Slant Bar Corydoras

This cory has a pale body with scattered dark spotting and a prominent slanting dark band across the rear half of the body. Pattern strength varies, and several coded colour forms are associated with the species.

Identify this profile by the combination of an oblique dark flank bar combined with fine spotting and a pale ground colour. Older sources commonly list this fish as Corydoras loxozonus; the current profile follows the accepted or revised placement Hoplisoma loxozonum. Colour alone can be unreliable in stressed, juvenile, or poorly conditioned fish, so body shape, snout length, fin pattern, and provenance should also be checked.

Mature females are normally larger and broader through the abdomen, especially when viewed from above. Males remain slimmer and may show more pointed fins, but juveniles are difficult to sex.

Provide fine sand, open foraging areas and shaded retreats from plants, wood or leaf litter. A mature filter, good oxygenation and clean substrate support the barbels and normal digging behaviour.

Slant Bar Corydoras are peaceful, social bottom fish that become more confident in a proper same-species group. They spend much of their time sifting the substrate and resting together under cover.

Keep at least 6 of the same species or coded population, with 8 or more preferred where space permits. A mixed collection of single corys does not fully replace a proper same-species group.

It is not territorial. Males may briefly chase one another or follow females during courtship, but sustained aggression is unusual when the group has adequate floor space.

They suit peaceful communities with tetras, rasboras, small rainbowfish and other calm species. Avoid large predators, aggressive cichlids and territorial bottom dwellers.

Soft to moderately hard, slightly acidic to neutral water is suitable. Provide good oxygenation and keep ammonia and nitrite at zero.

Feed varied sinking pellets or tablets with regular frozen or live invertebrate foods. Do not rely on scraps, and spread food across the bottom to reduce competition.

Feed after faster surface and midwater fish have taken their share, and confirm that every individual reaches food. Use small portions once or twice daily, remove persistent leftovers, and vary prepared and frozen or live foods.

The species has been bred using the standard cory spawning pattern. Females carry a small number of eggs between the pelvic fins before attaching them to a surface, and adults provide no parental care.