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Emerald Green CoryIridescent Plated Catfish ~ Armored Catfish

Family: Callichthyidae

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Brochis splendens

     The Emerald Green Cory has a most intriguing coloration. Depending on the light, this fish can appear a metallic blue or an emerald green!

     Species of the genus Brochis strongly resemble the Corydorus, but they are larger and have more rays in the dorsal fin. The Emerald Green Cory or Iridescent Plated Catfish will generally grow to about 3 inches (8.4 cm), though it can reach up to 4 inches (11.2 cm). Despite its size, this catfish is very peaceful, and recommended for a community aquarium.

     There are three species in the genus Brochis with the Emerald Green Cory or Iridescent Plated Catfish, Brochis splendens, being the most commonly available. All three are from South America and have virtually the same maintenance and feeding requirements.

     All of the genus Brochis are semi-active, with most of their activity consisting of scouting the bottom of the aquarium for food!

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

Care and feeding:      Since they are omnivores, the Emerald Green Cory or Iridescent Plated Catfish 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.

Distribution:      The Emerald Green Cory or Iridescent Plated Catfish are found in the upper Amazon near Iquitos, Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador..

Size - Weight:      These fish can get up to 4 inches (11.2 cm).

Social Behaviors:      They are a good, peaceful community fish. The Emerald Green Cory or Iridescent Plated Catfish swim in schools and can be kept with almost every other community type fish. Because they are very sociable, they are actually happiest in colonies of 10 or more.

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

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:      These fish will swim on the bottom of the aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:      Hardness: 2-30 ° dGH
     Ph: 5.8 to 8.0
     Temperature: 26-28 ° C

Breeding/Reproduction:      Although difficult it can be done. See the section on Corys in Breeding Freshwater Fish.

Availability:      The Emerald Green Cory is readily available.

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I have Emerald Cory fry! I had a pair of adults, the only fish in my tank, and yesterday I saw the tiny fry darting around the bottom of the tank! I am so excited! I have kept fish for about 6 years, and this is the first time that any have reproduced. Catfishes24 2010-01-06
I have three of these in a 25 gallon and they are certainly a joy to watch. They forage for food nearly all day long, as well as swimming heartily back and forth. The two smaller ones are not shy at all and could care less if I'm watching or cleaning the tank, as they will even feed near my hand, and unlike the third cory, they love to swim in the front of the tank. The larger one is a little more timid, though. It's fun to watch them during feeding time... all three of them sharing a wafer. I also have a pleco in the tank, and while he loves his zucchini very much, the cories don't care much for it. kat 2009-01-18
Someone help!!! I have the strangest external parasite problem in my tank. I have Gouramis, one Cory and one Albino cat. The Cory, and ONLY the Cory is affected. It gets these little white dots (no, it's not ich, I've kept fish for 30 years and know what ich looks like), they stick out from the body and get longer like white spikes or threads - not very long, but definitely growing away from the body. I read books, browsed web sites, went to pet stores and asked many experienced people and no one knows. The parasites don't bother the other fish at all. I scooped the Cory out and quarantined it for three weeks. The moment I put it into the quarantine tank, the white organisms were gone - must have fallen off in my main tank? Isolated Cory for three weeks, no sign of parasites and none in my main tank, so put Cory back. A week or so later, white thread parasite worms are back on Cory again. They aren't visible swimming around in the water or on other fish. This time I treated the main tank with chelated copper, general remedy for external parasites. Very shortly after I put it in the water the Cory reacted and the white parasites came off it's body on a clear membrane that separated off Cory's body. Copper treatment is supposed to be good for one month. Parasites recurred a few weeks later. So I just treated again (Sept 28). This has been going on since early July!!! I wish I could identify what I'm dealing with so I can get RID of it once and for all. Has anyone had this experience? I lost one golden gourami, but with no sign of the parasite. The others are okay so far, but get stressed as treated water kills the good bacteria in the mulm layer and water quality is affected by treatment. Albino cat is fine, as if nothing is going on. michelle 2008-10-01
I bought 2 albino corys & 1 emerald green cory together at petco for they could get along & not be alone. Then a few months passed and there were like more than 100 eggs. A few days later I left for a few days, when I came home I saw 2 baby albino corys. justin martin 2008-08-18
i bought 2 emerald corys and i love them. they get along well with my baby muskies (dont worry i wont let them eat my corys). if u r reading this go buy a cory or 2. minimeeminim 2008-06-30
Some of the coolest comments:
My mother has two albino cories and I believe she still has her emerald still. They are a very hardy fish that have all grown up in a 10-gallon tank for a little over 5 YEARS now. I recommend this fish for any tank - Beginner and Seasoned - as this fish is a joy to watch and an excellent tank cleaner. I have yet to purchase my own cories as soon as my new 29-gallon tank is better established. Anna Hobbs 2004-04-05
I have two albino corys, one Julli cory and two emerald corys. They are in a 55 gallon with one pangasius cat, a pearl flowerhorn, a pleco, a banjo cat, and a spotted green puffer. Everyone gets along very well. The corys love to school together and you can tell the albinos are a pair - they are always together. I keep my temp for all of these fish at 78 degrees and feed a very large variety of food. The corys love bloodworms and beefheart! They have grown a lot since I first got them and I add 1 tablespoon of salt per every 5 gallons of water in my tank with no problems to these fish. Everyone in this tank is extremelly healthy and I have not had problems with any of them. Good luck to everyone! Briana 2003-12-19

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