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 e are all now very familiar with the L-number codes that frequent many importers establishments and there are not many of us without at least one L-number in our tanks, but since late 1993 we have had the C-numbers implemented for the Corydoras by German aquarist and author Hans Georg-Evers for the DATZ magazine and this has now grown (Feb. 2005) up to, and including C132.

Aspidoras sp. (C125)

When we talk of C-numbers for Corydoras we should rightly name them for the Corydoradine subfamily which includes the Aspidoras genus which takes us nicely on to this months factsheet (Feb.2005) and to a small species from Brazil, Aspidoras sp. (C125). All Aspidoras species occur in Brazil but there is no named location so far for this fish and only the exporters will know of its capture location.

This Aspidoras first appeared in the German DATZ magazine (page 32) by Hans Georg-Evers in the 3rd edition of 1993 and was bred by him and other aquarists in Germany. I visited Hans in August 2003 and was fortunate enough, along with another Corydoras author and aquarist, Ian Fuller, to take away a dozen or so fry from his premises and safely home to the U.K. These fish are pictured above at full size which I believe to be 4.0cm. and are very active at feeding and at any other times.

 

 

Aspidoras sp. (C125)

 

Above are a breeding pair of C125s spawned by Adrian Taylor, secretary of the Catfish Study Group. The colours on this pair are muted owing to the absence of any substrate in the photographic tank.

 

 

Above you can see the fruits of his labour, and to read his breeding report you can view his article, exclusive to ScotCat, here.

There are at present 6 species of Aspidoras that are unclassified and been given C-numbers. The following are C035, C036, C037, C118, C119 and our factsheet of the month, C125.

Lineage: All Aspidoras belong to Lineage 2 with the exception of A. pauciradiatus which will prove to be a Corydoras and if a revision is carried out will be Gastrodermus (Cope, 1878) and a member of Lineage 5 alongside members of the "elegans group".

Remarks: C125 and CW119 have both been proven to be Aspidoras raimundi.

 

C125

None

Corydoradinae

South America: Brazil.

Male: 3.5cm (1½ins) Female: 4.0cm (1¾ins)

22-25°C (71-77°F)

Basic Aspidoras shape with small eyes and dual fontanel. Smaller size and body shape in Aspidoras compared to the much more bulkier Corydoras. Smaller head shape in Aspidoras compared with Corydoras. Aspidoras posses a duel fontanel bone structure in skull whereas Corydoras have only the one larger fontanel.

Can be kept in a community tank but would need to be housed with small fish such as tetras and rasboras. A best bet would be a species tank or as mentioned, a small community tank with non aggresive species, with a sand or small gravel substrate and an internal or sponge filters. Plants would be an advantage to make them feel more secure, but this is basicly not a shy species when settled in to your tank set-up.

Breeds in the Corydoras fashion laying their eggs on either java moss or spawning mops. You can remove the eggs to a separate small container and raise the fry in this method for a few days after they have taken up their egg sac and gone on to a feeding regime. You can then move them further on to a small tank with a bubble-up or sponge filter, making sure that the water parameters are the same all along the line.

Will take flake food, tablet food and small based live or frozen food such as micro worm or brine shrimp.

Breeding Aspidoras sp. C125
Aspidoras maculosus
The Genus Aspidoras

Aspidoras: Aspidos = shield; doras = cuirass.

Evers-Georg, Hans; DATZ magazine 3/2004 (p32).

Photo Credits

Top:        © Ingo Seidel @     
Bottom:   © Helen Burns