Dwarf Corys

I'm looking at getting some dwarf cories (being smaller than normal cories I could have more of them in my 20G so they would be happier). What I want to know is whether they will scavenge in the sand in the same way that their larger relatives do? Also if anyone has any experience with these fish and can give me any hints then that would be grand

My proposed stocking list is in the attachment below.

what are the tank dimensions?

and the much purfur sand.

david

daspricey said:

what are the tank dimensions?

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60cm x 30cm x 40cm I think it's an old Juwel Rekord 70

and the much purfur sand.

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??? It's play sand, about 1 1/2 cm over pond soil/gravel mix.

yh u can add up to 5 more dwarf dorys. but 4 is perfect.

david

daspricey said:

yh u can add up to 5 more dwarf dorys. but 4 is perfect.

david

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Do you keep dwarf cories then? Are they sand 'fiends' like the bigger species?

Egmel said:

daspricey said:

yh u can add up to 5 more dwarf dorys. but 4 is perfect.

david

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Do you keep dwarf cories then? Are they sand 'fiends' like the bigger species?

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When you say "Dwarf" cories, I am guessing you are talking about one of the following: Corydoras habrosus, Corydoras pygmaeus, and there is one more I cant think of right now. These cories are more of a mid-water swimmer then the typical cory who likes to stay on the bottom. Im sure they go to the bottom too, but I dont know if they are what you are looking for.

Just want to point out that 'small' pleco says nothing - what exactly do you mean by 'small' plec? A small common plec is gowing to grow into a BIG common plec in no time. On the bright side, the plec'll have the bottom all to itself with those cories.

sylvia said:

Just want to point out that 'small' pleco says nothing - what exactly do you mean by 'small' plec? A small common plec is gowing to grow into a BIG common plec in no time. On the bright side, the plec'll have the bottom all to itself with those cories.

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Small Plec means something like a pitbull/Bulldog. or an L129 if I can find one!

If these are mid swimmers then I might go for their larger cousins as I want fish that will help aerate the sand and stop anaerobic bacteria having their way.

What the minimum advised size for a group of smallish peaceful cories for a tank this size (l can re-jig the stocking as we haven't bought anything yet.)

Thanks for all your help

Egmel said:

sylvia said:

Just want to point out that 'small' pleco says nothing - what exactly do you mean by 'small' plec? A small common plec is gowing to grow into a BIG common plec in no time. On the bright side, the plec'll have the bottom all to itself with those cories.

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Small Plec means something like a pitbull/Bulldog. or an L129 if I can find one!

If these are mid swimmers then I might go for their larger cousins as I want fish that will help aerate the sand and stop anaerobic bacteria having their way.

What the minimum advised size for a group of smallish peaceful cories for a tank this size (l can re-jig the stocking as we haven't bought anything yet.)

Thanks for all your help

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Although cories do dig in the sand, it wont be enough to take care of the gases you are talking about. You will still need to stir the sand up often to take care of that, maybe with your fingers or something else you can find to stir it.

If you are looking to get a small group of cories, then you need to find some that only get to around 2" in length. You could get a group of 3 Corydoras trilineatus and still make the 6" you had set a side for the smaller cories. Just remember, cories like to be in bigger groups, so keep that in mind.

A group of four would be the minnimum IMO - but mroe is always better with cories.

Personaly, I realy like the dwarf cories and their swimming habits and think it would probably prove better to just keep the layer of sand thin than to worry about the cories stirring it up for you. Realisticly, if you are vacuuming your tank's substrate regularly, you shouldn't have any problems anyway.

Alternatively, you can go the 'larger cory' route but look for species on the smaller side. Some common ones are C. leucomelas, C. shwartzi and pandas.

Of course, you could also skip catfish altogether and get a couple of kuhlie or a small group of dwarf chained laoches. Kuhlies would certainly do the job for you as they are always burying themselves in the sand and 'swimming' through it (very cute).

If you are willing to change your stocking, it may be an idea to replace the pencilfish with a smaller schooling fish. Idealy, the pencil fish should be in a larger group anyway. The smaller (and somewhat rarer) of the danios are lovely and active or you may want to look into spotted rasboras or golden dwarf barbs. Also, may I suggest replacing the dwarf gourami with a honey? Besides being slightly smaller (1.5" as opposed to 2"), honeys are also a lot less likely to drop dead than dwarfs

Obviously, in the end, it comes down to your own prefferences so feel free to ignore me entirely on those last suggestions

Firstly I'd like to say that's the best feedback I've had on my stocking list so far (I've done various re-jigs after posting questions!)

sylvia said:

A group of four would be the minnimum IMO - but mroe is always better with cories.

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I'd heard the same 4-6 being a good target.

Personaly, I realy like the dwarf cories and their swimming habits and think it would probably prove better to just keep the layer of sand thin than to worry about the cories stirring it up for you. Realisticly, if you are vacuuming your tank's substrate regularly, you shouldn't have any problems anyway.

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I'm thinking of getting MTS too (I know some people consider them a pest but I've also read that they can be useful) so the anaerobic pockets aren't the only reason I'm getting them

Alternatively, you can go the 'larger cory' route but look for species on the smaller side. Some common ones are C. leucomelas, C. shwartzi and pandas.

