Common name
Orange Venezuelan cory
Scientific name
Osteogaster aenea
Category
Freshwater fish
Group
Corydoradine catfish
Environment
Freshwater
Origin
Aquarium trade strain associated with Venezuelan bronze-cory populations; commercial provenance varies
Care level
Easy to intermediate
Adult size
Approximately 6–6.5 cm
Expected lifespan
5–10 years
Minimum housing
At least 90 L and 80 cm long for a group
Temperature
20–26 °C
pH
6.0–7.8
Hardness / minerals
2–18 dGH; stable soft to moderately hard water
Salinity
Freshwater
Lighting
Moderate with shaded cover
Placement / swimming zone
Fine sand bottom

Identity and search names

Trade-form profile provisionally within Osteogaster aenea. Corydoras venezuelanus is retained as a historical synonym of O. aenea; the retail word “Venezuelan” does not prove wild locality.

Search names: Corydoras venezuelanus, Osteogaster venezuelanus, Corydoras aeneus 'Venezuela Orange', Venezuela orange cory, Orange Venezuelan corydoras

Environment and housing

Fine rounded sand, open foraging areas, plants or wood for shade and unobstructed access to the surface.

Water stability: Maintain 20–26 °C; pH 6.0–7.8; minerals: 2–18 dGH; stable soft to moderately hard water; salinity: Freshwater. Stability, dissolved oxygen and nitrogen-cycle control matter more than chasing one exact reading.

Feeding and nutrition

Feeding ecology: Sinking omnivore foods, insect larvae, small crustaceans and frozen foods

Feeding routine: Feed complete sinking omnivore foods and small frozen invertebrates in one or two measured meals. Use several feeding spots and confirm every fish maintains a rounded belly.

Social structure and compatibility

Shoaling; keep at least six, preferably eight or more

Peaceful community fish that tolerate the same temperature. Avoid aggressive bottom dwellers and persistent food competitors. Retain a cycled separation option for aggression, feeding exclusion, predation, injury or disease.

Adult load and life support

Projected adult load: Moderate for a shoal of six to ten robust corydoradines, with concentrated solids around bottom feeding areas.

Filtration: Use mature moderate filtration with protected intakes and no stagnant waste pockets under wood or plants.

Aeration: Maintain good dissolved oxygen and unobstructed surface access for facultative air breathing.

Maintenance: Siphon open sand, inspect barbels and bellies, and retain provenance records so colour forms are not falsely sold as a separate species.

Breeding and reproduction

T-position spawning followed by adhesive eggs placed on plants, glass or décor. Do not compromise adult welfare, genetic identity, quarantine capacity or lawful rehoming to attempt breeding.

Quarantine, welfare and risk

Quarantine: Quarantine new fish in a separate fully cycled system for at least 30 days at the intended temperature and mineral chemistry. Use dedicated equipment; observe appetite, respiration, faeces, skin, fins, gills and behaviour; never add transport water to the display.

Welfare checks: Maintain a same-form or compatible corydoradine group, smooth substrate and direct feeding. Track individual body condition, feeding access, respiration, injury, abnormal hiding or aggression and use of the intended swimming zone.

Important warning

Corydoras venezuelanus is currently treated as a synonym of Osteogaster aenea. Keep the orange trade identity without claiming a separate species.

Main risk: False species or locality claims, substrate injury and chronic underfeeding.

Australian biosecurity and release

Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants, live food or wet equipment into drains, dams or natural waterways. Australian import eligibility is species-specific: check the current permitted ornamental-fish list and BICON conditions by accepted scientific name. Import requires a permit, an approved source country and approved-arrangement isolation. Check current South Australian noxious-fish and movement rules before purchase, sale, transport or disposal.

Current check: Current lawful import, possession or movement must be checked by accepted scientific name. Absence from one state list is not import approval.

Detailed husbandry

Identity Scope
Trade-form profile provisionally within Osteogaster aenea. Corydoras venezuelanus is retained as a historical synonym of O. aenea; the retail word “Venezuelan” does not prove wild locality.
Adult Size And Space
Expected adult size: Approximately 6–6.5 cm. Minimum permanent housing: At least 90 L and 80 cm long for a group. Adult dimensions, group or territory needs, swimming footprint, oxygen demand and waste production matter more than juvenile sale size.
Social Structure
Shoaling; keep at least six, preferably eight or more
Swimming Zone
Primary zone: Bottom. Keep that zone open enough for normal movement, feeding, refuge and escape.
Feeding Ecology
Sinking omnivore foods, insect larvae, small crustaceans and frozen foods
Feeding Plan
Feed complete sinking omnivore foods and small frozen invertebrates in one or two measured meals. Use several feeding spots and confirm every fish maintains a rounded belly.
Water Stability
Maintain 20–26 °C; pH 6.0–7.8; minerals: 2–18 dGH; stable soft to moderately hard water; salinity: Freshwater. Stability, dissolved oxygen and nitrogen-cycle control matter more than chasing one exact reading.
Adult Projected Load
Moderate for a shoal of six to ten robust corydoradines, with concentrated solids around bottom feeding areas.
Filtration
Use mature moderate filtration with protected intakes and no stagnant waste pockets under wood or plants.
Aeration
Maintain good dissolved oxygen and unobstructed surface access for facultative air breathing.
Maintenance
Siphon open sand, inspect barbels and bellies, and retain provenance records so colour forms are not falsely sold as a separate species.
Habitat Structure
Fine rounded sand, open foraging areas, plants or wood for shade and unobstructed access to the surface.
Compatibility Plan
Peaceful community fish that tolerate the same temperature. Avoid aggressive bottom dwellers and persistent food competitors. Retain a cycled separation option for aggression, feeding exclusion, predation, injury or disease.
Breeding Plan
T-position spawning followed by adhesive eggs placed on plants, glass or décor. Do not compromise adult welfare, genetic identity, quarantine capacity or lawful rehoming to attempt breeding.
Quarantine
Quarantine new fish in a separate fully cycled system for at least 30 days at the intended temperature and mineral chemistry. Use dedicated equipment; observe appetite, respiration, faeces, skin, fins, gills and behaviour; never add transport water to the display.
Welfare Checks
Maintain a same-form or compatible corydoradine group, smooth substrate and direct feeding. Track individual body condition, feeding access, respiration, injury, abnormal hiding or aggression and use of the intended swimming zone.
Biosecurity And Release
Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants, live food or wet equipment into drains, dams or natural waterways. Australian import eligibility is species-specific: check the current permitted ornamental-fish list and BICON conditions by accepted scientific name. Import requires a permit, an approved source country and approved-arrangement isolation. Check current South Australian noxious-fish and movement rules before purchase, sale, transport or disposal.
Main Risk
False species or locality claims, substrate injury and chronic underfeeding.
Overridable Warnings
Corydoras venezuelanus is currently treated as a synonym of Osteogaster aenea. Keep the orange trade identity without claiming a separate species.

Sources

Current accepted identity or qualified trade identity, former names, adult scale, social structure, feeding ecology, adult projected load, filtration, aeration, maintenance, quarantine, welfare, Australian import controls and South Australian movement or no-release obligations were rechecked. AquaNexus wording is original.