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Green gold catfish (Corydoras melanotaenia) — Callichthyidae

Green gold catfish

Corydoras melanotaenia

The Green gold catfish (Corydoras melanotaenia) is a freshwater fish of the family Callichthyidae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
5.8 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The green gold catfish is a small armoured catfish (Callichthyidae) from the upper Amazon and Magdalena region of South America. The species grows to about 6 cm and has a stocky body with two rows of bony plates and a green-gold sheen on the flank. As a bottom-dweller it probes soft sand with its barbels for worms, crustaceans and insect larvae. It lives in groups. The fish is harmless to humans and is prized in the aquarium trade.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Green gold catfish?

The Green gold catfish has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly green.

Where does the Green gold catfish live?

The Green gold catfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Green gold catfish get?

The Green gold catfish grows to a maximum of about 6 cm.

Is the Green gold catfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Green gold catfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Green gold catfish edible?

Yes, the Green gold catfish is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Groengoud-pantsermeerval sourced
English name
Green gold catfish sourced
Scientific name
Corydoras melanotaenia
Family
Callichthyidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
5.8 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Green sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Barbels
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
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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