Bonita Corydoras Care Guide - Tank Setup, Diet & Breeding

Bonita Corydoras are small, whiskered armored catfish with the compact body and downturned mouth typical of the Corydoras group. Their subtle patterning, pale base colour and darker markings give them an understated but attractive appearance, while their barbels help them investigate the bottom for food.

These peaceful fish are active in short bursts, often sifting through the substrate with their mouths and then resting together in a sheltered area. They are social rather than territorial, and their natural behaviour is most apparent when several are kept as a group.

Like other Corydoras, they possess overlapping bony plates instead of ordinary scales and can gulp atmospheric air at the surface using a specialised intestine. This behaviour is normal, although frequent frantic trips to the surface can indicate poor water quality or insufficient oxygenation.

In the wild, Bonita Corydoras inhabit quiet margins and shallow sections of rainforest streams. Their discovery in Ecuador adds to the remarkable diversity of small bottom-dwelling catfish found throughout South American freshwater systems.

Bonita Corydoras are native to northwestern South America, where Corydoras orcesi is associated with the Río Bonita drainage in Ecuador. They come from shallow, clear freshwater habitats in the western Amazon region.

A group of Bonita Corydoras should have at least a 60-litre aquarium, with a footprint of approximately 60 by 30 cm or larger. Use fine smooth sand or another rounded substrate so their sensitive barbels are not damaged while foraging. Provide open bottom space, gentle filtration, good oxygenation, shaded areas, driftwood, smooth stones and live plants for cover. Maintain stable, clean freshwater and avoid sharp gravel or excessive current across the whole floor.

Up to about 4.5 cm (1.8 inches) in standard length; females are usually slightly larger and broader-bodied than males.

Offer a varied omnivorous diet based on sinking catfish pellets, granules and wafers, supplemented with frozen or live foods such as bloodworm, daphnia, mosquito larvae and brine shrimp. Occasional blanched vegetables can add variety, but plant matter should not replace their protein-rich foods. Feed after the aquarium lights have dimmed if faster midwater fish consume food before it reaches the bottom.

Bonita Corydoras are peaceful community fish and suit similarly calm tankmates such as small tetras, rasboras, pencilfish, peaceful danios, small livebearers and other gentle Corydoras. They can also be kept with small, non-aggressive dwarf cichlids when the aquarium provides sufficient space and cover. Avoid large or predatory fish, fin-nippers, boisterous feeders and aggressive bottom-dwellers that may outcompete, injure or intimidate them.

Bonita Corydoras are egg-scattering spawners. Condition a group with varied, protein-rich foods, then encourage spawning with a partial water change using slightly cooler, clean water. The pair or group deposits adhesive eggs on aquarium glass, plant leaves or other surfaces. Remove the adults or transfer the eggs to a separate tank, as the eggs may be eaten. Hatching generally occurs within several days, and the fry can be raised on infusoria or a suitable powdered fry food before progressing to newly hatched brine shrimp.

Females are generally plumper and a little larger, particularly when carrying eggs. Males are usually slimmer and shorter, with a more streamlined body when viewed from above.