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Proceedings of the Zoological Society ISSN 0373-5893 Proc Zool SocDOI 10.1007/s12595-014-0113-8

Breeding and Rearing of an ExoticOrnamental Catfish, Corydorus aeneus(Gill, 1858) in Kolkata, West Bengal and ItsEconomics

B. K. Mahapatra & Soumi Dutta

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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Breeding and Rearing of an Exotic Ornamental Catfish, Corydorusaeneus (Gill, 1858) in Kolkata, West Bengal and Its Economics

B. K. Mahapatra • Soumi Dutta

Received: 19 September 2013 / Revised: 9 January 2014 / Accepted: 28 May 2014

� Zoological Society, Kolkata, India 2014

Abstract Cory cat, Corydorus aeneus (Gill, 1858) are

popular among the hobbyists all over the world. They were

reared successfully in glass aquaria and small cemented

tanks in Kolkata, India. The females attained sexual maturity

at the age of 12.2 ± 1.8 SD months while the males took

24.0 ± 1.6 SD months to take part in reproduction. Females

are larger and more rounded than the males while males are

attractive because of the dorsal fin. At a temperature range

14–22 �C breeding was continued during November to

March period in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Cooling of

egg laying substratum stimulated spawning to a great extent.

Under favourable thermal condition breeding took place at

an interval of 10.4 ± 2.1 SD days. Brood size varied from

175–225 and on average 80 % eggs were fertile. Water

quality management and supply of proper food proved

successful to establish an economically viable farm through

the spread of indoor aqua business.

Keywords Albino Cory cat � Corydorus aeneus �Breeding � Rearing � Economics

Introduction

The Cory cat, Corydorus aeneus (Gill, 1858) a native of

South America, lives in fairly fast-flowing rivers and is a

popular ornamental fish worldwide. The albino Cory cat

belongs to family Callichthyidae. The family derives its

name from the Greek words Kallis (beautiful) and Ichthys

(fish). Different colour varieties of this fish are highly

preferred by the hobbyists. The main advantage of this

species is that both the sexes have almost the same col-

ouration and so both have equal acceptance (Fig. 1). Due to

congenial climatic condition and trade facility, Kolkata and

the suburbs districts (Howrah, South 24 Parganas and

North 24 Parganas) have emerged as one of the major

breeding and trade centres of ornamental fish (Gupta and

Banerjee 2012; Sinha and Mahapatra 2012). A good

number of small farmers are engaged in this trade to

maintain their livelihood (Ghosh and Debnath 1998; Ghosh

et al. 2000, 2001; Mahapatra et al. 1999; Mahapatra et al.

2000a, b). But in respect to Cory cat, there are considerable

lacunae in the existing ornamental fish farming system. A

variety of reproductive behaviours is exhibited by catfishes

which include species of various sizes and food habits

(Axelrod and Burgess 1986; Sato 1986; Burgess 1989,

1992). Corydoras catfish are very popular among the aqu-

arists and their reproductive behaviour has been observed

in aquaria by some workers (Sakurai et al. 1985; Burgess

1987, 1992; Matsuzaka 1993; Kohda et al. 1995; Hu-

ysentruyt and Adriaens 2005). Some information is also

available on Corydorus from works of Kramer and McC-

lure (1980), Kramer and Braun (1983), Burgess (1987),

Huysseune and Sire (1997), Pruzsinszky and Ladich

(1998), Fuller (2001), Kohda et al. (2002). However no

such study has been done under Indian condition on Cory

cat. This species is a very popular exotic ornamental fish

with high commercial value. Therefore, it is necessary to

develop a body of knowledge regarding breeding and

rearing of this fish under Indian condition which is indis-

pensable pre-requisite to boost up their trade.

In the present papers breeding pattern of albino Cory cat

with mass scale seed production techniques on commercial

scale was carried out.

