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No federal permit to keepEmerald catfish
Corydoras splendens
Fishes › Catfish (Siluriformes) › Callichthyidae (Corydoras and armored catfish)
The emerald catfish (Brochis splendens) is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging the family Callichthyidae, the armored catfishes, and the subfamily Corydoradinae, the corys.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 3.9 in / 9.9 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 72–82°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 5.8–8.
- Hardness: 2–30 dGH.
- Layout: Lives on or near the bottom: floor space and hiding places matter more than height.
- Diet: A predator: feed meaty foods sized to its mouth (frozen fish, shrimp, worms); it will eat tankmates that fit in its mouth. FishBase classes it as a carnivore.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 47 × 18 in (roughly 64 US gallons); space needed is rated “large tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 68–82 °F, pH 5–8, 2–15 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament peaceful; a shoaling fish best kept in a group of six or more; suited to a community tank.
- Difficulty: Easy (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Ideally use a substrate of fine sand, although rounded gravel is an acceptable alternative provided it is kept scrupulously clean.”
- Breeding: “Eggs are laid close to the water surface and are easy to remove elsewhere for raising.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Corydoras and armored catfish
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Shallow South American streams. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Soft sand substrate, groups of six or more, and clean water.
Diet
- Sinking pellets, wafers and frozen bloodworms.
Social life
- Keep in groups.
Health watch
- Barbel erosion on dirty or rough substrate.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
This species is found in the Amazon Basin in South America. It has traditionally been known as Corydoras splendens.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Emerald catfish” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater. Stays near the bottom. Inhabits sluggish waters with dense vegetation. Occurs in shallow muddy waters. Feeds on insect larvae, worms and small crustaceans. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 72–82 °F (22–28 °C), pH 5.8–8, hardness 2–30 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Wild diet | Hunting macrofauna (predator). |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: brood hiders. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 72–82 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 90°F (up to 92°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 68°F (down to 59°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 77–80°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 77–84% on average (driest month about 79%) |
| Rainfall | about 2260 mm a year |
Measured at 54 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | The emerald catfish (Brochis splendens) is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging the family Callichthyidae, the armored catfishes, and the subfamily Corydoradinae, the corys. This species is found in the Amazon Basin in South America. It has traditionally been known as Corydoras splendens. The fish has appeared on a stamp in Brazil. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Reproduction | In captivity, female collects the eggs in her pelvic fin basket and pastes them individually to plants and other objects. The two pairs reportedly produce about 900-1100 eggs. Another female spawned about 830 eggs. — FishBase |
| Appearance and size | Depending upon the angle of lighting, the fish's body reflects a metallic green, blue-green, or even a bluish color. The ventral area is yellowish with the pectoral, ventral, and anal fins yellowish and the dorsal, caudal, and adipose fins a translucent brownish. The females are larger and more robust than the males, and have a more pinkish belly as opposed to the more yellowish one for the males. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Biology | Facultative air-breathing; Inhabits sluggish waters with dense vegetation. Occurs in shallow muddy waters. Feeds on insect larvae, worms and small crustaceans. — FishBase |
| History and naming | It was originally described as Callichthys splendens by François Louis de la Porte, comte de Castelnau in 1855. This species was once also commonly called Brochis coeruleus. W. A. Gosline was the first to suspect that the two species were the same in 1940, but it was actually Nijssen & Isbrücker, in 1970, who combined the two, giving sufficient reasons for doing so. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Typical adult weight
Average adult body mass in each database (FishBase gives the maximum recorded weight).
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 47 × 18 in (about 64 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional diseases of fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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