Albino Cory

Armored Catfish

Family: CallichthyidaeCorydoras paleatusPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

Albino Cories are a good community fish that are hardy, adaptable to vayring water conditions, very active, and they help keep the bottom of the aquarium clean by eating up leftover foods!

Albino cories are well suited for a small aquarium. They belong to the Callichthyidae family of catfish. A full grown adult only reaches about 2.5 inches (7 cm) in length. To be happy they need to be in groups of at least 5 or more fish.  These are a very active little fish will make the bottom of your tank come to life! These are great fish for the beginner fish keeper and are good for signalling deteriorating water conditions.

Though the Albino Cory are not often bred in home aquariums, they will breed rather easily and it is very interesting to watch! The female will drop a few eggs and catch them with her ventral fins, carrying them about to deposit them here and there about the plants and decor in the aquarium.

The Albino Cory is a pseudo-albino variety that has been developed in the hobby trade from the darker-bodied Paleatus Cory, Corydorus paleatus .

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Habitat: Distribution / Background

The Albino Cory is a variety of the Paleatus Cory, which are found in the La Plata river basin in southeast Brazil. These little fish can be found in rivers, tributaries and standing waters. They prefer oxygen enriched waters but will swim up and gulp air from the surface if needed. These albino cories where developed by breeders for the aquarium trade. They did this by selectively breeding the Paleatus or Bronze Corydoras to a colorless variety.  As a result of the selective breeding as well as in-breeding, the Albino variety is almost blind and the fry are slow to develop.  The Bronze Cories in nature feeds on worms, insects, crustaceans, and plants. They are normally seen in schools of 20 plus fish.

• Scientific Name: Corydoras paleatus
• Social Grouping: Groups - Best kept in schools of 5 or more. They are a very social fish.
• IUCN Red List: NE - Not Evaluated or not listed

Description

   The Albino Cory has an amored look to it giving it the common name 'Armored Catfish'.  It is a pinkish white color with bright red eyes. The dorsal, pectoral and adipose fins have sharp barbs that contain a mild poison to ward of fish that may harm them.  These fish can even produce sounds from their pectoral fins.  The clicking sounds are used during courtship and communication. The females of this species are normally larger the the males and will grow to a little more then 2 1/2 inches. Like all catfish, they also have barbels, one on each side of  the mouth that aids them in looking for food.

• Size of fish - inches: 2.8 inches (6.99 cm) - Females are larger than males.
• Lifespan: 5 years

Fish Keeping Difficulty

The Albino Cory is not a difficult fish to care for and can be recommended for beginner fish keepers. They require clean water that is high in oxygen and a good supply of food on the bottom of the tank. If the tank is not established make sure to add algae wafers to the tank for food.

A filtration system that maintains clean water and ensures the entire tank is highly oxygenated will work well. In this regard, surface movement of the water is desireable for replenishing the water with oxygen. These fish do a great job keeping the bottom cleaned of food and debris, making them little living vacuums.

 

• Aquarium Hardiness: Very Hardy
• Aquarist Experience Level: Beginner

Foods and Feeding

   Since they are omnivores, the Albino Cory will generally eat all kinds of live, fresh, and flake foods. To keep a good balance give them a high quality sinking pellet or flake food everyday. Feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen) or blood worms as a treat.

• Diet Type: Omnivore
• Flake Food: Yes
• Tablet Pellet: Yes
• Live foods (fishes, shrimps, worms): Some of Diet
• Vegetable Food: Some of Diet
• Meaty Food: Some of Diet
• Feeding Frequency: Daily

Aquarium Care

Do water changes of 10% to 20% biweekly or weekly, more or less depending on how high the bio-load is in your aquarium. If oxygen levels drop these fish will swim to the top and gulp air and swim back down. If air gulping becomes a common occurance it may be time to do a water change or increase surface water movement, as excessive gulping may be an indication that the water needs more oxygenation. The Albino is more likely to be out during the day and likes higher light levels than most other coryadoras species which prefer subdued aquarium lighting.  Weekly water changes are important to keep this fish healthy.

