Corry Catfish hiding in caves...

[Jediagh]

I have 2 corry catfish in a 10 gal cycled tank. They have been in there for about 2 months now. They swim around like crazy between all the real plants, go up to the surface and then rocket to the bottom, spend all their free time looking at everything at the bottom of the tank.

Everything has been normal until this weekend when I got home (was out for 2 day and left them with a automatic feeder, have done this before on several occasions) and noticed that they were no were in sight. It took me a few minutes to realize that both corries were INSIDE the barrel cave that has been inside the tank since the start. See image below:

I did not think any thing of it, but I've noticed that they since Sunday they are not as active as usual. In fact they have spent most of their time INSIDE the barrel cave? When I got close to the glass of the tank they got scared and swam around like carzy before hiding again in the cave. Should I be worried?

My water parameters are at

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10

Did my weekly water change on Monday (25%) and the water is at 82 deg F just like it has always been. So am I being too paranoid or it something wrong with me corries? Perhaps a couple of more would keep them happy?

Any help on the matter would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MissClaire]

Maybe something has just spooked them recently
Maybe they are getting it on?
or maybe buy two more cories...ive noticed mine are way happier in groups of 4 not 2....But im not an expert so lets wait for someone elses opinion

 

[clutterydrawer]

I'm not sure what is up, but it is a good thing that you are attentive to them so you notice the change in behaviour, well done

I just wanted to agree with MissClaire that you should consider getting another 2 of the same species, which might make them feel more secure and happy, as they are shoaling fish

 

[Jediagh]

Just an update.

The 10 gal tank the corries are have a timer to turn off/on the tank light so that my plants get 11 hours of light. The lights go out at around 11:00 PM and I stuck around the room until about midnight and noticed that they came out around that time from their cave and started swimming around like normal?

Hum... Perhaps they don't like the light? Are little vampries and just love to sleep all day and play all night? Not sure. Will stay up late tonight to observer again. Tomorrow I plan on buying 2-3 more like some of you have recommened.

Hum... does it have to be the same spiecies: Corry Catfish? Or can I get other type of catfish like pandas, or the all white ones?

Thanks

 

[MissClaire]

I find that my corys like to stay within their group. (eg: my sterbai hang out together while my adolfoi hang together) I dont know if that applies to all though, or just mine.

 

[parker313]

Cories are mainly nocturnal with pretty sensitive eyes. Mine like to hang out in some shady spots - can you get some sort of arching decoration that you could easily see in, but still gives them some shade?

You CAN keep any species of cories together and there won't be a problem, but they really are happiest in groups of 3-4 of their own species. I'd get 2 more of the same ones you already have - that's what's really going to bring out their "coriest" behavior B)

 

[Teelie]

I have 11 Cories, 4 species of them. My schwarzti are short one which died a few months ago but they seem to have taken up with my other Cories and have adapted fine. Still, if I can get ahold of some more, I definitely intend to. I'd like to get at least one more of all of them if possible. They are, as mentioned nocturnal and sometimes they do act weird but unless you see their gills moving rapidly or a change in color (most notably, redness in the gills), then I wouldn't blame the water for their change. It might be stress related or even seasonal. I've noticed my fish will sometimes act different when a storm front moves in.

 

[Jediagh]

Breathing rapidly???
Redness in the gills???

What does this mean? Are these signs that a corry is sick?
Thanks

 

[Teelie]

It's a sign of stress which usually are signs of bad water conditions (low oxygen content, high ammonia, nitrites or chlorine/chloramine inflame the gills and cause rapid breathing) or less often of disease. With disease it's normally easier to see external signs that help pin-point just what like ich is white spots, fungus is white patches, bloat and hole in the head, etc.

 

[Jediagh]

FINAL UPDATE

Well after 48 hours of quarentine I finally add two more corry catfish to my tank. The two new ones are wild! They race back and froth, up and down all over the tank.

The 2 corries that were in the tank appear to have mixed feelings for the new residence. One of them has joined the 2 new ones, but the smaller corry doesn't seem to care for the new company. He pops his head out of the cave every now and then but for the most part has decided NOT to join the rest of the gang.

Guess I'll just have to wait and see if things change.