AMBIACUS CORYDORAS

Distribution

Described from the Río Ampiyacu, a small tributary draining into the main Amazon channel in Loreto Department, northeastern Peru, with additional records from the Yavarí (Javari), Napo, Nanay, and lower Ucayali drainage basins.

All of these are Amazon tributaries, and C. ambiacus appears to occur in most or all affluents of the main Amazon channel between the ‘Três Fronteiras’ area where the borders of Brazil, Peru, and Colombia meet and the Río Ucayali, which enters the Amazon south of Iquitos, Peru.

In the Napo basin it’s also been collected from the Pangayacu and Yasuni tributary systems, Ecuador.

Maximum Standard  Length

60 – 65 mm.

Maintenance

Ideally use a substrate of fine sand, although rounded gravel is an acceptable alternative provided it’s kept scrupulously clean.

Other décor is largely down to personal choice, but some cover should be provided to give the fish security

Water Conditions

Temperature: 21 – 27 °C

pH: 6.0 – 8.0

Hardness: 36 – 215 ppm

Diet

Corydoras spp. are foraging omnivores and will accept most sinking dried foods, as well as small live and frozen varieties such as bloodworm, Tubifex, etc.

Feeding a varied diet will ensure the fish are in optimum condition.

Under no circumstances should they be expected to survive on ‘left-overs’ from other inhabitants of the aquarium or relied on to ‘clean’ the aquarium.

Behavior

Peaceful and gregarious. Should be maintained in a  group of at least 4-6 individuals.

Gender

Females tend to grow larger, and sexually mature individuals are noticeably rounder and broader-bodied than males, especially when gravid.