Bronze Catfish

[Gail_Blitzy]

I keep bonking off catfish. This is completely unintentional but we have had 2 catfish both of which have died in a week of purchase. We bought the fish from the same place, so you would think that it is the place. But we have bought our other fish from the same place and they seem fine.
The first catfish that died i bought in a pair (1 bronze and 1 peppered). We had these ones in 20 gallon tank. But after 5(ish) days the peppered 'popped it's clogs'. And we bought another, replacement, catfish this time it was a bronze and we put it in a 40 gallon tank with the barb and it ain't lookin so well!!!

So i was wondering if ANYBODY could tell me if catfish are harder to look after in anyway than the other fish. Cos i don't want this one to die as well.
-Thanx

 

[Alien Anna]

Corys don't cope well with an un-cycled tank. Are you sure your tank is cycled? (if not, please follow the link in my sig).

They also don't cope well with low oxygen, which is most commonly to do with an un-cycled tank, but could also be to do with too high temperature, inadequate filtration or very high nitrates (with an 'a' ).

Once you've got the problems sorted out, please note the corys are schooling fish and you'd need to get this one some friends.

 

[Whisper Odinsky]

anna, how many cory's make a nice class? )

 

[cryosi]

corys do better in groups, no salt in tank! what is your tank size, what other fish have you got , and how many of each! thanxs

 

[Whisper Odinsky]

for myself, we moved the 2 cory's from the 30 gallon that was given to us, to a 5 gallon tank, about 1 week ago.
currently, in the 5 gallon, is 4 corys. i thought they were bronze, but they are green corys(?)
and we have a snail, and a mean white betta, who enjoys passing the time by chasing and puffing up and scaring these things.
photo available upon request...

 

[Whisper Odinsky]

is 4 corys and a betta a good number in a jolly 5 gallon? or way too much?

 

[Alien Anna]

is 4 corys and a betta a good number in a jolly 5 gallon? or way too much?

They'll probably out-grow it eventually, but provided you do very regular water changes it should be sustainable for a little while. I'd start looking out for a 10 gal if I were you.

 

[Whisper Odinsky]

thankyou anna, very very much.
the purpose for the 5 gallon, was to introduce those frightened 2 corys i had, introduce them to 2 new friendly corys, in hopes of making them all happy.
do corys do well in tall tanks? our newest adventure will be a tall tank, hopefully around 40 gallon.
thankyou again.

 

[Inchworm]

Compared to many other fish, cory cats are quite easy to keep. One thing that is good to keep in mind with your 5 gal. tank is that the corys live on the bottom where the soil tends to collect. If you siphon it regularly and have filtration and some surface movement you should be ok until such time as you are ready to move them to your bigger tank. I wouldn't be in too big a hurry.

I have never heard of a corys having a problem living in a tall tank if all other conditions were acceptable.