{"product_id":"bronze-corydoras-osteogaster-aeneus","title":"Bronze Corydoras | Osteogaster aenea","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Bronze Corydoras glows a coppery blue-green under the lights and is about as bombproof as aquarium fish come. A peaceful, sociable little scavenger reaching around 7 cm, it is perfect for a first community — sociable, hard-working and endlessly endearing as it trundles along the bottom. Always keep it in a shoal.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eWidespread across much of South America, this cory inhabits slow streams, shallow margins and quiet backwaters over soft sand and mud, rooting through the substrate for food. It comes from soft, warm, gently flowing waters with plenty of cover from plants, roots and leaf litter.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe body is armoured with bony plates rather than scales, coloured a metallic bronze to greenish sheen along the flanks with a paler belly. It has the classic cory shape — a rounded snout with sensory barbels for foraging, and small, alert eyes. Wild and albino forms are both common in the hobby.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA model community citizen, the Bronze Cory is completely peaceful and does best in a group of six or more, where it forages and rests together and even 'winks' at its shoalmates. It never troubles other fish and adds constant gentle activity to the lower levels.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn omnivorous bottom-feeder, it takes sinking pellets and wafers, plus live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp. It is not a clean-up crew that lives on leftovers — feed it properly with its own sinking food.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum of 60 L, ideally 90 L or more for a good shoal. Keep temperature at 22–26 °C, pH 6.0–7.5 and soft to moderately hard water. A soft sand substrate is strongly preferred to protect the delicate barbels, which can wear down on sharp gravel. Plant safe.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBronze Corydoras are among the easiest catfish to breed. In the classic 'T-position' the female holds the male's milt in her cupped pelvic fins while collecting eggs, then places the sticky eggs onto glass, plants or décor. The adults give no parental care, so eggs are best protected or moved.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003ctable\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOsteogaster aenea (formerly Corydoras aeneus)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBronze Corydoras\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWidespread across South America\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUp to about 8 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–10 years with good care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful, schooling\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e60 L for a shoal\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e90 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore (bottom): sinking pellets and wafers, live and frozen bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22–26 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoft to moderately hard, around 2–15 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlanted community tanks with a soft sand bottom\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003c\/table\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include peaceful community fish such as tetras, rasboras, danios, dwarf gouramis, dwarf cichlids, other corydoras and freshwater shrimp.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with large or aggressive cichlids, boisterous fish that outcompete it for food, and any species big enough to bully or eat a small, docile catfish. Avoid sharp gravel.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232800227619,"sku":"AA1667","price":8.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232800260387,"sku":"AA1667-M","price":13.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/bronze-corydoras-osteogaster-43885550207267.webp?v=1790306096","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/bronze-corydoras-osteogaster-aeneus","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}