Brochis splendens

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Brochis splendens, also known as the Emerald Green Cory or Emerald Cory, is a peaceful, schooling catfish valued in the aquarium hobby. Its metallic green body, golden highlights, and sturdy shape distinguish it from many smaller corydoras. Native to the Amazon basin, including areas associated with the Río Ucayali, it searches calm bottoms for food. This wild-collected species has an intermediate level of rarity in the trade. It is well suited to a peaceful community aquarium when kept in a group and provided with soft substrate, stable water, suitable shelter, and a complete diet.

General species description

Brochis splendens is a bottom-dwelling, diurnal and crepuscular catfish in the family Callichthyidae. It lives in groups and is generally peaceful, active, and sociable. Like other armored catfish, it has bony plates along the flanks and barbels around the mouth, which help it locate food in the substrate. It can also take atmospheric air at the surface through intestinal respiration, although this does not replace proper oxygenation. In an aquarium, it should be kept in a group of at least six to encourage natural behavior. Its size and hardiness make it a good choice for a South American community aquarium, but it should not be treated as a simple cleaner fish: it needs regular, varied feeding and good water quality.

Geographic origin and biotope

This species is associated with the Amazon basin, with records from Colombia, Peru, and Brazil. Its type locality is linked to the Río Ucayali in Peru. It inhabits calm or moderately flowing areas, including margins, backwaters, and shallow sections where leaves, plant debris, and fine sediment accumulate. Water may be clear or lightly stained by organic matter, depending on the location and season. The bottom is generally made up of fine sand, silt, and plant debris, with roots, submerged branches, and dense vegetation along the banks. In an aquarium, stable, clean, well-oxygenated water and shaded areas reproduce its natural conditions more effectively than a brightly lit tank without cover.

Precise location and local name

The type locality of Brochis splendens is the Río Ucayali, in the upper Amazon basin of Peru. The species is also associated with other Amazon tributaries, including some areas of Colombia. In Spanish, it may be called corydora esmeralda or coridora esmeralda, while the aquarium trade commonly uses Emerald Green Cory, Emerald Cory, or Green Cory. Trade names can sometimes group similar green fish together, making visual identification and purchasing from a reliable supplier important. In an aquarium context, Brochis splendens remains the most useful taxonomic reference, even though this species was long sold under the name Corydoras splendens.

Appearance and physical characteristics

The body is deep and robust, covered with bony plates, with a rounded head and a downward-facing mouth surrounded by sensory barbels. Its most distinctive feature is the metallic emerald-green coloration across the flanks and back, often showing gold or copper highlights under aquarium lighting. The belly is usually paler. The fins are translucent to grayish, sometimes with darker tones, and the dorsal fin has a stiff spine. As with several callichthyids, the spines can lock in place and cause injury during handling; a soft, fine-meshed net is therefore preferable. Adult fish commonly reach about 6 to 7 cm, with some individuals approaching 7.5 cm depending on conditions and reference.

General diet

In the wild, this species searches the bottom for small invertebrates, larvae, worms, tiny crustaceans, and organic material. In an aquarium, its diet should include sinking tablets, bottom-feeding pellets, and frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, or mosquito larvae. Food must reach the bottom, since leftover flakes at the surface are not enough. Regular access to animal protein supports growth, while variety improves overall condition. Aquarium waste and algae should never be considered its main food source. Offering small portions after the lights have partly gone out helps the group feed with less competition and limits water pollution. Remove uneaten food promptly, particularly in smaller aquariums.

Essential data

• Native river: Río Ucayali
• Local name: Corydora esmeralda; coridora esmeralda
• Origin of the scientific name: Brochis is the genus name; splendens is the specific epithet.
• Full-name etymology: Brochis is a zoological genus name of Greek origin; splendens comes from Latin and means shining or brilliant.
• Common/vernacular names: Emerald Green Cory, Emerald Cory, Green Cory, emerald corydoras
• Family: Callichthyidae
• Subfamily: Corydoradinae
• Name pronunciation: bro-kiss SPLEN-dens
• Discovery: François-Louis de Castelnau, 1855
• Maximum adult size: About 7.5 cm
• Water temperature and pH: 22 to 28 °C; pH 6.0 to 8.0
• Watercourse appearance and surrounding vegetation: Calm to moderately flowing water, shaded margins, leaf litter, roots, submerged branches, and abundant bank vegetation.
• Typical tank mates: Brochis amandajanea, Hyphessobrycon columbianus, Paracheirodon axelrodi, Otocinclus affinis, Pterophyllum scalare, Apistogramma agassizii
• Temperament and behavior: Peaceful, schooling, active on the bottom, and best kept in groups of at least six.
• Water depth: Shallow to intermediate areas, especially near banks and calm backwaters.
• Sexual dimorphism: Females are usually larger and rounder when viewed from above; males are often slimmer.
• Bottom structure and flow: Fine sand, silt, and plant debris; low to moderate current.

In your aquarium

For successful long-term care, provide a mature aquarium, stable water, and a fine-sand substrate that protects the barbels. Keep a group of at least six, offer shaded areas, and maintain good oxygenation without excessive current. A varied sinking diet is essential, as are regular water changes. Avoid aggressive or very large tank mates that may intimidate them. Under these conditions, the group remains active, natural, and rewarding to observe. The best results come from combining clean water, suitable shelter, gentle handling, and consistent feeding.