his
was one of the first Corydoras that I bred
in my early fishkeeping days and didn't realise it
until I spotted the fry darting about the tank. Try
to get a ratio of two males to one female, but if
not, a pair will do. Some varieties have dark flecks
on the edges of the bony scutes, while others are
devoid of this.
Corydoras
metae
This species can
be confused with Corydoras
davidsandsi and C.
melini but the revealing
factor is the position of the black body stripe on
C. metae which runs over the ridge of the back
whereas in C. melini it breaks and divides
into two over the back and continues to almost the
end of the lower lobe of the caudal fin, in other
words it shows the body colouration on the ridge of
the back, while metae, on the ridge of the
back, is black.
The difference
between C. metae and C. davidsandsi
is that the latter has a broader black band which
covers the ridge of the back, whereas metae has a
thinner band and has also a thinner black band over
its eyes, compared to C. davidsandsi. The latter
has also a lighter body colour.
Originates from
the white waters of the Rio Metae in Colombia so a
higher Ph and not too acidic would suit this species.
Corydoras
metae
Corydoras
melini
Corydoras
davidsandsi
The above images
showing the differences in colour patterns of; C.
metae, C. melini, and C. davidsandsi.
An
easy enough species to keep and while of no great
beauty it does have a pleasing colouration and pattern
that even the most discerning aquarist would find
appealing. It would probably make a good step-up for
the beginning Corydoras keeper from the easier
kept species of C.
aeneus
and C.
paleatus.
Update:
In 2005 the book Identifying Corydoradinae Catfish
by Ian A. M. Fuller and Hans-Georg Evers (2005) was
published and at that time little was known about
the relationships among different species in the Callichthyidae
as a whole and even less was known about the relationships
among the Corydoradinae. This was changed in 2011
with the publication of the molecular phylogeny of
the group: Evolution, Ecology and Taxonomy
of the Corydoradinae revisited: Markos A
Alexandrou & Martin I Taylor (2011), which was
published in the follow up book in 2011, Identifying
Corydoradinae Catfish Supplement 1.
Remarks:
Corydoras metae is placed in
Lineage 9, the "short-snouted" species with
the designated type species: C. punctatus. A revision
in the future would constitute the resurrection of
the genus name Hoplosopma (Agassiz, 1846).
Common
Name
Bandit
Corydoras
Synonyms
Corydoras
australe
Family
Callichthyidae
Subfamily
Corydoradine
Distribution
South America:Colombia, South America, in the Rio Metae where
the species inherited its name.
Size
Male 4.5cm (1¾ins) Female:
5.0cm (2ins)
Temp.
22-25°C (71-77°F)
p.H.
6.0-7.2.
Characteristics
Head short and compact.
Colouration
Light brown beige. Colourless
and transparent dorsal fin with slightly more than
half colored black. This colouration can run to
the tip of the dorsal fin spine. The caudal fin
rays are banded brown and white. A black eye band
covers both eyes, bridging the top of the head.
Some dark striping does exist in the centre of the
body with the basic body colour showing through.
This gives a rib-like appearance.
Aquarium
Care & Compatibility
Good addition to an average
sized community tank. Purchase at least six specimens
to form a group.
Reproduction
As per standard
Corydoras breeding structures. More information in
the breeding articles section. Spawning
Corydoras metae
Diet
Adults can be fed the usual
good quality flake food, frozen bloodworm, tablet
foods, white and grindal worms.
Etymology
Corydoras:
Cory=helmeted;doras=leathery
skin,(helmeted Doras) cuirass. metae: From the River (Rio)
Meta, South America (Colombia).
References
Alexandrou,
Markos & Taylor, Martin.(2011).
Evolution, ecology and taxonomy of the Corydoradinae
revisited. Ian A. M. Fuller &
Hans-Georg Evers (2011).
Identifying Corydoradinae Catfish Supplement 1. Ian
Fuller Enterprises.
Seus, Werner, Corydoras. The most popular
armoured catfishes of South America. Dähne Verlag,
Ettlingen GmbH. 1993 218p.
If you would like to contribute to the monthly factsheets with an
article, information or photos, please e-mail
me. You will of course be credited for your work.
If you would like to donate any denomination
of money to the site just click the above link button. All proceeds
will go to running the site and hopefully to keep it going for a few
years yet.