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his months factsheet is a Corydoras arcuatus look-a-like but as seen in the acompanying photograph it has a longer snout. It grows larger than arcuatus with a size of 7cm whereas the latter grows to 6cm. Not a very common cory in the U.K. and only appears sporadically in the retailers as most of the long-nose Corydoras seem to do.

Corydoras narcissus

They are usually quite pricey when they do appear in the retail outlets stopping most aquarists from buying a few specimens, hence the lack of success of spawning them. But if you have spawned them please let me know so I can share it with the online community.

As with most of the longer nosed cory's, care must be taken regarding water quality as they don't seem to be as hardy as the normal short nosed varieties. They also like a good water movement in the aquarium, so an internal filter would be a good idea. Corydoras narcissus occurs sympatrically with C. arcuatus.

The original specimen was collected by Axelrod, Bleher, Bossche, Gery and Schwartz in a creek flowing into the Rio Ipixuna, 7°31'S, 63°16'W, 30 km west of Humaitá, Rio Purus system, Amazonas, Brazil.

Corydoras narcissus - head view

The etymology (The science that treats of the origin and history of words and modification of a particular word) of narcissus is for the Greek river god Kephissus who fell in love with his own reflection in the water in memory of those who collected undescribed species of Corydoras and suggested their own names for the scientific description. There is one man, who will not be named here, who I believe was the architect for this story.

Remarks: This is a "saddle nosed" species which would place it in Lineage 1. When there is a revision they will stay as Corydoras (Lacépède, 1803) with the type species of C. geoffroy La Cépède, 1803.

Narcissus Cory

None

Corydoradinae

South America: Brazil, Rio Ipixuna on Paranapixuna, a tributary of the Rio Purus, 30km west of Humaita.

Male: 7.5cm (3ins) Female: 8.0cm (3¼ins)

23-25°C (73-77°F)

Dorsal 1/7; Anal 1/5; Pectorals; 1/10. Two pairs of rictal barbels, one pair of mental barbels; rictal "flap" present. Medial border of pectoral fin spine strongly serrate. Intercoracoid area naked. Pectoral fin spine covered with thick mucous skin, embedding conspicuous odontodes. This my be an indication that the holotype is a nuptial male, since in some species with a strong secondary sexual dimorphism (Corydoras barbatus, C.macropterus, C.octocirrus) the pectoral fin spines of mature males show a similar cover.

As this is one of the longer snouted species it will be well suited to most community tanks. A well planted tank with a soft substrate such as sand so they can bury their snouts while searching out food.

As per usual for the fry (if you are lucky enough to breed them.) with microworm, brine shrimp naupli and egglayer fry food after they have used up their yoksac.

Corydoras: Cory = helmeted; doras = leathery skin,(helmeted Doras) cuirass.
narcissus: Named after Narcissus, son of the Greek river god, Kephise. According to Greek mythology, a young man named Narcissus was so fascinated when he looked into still water that he fell in love with the beauty of his own reflection.

Photo Credits

Top image: © Allan James @ 

Bottom image: © Julian Dignall @