Palespotted Cory Cats (Corydoras gossei) are a peaceful Brazilian species of catfish found in smaller river tributaries of the Rio Mamore watershed and the Rio Rondonia.
The Palespotted Cory is sometimes called the Smokey Cory by tropical fish keeping enthusiasts which probably comes from the greyish color that the species posses on the upper half of their bodies. The lower half of their bodies are white to yellow, and their front fins are often yellow in color. The rest of the Palespotted Cory’s fins are clear.
Palespotted Corys are an active social species that do best in a peaceful community tank with at least 6 or 7 of their own kind or with other smaller non aggressive fish that do not consider them dinner.
These Corys are great housekeepers and do an excellent job of keeping the aquarium free of excess food and decaying plant matter.
An ideal aquarium setup for the Palespotted Cory is a tank that closely resembles their natural habitat. This is a typical densely planted Amazon setup with a sandy or extremely fine gravel substrate, lots of driftwood or tree roots, some smooth rocks and some low light ground cover like Java Fern. The addition of dried leaves will mimic their natural water conditions and stain the water to their liking.
Although they are not nocturnal and are active during daylight hours, Palespotted Corys prefer a dimly lit tank with areas of filtered lighting that mimic the look of a dense jungle tree canopy. They are very sensitive to poor water conditions and high nitrates and require good filtration to keep them healthy. They are highly intolerant of salt, chemicals, and medications. Do not use an undergravel filter with these fish or any of the Cory species.
The Palespotted Cory Cat can be bred by keeping a number of fish together and allowing them to pair off. After the pair spawns, they should be separated from their eggs, or the eggs should be transferred to another system for incubation. In about five days the fry become waterborne and can be fed baby brine shrimp and crushed flake food.
The Palespotted Cory Cat is an omnivorous and needs a mixture of vegetable matter and meaty foods in their diet to give them the vitamins and minerals necessary to keep them healthy and in breeding condition. They feed on worms, crustaceans and insect larva in their natural habitat, but will eagerly accept commercial flake foods, as well as algae and decaying plant matter. Freeze dried bloodworms, tubifex, shrimp pellets, live and frozen brine shrimp, and live tropical fish foods should all be on the menu for these Corys.
Minimum Tank Size: 30 Gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy
Water Conditions: 72-79° F, KH 1-12, pH 6.0-7.0
Maximum Size: 2″
Color Form: Brown, Orange
Diet: Omnivore
Compatibility: Great in community tanks
Origin: Brazil
Family: Callichthyidae
Lifespan: 3 – 5 Years or more
Aquarist Experience Lever: Intermediate