Home / Fishes / Catfish / Imitator cory
No federal permit to keepImitator cory
Corydoras imitator
Fishes › Catfish (Siluriformes) › Callichthyidae (Corydoras and armored catfish)
Brochis imitator, the imitator cory, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging the family Callichthyidae, the armored catfishes, and the subfamily Corydoradinae, the corys.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 2.2 in / 5.56 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 72–79°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 6–8.
- Hardness: 2–25 dGH.
- Layout: Lives on or near the bottom: floor space and hiding places matter more than height.
- Availability: Rarely or never seen in the aquarium trade; expect to source it from specialists or not at all.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 35 × 12 in (roughly 21 US gallons); space needed is rated “large tank”.
- Water: soft, acidic water, 68–79 °F, pH 4–7, 1–5 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament peaceful; a shoaling fish best kept in a group of six or more; suited to a community tank.
- Difficulty: Easy (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Ideally use a substrate of fine sand, although rounded gravel is an acceptable alternative provided it’s kept scrupulously clean.”
- Breeding: “Can be bred in a similar fashion to many other Corydoras species.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Corydoras and armored catfish
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Shallow South American streams. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Soft sand substrate, groups of six or more, and clean water.
Diet
- Sinking pellets, wafers and frozen bloodworms.
Social life
- Keep in groups.
Health watch
- Barbel erosion on dirty or rough substrate.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
This species is found in the Upper Amazon, Solimões, and Rio Negro basins in South America. It was first described by the Dutch ichthyologists Han Nijssen and Isaäc J. H. Isbrücker in 1983, and is frequently seen in the aquarium trade.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Brochis imitator” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater. Stays near the bottom. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 72–79 °F (22–26 °C), pH 6–8, hardness 2–25 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 72–79 °F.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Brochis imitator, the imitator cory, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging the family Callichthyidae, the armored catfishes, and the subfamily Corydoradinae, the corys. This species is found in the Upper Amazon, Solimões, and Rio Negro basins in South America. It was first described by the Dutch ichthyologists Han Nijssen and Isaäc J. H. Isbrücker in 1983, and is frequently seen in the aquarium trade. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Wild diet | Brochis imitator is a foraging omnivore, and primarily feeds on zoobenthos, such as small worms, crustaceans, and insects; as well as freshwater detritus and plant matter. In the aquarium, it will readily accept most sinking dry foods, as well as live or frozen brine shrimp, bloodworms, and Tubifex worms. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Behavior | Brochis imitator is a peaceful and gregarious fish, and well-suited to a community aquarium. Care should be taken not to house them with aggressive fish, as they may get harmed by B. imitators venomous spines if they try to nip them. An unusual behavior that Brochis imitator exhibits is occasionally rising to surface of the water and taking in gulps of air before submerging. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Reproduction | In the aquarium, Brochis imitator breeds similarly to other species of Corydoradinae, such as Osteogaster aenea. In order to facilitate breeding, a sex ratio of two males to one female is recommended. When females are visibly gravid, a large water change (50-70%) with cooler water should be performed daily until the eggs hatch, and oxygenation and flow should be increased. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Appearance and size | Brochis imitator is a small species of catfish, with adults typically growing to a length of 55 to 65 mm. It is sexually dimorphic, with sexually mature females tending to grow larger, broader, and deeper-bodied than males. As with all members of the genus Brochis, B. imitator is completely scaleless, and is instead covered with bony plates known as scutes. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Biology | Facultative air-breathing; Forms schools. — FishBase |
| History and naming | Its specific name, imitator, means "mimic", a reference of this species' similarity to Hoplisoma adolfoi. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Conservation | It has been evaluated by the IUCN Red List as Least Concern. It is frequently seen in the aquarium trade. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 35 × 12 in (about 21 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional diseases of fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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