Dwarf Cory Cats

[FreshwaterFishie]

How mature should the tank be before I add these guys? Will they nibble algae/algae wafers or just totally leave it alone? I understand that they aren't algae eaters and I want them to clean the bottom. There is no ammonia, nitrites, nitrates in my tank and it is a little over a month old. I plan on getting them soon.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi FreshwaterFishie

If you are thinking about getting either C. pygmaeus, C. hastatus or C. habrosus, which are all commonly referred to as dwarf corys, don't plan on them doing your job and cleaning the bottom of the tank. Depending on what other fish are in there, and how much extra food you feed them, they are just not up to the task.

Instead, they have their own requirements which include live or frozen blackworms, bloodworms or tubifex and a good quality flake. They are not algae eaters, although they will probably nibble on a spirulina disc or Hikari bottom feeder wafer.

With that understood, I think it is probably safe to add them to your tank now.

 

[FreshwaterFishie]

Hi FreshwaterFishie

If you are thinking about getting either C. pygmaeus, C. hastatus or C. habrosus, which are all commonly referred to as dwarf corys, don't plan on them doing your job and cleaning the bottom of the tank. Depending on what other fish are in there, and how much extra food you feed them, they are just not up to the task.

Instead, they have their own requirements which include live or frozen blackworms, bloodworms or tubifex and a good quality flake. They are not algae eaters, although they will probably nibble on a spirulina disc or Hikari bottom feeder wafer.

With that understood, I think it is probably safe to add them to your tank now.

Thanks!!!
I didn't mean I wouldn't have to clean the bottom of the tank. Will they eat peas too? Stupid peas made a mess on the bottom of the tank. I also read on another post that they need sand? If I add sand to one spot and send the wafers there with they eat off it and suck only there or with they hurt themselves on the other gravel? Can they be in a tank with gravel?
I have Hikari Bottom Feeder Wafers, Hikari Brine Shrimp and Hikari Daphnia.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi FreshwaterFishie

Corys don't need sand if the gravel is fine enough. If you look at some of them in the lfs, watch how they move along the bottom, using them to find food. They act like little fingers probing into all the cracks. The thing you want to do is avoid causing them any damage.

Small gravel with smooth surfaces will be fine for them as long as it's kept clean. Also, the tiny corys seem to spend less time at the very bottom, so it wouldn't be a big problem as long as your gravel isn't really large.

I don't know about them eating peas, but they won't eat very much of anything due to their small size. Take great care not to overfeed them and you will be fine.

 

[FreshwaterFishie]

Hi FreshwaterFishie

Corys don't need sand if the gravel is fine enough. If you look at some of them in the lfs, watch how they move along the bottom, using them to find food. They act like little fingers probing into all the cracks. The thing you want to do is avoid causing them any damage.

Small gravel with smooth surfaces will be fine for them as long as it's kept clean. Also, the tiny corys seem to spend less time at the very bottom, so it wouldn't be a big problem as long as your gravel isn't really large.

I don't know about them eating peas, but they won't eat very much of anything due to their small size. Take great care not to overfeed them and you will be fine.

You can kind of get a idea of the size from this picture. It isn't small, small, but isn't to big. It is pretty smooth too, with no jagged rocks.
(20 gallon long)