We regularly stock one of the most beautiful armored catfish from Peru, which—under the designation “C4”—helped spark a veritable armored catfish boom over 30 years ago. At that time, the species was exported under the names “Corydoras Miguelito” or “Corydoras Sangama.” The fish available commercially usually come from the Ucayali River in the province of Loreto, but the species is also found in Ecuador and is occasionally even offered from Colombia.
This armored catfish is one of the most pronounced schooling fish within the genus Brochis. In addition, B. virginiae is a very lively species that brings a lot of activity to the aquarium. These fish look their best when kept in blackwater on a light-colored, fine sandy substrate. Overall, the species is as beautiful as it is easy to care for.
Maximum size: approx. 6 cm; Temperature: 22–28°C; pH and hardness: not important for general care (tap water), soft and acidic for breeding; Diet: omnivorous; Social behavior: peaceful schooling fish.
For our customers: Depending on their size, these fish are listed under codes 240602 through 240605 on our stock list. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesale customers.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
