Cory's Not Shoaling

[scentless]

Hi Everyone,

I'm just after a bit of advice/reassurance (for a change)

I recently bought a tank off eBay with some fish already in it including 2 albino corys. After some (obviously) great advice from this here forum I bought two more corys (peppered) from my LFS. I was told by the assistant here that it wouldn't matter that they were a different variety as they will grow to the same size as the albinos and they will all shoal together, but alas, they haven't.

The two albinos are about twice the size of the two peppered at the moment and they are just swimming round in pairs and don't seem remotely interested in all being friends together.

Was I given some bad advice from the LFS?

 

[ZoddyZod]

bad info sadly.....they need to be the same variety.

 

[scentless]

Brilliant . I don't really know what to do now. I love them all and haven't got room to get like 3 more of each species.

 

[ZoddyZod]

Brilliant . I don't really know what to do now. I love them all and haven't got room to get like 3 more of each species.

ask the LFS to rehome 2 and swap for the other species? Make it clear that it was their poor advice that got you into this situation.

 

[StandbySetting]

Corydoras don't shoal, they school, some different species will school together, some wont, but by school I mean they stay within a proximity for social and safety reasons but it isn't in the uniform way in which a shoaling species gathers.

 

[ZoddyZod]

Corydoras don't shoal, they school, some different species will school together, some wont, but by school I mean they stay within a proximity for social and safety reasons but it isn't in the uniform way in which a shoaling species gathers.

a difference between schooling and shoaling....I was not aware of that. Good info!

 

[fluttermoth]

Corydoras don't shoal, they school, some different species will school together, some wont, but by school I mean they stay within a proximity for social and safety reasons but it isn't in the uniform way in which a shoaling species gathers.

a difference between schooling and shoaling....I was not aware of that. Good info!

Except SBS has got it the wrong way round again!!
Shoaling is where they fish stay in a loose group, schooling is where they swim together in a co-ordinated way

 

[StandbySetting]

Oops

do accept my apology

 

[This Younger Spouse]

I have six albino corys, and they don't always shoal. It's neat to watch them work the tank individually for awhile, each going their separate ways. Then it seems like there's a signal I can't catch, and next thing you know all six are shoaling.

I'm going to add six more. Kinda torn whether to add six more albinos or go for six of a different species. I'd kinda like to see how 12 corys of the same species look when shoaling. Oughta be pretty neat.

 

[fluttermoth]

Go for the same species; it's always better for the fish if you can

 

[This Younger Spouse]

Go for the same species; it's always better for the fish if you can

Well, This Old Spouse has half a dozen albinos, and she keeps saying she'll give them to me, but then she whines about how hard they are to net.

 

[fluttermoth]

Never, ever net any corydoras!

They're actually quite spikey and can get tangled up; you should herd them into a large container, ice cream tub, or something like that

 

[This Younger Spouse]

Never, ever net any corydoras!

They're actually quite spikey and can get tangled up; you should herd them into a large container, ice cream tub, or something like that

I never knew that. Always watched the LFS folks net them before. I found out the hard way the BN pleco has really STIFF bristles after I netted him to transfer him to another tank. Had to cut the net away that time.

 

[Caprichoso]

Corydoras don't shoal, they school, some different species will school together, some wont, but by school I mean they stay within a proximity for social and safety reasons but it isn't in the uniform way in which a shoaling species gathers.

a difference between schooling and shoaling....I was not aware of that. Good info!

Except SBS has got it the wrong way round again!!
Shoaling is where they fish stay in a loose group, schooling is where they swim together in a co-ordinated way

I didn't know that! Hmm well if I forget the difference the next time, I'll just say "hanging out" together lol.

 

[fluttermoth]

Never, ever net any corydoras!

They're actually quite spikey and can get tangled up; you should herd them into a large container, ice cream tub, or something like that

I never knew that. Always watched the LFS folks net them before. I found out the hard way the BN pleco has really STIFF bristles after I netted him to transfer him to another tank. Had to cut the net away that time.

Yeah, I had to cut quite a lot of catfish out of nets in my early days of fishkeeping; i find it very traumatic and would rather not have to do it again!
I know the shops do it, but I have the choice not to, so I don't

Corydoras don't shoal, they school, some different species will school together, some wont, but by school I mean they stay within a proximity for social and safety reasons but it isn't in the uniform way in which a shoaling species gathers.

a difference between schooling and shoaling....I was not aware of that. Good info!

Except SBS has got it the wrong way round again!!
Shoaling is where they fish stay in a loose group, schooling is where they swim together in a co-ordinated way

I didn't know that! Hmm well if I forget the difference the next time, I'll just say "hanging out" together lol.

I always remember it by thinking of how regimented schools can be; remember those school trips where you all had to line up and walk together? "Keep hold of your partner's hand and stay together now" = schooling