Care
The Elegant Cory is beautiful catfish that is ideal for the mature softwater aquarium. This is a peaceful species which should be maintained in groups of 5 or more due to shoaling nature. In the wild, G. elegans is known from forest streams and tributaries of the middle and upper Amazon River basin where the water is soft and slightly acidic, so they will always be at their best in similar conditions in the home aquarium long-term. Unusually for Corydoras, this species often spends time shoaling in midwater. However, it should still be provided with a soft sand substrate to help protect the delicate sensory barbels for when it spends time on the substrate. Regular maintenance, including frequent partial water changes, should be carried out in order to keep these fish in good condition. Provide plenty of shady areas amongst driftwood, rocks, and areas of dense planting. Other peaceful species such as some of the smaller pencilfish, tetra, and rasboras make ideal tankmates, and their presence as "dither fish" in midwater will encourage the Corydoras out into view more often. Corydoras have the ability to breathe air intestinally, so a small gap should be left between the surface of the water and the cover slides in order for the fish to come up to the surface and take air in. It may do this numerous times per day.
Gastrodermus was recently split from Corydoras and contains all the elegans group, together with the pygmy corys.
Feeding
Sinking catfish pellets, frozen foods such as bloodworm, white mosquito larvae and vitamin-enriched brineshrimp.
Breeding
This species has been bred in the home aquarium. Mature pairs can be triggered into spawning by performing a large, slightly cooler water change. The female will deposit small adhesive eggs onto previously cleaned plant leaves or the sides of the aquarium glass, with the male then hovering over and fertilising them, and the process repeated. Unfortunately the eggs of this species are prone to fungus, so some fishkeepers like to add a small amount of methylene blue to the breeding tank. The eggs generally take 3-4 days to hatch after which time the tiny fry should be offered finely powdered first foods. A few days later they will be able to take newly hatched brineshrimp.
