Written by Kevin Korotev for the SPLASH, the official publication of the Milwaukee Aquarium Society, INC.
Kkorotev@ameritech.net

Let me get my list out of the way, first thing. You’ve read this before. If there are secrets to the successful spawning of Corydoras, Brochis or Aspidoras catfish, They may be found in here somewhere:

1) If you can get past the ethical issues: Have some tank raised males in the group, as they SEEM more likely to inititate the spawning process.

2) Be ready with plenty of good live and/or frozen food when the females FIRST ripen. It seems expotentially harder the longer you/they wait.

3) Keep them cool (under 78 degrees) and change their water (with still cooler water) regularly.

4) Keep a regular, but moderate 'current'. I used a sponge fitted powerhead.

5) Keep the pH under 7.0

6) Have a big group.

Use black worms with caution. They can help trigger a spawn or a disaster. I suspect any food can go bad, but this one, so readily used to trigger catfish, can...in my opinion; be deadly on occasion.

Of the two fish included in this article, this was the easy one. Surprise! Brochis are not supposed to spawn readily. This "bad rap" may begin with fact that Brochis get larger than most Corydoras and fewer people keep them. They are not cute little scavengers. You have to WANT Brochis.

Mine were about a year and a half old before spawning began. They were nearly three inches in length (not THAT big!) and the females were lit up like Christmas. The emerald irridescence on the body set-off the glowing pink bellies. I had no idea this fish was so attractive.

If there was any special factor needed to induce a spawn, it was the water conditions. Mine seemed to need straight Milwaukee tap water. Anything softer would shut them right down. Brochis splendens is a true egg scatterer and the eggs measure nearly as big as barbatus eggs. You can clearly see them when you enter the room. On one occasion, I came home from work to find over 400 eggs from 3 simultaneously spawning females.

The fry’s appearance was another pleasant surprise. They get a masted dorsal fin that is nearly as tall as their little bodies are long. Tones of green, brown and black radiate from the base of the dorsal in a fan pattern. The bodies are marbled until about 4 weeks. If they stayed this color they would easily be one of the most sought after catfish, as they are truly stunning.

These are the most reluctant Corydoras I’ve ever worked with. So much so that I need to submit 2 generations worth of fry to get the 5 required fish! It has been a journey of nearly two years and a dozen mysterious deaths. I will admit that the 7^th point on my list may offer some clue to solving these.

Corydoras concolor, in the right conditions, is beautiful. They’re not the unmarked dirt colored catfish you often see in the stores…IF you see them in stores. Typically you would not expect to keep them under the conditions I eventually did: soft water at about 80 degrees! Once settled in, they will take on the color of dark chocolate. Their sides flash an almost steel blue in contrast to their nearly rust colored fins. Con-color is not entirely appropriate.

My first fruitful spawn was in late 1999. Two of the fish I submit are the only survivors from that passle of 20 or so fry. Shortly after that one and only spawn, the females of the group died one by one. I’ve had this happen twice now with Corydoras groups. The females just…die. During 2000 I raised 2 young and 4 males.

By early spring of this year, 2001, I had a rowdy group of males but hadn’t raised nor found a female. I turned once again to Eric Bodrock of Pittsburgh and asked if he had any adult females. He did, but only one.

It took a few months, but Eric’s female came through late this summer with a spawn nearly identical in size to the first (and only other one). Again, there were about 20 eggs and fry.

This time I did manage to raise 4 to the requisite 45 days and submit them.

I could very well have had a little more luck, as I know Eric has, if I’d followed my own rule #6. It can be difficult though when you’re dealing with a fish that is hard to find even in a great fish-store-town like Milwaukee.