Are Sterbai Corys Active?

[seabear]

I have 2 Sterbai corys and 2 Paleatus corys , the sterbai corys are always hiding behind a driftwood only comes out when I feed them, but if they see big movement they get scare and hide. The Paleatus corys don't seem to be shy like them, they are active and they don't get scare of movements. I was going to get 4 more sterbai corys but I don't like that they are always hiding. Is this normal?

 

[Tizer]

thats because you dont have enough corys for them to feel safe, however, they are skittish fish, often go and hide when there is movement near the tank

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

My ten Sterbai were a little nervy at times last year when in the 620T, but when they moved through to my Rio240 with a bunch of eleven Emerald Brochis youngsters, they were far more confident to be out on view whatever was going on outside the tank. In such a big group of two speciees, it was great to see them almost flock across the tank floor like birds.

Not the best combo you have though, a warmer water loving catfish (Sterbai, at least 24C) with ones that are more temperate (Peppered, as low as 15C in winter in the wild, moving to tropical 25C in peak summer).

 

[seabear]

My ten Sterbai were a little nervy at times last year when in the 620T, but when they moved through to my Rio240 with a bunch of eleven Emerald Brochis youngsters, they were far more confident to be out on view whatever was going on outside the tank. In such a big group of two speciees, it was great to see them almost flock across the tank floor like birds.

Not the best combo you have though, a warmer water loving catfish (Sterbai, at least 24C) with ones that are more temperate (Peppered, as low as 15C in winter in the wild, moving to tropical 25C in peak summer).

10+11! that's a big group of corys!
I can't afford to get so many more, I don't even think I will add 8 more. The most I will get is 5 more but I am really afraid all 7 of them will be hiding

 

[Inchworm]

Hi seabear

What's the temperature of the water in your tank? As a rule, if it's low enough for the C. paleatus to be comfortable, it will not be high enough for the C. sterbai to be as active as they might be. It's usually better to keep these two species away from each other for that reason.

 

[seabear]

Hi seabear

What's the temperature of the water in your tank? As a rule, if it's low enough for the C. paleatus to be comfortable, it will not be high enough for the C. sterbai to be as active as they might be. It's usually better to keep these two species away from each other for that reason.

Hi Inchworm, temperature in my tank is always high at 82-85F, I live in an apartment building and the heat is hot even I open the windows. It's interesting that my sterbai are not active in this high temperature but the paleatus are more active

 

[Tizer]

maybe active because they are stressed out in such a high temperature, i'd always be on my toes if i was standing on hot sand...

 

[seabear]

maybe active because they are stressed out in such a high temperature, i'd always be on my toes if i was standing on hot sand...

That's my bad for not doing any research before I bought them
Should I trade them to the LFS?

 

[Tizer]

i would trade them back and get more sterbai, 5/6 would be ideal depending on how much space you have, how big is the tank?

 

[seabear]

I have a 45 gallon tank. I just got home and found the water is at 86f
Should I change some cold water to get it down to 83 at least?

 

[Erik]

My Sterbai tank temps. vary from 75-84. All of them, at least 16, are always very active.

 

[Mowbz]

i would trade them back and get more sterbai, 5/6 would be ideal depending on how much space you have, how big is the tank?

Best advice there. If you cant keep the temp down, the peppers are going to be unhappy.

Fish like some other animals (Like reptiles) change their behaviour with temperature. If you get cold, you move less right? You get stiff. (Dont do it, Tizer ) If its warm, not so much. The peppers are above the upper part of their normal range, and so are incredibly active, will have an increased metabolism, but will unlimitely live a short life.

The Sterbai's are currently at about what they should be, but are likely not as active, as said above, because they dont feel safe enough to venture about. If there were more, they would be happier. Safety in numbers...

 

[seabear]

Last time I asked the LFS they didn't want to trade in, I will try harder this time.
Thanks for everyone's advice

 

[Mowbz]

Thats generally a sign of a LFS that doesn't trade ethically, in that they know they've sold you unsuitable fish, and are just in it for the money.

Any good salesman would have tried to upsell you another tank to house them properly, or not sold you them at all!