80% make sense.
When changing the water, uneaten food or dead food animals are also sucked off or brushed off.

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Corydoras aeneus Photo: Viola (Forum)

A thin layer of the finest sand on the bottom of the bowl is important. Microorganisms easily form on the pure pan bottom due to the plentiful supply of food. Armored catfish larvae otherwise easily get so-called brush tails. With a fine layer of sand, the boys’ stomachs seem to be scrubbed enough when they slide over it.

If no bottom layer is used, the entire bottom of the pan must be thoroughly cleaned, ie brushed off, every day.

Depending on the number, the young are placed in a larger container after about a week. Bowls, bowls or small aquariums with approx. 20 liters of water and a fine sandy bottom are suitable. Again, larger floor area is more important than height.

The rearing tank must be well ventilated because the young catfish and possibly the live food have a lively metabolism.

Food for metal armored catfish

Suitable feed:

  • egg yolk
  • Thawed mosquito larvae
  • Flake food that has sunk to the ground
  • Tetra discus food

FAQs – Frequently asked questions about metal armored catfish

What size is a metal armored catfish?

A metal armored catfish grows between 7 cm and 8 cm.

What is the age expectation of metal armored catfish?

A metal armored catfish can live up to 10 years if kept well.