• Water Changes: Weekly

Aquarium Setup

These fish prefer well planted tanks with twisted roots to hide in. Caves and drift wood make great hiding spots as well. Because these fish have sensitive barbels it is preferable to use a fine or rounded gravel to keep their barbels in good condition. Larger gravel with sharp edges may actually cut the barbels down until they are completely gone. The barbels are also prone to infection from a poorly kept substrate. A regularly vacuumed undergravel filter works well for this fish to keep the substrate clean and the entire tank oxygenated.

• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gal (38 L)
• Substrate Type: Sand/Gravel Mix - Smaller gravel is better.
• Lighting Needs: Moderate - normal lighting
• Temperature: 72.0 to 79.0° F (22.2 to 26.1° C)
• Range ph: 6.0-8.0
• Hardness Range: 2 - 25 dGH
• Brackish: No
• Water Movement: Moderate
• Water Region: Bottom

Social Behaviors

The Albino Cory are a peaceful community fish. They should be kept in groups of 5 or more to be healthy and happy.

• Venomous: No
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Compatible with:
  • Same species - conspecifics: Yes
  • Peaceful fish (): Safe
  • Semi-Aggressive (): Monitor
  • Aggressive (): Threat
  • Large Aggressive, Predatory (): Threat
  • Slow Swimmers & Eaters (): Monitor
  • Shrimps, Crabs, Snails: Safe - not aggressive
  • Plants: Monitor

Sex: Sexual differences

   Sexing is difficult, and breeding is best accomplished by natural pairing.

Breeding / Reproduction

   The Corydorus have a very interesting breeding routine. After bumping the male on the vent, the female will receive the sperm from the male into her mouth. She then discharges a few eggs which she catches and clasps with her ventral fins. She will then swim around and deposit a bit of sperm and just a few eggs at a time in select spots, such as a strong plant, the heater tube or ever the aquarium glass. When she has run out of sperm, she will go back to the male and repeat the process until the spawn is complete. See the description of how to breed these fish in Breeding Freshwater Fish.

• Ease of Breeding: Easy

Fish Diseases

    Albino Cories are extremely hardy and disease is not usually a problem in a well maintained aquarium. That being said there is no guarantee that you won't have to deal with health problems or disease. Animal World is a great source for information on disease and treatments. It is recommended to read up on the common tank diseases, especially ich, since knowing the signs and treating them early makes a huge difference. Cory catfish are very resiliant.

High nitrate levels can cause albino cory catfish to develop infected barbels; this makes it difficult for them to navigate and eat normally. Maintain nitrate levels below 20 ppm through regular water changes.

The best way to proactively prevent disease is to give your Albino Cory the proper environment and give them a well balanced diet. The closer to their natural habitat the less stress the fish will have, making them healthier and happy. I stressed fish will is more likely to acquire disease.

Remember anything you add to your tank can bring disease with it. Not only other fish but plants, substrate, and decorations can harbor bacteria. Take great care and make sure to properly clean or quaranteen anything that you add to an established tank so as not to add new diseases to the tank.

Availability

   The Albino Cory is readily available and sells for $2-$4 USD (2012).

References

• Animal-World References: Freshwater Fish and Plants
• Corydoras paleatus (Jenyns, 1842), Fishbase.org
• Lee Finley, Catfishes: The Complete Guide to the Successful Care and Breeding of More Than 100 Catfish Species, T.F.H Publications, Inc. 2003
• Dr. Rudiger Riehl and Hans A. Baensch, Aquarium Atlas Vol. 2, Publisher Hans A. Baensch, 1993
• Joseph S. Nelson, Fishes of the World, Wiley, 2006.
• Dr. Herbert R. Axelrod, Aquarium Fishes of the World, TFH Publications, 1998
• Richard Geis, Catfish Keeping & Breeding Them in Captivity, T.F.H Publications, Inc. 1996

