Corydoras caudimaculatus Photo: Diane Wilkie
they do not eat fish droppings and they shouldn’t be reliant on leftovers. Corys will readily take a wide range of aquarium foods and should be fed a varied diet. Make sure their food gets to the bottom and is not eaten by other tank mates. They are particularly fond of live and frozen ‘worms’ such as bloodworms or black worms.
Occasionally corys may dart up to the surface, draw air in through their mouth, and go back to the bottom. This is normal and is simply an alternative method of breathing. Aerial breathing is an adaptation for low oxygen environments and is common to corys and related catfish. If the frequency of aerial breathing increases significantly it may indicate poor water conditions.
Corydoras paleatus Photo: Przemysław Malkowski Aquarium World
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