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Fairy corydoras (Corydoras atropersonatus) — Callichthyidae

Fairy corydoras

Corydoras atropersonatus

The Fairy corydoras (Corydoras atropersonatus) is a freshwater fish of the family Callichthyidae that grows up to 5 cm.

Length
4.5 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Fairy corydoras is a small armoured catfish (Callichthyidae) from fresh water of the western Amazon basin in Peru and Ecuador. The species grows to about 4.5 cm and has a stocky body with two rows of overlapping bony plates and three pairs of barbels around an underslung mouth. The light-brown body is densely scattered with fine dark spots and bears a mask over the eyes. As a gregarious bottom-dweller it roots in groups through soft sand in search of worms, larvae and detritus and can take a gulp of air at the surface. The fish is harmless to humans and is popular in the aquarium trade.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Fairy corydoras?

The Fairy corydoras has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Fairy corydoras live?

The Fairy corydoras lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Fairy corydoras get?

The Fairy corydoras grows to a maximum of about 5 cm.

Is the Fairy corydoras dangerous to humans?

No, the Fairy corydoras is harmless to humans.

Is the Fairy corydoras edible?

Yes, the Fairy corydoras is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Sproetel-pantsermeerval sourced
English name
Fairy corydoras sourced
Scientific name
Corydoras atropersonatus
Family
Callichthyidae
Other names
Fairy catfish sourced

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
4.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Corydoras

More from the family Callichthyidae

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