▷ Dwarf armored catfish | Corydoras pygmaeus | All information and details

Data sheet dwarf armored catfish

German name:
dwarf armored catfish

Scientific name:
Corydoras pygmaeus

Origin:
South America (especially in the Rio-Madeira Basin in Brazil)

Size:
Body length 2cm – 3cm

Aquarium

Length:
Length from 60 cm width

Contents:
from 54 liters

water values

Temperature:
24°-26° C

pH:
6 – 7.5

GH:
2° – 15° dH

Behave

Area:
middle and lower area

Lining:
Carnivores (live, dry & frozen food)

Behave:
very peaceful, happy to swim

Number:
Schooling fish, kept in groups of at least 10 animals

Difficulty level:
Beginner

Birger A, Corydoras pygmaeus5333, CC BY-SA 3.0

Corydoras pygmaeus, dwarf catfish, are together with the similarly small Corydoras hastatus, the smallest armored catfish. In nature they live in swarms with thousands of animals.

Requirements for small aquariums

At least 10 Corydoras pygmaeus should be kept together in the aquarium. They should be kept at a ratio of 3 males to 1 female. The females of the armored catfish challenge their males properly. 1 male would be overwhelmed with 3 females because they often spawn in groups.

A small aquarium is sufficient for keeping them. In large aquariums, the animals get lost.

Corydoras pygmaeus should only be socialized with other species that remain small. For example, 54 liter aquariums with Neocaridina shrimp are suitable. It is also possible to keep them together with Heterandria formosa and other dwarf fish.

Sand or gravel with a maximum grain size of 2 millimeters is suitable as a soil.

In contrast to most armored catfish, Corydoras pygmaeus are not particularly bottom dwellers. Although they stay mostly on the bottom, they also swim freely in the water throughout the aquarium.

They can be classified as middle and lower water fish. They like to lie together in aquarium corners or on leaves. Food is also taken from the ground. Fine sand is also dug through in the process. Coarser sand or gravel will not be dug through. They rarely eat at the water surface.

However, of all armored catfish species, C. pygmeaus are the most active free swimmers. In planted tanks they occasionally swim in swarms like tetras through the aquarium if they feel comfortable and the fish in the aquarium are not too big. They often only become active in the evening.

Corydoras pygmaeus are sometimes very sensitive. Mysterious deaths keep happening. Apparently animals from the pet trade are particularly affected. Possibly wild catches are often offered there. Offspring directly from the breeder are less sensitive.

Food for Corydoras pygmaeus

Corydoras pygmaeus only stay agile in the long run if they get live food at least from time to time. But live food should be small. Larger feed animals are better fed frozen.

In an established aquarium, they can also eat bacteria-eating, nucleated protozoa from the soil mulch zone. Bell animals, sun animals, rotifers, parameciums, etc. Possibly also green and diatoms.

Housing conditions for Corydoras pygmaeus

Lt. Corydoras pygmaeus adapt to a wide variety of living conditions and also tolerate high water hardness.

gender differences

The females are slightly larger than the males.

Breeding of armored catfish

With good care, Corydoras pygmaeus reproduce in the autumn and winter months. They swim freely when courting and laying eggs. For hours they almost never look for the substrate.

According to one report, breeding was only successful in very soft and acidic water. Total hardness < 2, carbonate hardness < 1, pH around 6.

Occasional filtering over peat encourages Corydoras pygmaeus to spawn.

They like to spawn on the undersides of leaves, but also on the discs. Suitable aquatic plants are pennywort, water lover, etc. Spawning is often done in the outflow direction of the filter.

Dwarf armored catfish (Corydoras pygmaeus) Source: Image on Wikimedia Commons License: CC Attr. SA 3.0 Author: Sesarma

The eggs are tiny at 1 to 2 millimeters and initially transparent. Even in an easily manageable, tiny spawning tank, it is difficult to spot the eggs. Even if you saw where the female hid the egg.
The boys are even smaller. They are curled black and white and have a pronounced camouflage color. Discovering the hatched fry is almost hopeless and only possible if they are moving.

If eggs are found, they are best collected by hand and placed in a breeding tank that is operated with a sponge filter. There are single-celled organisms as food for the first few days. Java moss is also a good supplier of microfeed, infusoria, etc.

Methylene blue can be used to prevent the eggs from becoming moldy.

Breast man Ektozon is suitable for feeding. Powdered food, eg Tetra MicroMin, can be given later. Freshly hatched Artemia nauplii can be given after a few days. Then vinegar chicks can also be fed as easy prey for the young. Grindalworms are also quite small, and are suitable as food.

FAQs – Frequently asked questions about dwarf armored catfish