Care
Hog-nosed Brochis are ideal catfish for the larger, peaceful community aquarium. Must be kept on a soft sand substrate and maintained in groups of 5 or more due to shoaling nature. Plenty of shady planted areas should be provided, but as this is a species that loves to dig, attaching plants such as Anubias and Java Fern to bogwood can be more successful than planting into the substrate. Also include some rocky caves and pieces of driftwood to give the fish additional cover. Corydoradinae species 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. As these fish grow relatively large, a deeper than average tank (18" or so) will be appreciated. Ensure the aquarium has tight fitting coverslides as Hog-nosed Brochis are capable of jumping. Good filtration and frequent partial water changes are a must for this species, as they can be rather sensitive to elevated nitrate levels. Ideal companions could include angelfish, dwarf cichlids, tetras, or medium-large peaceful loach species. Handle these fish with care as the sizeable pectoral and dorsal spines can easily become tangled in netting. These fish are usually imported at a length of 5cm or larger, and they do tend to command a relatively high price tag - something to bear in mind as a good sized shoal is required for the wellbeing of these sociable fish. Brochis species can be distinguished from Osteogaster and Corydoras species by the presence of more dorsal fin rays (10 or more in Brochis species, fewer in Corydoras). Brochis multiradiatus differs from the other species of Brochis by its pronounced "hog-like" snout and larger number of dorsal fin rays.
Brochis was a synonym of Corydoras for a time, but taxonomic work saw the genus revalidated. Currently a number of species are in Brochis which are likely to be moved to a new genus following some further work.
Feeding
Sinking catfish pellets/granules/wafers, frozen foods such as mosquito larvae and vitamin-enriched brineshrimp.
Breeding
No detailed reports available, but likely to spawn in a similar fashion to Corydoras.
