Corydoras and gravel.

[Aqua Andy]

Hi,

I have read that a gravel substrate can damage a Corydoras barbels.

I was thinking of getting a group of them for my tank but I have a fine gravel substrate.

Do you think that this will be unsuitable?

Does anyone keep Corydoras in a tank wiyh gravel substrate?

Thanks for reading my post.

I will appreciate your feedback,


Andy

 

[emma12321]

Corys will be fine with gravel so long as it is rounded and not sharp (sharp sand damages their barbles making them erode until they dissapear then the corys can't feed properly and die). They do prefer sand though as they root around in it with their barbles. I kept mine on rounded gravel for 3 years before converting to sand and they did fine. So as long as you have smooth rounded gravel go for it, get at least 3 though as they like to live in groups.

Hope this helps

Emma

 

[Aqua Andy]

My gravel is unfortunately very small and irregularly shaped so also probably sharp. My tank is small, an 8 UK gallon any ideas for more suitable bottom dwelling fish?

 

[Alix]

maybe a few otos?

 

[emma12321]

Instead of fish you could try fan shrimp often sold as wood shrimp or bamboo shrimp. I have 3 at the minute along with 6 japonica shrimp in a 180 litre tank and they do a great clean up job. Do a google search and see what you think. They won't harm fish as thay aren't capable. They are fascinating to watch.

Emma

 

[Alix]

i was thinking about some ghost shrimp(28 cents each) but im not sure if my betta wouldnt eat them. an the place i was going to get them doesnt have any more

 

[Aqua Andy]

I might think about shrimp if my pipe dream of a larger tank becomes reality but I think it looks like Oto's are my only fish option. If I do get some Oto's I hope they will be more lively in my tank than in the tank at my lfs, they just stay stuck still on the glass. I suppose that maybe because they don't have any driftwood, plant's, rocks or Ornament's to investigate?

Andy

 

[guppy_man]

well i have 3 albino corys in my 20gal with small gravel substrate the size of half a grain of rice and they burry in it to get food.
ive had mine for 7 months

 

[Alix]

well i got 2 otos an they are really active. i keep mine in a 10gal with a betta an 2 albino corys. all seem to have fun. some one tell me if im over stolking or if i should add more

 

[specks]

I have quite fine gravel in my tank & my panda & albino corys are fine. No barbel problems at all. At this very moment they are all foraging around.

 

[Barracuda518]

I have 5 cories in a tank with gravel. The gravel is rounded and not to big so they can move it around looking for food. They are doing well and Ive had them for 2 months. I know they are eating because their stomachs are full..

EDIT: One of the cories I have is very small and he also seems to be doing fine..

 

[Seb R]

I use quite small gravel, but my cories wiskers are huge