PlanetCatfish.com - Osteogaster venezuelanus (Callichthyidae) Cat-eLog

Adult, taken immediately after collection
Commercialy bred form
Pair - female to rear
Lateral view
Adult
Habitat: Collecting the pictured fish
Taken immediately after collection
Habitat: Venezuelan Stream
Habitat: Venezuelan Stream
Habitat: Venezulan creek or
Habitat: Venezulan creek or
Eggs
Three day old fry
Ten day old fry
Twenty day old fry

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Osteogaster venezuelanus** Ihering, 1911
Common Names	Venezuela's Cory Venezuela-pansermalle (Denmark)
Type Locality	Río Cabriales, Valencia, State of Carabobo, Venezuela.
Pronunciation	os tee oh gas terr - venn ez wayl ann us
Etymology	venezuelanus, from Venezuela where the fish is found.
Species Information
Size	55mm or 2.2" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	This species can be confused with Corydoras aeneus, and indeed C. venezuelanus is usually considered a junior synonym of that species. However, there is the opinion that C. aeneus should be restricted to the holotype form which is from the island of Trinidad. Furthermore, C. venezuelanus is a large Cory, and is restricted to a limited range in two closed drainage systems (Rio Tuy and Lake Valencia) situated north of the serrania del interior. It is the only Cory in these waters. Conversely, commercially bred specimens can be shorted bodied than their wild counterparts and balloon form variants are available. C. venezuelanus has a large oval green/black spot covering the shoulder and a distinct iridescent reddish-brown spot on the nape. This species is almost never exported from Venezuela as it is found in coastal drainages that are not collected by exporters. Because of its scientific name, it is often muddled with the confusing trade name for the captive bred black form of Corydoras schultzei.
Sexing	Females are larger, up to 50mm, and more robust than males as with most Corydoras sp.
Habitat Information
Distribution	This species is common throughout the lower reaches of streams and rivers in both the Rio Tuy and Lake Valencia drainages of northern Venezuela in the states of Miranda, Aragua, and Carabobo. It can also be found in nearby Orinoco drainage rivers and streams such as the Rio Chirgua. It is a piedmont species that prefers cooler waters and is never found in the llanos (plains). Tuy (click on these areas to find other species found there) Valencia (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Not Evaluated
pH	6.8 - 7.8
Temperature	19.0-25.0°C or 66.2-77°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	Prefers clear waters with a neutral pH and moderate hardness.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Will readily accepted all prepared foods that reach the bottom of the aquarium such as tablets, granules and larger flakes. Live (or frozen) foods such as bloodworm, white worm, grindal worm (Enchytraeus), Daphnia and Tubifex are readily accepted and good for conditioning groups of fishes for spawning. User data.
Furniture	Natural habitat is cool, clear water that rarely rises above the low to mid 70s. Currents run fast in most of these streams and the substrate is typical of high gradient streams (rounded stones and gravel). To replicate the natural habitat, place a few fist sized stones in the tank and then add a half inch deep substrate composed of one part pea gravel and three parts fine sand. The tank should be set up with a filtration device the provides a moderate current. Driftwood and a few aquatic plants would complete the set up.
Compatibility	A peaceful, shoaling, community fish.
Breeding	Typical of the genus. Ian Fuller reported that his fish spawned the day after a water change when the tank had the following water parameters; ph 7, GH 9dH, KH 2, and temp 76. These parameters are very similar to those found in their natural habitat.
Breeding Reports	There are 20 breeding reports, read them all here.
Further Information
Reference	Rev. Mus. Saão Paulov. 8 (1910) - pp383
Registered Keepers	There are 178 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There are 6 wishes to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 78 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	Look up O. venezuelanus on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up O. venezuelanus on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.1.1579.716
Last Update	2024 Jun 11 23:02 (species record created: 2001 Nov 05 00:00)