B. K. Mahapatra (&) � S. Dutta

Kolkata Centre, Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Deemed

University (ICAR), Sector-V, Salt Lake City, Kolkata 700 091,

India

e-mail: bkmahapatra@cife.edu.in

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Materials and Methods

The experiments were conducted at Kolkata, West Bengal in

on-station and on-firm situation. Initially, the small fry of the

imported exotic fish were collected from Gallif Street Orna-

mental Fish Market, Kolkata during 2007 and reared under

captive condition both in Glass aquarium (122 cm 9

46 cm 9 46 cm) and Cemented cistern (244 cm 9

122 cm 9 46 cm). These captive raised brood stocks were

used for breeding experiments during October, 2009 to April,

2012. Two sets of experiments were conducted for breeding of

Cory cat. In Set I glass aquarium (60 cm 9 30 cm 9 30 cm)

was used in which 4 males and 2 females were released

(Fig. 2). In Set II 100 males and 50 females released into

cemented cistern (244 cm 9 122 cm 9 46 cm). The inner

wall of the cistern was rough to prevent laying eggs by the

fishes. Before stocking the fish the water was treated with at

1 ppm methylene blue. Breeding tank was provided with air

pump for oxygenation. The water-filled polythene bags were

provided with ice for cooling the substratum which acted as

best triggering factor for egg laying of the fish (Fig. 3).

The fishes were fed with Artemia nauplii, daphnia and

tubificid worms as per need in respect to age and size.

Water quality was maintained by changing freshwater

regularly. APHA (1998) and Michael (1990) were followed

to analyse water with a view to maintain the standard

quality of water.

Results and Discussion

Like many other catfishes, females are larger than males in

this species also. After attaining the age of 2 years, the

Cory cat spawns readily. The females matured at the age of

12.2 ± 1.8 SD months while the males attained maturity at

the age of 24.0 ± 1.6 SD months. Details of spawning of

Cory cat are presented in Table 1. They laid eggs at an

interval of 10.4 ± 2.1 SD days, depending on water tem-

perature. Eggs were laid in the evening hours or in early

morning. Eggs are adhesive in nature and were remain

attached to the polythene bag (Fig. 4). Eggs laid per

spawning pair was ranging from 175–225. Initially the

brood size was small but the same increased gradually in

subsequent spawning. The eggs started hatching after

3–5 days depending on the water temperature. The yolk sac

disappeared after 48 h of deposition and the larva turn into

spawn (Fig. 5). The spawns were seen to swallow newly

hatched Artemia or infusorians at the early stage. The small

fry was found to accept sieved zooplankton specially

Daphnia and Moina along with Artemia, while in advanced

stage they preferred chopped tubifex. Average size of fry

after 40 days of rearing was about 1 cm (Fig. 6). Annually,

at regulated temperature of 14–22 �C, 12–20 times

spawning was noted in a breeding season during November

to March. However, a female at a temperature range

Fig. 1 Male (above) and female (Below) Cory cat, Corydorus

aeneous

Fig. 2 Breeding setup of Cory cat in aquarium

Fig. 3 Breeding setup of Cory cat in cemented cisterns

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14–22 �C during October to April spawned maximum 25

times.

The details of commercial scale breeding and rearing

economics of Cory cat are presented in Tables 2. With a

minimum investment for 150 brooders (100 males with 50

females) unit one can easily earn an amount of Rs. 35,900

annually. The breeding-cum-egg laying, incubation-cum-

hatching, larval and fry rearing seem to occur at a wider

range of pH (6.2–8.5), temperature (14–28 �C) and hard-

ness (60–95 ppm) but it was noticed that percentage of

hatching and survival is greatly reduced by deviation from

the optimum range as stated in Table 3.

Ornamental fish farming has been emerging as a new

trend of aquaculture, and in West Bengal it has been

adopted by a considerable number of families to run their

households (Ghosh et al. 2000, 2001). Already 288 species

of ornamental fish have been identified in Indian market,

but only some common live bearers and egg layers are

being successfully bred here. The financial feasibility of

breeding and culture of exotic egg layer gold fish, angel

and live bearer like guppy has also been highlighted

(Mahapatra 2003; Mahapatra et al. 2000a, b, 2013). Less

space requirement and less investment with high cost

benefit ratio are the main advantages. It can be treated as a

small-scale bio-industry especially for women as an addi-

tional income-generating programme (Ghosh et al. 2000,

2001; Mahapatra et al. 1999).

