Gosse's Corydoras

Gosse's Corydoras grows to about 5 cm in length. The body is brown, with a dark-yellow belly. Light spots form a pattern across the body. The fins are semi-transparent, and the tail fin shows brownish bands.

Gosse's Corydoras inhabits the Mamoré River basin on the border of Brazil (Rondônia State) and northeastern Bolivia. In nature it lives in shallow river and stream sections with slow water flow, sandy or silted bottoms, and dense aquatic vegetation. The water in these habitats is usually soft and slightly acidic.

This is a peaceful and sociable species, most active as part of a group. In the aquarium, keep a school of at least 4–6 individuals; solitary fish become stressed. Gosse's Corydoras spends most of its time on the bottom, actively searching the substrate for food, and gets along well with any non-aggressive fish of comparable size.

Gosse's Corydoras is undemanding and easy to keep. It coexists well with other fish, has no special requirements for water composition or diet, and adapts successfully to most freshwater aquariums. It suits both beginners and experienced aquarists. A tank of 80 litres or more is optimal for a group of 4–6 individuals. Since the fish spends most of its time on the bottom, pay special attention to the lower level when decorating. Use a substrate of sand or fine gravel. The substrate particles must have no sharp edges, to avoid damaging the fish's sensitive barbels. Provide several hiding places. Good refuges include driftwood, dense plant growth, and various decorative elements. The rest of the design depends on your preference. The key is to maintain stable water conditions within acceptable ranges of pH and dGH, and to prevent organic waste from accumulating. Equip the tank with an efficient filter and maintain it regularly: do a partial water change weekly, remove uneaten food, droppings and rotting plant matter. Gosse's Corydoras is omnivorous and eats most popular dry and freeze-dried foods (flakes, granules, tablets), as well as live and frozen foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm. For a complete diet, combine different food types. This species is known for its peaceful and friendly nature, thriving alongside many other non-aggressive fish of comparable size. It prefers to live in a group, so keep at least 4–6 individuals together.

The species is omnivorous. In the aquarium, it readily eats quality sinking dry foods, specialized tablets for bottom-feeders, and frozen or live foods such as bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp. To maintain good health, vary the diet and avoid feeding only leftovers that fall from the middle and upper levels.

Breeding occurs through spawning, often triggered by a large water change with cooler water, mimicking the rainy season. Females lay eggs on plant leaves, decorations or the aquarium glass. Use a group with more males than females. After spawning, remove the parents, as they may eat the eggs. The fry hatch after several days and should be fed brine shrimp nauplii or specialized fry foods.

The fish are sensitive to water quality and substrate cleanliness; poor conditions can damage the sensitive barbels, opening the way to bacterial infection. Maintain low levels of organic waste through regular substrate siphoning and water changes. With proper care, the species has robust health and resistance to typical diseases.

When buying, choose active fish with clean fins, no spots on the body, and intact barbels. Avoid fish showing lethargy, skin damage, or an unnaturally hollow belly. Healthy Gosse's Corydoras should show interest in foraging in the substrate and stay together as a group without appearing fearful or listless.