Head to head
Angelicus Catfish vs Corydoras
The angelicus catfish and the corydoras are both popular small catfish, but they come from different continents and rely on very different adaptations to survive, one swimming upside down to feed, the other breathing air through its own gut.
| Angelicus Catfish | Corydoras | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Synodontis angelicus | Corydoras |
| Size | Moderately large | Small |
| Body covering | Smooth skin with bold white spots | Bony armour plates |
| Swimming behaviour | Frequently swims upside down | Normal orientation, with surface air dashes |
| Air breathing | Not noted | Breathes through the lining of the gut |
| Social structure | Not particularly schooling | Strongly social, shoals in groups |
| Diet | Omnivore | Omnivore and carnivore |
| Native range | Central Africa | Tropical South America |
Angelicus Catfish vs Corydoras: common questions
Which catfish swims upside down, the angelicus or the corydoras?
The angelicus catfish, which frequently swims inverted to graze food from the underside of logs, leaves, and the water's surface, a behaviour the corydoras does not practise.
Which catfish breathes through its gut, the angelicus or the corydoras?
The corydoras, which can absorb oxygen through a modified section of its intestine and regularly dashes to the surface to gulp air, a trait the angelicus catfish is not known for.
Where do the angelicus catfish and corydoras come from?
The angelicus catfish is native to rivers in Central Africa, while the corydoras genus is native to tropical South America, placing the two catfish on entirely different continents.