Burying

[joecoral]

I came home from work today to find one of my sterbai completely buried in the sand, even above its eyes, so that only the top of its back and dorsal fin were out of the sand. I stayed like this foor a good half hour before I wondered if it was dead and gave it a nudge, only for it to swim off, and it has been completely fine since
Is this normal cory behaviour?
Apologies if this is a stupid question
JC

 

[SJ2K]

very rare but not unheard of, i wouldnt worry too much.

 

[Coryman]

This is a defensive action and something that quite a number of Cory species do, especially those that naturally inhabit areas where there is no aquatic fauna.

Ian

 

[joecoral]

This is a defensive action and something that quite a number of Cory species do, especially those that naturally inhabit areas where there is no aquatic fauna.
Ian

I assume sterbai is one of those species then? And does it mean something is bothering it if it's exhibiting defensive behaviour?

 

[Coryman]

I assume sterbai is one of those species then? And does it mean something is bothering it if it's exhibiting defensive behaviour?

I am not totally sure about the natural habitat of C. sterbai, or in fact which strain you may have, but I would think that there may have been something the disturbed the fish, something like a reflection coming from above, which could have looked like a predators approach to the Cory.

Ian

 

[joecoral]

They do still seem to be very skittish, had them just over a week and whenever I walk into the room or past the tank they all scatter. Also, I have 5 and they are quite often together in a group of 4 while the other one is normally by itself hiding behind the plants or in the back (which i believe is the one which i found buried) is this normal?