Black Venezuela Corydoras

Corydoras venezuelanus var. Black

The Black Venezuela Cory is a spectacular and highly sought-after melanistic (black) strain, created through targeted selection in Germany. Its compact body looks like a velvety mass of dark chocolate/black. To stand out optimally, this gothic fish demands light sand substrates and amber waters (rich in tannins). It requires slightly more care than normal commercial corys and, above all, needs a school composed exclusively of its own black variety to avoid social isolation.

Family: Callichthyidae
Origin: Bacini idrografici del Venezuela e Trinidad. La variante "Black" è un fenotipo melanico (scuro) estremamente ricercato e isolato in allevamento (Germania).
Tank use: Used in 0 tanks

Temperature

20 °C - 26 °C

6 - 7.5

Water type

Freshwater

Tank level

Bottom

Adult size

5.5 cm

Description

Sensitivity to Nitrates (Shortness of Breath Futile Deaf Mute):

Being a hyper-selected strain, it lacks the incredible pollution tolerance of commercial Corydoras. Nitrates above 25mg/L will burn their barbels (even in the presence of fine sand) and lead to lethal apathy on the bottom. Regular water changes with soft water are mandatory.

Care and observations

Racial Isolation and Stress Fading (The Faded Ink Futile Blind):

A frequent mistake to save money on this expensive species is to buy only a couple and mix them into a school of albino Corydoras. The Black Venezuelas recognize their peers: if they do not have a compact school of the same color variety, they will tend to isolate themselves and become immensely stressed. Stress in Blacks is visible to the naked eye: their ink black will fade to a pale mouse-gray. Buy 6 or give up.

Fish profile

Temperament: Estremamente Pacifico e Gregario
Diet: Onnivoro/Carnivoro. Pastiglie da fondo, chironomus vivo/congelato, enchitrei.
Tank level: Bottom
Adult size: 5.5 cm
GH: 2 dGH - 15 dGH
KH: n/a
TDS: n/a
Conductivity: n/a

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.

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