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No federal permit to keep

Kane's cory

Corydoras kanei

Fishes › Catfish (Siluriformes) › Callichthyidae (Corydoras and armored catfish)

Hoplisoma kanei, Kane's cory, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Corydoradinae, the corys, of the family Callichthyidae, the armoured catfishes.

Aquarium hobby
Experience: Beginner
Kane's cory
Photo: Haplochromis, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
FamilyCorydoras and armored catfish
Adult lengthup to 2 in
WaterFreshwater
HabitatLives in freshwater. Stays near the bottom

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 1.5 in / 3.8 cm).
  • Water: Freshwater.
  • 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: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 68–79 °F, pH 5.5–7.5, 2–10 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

Group care guide

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.

Sources 117119164118

Diet

  • Sinking pellets, wafers and frozen bloodworms.

Sources 117119164118

Social life

  • Keep in groups.

Sources 117119164118

Health watch

  • Barbel erosion on dirty or rough substrate.

Sources 117119164118

Understanding the animal

This species is part of a group that hobbyists, aviculturists or zoos keep widely (Corydoras and armored catfish), so it's included for completeness. It may be rare in captivity itself, or not kept at all. Use the group guide as a starting point and look for species-specific advice from experienced keepers.
About this animal

About this animal

This catfish is endemic to Brazil where it is found in the Negros River basin. It is externally similar to H. atropersonatum, but its spots are denser and unlike the former, it has caudal markings - markings on its tail fins.

Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Hoplisoma kanei” (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 livesLives in freshwater. Stays near the bottom.
Water it lives inFreshwater.
ClimateTropical climate.
  1. FishBase species summary: Corydoras kanei
Native climate (measured)

Native climate (measured)

Warm-season highsabout 90°F (up to 94°F in the hottest sampled areas)
Cool-season lowsabout 71°F (down to 65°F in the coldest sampled areas)
Average temperature78–82°F across sampled records
Relative humidity77–84% on average (driest month about 75%)
Rainfallabout 2058 mm a year

Measured at 6 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.

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.

OverviewHoplisoma kanei, Kane's cory, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Corydoradinae, the corys, of the family Callichthyidae, the armoured catfishes. This catfish is endemic to Brazil where it is found in the Negros River basin. It is externally similar to H. atropersonatum, but its spots are denser and unlike the former, it has caudal markings - markings on its tail fins. Breeding can be accomplished by feeding a mixture of live foods and catfish pellets, after which frequent cold water changes can trigger them to spawn. — Wikipedia (community-edited)
Where it livesHome 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

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

Average of sources1.8in
FishBase 1641.5
Seriously Fish species profiles 1672

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

Reported68–79°F
Seriously Fish species profiles 16768–79

Range the species tolerates; aim for the middle.

pH

Reported5.5–7.5
Seriously Fish species profiles 1675.5–7.5

Water hardness

Reported2–10dGH
Seriously Fish species profiles 1672–10

Minimum tank footprint

Reported35in
Seriously Fish species profiles 16735

Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 35 × 12 in (about 21 US gallons).

Sources for this sheet

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
  4. 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.
  5. Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional diseases of fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
  6. Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.