Narcisso Cory Care Guide - Setup, Diet & Breeding

The Narcisso Cory, Corydoras bethanae, is a striking armoured catfish traded in the aquarium hobby under the code CW006. Its rounded body is marked with dark spotting and patterning over a pale base, while the head and flanks can show attractive bronze, gold and grey tones. Like other corydoras, it has prominent barbels around the mouth and a protective row of bony plates along its sides.

This species is a peaceful, active bottom-dweller that spends much of its time investigating the substrate with its sensitive barbels. It may suddenly dash to the surface to gulp air, an adaptation shared by many Corydoras that allows them to supplement their oxygen intake in poorly oxygenated natural waters.

Narcisso Corys are social fish and are most confident when kept in a proper group of their own kind. They often forage together, resting among plants or decor before becoming active again. Their gentle nature and appealing behaviour make them excellent inhabitants of a calm community aquarium.

In the wild, Corydoras bethanae inhabits shallow freshwater habitats in the Amazonian region, where leaf litter, submerged roots and soft sediment provide food and shelter. The CW006 designation reflects its history as a distinctive but formerly undescribed or uncertain Corydoras form in the ornamental fish trade; it is now associated with C. bethanae.

Corydoras bethanae is native to Brazil in South America and is associated with the Rio Madeira drainage and its connected tributaries. It comes from warm, tropical freshwater environments with sandy or fine-gravel bottoms and abundant cover.

A group of Narcisso Corys should have at least an 80-litre aquarium, with a footprint of approximately 90 by 30 cm or larger to provide useful uninterrupted floor space. Use fine smooth sand or very smooth small gravel so their delicate barbels are not damaged while foraging. Include driftwood, broad-leaved plants, leaf litter and shaded retreats, while leaving open areas for group feeding. Gentle filtration, good oxygenation and clean, stable water are important, and the aquarium should be mature before the fish are introduced.

Females reach about 6 cm (2.4 in) in total length; males are usually smaller at around 5–5.5 cm (2.0–2.2 in).

Narcisso Corys are omnivorous bottom-feeders that should receive a varied diet rather than relying on leftover food. Offer sinking, high-quality catfish pellets or wafers alongside frozen or live foods such as bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp and tubifex. Small portions of suitably soft food can also be provided, with enough reaching the substrate for every member of the group. They are not algae eaters, and their barbels should not be expected to find adequate nutrition from scavenging alone.

Narcisso Corys suit peaceful community aquariums containing small tetras, rasboras, pencilfish, peaceful barbs, small livebearers and other non-aggressive Corydoras. They can also be kept with gentle dwarf cichlids and small, peaceful gouramis when the aquarium provides plenty of bottom space. Avoid large or predatory fish, boisterous feeders, fin-nippers and territorial bottom-dwellers such as aggressive loaches or larger cichlids. Tankmates must also be unable to swallow these relatively small catfish.

Narcisso Corys are egg-scattering spawners that can be encouraged to breed in a mature, well-maintained aquarium. Condition a group with a varied, protein-rich diet, then stimulate spawning with a series of slightly cooler, oxygenated water changes. The pair or group usually deposits adhesive eggs on plant leaves, aquarium glass or other smooth surfaces. Remove the eggs or move the adults if raising fry in numbers, as the eggs may be eaten. Incubation generally takes several days, after which the tiny fry can be fed newly hatched brine shrimp, microworms and other suitably small foods.

Females are generally broader-bodied and deeper through the belly, especially when carrying eggs. Males are slimmer and slightly shorter, with a more streamlined profile; colour and pattern are otherwise broadly similar between the sexes.