Do Cories Need Sand?

[fishnovice]

I may be adopting some unwanted "tatty finned" (finrot?) cories who will need to go in hospital tank which has a bare glass bottom at the moment fo easy cleaning. Do the cories absolutely have to have sand or will they be OK with bare glass for a few weeks tll they are well enough to go in sandy community tank?

 

[lilacamy931]

I would say barebottomed being the hospital tank is fine and more permanent home having sand perfect. Hope they are not too bad and recover quickly. Do put some pots or cover in for them so they are not too bare and stress out

 

[Inchworm]

Hi fishnovice

If you choose to go with a bare bottomed tank, be very certain that the bottom is kept spotless. If you allow a film to form on it there is more of a likelihood of harmful bacteria growing there. This is apt to impair the ability of your corys to recover. A thin layer of clean play sand, which can be stirred when you do your water changes, is a safer way to go, IMHO. It's so inexpensive that you can just throw it away when your fish are ready to be added to your community tank.

 

[matt_99]

will albino cories be ok with small pea gravel rather than sand?

 

[emmettbaby]

I prefer sand in my tanks because it's the cories natural substrate. But I have seen many tanks on here that have pea gravel and healthy cories. It's not so much what kind of substrate than how smooth the substrate is. The reason sand is one of the first choices is that it's cheap, comes in a variety of very small, smooth grains, and is more natural for the fish. So really, all you want to steer clear of is sharp or rough gravel/sand because this wears down their barbels and can cause infections.