Day 367#: Emerald Catfish
Today's animal of the day is the Emerald Catfish (Brochis splendens)!
Photo credit: simplyfis.store
This species of freshwater fish can be found in the upper parts of the Amazon River Basin and is a member of the Corydoras subfamily of catfish. The scales of these fish reflect a metallic green color and, depending on the lighting, can also look blue or bluish-green. The females of this species are typically larger than the males and have pinkish bellies, while those of the males are yellowish. This species looks very similar to the bonze corydoras (Osteogaster aenea), but is usually larger with stouter bodies and more pointed snouts.
Photo credit: aquaticarts.com
These catfish inhabit slow-moving portions of the Amazon River and prefer areas close to the riverbank and with lots of aquatic vegetation for them to hide in. These patches of water plants not only provide a place for the adults to hide from predators, which their coloration helps with, but also make for an amazing place to hide their eggs since this species doesn't guard or care for their eggs once they are laid. Their diet consists of worms, small crustaceans, and aquatic insect larvae that they find amongst the plants and the river bottom.
Photo credit: aquaticarts.com
Corydoras catfish are quite popular in the aquarium hobby, since many species (including this one) get along great with other similarly-sized species of fish and have relatively simple care requirements. However, "relatively simple" doesn't mean you can just stick them in a fish bowl with some gravel and call it a day. They are schooling fish and need to be kept in groups of at least three individuals, though they'd prefer six or more. It's recommended that, because of their size (2.5-3 inches long) and social needs, they are kept in no less than a 20-gallon tank, with 30-gallons or larger being better for larger groups. Since they spend most of their time swimming along the tank bottom, you'll need to use a softer type of substrate, and just like in the wild, they need lots of aquatic plants in their tanks to feel safe.
