And Suddenly: Cories!

[soritan]

So, my family gave me 3 Albino Cories for Xmas, just today. Apparently, they had missed the fish store beforehand, and got in there today. They're extremely small, right now. Little juvies. Less than a inch long, each.

So, here's my problem(s):

I have 2 small tanks, one 10gal and one 5gal. My 10gal is cycled and set. My 5gal is mostly cycled (mini cycling), since I put a new filter in there with cycled biomedia.

Both tanks house a single betta. My 10gal, in addition to the single betta, houses three African Dwarf Frogs ( ADF s), one Otocinclus (he's not dead yet! otto ), and seven Ghost Shrimp.

My 5gal has sand, and my 10gal is going to have sand after I've washed enough. However, my 10gal is heavily planted.

That's my most recent picture. NOW, add 2 more plants to that. Yes, 'heavily planted' is accurate. I read that cories enjoy lots of floor space, which I obviously don't have. But 3 Albino Cories can't fit in a 5 gallon, once full grown. I don't think I can get away with 3 cories and 1 betta in a 5 gallon, can I? Wouldn't that be "eleven inches of fish"?

I suppose, since I'm laying down a new substrate in my 10 gallon in about 2 weeks, that I can clear off about 50% floor space, for the cories. If I do that, would it all have to be in one spot, or can I make a series of empty spaces? As is, I'd say that I have about 20% floor space. Most of that tank's inhabitants love it, otherwise I'd have never done it.

I don't know. What do you advise? At the moment, I'm acclimating them to my 5g, simply because my 10g is going to be put into a state of flux once I change out the substrate, and I'd rather not put them through that, yet. Will they be okay in my 5g for 2-4 weeks, while I'm getting my 10g ready, since they're less than 1/2" big each?

I like them, I'd prefer they be happy with me. I'm willing to make a few changes for them, but I'd prefer to stay heavily planted in my 10g if I can help it.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi soritan

Your tank is very pretty.

Your corys will be fine where they are, at least for the time being. Once the 10 gallon is set up with sand however, they would be better in it. There is no point in putting them in there now and having to disturb them.

I think that once you watch their behavior on the sand, you will understand what they need as far as bottom space goes. They are C. aeneus which are sturdy fish and strong swimmers. They need room to swim as well as sit together on the bottom, and they do dig around in the sand looking for food. A 10 gallon tank doesn't have a lot of room at the bottom and even if it is only planted on half of it, these corys will not have much room for their activities, once they have matured. If you keep the open area in one place, especially if it runs the length of the tank rather than across the width, it will seem to increase the space available to them.

Good luck with the little guys. I'm sure you will enjoy watching them play.

 

[soritan]

Thank you Inchworm. I thought as much, I was only worried about their temporary stay in my 5g, especially since it's taking me ages to wash out that sand a cup at a time. They're so small. I think once I move them over to the 10g, I'll be tempted to get dwarf cories to replace them.

I think I'll move a couple crypts over to the 5g to make room for them.

Wouldn't you know it? I plan my 10g for shy and aggressive fish, plant it to its eyebrows, and then recieve a fish that needs elbow room.

I think my tank will look great once I finally get my sandy substrate in. It's a bit patchwork, at the moment. But everyone in there's been happy so far.

 

[soritan]

New 'problem!' But I'm not really asking advice, unless you've got some handy:

Uh, it turns out my family wants to help me purchase a 20g tank. This is great stuff, but it's probably not until far off in the horizon. I'd say March at the latest (possibly Jan or Feb, but March, at the latest). Since they're getting me the 20g, I see no great need to change out my substrate in the 10g.

I think after my cories are 'settled', and calm (about 2 weeks), I'll move them over to the 10g and remove a piece of bogwood. There's nothing sharp in there. I'll even pull out a few plants for them. While certianly not the dream home I wanted go give them when I moved them out of the 10g, it'd be better for them in the long run since I'll be getting the 20g later.

I'm kinda excited. I never thought I'd get a larger tank.