The three stripe corydoras (Corydoras trilineatus), leopard
catfish,False Julii Corydoras, or three line catfish is a tropical freshwater
fish belonging to the Corydoradinae sub-family of the Callichthyidae family.
It originates in inland waters in South America, and is found in the
central Amazon River basin in Brazil and Colombia, Peruvian Amazon
and coastal rivers in Suriname.
The fish will grow in length up to 2.5 inches (6.1
centimeters). It lives in a tropical climate in water with a 6.0–8.0 pH,
a water hardness of 5–19dGH, and a temperature range of 72–79 °F (22–26 °C). It
feeds on worms, benthic crustaceans, insects, and plant matter.
It lays eggs in dense vegetation and adults do not guard the eggs. The female
holds 2-4 eggs between her pelvic fins, where the male fertilizes them for
about 30 seconds. Only then does the female swim to a suitable spot, where she
attaches the very sticky eggs. The pair repeats this process until about 100
eggs have been fertilized and attached.
The threestripe corydoras is of commercial importance in the
aquarium trade industry. It is often mistakenly sold as Corydoras julii since
C. julii also has a horizontal strip running along the sides of its body. The
distinct difference between C. trilineatus and C. julii is in their markings.
The hardier and more adaptable C. trilineatus has reticulations, while C. julii
is distinguished by its "leopard" spots, although there is also a
spotted form of C. trilineatus. They are best differentiated by the stripes on
the side. In C. trilineatus, the stripes are much more pronounced and solid
than in C. julii.
