Scientific Name: Corydoras zygatus
Common name: Black Band Cory
Temperature: 22 - 26C
pH: 6.8-7.2
Care level- Quite easy.
Temperament: Very peaceful; will never injure or hurt another fish. Don’t keep them with any large or aggressive fish.
Size- Females up to 3in. (7.5cm.), and males up to 2.5in (about 6.5cm.).
Diet- Will eat a wide variety of food, but are not scavengers as some people are misled to believe. A good staple diet would be shrimp pellets (Hikari Sinking Wafers work even better if your willing to pay a little more), flakes, and tubifex worms. Should also be given algae/veggie wafers and blood worms sometimes.
Minimum tank size- 20 gallons
C. zygatus is a large species of Corydoras that suits a medium to large sized community tank. They aren't that common in most places, and make sure you do not get them confused with a similar looking species, Corydoras rabauti. They do best if you have many hiding places, preferably driftwood/bog wood and plants. Sand substrate is the best, but smooth gravel also works.
Make sure you always get at least three C. zygatus, since, like other species of Corydoras, they are very social animals and need to be kept in groups. They’ll also be much more entertaining to watch if kept in groups. The females tend to be larger and plumper then males when fully grown. These cories breed in the same fashion as other Corydoras do. C. zygatus are relatively easy to breed if given proper conditions.
Like all species of Corydoras, Black Band Cories have protective ‘armor’ and a spine in their dorsal fin to protect them from predators, since, otherwise they would be defenseless. But in the aquarium setting please never put them in a situation where they’ll have to use their defences.
Corydoras zygatus are a great addition if you are looking for a large, attractive Cory.
By Matt M.
Picture of large female C. zygatus.
