All fish / Callichthyidae

Giant Brochis

Brochis britskii

Also known as britski's catfish, britski catfish, corydoras britskii, britskii cory, giant corydoras, giant brochis catfish, brochis britski, コリドラス・ブリツキー, ブロキス・ブリツキー, 布氏鼠鱼, 大帆鼠

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A large, heavily built armoured catfish with a metallic green to bronze body, a long snout and a tall dorsal fin carrying many rays. It is kept for its size, gentle nature and busy habit of sifting the substrate in groups, making it a sturdy bottom dweller for larger community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

9 cm

Temperature

22 to 26 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

120 litres

Keep as

Group of 5 or more

Diet

Omnivore: sinking pellets and wafers, bloodworm, brine shrimp, daphnia and chopped earthworm

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Upper Paraguay River basin, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Breeding

It scatters adhesive eggs on glass and plants after the typical T-position mating of corydoras-type catfish. Captive spawning is rarely reported and is considered difficult, so most fish in the trade are wild caught.

Good to know

Recent revision of the Corydoradinae moved this fish from Corydoras to Brochis, so it may be sold under either name. It is easily confused with Brochis splendens and Brochis multiradiatus; count dorsal rays and check the snout and the bony plates on the underside of the head to tell them apart, and use soft sand to protect its barbels.