All fish / Callichthyidae

Virginia's cory

Brochis virginiae

Also known as corydoras virginiae, virginia cory, virginiae cory, c. virginiae, virginiae catfish, miguelito cory, c-36 cory, コリドラス・ヴィルギニアエ, 维吉尼亚鼠鱼

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This is a stocky armoured catfish with a pale silvery grey body, a dark band running across the eye and a black blotch at the front of the dorsal fin. It is kept for its calm nature, busy foraging over the substrate and how well it fits into peaceful community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

5.5 cm

Temperature

22 to 26 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

Group of 6 or more

Diet

Omnivore: sinking pellets and wafers, frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and daphnia

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Peru: upper Amazon basin, Ucayali river system

Breeding

It spawns much like other armoured catfish, with the female sticking eggs to glass and plants after a T-position embrace, and a large cool water change often sets it off. Captive breeding is quite achievable, and the fry are raised on microworms and baby brine shrimp.

Good to know

Give it soft sand and clean water, as sharp gravel and high nitrate damage the barbels. In the trade it may still be labelled under its old name Corydoras virginiae, and it is easily mixed up with similar Peruvian species.