• Scientific name: Corydoras zygatus
• Common name: Black band catfish
• Group: Catfishes
• Habitat: South America; Peru, Ecuador
• Size: 6-7 cm
• Biotope: Small tributaries, creeks, pools and areas of flooded forest.
• Social behavior: A peaceful and very shy catfish. Rarely active during the day.
• Diet: Omnivorous; eats most food which sinks to the bottom of the tank.
• Breeding: Quite easy
• Tank: Minimum 65 litres
• Population: 6 fish for 85 litres
• Decoration: Use a dark, fine-grained substrate and floating plants to subdue light. Leave an open area for them to search for food and swim.
• Temperature: 22-26°C
• pH: 6-7
• Hardness: 1-15 NK°
• Lifespan: 5-10 years

Description: Black band catfish has a base color of pinky-grey, the fins are colorless. There is a dark line on the back, which always has a green shine and ends on the caudal peduncle never extending onto the caudal fin. There often is a vertical line through the dark stripe just at the base of the dorsal spine, this manifests itself as a break in the stripe. Although adult Corydoras zygatus and Corydoras rabauti are very difficult to distinguish, juveniles can easily be differentiated by coloration. Conditions demanded by cardinal tetras seem to suit this catfish well, including filtering over peat.

Females are larger and notably fuller. Spawning transpires in a typical Corydoras fashion. In nature they spawn in the rainy season. It can be imitate with a large water change with cooler water. The temperature at spawning time is around 16 °C. The female can lay up to 600 small eggs, which are scattered all over the tank. Fry will hatch in 3-4 days, and can be fed artemia after another 2-3 days.