Brochis
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| Brochis splendens Castelnau, 1855 |
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Brochis britskii (Britski's catfish) |
Brochis is a genus of freshwater catfish in the Corydoradinae sub-family of the Callichthyidae family in order Siluriformes. The type species is the emerald catfish, Brochis splendens. The name Brochis is derived from the Greek word "brogchia", meaning "throat" or "trachea".
These fish are often confused with members of the Corydoras genus. In fact, the fish commonly identified as the "emerald cory" is usually actually Brochis splendens. They can be told apart from Corydoras by the fact that Brochis has a deeper body and a higher number of dorsal fin rays.
The subfamily Corydoradinae contains three genera, although the differences between each of the genera are not so great as to preclude some "lumpers" to consider them all the same genus.
[edit] In the aquarium
Brochis are peaceful and hardy fishes that live in schools on the bottom of the aquarium. They are undemanding aquarium fishes that attain a length of about 8 cm (3.2 in.). The tank should have only soft, fine bottom material. The tank should be heavily planted and decorated with driftwood or other objects to provide plenty of hiding places. Strong filtration and partial water changes (particularly from the bottom) are essential. They do well in community tanks and do not tear up the plants. They are considered more difficult to breed in captivity, with most reports happening in very low light.
[edit] References
- Brochis (TSN 164329). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 6 June 2006.
- "Brochis". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. March 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- Burgess, Dr. Warren E. (1987). A Complete Introduction to Corydoras and Related Catfishes. Neptune City, NJ: T.F.H. Publications. ISBN 0-86622-264-2.
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