Care
The Yellowfin Elegans Cory is beautiful smaller catfish that may be a regional variation of G. elegans.
This is a peaceful species which should be maintained in groups of 5 or more due to shoaling nature. In the wild, this fish is found in forest streams and tributaries where the water is soft and slightly acidic, so they will always be at their best in similar conditions in the home aquarium long-term. Unusually for Corydoras, this species often spends time shoaling in midwater. However, it should still be provided with a soft sand substrate to help protect the delicate sensory barbels for when it spends time on the substrate. Regular maintenance, including frequent partial water changes, should be carried out in order to keep these fish in good condition. Provide plenty of shady areas amongst driftwood, rocks, and areas of dense planting. Other peaceful species such as some of the smaller pencilfish, tetra, and rasboras make ideal tankmates, and their presence as dither fish in midwater will encourage the Corydoras out into view more often. Corydoras have the ability to breathe air intestinally, so a small gap should be left between the surface of the water and the cover slides in order for the fish to come up to the surface and take air in. It may do this numerous times per day.
Work is needed to determine whether this attractive fish is a distinct species but whatever the outcome of such studies, it would be wise to avoid keeping it alongside close relatives in the elegans complex. Like its close kin, males develop contrasting colouration as they mature and come into spawning condition. May also be seen as Yellow Cory.
Gastrodermus was recently split from Corydoras and contains all the elegans group, together with the pygmy corys.
Feeding
Sinking catfish pellets, frozen foods such as bloodworm, white mosquito larvae and vitamin-enriched brineshrimp.
Breeding
This species has been bred in the home aquarium. Mature pairs can be triggered into spawning by performing a large, slightly cooler water change. The female will deposit small adhesive eggs onto previously cleaned plant leaves or the sides of the aquarium glass, with the male then hovering over and fertilising them, and the process repeated. Unfortunately the eggs of this species are prone to fungus, so some fishkeepers like to add a small amount of methylene blue to the breeding tank. The eggs generally take 3-4 days to hatch after which time the tiny fry should be offered finely powdered first foods. A few days later they will be able to take newly hatched brineshrimp.
