Home    Freshwater Community Fish    Freshwater Cory Catfish    Corydoras pantanalensis

Corydoras pantanalensis

(Corydoras pantanalensis)

Join the Conversation  

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Easy   • Temperament: Peaceful   • Maximum Size: 3"
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons   • Water Conditions: 72-79° F, KH 5-12, pH 6.0-7.5
• Diet: Omnivore   • Origin: Bolivian, Pantanal wetlands   • Family: Callichthyidae
• Species: Cory Catfish   • Aquarium Type: Community

Help Support AquariumDomain!      

• Your support keeps AquariumDomain advertisement free, lightning fast and fully optimized for both mobile and desktop browsing.
• Visit our Patreon page to learn about the exclusive benefits our Patrons receive!

Species Information

Corydoras pantanalensis native habitat, distribution, behavior & aquarium compatibility.

Corydoras pantanalensis originate from the pristine, clear flowing waters of the Western Pantanal wetlands area located in Bolivia. Unlike the typical tannin tainted waters found throughout much of the Amazon, the Bolivian Pantanal wetlands is known for its crystal clear flowing waters and areas and dense vegetation.

While many Corydoras species live in habitats characterized by dimly lit water ways underneath thick jungle canopies and tannin stained waters, the Corydoras pantanalensis is used to living in crystal clear water amongst dense vegetation and under bright sunlight. This makes the Corydoras pantanalensis a natural fit for the typical planted aquarium with its bright lighting and abundance of plants.

The males and females differ in appearance with the males exhibiting a reticulated pattern when mature, while the females lack the reticulated pattern. Additionally, the females are larger than the males both in length and girth.

As is the case with all species in the genus, Cory Cats will regularly swim quickly to the surface for a gulp of air. The fish swallows the air, which blood vessels in the hind gut extract oxygen from; it is then expelled through the vent the next time the fish breaks the surface for another gulp of air. This adaptation is believed to have evolved so that the fish can survive in poorly-oxygenated water such as stagnant pools during the dry season. It is however essential to the fish's well-being that it regularly swallows air.

Aquarium Care

How to successfully keep Corydoras pantanalensis in the home aquarium.

The ideal aquarium environment for the Corydoras pantanalensis is one that closely resembles their native wetland habitat. Basically your typical planted aquarium consisting of a soft sandy substrate, areas of dense vegetation, open swimming areas and submerged wood or root along with typical planted aquarium lighting, would be ideal. Additionally, they will prefer aquariums that have plenty of water flow, which will both simulate their native environment and keep detritus and debris from building up on the substrate.

Corydoras pantanalensis will absolutely love a well maintained standard planted aquarium or a very peaceful community fish aquarium. Quality water conditions are essential with this species as they are sensitive to deteriorating water conditions and high nitrates. As with all Cory Cats, do not use under gravel filtration and ensure the substrate receives some water flow and no large decaying items.

Cory Cats are easily affected by poor water conditions, as they live right on the substrate where there is often less water flow and more decaying material and fish waste. As their native wetlands have a constant flow of freshwater passing through, the home aquarium by contrast is much more of a closed ecosystem, which makes it more susceptible to adverse changes in water quality and chemistry if decaying matter is present within the aquarium.

As with other Corydoras species, Corydoras pantanalensis is a communal species who will want to live in a group of Cory cats and not a single specimen. They would love nothing more than to live in a group of Corydoras pantanalensis, but will also happily coexist with other Corydoras species as well. They will do well with a wide variety of peaceful community fish tank mates ranging from the smallest Tetras, Rasboras and Barbs, all the way to larger peaceful Cichlid species like Geophagus, Blue Acara and Severum.

Feeding & Nutrition

How to properly feed Corydoras pantanalensis and provide a healthy diet.

Their diet should contain primarily meaty foods, with some plant based material in the form of pellets or flakes designed for omnivores. A diet that provides a variety of food items will help ensure that all the necessary vitamins and minerals the fish needs for a nutritionally complete diet and strong immune system are available. They are very easy to feed as they will readily take to a wide variety of commercial fish foods, algae and even decaying plant material. Some good food choices are freeze-dried bloodworms, black worms, sinking pellets, shrimp pellets, flake food, brine shrimp and frozen and live foods designed for freshwater tropical fish.

Click or Tap Photos below for Full Size Photos

Click or tap the images below to view full size images, then click or tap off the image to shrink again.

Follow AquariumDomain.com on Social Networks