The present study will help the fish farmer in breeding of

Cory cat and in turn will help to set profitable small scale

ornamental fish farm as a component of integrated rural

development. The breeding and rearing of Cory cat would

Table 1 Details of spawning of Albino Cory cat, Corydorus aeneus

S.

no.

Particulars Remarks

1 Age at first maturity of

female in months

(mean ± SD)

12.2 ± 1.8 75 % mature

2 Age at first maturity of

male in months

(mean ± SD)

24.0 ± 1.6 95 % mature

3 Age at first spawning in

months (mean ± SD)

24.4 ± 1.8 80 % female spawn at

22? months

4 No. of eggs laid per

spawning pair

(mean ± SE)

171.4 ± 9.5 Less number of eggs at

first spawning which

increased during

subsequent spawning

5 Interval between two

successive spawning

per individual in days

(mean ± SD)

10.4 ± 2.1 At an optimum

temperature of

14–22 �C

6 Spawning season Nov–March Also bred during

October to April

7 Ideal spawning

temperature

14–22 �C Do not lay egg during

cold climate especially

below 14 �C during

last week of December

or first week of

January

8 Number of spawning in

a season

(mean ± SD)

15.8 ± 3.6 Maximum 25 times at

regulated temperature

of 14–22 �C during

October to April

9 Fertilization percentage

(mean ± SD)

90.4 ± 5.2 Success mainly depends

on quality of brooders

10 Hatching percentage

(mean ± SD)

79.8 ± 4.6 During ideal temperature

of 14–22 �C

11 Hatching time (days) 3–5 Less time at optimum

temperature of 30 �C

12 Average number of

baby fish survived

after 40 days of

rearing per female

500 Average size after

40 days of rearing:

1 cm

Fig. 4 Adhesive eggs on polythene bag

Fig. 5 Spawn of Cory cat

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not only meet the demand of the local hobbyists of our

country but also ensure earning foreign currency, if plan-

ned properly for commercial production.

Acknowledgments Author is grateful to Mr. Naren Santra, Pro-

prietor of ‘Fish and Fun’, Kolkata for providing facilities to conduct

this study. Author is also grateful to Dr. W.S. Lakra, Director and

Vice Chancellors, Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai

for providing necessary facilities to carry out the works.

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Table 2 Economics of breeding of Albino Cory cat, Corydorus

aeneus for 150 brooders (50$:100#)

Particulars Rate (Rs.) Total value

(Rs.)

A. Capital cost

Brood fish 150 brooders At Rs. 30 per pc 4,500

Cost of infrastructure At Rs. 50000

per unit

50,000

Total 54,000

B. Depreciation

Brood fish (life span: 5 years) 1/5 900

Infrastructure (life span: 20 years) 1/20 2,500

Total 3,400

C. Recurring expenditure

Food and medicine 2,000

Electricity and others 500

Labour charges 2,000

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Total 7,900

D. Interest

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50,000

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Table 3 Physico-chemical parameters of water at the time of

breeding, incubation, larval and fry rearing of Cory cat, Corydorus

aeneus

Parameters in different

experiments

Breeding-

cum-egg

laying

Incubation-

cum-

hatching

Larval

rearing

Fry

rearing

Temperature

(�C)

Aquarium 16–22 16–24 19–25 20–26

Cemented

cisterns

14–22 18–24 20–26 18–28

pH Aquarium 6.2–8.5 6.5–7.5 6.8–7.0 6.8–7.5

Cemented

cisterns

6.2–8.5 6.5–7.5 6.8–7.0 6.8–7.5

Dissolved

oxygen

(ppm)

Aquarium 4.5–6.0 4.5–6.2 4.5–6.7 4.2–6.8

Cemented

cisterns

5.0–6.5 – 4.5–6.6 4.2–7.0

Hardness

(ppm)

Aquarium 60–95 60–70 75–85 80–90

Cemented

cisterns

60–95 60–70 75–85 80–90

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