Guapore Corydoras

The Guapore corydoras takes its name from the Guaporé River on the Brazil–Bolivia border. Its pale gray–beige body is finely speckled; its most distinctive marking is the black spot at the base of the tail. Adults reach 3.5–4 cm. Its behavior resembles that of the dwarf hastatus corydoras: it spends much of its time not on the bottom but swimming as a school in midwater. This gives planted aquariums a different and lively look.

• At least 54–60 liters for a school of 8–12.
• Fine sand substrate; open swimming space in front of plant clusters.
• 22–27°C, soft to moderately hard, clean and well-oxygenated water.
• Fit a sponge over the filter intake; small fish can get sucked in.

Fine granules suited to its small mouth, crumbled tablets, frozen brine shrimp, daphnia and cyclops. It also catches food in midwater, but enough food must reach the bottom.

Peaceful and active. Swimming together in midwater becomes more pronounced in a large school; kept in small numbers it becomes shy. It does not harm shrimp.

Good companions: small tetras and rasboras, pencilfish, otocinclus, dwarf shrimp, dwarf corydoras.

Avoid: large fish it would fit into the mouth of, cichlids that claim the bottom, fast and greedy food competitors.