Available From These Merchants

• Albino Cory : $1.79
• Albino Cory : $3.59
• Albino Cory : $1.00

Albino Cory Corydoras Aeneus Small Offered By: That Pet Place Price: $1.79

Albino Cory .75 1.25 Length Offered By: PetCo Price: $3.59

Albino Cory Catfish Offered By: PetsMart Price: $1.00

Lastest Animal Stories on Albino Cory View all 86 Animal Stories on Albino Cory Add Your Animal Story

-Kenzie - 2004-12-23 Cories are an excellent addition to any community tank! They get along great with all community fish and are very calm, friendly, fish. I love watching them swim in all areas of the tank! They are so peaceful and relaxing! They do best in groups of at least three or else they tend to get quite lonely! Cories are also excellent bottom feeders! They clean all leftover foods that fall on the bottom of the tank with their "vaccumm shaped" mouths! Good Luck to all Cori owners! I love these fish! (but they are very difficult to breed-i have had no luck so far) Reply

Cliff Jordan - 2009-12-04 Here's a trick. If you have plants in your tank, they may desposit the eggs on the plants. If so, break off the leaves of the plants and put them in a floating auxiliary tank (plastic, not the netted kind otherwise the babies will get trapped). The "more brown" eggs will disappear and the white ones will remain. That is because they hatched (the white ones are unfertilized and can be discarded). They will be protected in the auxiliary tank, and you can feed them with Tetra-min baby flakes. Mine literally had 200 babies. As they get older (they are about a week old), I'm losing 10-12 per day. I'm trying to figure if I am feeding them too much or too little. It's a great study in Darwinism (survival of the fittest) as you can see phyical deformities (curved spines, inflated abdomens) and mental sickness (CRAZY fish). They all have different personalities. Fascinating!! Turesa - 2010-12-19 So if my albino catfish laid eggs five days ago and they are still white (on the side of the tank) then does that mean the eggs are no good? Reply

Debi Green - 2009-12-04 I have been breeding Albino Corys for several years. The best approach to successful breeding is to have several breeder nets. Also if you are going to attempt breeding Cory or any other spawning fish, you will need to have methylene blue. It is to prevent fungus on the eggs. You will also need some first bite food. They are much easier to work with. After you have set up a breeder net. Do not put it in the tank until there are eggs. If you get up early enough to watch the spawning going on. This usually happens in the early AM. Wait for at least fifteen minutes after the eggs have been deposited and then use a one sided razor blade, I use a device called a Widget. Most hardware stores carry them. Very carefully remove the eggs from the glass. They will be sticky at this time. Put the breeder net in and very very very very carefully use your fingertips and roll the eggs off the Widget into the breeder net. It will take 3 to 5 days for the fry to hatch. You may need a magnifiying glass to see them. They will live on their yolksac for the first 2 days. You will need to feed them first bites until they are at least 2 weeks old. Good luck. Reply

Debi - 2008-06-15 Hey guys, last week my female cory laid a bunch of eggs on the walls of the tank. I very carefully got them off with a one sided razor blade and caught them in the net. I left the eggs in the net for a few days while I conditioned my old beta tank. One gallon, I guess. I put the eggs in the tank on Friday 06.13.08 well on Saturday night I had two small fry swimming about in there. Tonight I have about ten to fifteen. They are so freakin litte but very cute. I took some regular Tetramin tropical flakes and crushed them to a power in my fingers. I hope it works. Wish us luck! Thanks! Reply

Henry - 2003-09-05 Am so obsessed with them! I have tanks with only cories as they are so enchanting. The more cories there are, the better! Avoid driftwoods with holes as they do get stuck -- mine did! Albino cories looks very classic and when you are feeling down -- they cheer you up by winking at you. Extremely gentle and loves company from other similar sized species. Breeding proves difficult though... A must for all community tanks~! Must feed them on a variety of food. Avoid keeping them with sensitive fishes (discus, etc), and away from sunlight. Reply

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