Most albino mammals found in the animal kingdom are blind, so it stands to reason that Albino Cory Catfish may also be blind, right?
The Albino Cory Catfish are pale and have red eyes that may seem unusual.
These Albino Cory Catfishes often show peculiar behavior such as clumsy fishing, bumping into the aquarium tank and rocks, or knocking into other fishes.
This kind of behavior further supports the idea that Albino Cory Catfishes are blind. However, that is not at all true!
How Frequent is Blindness in Cory Catfishes?
Most Albino Cory Catfishes have weak eyesight, which is evident by their red or pinkish eyes.
Not all albino cory catfishes are blind. However, that is not to say that blindness does not exist in them.
Like all other animals, these catfish are found to be blind due to any genetic defects or frequent inbreeding. Cory catfish are quite popular among aquarium enthusiasts and breeders in the aquarium trade.
Another cause of blindness in them may be due to physical injury by other aggressive fishes in the tank.
While cory catfish are peaceful fish, if you have aggressive fish in the tank, it’s possible that they can be attacked.
The eyes of an albino cory catfish can also be injured or weakened during shipping.
If the eyesight damage is due to a physical injury rather than an inborn issue, it may be fixable.
You can check the eyes of your cory catfish yourself to check for an issue before taking it to the vet.
Fun fact: Cory catfish are often called the ‘armored catfish’ because you can see some plates of bone-like materials covering their body.
How Can I Check if My Albino Cory Catfish is Blind?
You can check for some of the most apparent signs of blindness yourself.
Just shine a light in their eyes and check for any noticeable signs of irritation such as infection, inflammation, swelling, blood, or cloudiness.
These are all characteristic signs of poor vision.
If you notice any of these signs in your albino Cory Catfish, see a vet immediately. They will let you know if it’s natural or due to an injury and whether it can be treated or not.
How To Take Care of Albino Cory Catfish if it is Blind?
Don’t worry; blind catfishes can live a long and happy life provided that they are well taken care of.
They will need extra care with their food and vigilant observation.
It will be better that you don’t keep any hostile fish around in the tank as they can attack your blind cory catfish.
How Can I Tell if My Cory Catfish has Problems with Vision?
The eyes are a susceptible part of a Cory Catfish. Although your fish may not be blind, it may have the problem of poor vision, which is often common in Cory Catfishes.
You may have noticed the behavior of your catfish, such as clumsy or fumbling movements or bumping into other fishes and decoration material.
However, this doesn’t indicate an underlying health problem.
The fact is that Cory Catfish are fun creatures that are peaceful, unlike other fish, which makes them such an excellent choice for aquariums and tank pets.
They do not care too much about their environment, and bumping around is their way of fooling around and having fun.
This kind of behavior is perfectly normal and is observed by all Cory Catfish owners.
Is the Red or Pinkish Colour of a Cory Catfish the Reason they are Blind?
Red or pink eyes and pale skin color are characteristic findings of albinism. This anomaly is one of the leading reasons people believe that such cory catfishes are blind.
If your Cory Catfish has red or pink eyes, it probably means it is an albino. As mentioned earlier, blindness is not associated with albinism.
An Albino Cory Fish may be blind, but it is usually due to unrelated factors.
However, Albino Cory Catfish have poor vision. This is another reason why they swim in a weird way and make for such a fun pet.
Albinism is also associated with increased sensitivity to light.
It is recommended that you keep dim lighting in your tank, preferably of a color that is not white, so it does not put too much pressure on the fish.
What Does Being an Albino Actually Mean?
Albinism is a rare genetic condition that occurs due to mutation in specific genes in all animal species.
It affects the amount of melanin that your body produces, so the affected animal has pale skin, hair, and eyes.
When it comes to Cory Catfish, it causes them to look white and have red or pink eyes.
The white color of such catfishes makes it difficult for the fish to camouflage and hide from predators.
It is the primary reason why Albino Cory Catfish are not commonly seen in the wild.
However, such a problem does not exist for the Cory Catfish in captivity. This explains why they are found in abundance in confined places.
How Does a Catfish Become An Albino?
Albinism is a genetic abnormality that causes any animal to be unable to produce pigmentation.
Scientists have narrowed down this to occur in the Hps4 gene. It is due to deletion in DNA.
Skipping over just a tiny gene in the DNA causes pallor in a Cory Catfish.
Regular Cory Catfish vs Albino Cory Catfish – Are there any Differences?
There is no significant difference between a regular Cory Catfish and an Albino.
They only differ in their pigmentation. However, the Albino Cory Catfish do have a reduced life expectancy.
How Can I Take Care of my Albino Cory Catfish?
Albino Cory Catfish require just a little more extra care than their regular counterparts.
With adequate management, they can live longer than their life expectancy.
You can take care of your Albino Cory Catfish in the following ways.
1. Regularly change the water in the aquarium
This will keep their environment fresh and keep them healthy.
2. Do not keep aggressive fish in the same tank as them
Aggressive and hostile fish may attack the already sensitive Albino Cory Catfish and cause them further harm.
3. Check their food regularly
You will need to ensure they are eating the right amount of food to ensure their good health.
Also read: What Do Cory Catfish Eat?
4. Do not keep any dangerous decorations in the tank
Albino Cory Catfish may have weak eye vision or be blind.
They may not be able to escape any harmful obstacles that may come their way and harm their vision further.
Therefore, it is better not to keep any such harmful objects inside the aquarium.
5. Keep the lights of the tank dim
Since Albino Cory Catfish have much more sensitive eyes, it is better to keep the aquarium’s lights dim.
Avoid installing fluorescent white lights that are too strong to look at.
Also read: What Color Lights Do Fish Like?
The Bottom Line
Albino Cory Catfish are fun and peaceful animals. It is easy to mistake them for being blind because of their red eyes and their chaotic way of swimming.
Do not let them swim headfirst into the tank, as this may confuse you into thinking they are blind; they are not!
Some of them may have weak eyesight that may pose difficulties for them in their life.
You can easily check for any problems by yourself by using a flashlight. If the problem persists, you can always take them to a vet.
We hope our comprehensive article helped you understand how to take care of an Albino Cory Catfish. Good luck!
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