Corumbataia cuestae

🐟 Corumbataia cuestae

A small, armored catfish native to the Upper Paraná River basin in Brazil, the Corumbataia cuestae is a peaceful algae grazer that thrives in planted aquariums. With its bony plates, subtle mottling, and calm demeanor, it’s a great choice for aquarists seeking a unique bottom-dweller for a peaceful community setup.

🔎 Quick Facts
📛 Common Name: (No widely used common name)
🎨 Appearance: Slender, elongated body covered in bony plates; light brown to tan with faint mottled markings; sucker mouth for grazing algae
📏 Max Size: Around 2″ (5 cm)

😇 Behavior & Temperament
🤝 Peaceful and shy
👥 Best kept in small groups
🚫 Avoid housing with aggressive or overly active species

🏠 Tank Requirements
📐 Minimum Tank Size: 15–20 gallons

🪨 Smooth rocks and driftwood for algae growth
🌿 Dense plants for shelter and comfort
💧 Gentle to moderate water flow

Water Parameters:
🌡️ 72–78°F (22–26°C)
💧 pH 6.0–7.5
🧪 Soft to moderately hard water

🍽️ Diet
🌱 Herbivorous/algae grazer
💊 Algae wafers, spirulina-based foods
🥒 Blanched vegetables (zucchini, cucumber)

🔍 Sexing
♂️ Males are slimmer with slightly longer fin extensions
♀️ Females are rounder when carrying eggs

📋 Overview Table

💡 Snippet: A peaceful, armored algae-eater from Brazil’s Upper Paraná River, ideal for small planted aquariums.

If you want, I can prepare Corumbataia fluminensis next so you’ll have the entire genus covered in the same consistent style. That way your set will be complete.