Narcissus Corydoras

With the black stripe on its pale cream–pink body that starts at the snout, arches along the back and runs down to the lower lobe of the tail, the narcissus corydoras is the "long-nosed" look-alike of the arcuatus corydoras. It has two clear differences from it: its snout is distinctly long and pointed, and it grows larger (6–7 cm). It comes from the Purus basin of Brazil. Because long-nosed corydoras dig deeper into the sand, the choice of substrate is especially important for this species.

• At least 80 liters for a group of 6–8; a large footprint.
• Very fine, soft sand substrate is essential; the barbels and snout are quickly injured on sharp substrate.
• 22–26°C, soft to moderately hard, clean and well-oxygenated water.
• A 25–30% water change every week; a mature aquarium.

Sinking granules and tablets, frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp and tubifex. It searches out small bits of food buried in the sand with its snout; frozen food supports this behavior.

A peaceful, calm bottom dweller. It sifts the bottom in a group, burying its snout in the sand. It does not harm fish or shrimp.

Good companions: tetras, pencilfish, dwarf cichlids, gouramis, otocinclus, other corydoras.

Avoid: cichlids that claim the bottom, large predatory fish, coarse and sharp substrate.