Of course, you could also skip catfish altogether and get a couple of kuhlie or a small group of dwarf chained laoches. Kuhlies would certainly do the job for you as they are always burying themselves in the sand and 'swimming' through it (very cute).

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I've heard so much about the antics of Cories that I've kind of got my heart set on them now and my boyfriend wants a 'sucky fish' so a small plec or an oto. However as with all these things it's kind of upto what my LFS has in stock, I wanted a list of 'possibles' so that when I get to my LFS I have some back up plans if they haven't got the exact breed I'm after (I have to take a train and a bus to get to my LFS so it's not an everyday pop in occurrence)

If you are willing to change your stocking, it may be an idea to replace the pencilfish with a smaller schooling fish. Idealy, the pencil fish should be in a larger group anyway. The smaller (and somewhat rarer) of the danios are lovely and active or you may want to look into spotted rasboras or golden dwarf barbs.

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I had thought about some of the smaller danios but hadn't thought about the rasboras or Barbs, I'll definitely look into them.

Also, may I suggest replacing the dwarf gourami with a honey? Besides being slightly smaller (1.5" as opposed to 2"), honeys are also a lot less likely to drop dead than dwarfs

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Sounds ideal! I'll check that one out too!

Obviously, in the end, it comes down to your own prefferences so feel free to ignore me entirely on those last suggestions

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It is my decision but I like it to be an informed one so while I have the time (my tank is still cycling) I thought I'd get as much feedback as possible to make sure I get a happy community tank.

Hi Egmel

If you keep sand on the bottom it's easier to just stir it yourself than to worry about whether the fish are doing an adequate job. An inch and a half of sand over another substrate leads me to believe you are doing a planted tank. Am I right? If so, you will want to know that, while corys can gulp mouthfuls of air from the surface when the need arises, they thrive in well oxygenated water.

Corys will only break up the surface about 1/2" deep and will do nothing to aerate the sand at deeper levels. It's best if you do that yourself so you can be sure it's done right. Here's a picture of the sand in one of my cory tanks so you can see their work:



This is what full sized corys do in their search for food, but the dwarf species will not be able to achieve even this because they tend to swim at a higher level.

Their are a some corys that are only about 2"-2 1/2" in length that would comb the bottom and can sometimes be found in an lfs. Among them are C. metae (Bandit corys), C. axelrodi, C. concolor, C. arcuatus (skunk corys) C. elegans, C. trilineatus, C. melini, C. similis, etc. I would not recommend C. pandas for your tank.

If you are not completely set on getting a specific pleco, why not consider getting some ottos instead? These look similar to plecos, and also eat algae, but are tiny creatures.

Since corys are schooling fish, a group of 3 or 4 is about the fewest you should have, but if you can fit in more, please do.

Inchworm said:

An inch and a half of sand over another substrate leads me to believe you are doing a planted tank. Am I right? If so, you will want to know that, while corys can gulp mouthfuls of air from the surface when the need arises, they thrive in well oxygenated water.

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Planted but have no plans for adding CO2 as yet and have the filter outlet set up above the water line so it's making bubbles at the moment. It's 1 1/2 cms btw, not inches! (t'is only a small tank, don't want to fill it with substrate )

Corys will only break up the surface about 1/2" deep and will do nothing to aerate the sand at deeper levels. It's best if you do that yourself so you can be sure it's done right. Here's a picture of the sand in one of my cory tanks so you can see their work:
image removed : see above post
This is what full sized corys do in their search for food, but the dwarf species will not be able to achieve even this because they tend to swim at a higher level.

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Gotcha, a little swirl every now and then it is, with the help of some mts sand the plants that should do the trick.

Their are a some corys that are only about 2"-2 1/2" in length that would comb the bottom and can sometimes be found in an lfs. Among them are C. metae (Bandit corys), C. axelrodi, C. concolor, C. arcuatus (skunk corys) C. elegans, C. trilineatus, C. melini, C. similis, etc. I would not recommend C. pandas for your tank.

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Cool, more to add to my research list Any reason as to why not pandas? Just trying to learn what makes one type good for a tank while another is inappropriate.

If you are not completely set on getting a specific pleco, why not consider getting some ottos instead? These look similar to plecos, and also eat algae, but are tiny creatures. [/quote[ I had considered otos but had also heard they weren't particularly hardy and as this is a new tank...

Since corys are schooling fish, a group of 3 or 4 is about the fewest you should have, but if you can fit in more, please do.

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Believe me if we weren't renting a tiny flat I'd have a much bigger tank with real schools of fish rather than just a few! However this is my first tropical tank so maybe I ought to start small!

[edit] Don't know why but the quotes didn't seem to work this time

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Ok, I've taken comments on board and have done a new 'revised' stocking list.

I'm going to try and get one of the smaller non-dwarf cory species that inchworm suggested and I love the look of the dwarf/spotted rasboras

My new list is attached this time I've included the list of 'alternatives'

Thanks again guys for all your help