Schwartz’s Catfish is a small tropical fish with the scientific name Corydoras schwartzi.
It belongs to the Callichthyidae family and is found in South America, specifically in Brazil’s Purus River basin.
This fish feeds on worms, tiny crustaceans, insects, and plants.
Schwartz’s catfish is named after Hans-Willi Schwartz, who was an aquarium-fish exporter in Brazil and helped collect the first example of this type of fish.
The fish is also popular in the aquarium trade industry.
Schwartz’s Catfish Interesting Facts
- Schwartz’s catfish is a small freshwater fish that can grow up to 1.5 inches (3.9 centimeters) in length.
- It comes from the Purus River basin in Brazil and prefers warm water with a pH of 6.0 to 8.0, hardness of 2 to 25 dGH, and temperature range of 72°F to 79°F (22°C to 26°C).
- This fish feeds on worms, crustaceans, insects, and plants.
- It lays its eggs in dense vegetation where the female attaches them after fertilization by the male Schwartz’s catfish.
- The fish was named after Hans-Willi Schwartz who helped collect the type specimen.
Schwartz’s Catfish Habitat
Schwartz’s catfish are found in South America, specifically in the Purus River basin in Brazil.
They live in freshwater and stay close to the bottom of the river.
These fish thrive in water with a pH range of 6.0 to 8.0 and a hardness (dGH) range of 2 to 25.
Their ideal water temperature is between 72°F to 79°F (22°C to 26°C) since they live in tropical climates.
| Water Temperature: | 72°F to 79°F (22°C to 26°C) |
| Water pH: | 6.0 to 8.0 pH |
| Water Hardness: | 2 to 25 dGH |
Schwartz’s Catfish Physical Characteristics
Size: 1.5 inches (3.9 centimeters)
The maximum length of Schwartz’s catfish is 1.5 inches (3.9 centimeters) upon maturation.
Schwartz’s Catfish Reproduction
Schwartz’s catfish lays eggs in dense vegetation. The female Schwartz’s catfish carries 2 to 4 eggs at a time between her pelvic fins.
The male fish then fertilizes the eggs for about 30 seconds.
After that, the female sticks the eggs to a good spot. Then, they repeat this process until around 100 eggs are fertilized and attached.
Schwartz’s Catfish Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Callichthyidae |
| Genus: | Corydoras |
| Scientific Name: | Corydoras schwartzi |
| Also Known As: | Schwartz’s Catfish |
| Conservation Status: | Unknown |