Description

The Venezuelan Corydoras is a type of freshwater catfish belonging to the Corydoras genus in the family Callichthyidae. Like all cories, they’re native to South America but this species is local to the Rio Cabriales in Venezuela. Because they’re almost exclusively found in closed drainage systems, Venezuelan cories are rarely exported – they are largely captive bred.

Venezuelan cories are similar in appearance to the bronze Corydoras which has a pinkish body, white belly, and blue-grey coloration over the head and back. Unlike the bronze cory which exhibits darker coloration along the length of its body, the Venezuelan cory’s dark color is limited to a large oval spot on the shoulder.

This species is also sometimes called the orange Venezuelan Corydoras because the fish develops reddish-brown color as it matures. They have a noticeable spot on the nape and the same reddish-brown color develops on the back half of the body and the dorsal fin.