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Brachyrhamdia imitator Myers, 1927

Image contributors to this species:

David Sands (1) Daniel Blom (1) Allan James (1) Erlend D. Bertelsen (1) Gary Gong (1)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

The common name of 'False Cory' is due to its habit of schooling with Corydoras species. This habit probably stems from the protection of this scaleless catfish from large predators due to the plated Corydoras where predators are wary of the locked pectoral and dorsal spines. There is the other scenario that states that the Brachyrhamdia are practising a Batesian form of shoaling wheras they take food that the Corydoras dig up from the substrate and also they stael the eggs of these species. They seem to do better with Corydoras that possess a black eye stripe such as C. melanistius rather than plain species such as C. aeneus which tend to be nipped and driven out of the shoal. Aquarium Care: House in aquaria (24ins/60cm or over) with alternate sand and gravel substrate. Provide planted area. Keep in a species tank or with Corydoras and larger Characins or Anabantoides in the top half as they can be predatory with small species such as Neon Tetras. Diet: Tablet and pellet foods. Frozen and live foods such as bloodworm. Insect larvae. Not a fussy eater. Etymology: Brachy = short; rhamdia = from the vernucular name 'Nhamdia or 'Jamdia. The specific epithet of 'imitator' means to imitate another.

Common Name:

False Cory

Synonyms:

Pimelodella imitator

Family:

Heptapteridae

Distribution:

South America: Caura River basin in Orinoco River drainage.

Size:

7.0cm. (2¾ins)

Temp:

21-25°C (69-77°F)

p.H.

6.0-7.5.

Reference:

Baensch, H.A. and R. Riehl 1985 Aquarien atlas. Band 2. Mergus, Verlag für Natur- und Heimtierkunde GmbH, Melle, Germany. 1216 p.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2009. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (05/2012).
Morris, J.T.; ScotCat Article: An Observation On a Spawning of Brachyrhamdia imitator, Myers 1927.
Sands, David; Catfishes of the World. Vol. 3 Auchenipteridae & Pimelodidae. Dunure Publications 1984.

Family: Heptapteridae Back to Ident-A-Cat Click on Thumbnails

Brachyrhamdia imitator

Brachyrhamdia imitator

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