Aspidoras pauciradiatus, Corydoras pauciradiatus
Aspidoras pauciradiatus inhabits the Brazilian rivers Rio Negro and Araguaia in the wild. These catfish are not often found in aquarists' collections.
Aspidoras pauciradiatus is a small catfish, not exceeding 4 cm in length. Its body is a silvery-bronze colour with dark brown or black spots, which form wide horizontal lines in some places. The tail plumage also has dark lines. At the base of the dorsal plumage there is a dark spot. Females are slightly larger than males. Their pelvic and pectoral fins are colorless and the anal fin has several rows of dark spots. In mature females abdomen is much fuller.
Aspidoras pauciradiatus is a peaceful gregarious fish that spends most of its time near the bottom. Aspidoras punctuatus should be kept in a group of at least 6-8 specimens. Suitable for keeping fish aquarium volume of 50 liters.
As the ground to use fine river sand or at least fine sandy gravel, because the fish are constantly digging in it. Also at the bottom to arrange snags and flat stones on the surface which the catfish like to rest.
Aspidoras pauciradiatus is very demanding to the stability of water parameters. These fish can not be started in an aquarium, which has not yet established biological equilibrium. Water parameters: temperature 20-27° C, hardness dH 5-12°, pH 6,0-7,0. Requires filtration, aeration and a weekly change of ¼ of the aquarium water with fresh water.
The diet of the fish consists of a diverse, bottom-dropping, dry food as well as live and frozen Artemia and small bloodworms. The fish are fed twice a day.
Reproduction
Aspidoras pauciradiatus spawns like the other Corydoras.
For breeding, producers (2 males and 1 female) planted in the spawning tank of about 30 liters. At the bottom of the spawning tank should be placed snags and large flat stones. It is desirable to plant broad-leaved plants around the perimeter.
The spawning tank should provide strong aeration of water. Spawning fish stimulate the substitution of at least ½ of the aquarium water with fresh water at a temperature of about 20° C.
Female lays eggs on a flat surface of a stone, plant leaf or even on the wall of the aquarium glass. Immediately after spawning the producers should be removed.
The eggs are incubated for 3-4 days. The hatched larvae feed on nutrients located in their yolk sacs for the first 2 to 3 days of their lives. After this time, the fry are fed with live dust and after a couple of weeks they are fed with artemia nauplii.
