Ok peoples!  I just got 5 pygmy cories and they're well on their way to being one of my new favorite fishes.  Yes, I know 5 isn't many - I wanted to try them out before I got more. 

Questions!

Does anyone breed/know a good breeder in Melbourne? 

How do I tell when they're ready to breed?

When you say pygmy do you know which actual species you have since I believe there is often some confusion between at least 3 of the small species of corydoras eg Pygmy aka C. pygmaeus, Salt and Pepper aka C. hasbrosus, and Dwarf corydoras aka C. hastatus. It all depends I find on what name the shop chose to put on the fish rather than them always ensuring that the species they got is the one they have whacked a name on. Not all shops are guilty of this but it happens often enough to be weary of.

I believe that the breeding of them will be fairly similar to normal sized corydoras, namely that you need a mix of sexes ideally 2 males per female and to condition both the males and females with live foods and good protein. Then it will be usually a weather event or your own water changes and changing the water temp to a cooler temp to induce spawning activity.

Males will pretty much be happy to spawn or try to breed almost at any time but the females need to be well conditioned and plump looking before she will usually show any interest in the males advances.