Care
The Slate Cory is known only from western tributaries of the Orinoco River in Venezuela. This is a small, peaceful, bottom-dwelling catfish that is ideal for mature, community aquaria. Gregarious by nature, Slate Corys should be kept in groups of 5 or more; this will not only create a beautiful display, but it will give these sociable, shoaling fish much more confidence to venture out into the open. Unfortunately, Slate Corydoras tend to be quite prone to barbel infections/erosion, so it is vitally important that the fish are kept on a soft sand substrate (rather than gravel where waste can build up unseen) in order to protect these delicate sensory organs. Regular maintenance, including frequent partial water changes, should be carried out in order to keep these fish in good condition. Provide some shady retreats amongst bogwood and areas of dense planting, and keep only with small, peaceable tankmates, such as some of the smaller sized characins/cyprinids/anabantoids or dwarf cichlids. 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.
The species name concolor is Latin for "of uniform colour", although this may be considered a slight misnomer because iridescent blues and greens sometimes reflect from the overall slaty body colour, with the fins also sporting an orange tinge.
Hoplisoma was recently split from Corydoras and contains many familiar species.
Feeding
Sinking catfish pellets/granules/tablets, flake, and frozen foods such as bloodworm, white mosquito larvae, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp etc.
Breeding
It may be possible to trigger mature fish (2 males:1 female) into spawning by performing a large, slightly cooler water change. When ready to spawn, a pair should adopt the classic Corydoras T position where the male fertilises the eggs that are held between the females pelvic fins. This species scatters the fertilised eggs over dense planting or onto the aquarium glass. Incubation is approximately 3-4 days (temperature dependent), and once the fry have absorbed their yolk sacs, they will be able to take infusoria followed by baby brineshrimp (Artemia nauplii), microworm etc.
