Salt and pepper catfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Salt and pepper catfish |
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| female Corydoras habrosus | |
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The salt and pepper catfish (Corydoras habrosus) is a small, peaceful fish. It lives in warm, fresh water in South America. You can find it in rivers like the Upper Orinoco River in Venezuela and Colombia. It's part of a fish family called Callichthyidae.
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Salt and Pepper Catfish in Nature
Corydoras habrosus often lives in swamps and flooded areas. These places can dry up during the dry season. When water levels drop, these small fish can get stuck. Their natural homes have lots of fallen leaves and plants. This gives them many places to hide and explore.
These fish usually stay near the bottom of the river. But sometimes, they quickly swim to the surface to breathe air. They use a special part of their body, their intestines, to take in oxygen from the air.
This fish can grow up to about 1.4 inches (3.5 centimeters) long. It likes warm water, around 77°F (25°C). The water should have a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. Their diet includes small worms, tiny water bugs, and plant bits.
Keeping Salt and Pepper Catfish in Aquariums
The salt and pepper catfish is a very calm fish. It can live happily with other small, peaceful fish in an aquarium. Good tank mates include fish like ember tetras or small rasboras.
These catfish like to live in groups. You should keep at least 6 of them together, but 10 or more is even better. A group of these fish needs a tank that is at least 14 gallons in size.
You can feed salt and pepper catfish most small sinking foods. This includes pellets, flake food, and frozen foods. They enjoy things like baby brine shrimp or rotifers.
Reproduction and Breeding
Getting these fish to lay eggs in an aquarium can be a bit tricky. Some people who keep them say that changing a lot of the tank water with cooler water can make them want to lay eggs.
When they are ready to lay eggs, you will see special behaviors. Male fish will swim very close to the female. If there are many males, they will swim around the female quickly. The female will hold an egg under her bottom fin. She is ready for the male to fertilize it.
The female will then pick a good spot to place her egg. She often chooses plants near the bottom of the tank. She likes to put eggs on the underside of leaves. You might also find eggs on the aquarium glass or decorations. Eggs are rarely placed on top of leaves or near the water surface. The male fish that helps with the eggs will protect the female from other males.
See also
In Spanish: Corydoras habrosus para niños
- List of freshwater aquarium fish species
