Corydoras Caudimaculatus

[lilacamy931]

Hello All, If you have been following the other thread you would have read putting my new corys in their 160 litre community tank from the store triggered a spawning. Unfortunately I lost the fry on friday. I really want to give a proper hand at this and attempt to breed them furhter and so starting this thread on my group of 6 progression and tips you may have for me. Thank you Iffles for providing me with the fish forum link on breeding So now can I ask some basic questions and if the following is a good idea? (p.s. I do know if they dont want to breed they wont, will feel a little sad if the spawn was a one off event).

So I have 6 of these guys, they are my first cories and they are fantasic, they are in a 160 litre with: 1 angelfish, 2 pearl gouramis, 4 gobies (being returned to seller this coming week), 5 glass catfish, 4 guppies (holding for someone) and 2 mollies (holding for someone), the tank is setup with a fluval 3plus and 4plus filter.

My options for breeding are as follows:
1. Try doing 4day water changes to lower a degree or two (pros - happened by chance before, cons - could affect the other fish in the tank)

2. Have a 5 gallon spare with fully cycled filter and heater - (pros - they would only be in there for trying to spawn, cons - not sure if really big enough for 6 and would need to ensure daily water changes)

3. Wait see what happens, I have a 14g with OAP bettas in that could be used down the line, but only when the three in their divided pass on.

I would like to try 2, but feel too small and perhaps would stress them too much?

Conditioning: Have frozen brineshrimp, frozen bloodworm and hikari sinking thingies.

Any tips for me? And what option should I choose and try? (would appreciate your opinons )

 

[lilacamy931]

Mini Bump

 

[Inchworm]

Hi lilacamy931

I'm sorry to learn that you lost the fry.

I just don't think a five gallon tank is big enough to house 6 corys while they are waiting to spawn and this is the time when you want to have excellent conditions and be able to feed them well without worrying if the nitrates will keep climbing up on you. If you try it with only one female and two males you might be picking a nonspawning female, which would be a waste of your time. You could get the fry off to a good start in there though.

Is there any chance you could pick up a 10 gallon tank for this? They are a common size and not very expensive. You could then move the filter from the 5 gallon in there and if it has enough bacteria to support 6 corys, you would be ready to go. A half inch of well washed play sand would complete the set up.

 

[StrontiumDog]

You could try option 1 but try it on a weekly basis the drop in temp.

Other than that iI would go with Inchworms sujestion, you may be able to pick up a cheaper one in the local adds, or ebay.

 

[lilacamy931]

Thanks very much guys! I cant get any further tanks unless a good one crops up, but will have a 14g available once my OAP bettas pass on (dont want them to at all but will use their tank for other purposes when they eventually move on) so will try them community for now and if no luck later in more suitable species only environment.

Couple of further questions, i will be getting some pygmy cories, would these be ok in the 5g for breeding pruposes? (They will be going into a larger home than this for permanent living). I have read substrate good for breeing, currently no sand so would dorset pea round smooth gravel be ok? Or should I hold out for sand (can get small bags cheap so waiting isnt a problem, but do have spare small pea gravel available).

Thanks so much Inchworm and StrontiumDog, hope I wasnt impatient with my minibump you have both been really helpful and very mch appreciate

 

[StrontiumDog]

Sand I would say is prefered, but i've had my peppers spawn in com tank with 2-5mm gravel. As long as its smooth, yes. If it's sharp, no.

They are much more at home with sand as they go nose first wat passed the gills, it's quite fun watching them.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi lilacamy931

Fine and smooth gravel is ok for the larger corys but I would much prefer sand for the smaller one and especially in a fry tank where cleanliness is essential.

The 5 gallon tank would be fine for a batch of the dwarf corys. They are quite small bodied even though they are an inch or so long. Many people report their corys will spawn and raise the fry right in the same tank if there is enough java moss in it. C. pygmaeus is a fine little cory, but don't pass up C. habrosus or C. hastatus either. They are about the same size and the care is the same too.

 

[lilacamy931]

Aw guys, what can I say, thank you

I believe the little ones were the proper pygameus genus, but he has oodles of unknown in there so will dig further when go back! Just looking at the habrosus, I thought I saw some of these markings but they were fairly large at 1-2" hmmm perhaps they were peppered corys. Only just discovered cories and really love them. I think I shall start with pygmies and go from there. Looking to add another group of 6 to the 160 litre though will see what is about (though opinions very welcome).

Thank you both very much my resident experts

I shall keep you updated as to how things go, will see how the pygmies go (looking to introduce these to the 5g Wednesday or Thursday - don't worry I have the filter cycled and ready to go).

 

[lilacamy931]

Just another quick question for breeding and wellkeeping. I have ph 8 quite hard water, I add indian almond leaves as I like the look of the tannins in the water and feel it is healthier for the occupants. We do have a RO Unit, would it be beneifcial to use this for 50% mix water changes to give a better environment for the cories to live in but also better chance of breeding? Thanks for all the help x

 

[lilacamy931]

Aw well a little update, I think they spawned last night but the eggs are gone as see some empty sacks. Saw one egg turned away and turned back the angel was giving me too innoncent looks right next to where that lone egg had been! Doh lol.

 

[Harlequins]

Good that they spawn,pity angel beat you too it,my platys are just has bad