Dwarf Corys in fry tank

[f250fisherman]

I was not only told by the person doing the genetic research about the corys, he raised them to use in his own tanks. He sent me 6 of them, to try and spawn for myself. He has documented that the corys help. The loss of ventrils does not come from a bacteria, but from a fungus. Different critters ... When the fry lay on the bottom, which most of them do at one time or another during a 24 hr period, they develop a fungus on the tips of the ventrals. It soon grows until there are no ventrals at all. I have seen pics of bettas with half a ventral. I have also seen pics of ventrals that had been cut off, there was a sharp edge to the fin. Two things happen when you put corys in. You can feed the fry heavy, without so much worry about the extra food fouling the water, and the constant movement from the corys makes the fry move around more. One other thing to think about. Most people use a sponge filter in the spawn tank. Even in the growouts. When you do a bottom siphon, raise the filter and get all the food and poo from under the filter. It will accumalate there. Tthere is always some fry that are more timid than others, and they hide under the filter. Most filters have ridges on them, and the fry swim in between them to hide. Guess what they lay in? Yep...nastys. If you notice any fungus, Use Maroxy for one to treat the fungus. There are others, but I like maroxy.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[f250fisherman]

Heres a pic of a little female dwarf cory. You can tell the difference by looking straight down on them from above. The female is always wider. They get bigger too, but when they are young..they are wider than the males.This one looks like she might be egging up.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Inchworm]

Hi f250fisherman

This sounds reasonable only if you consider the corys expendable since it is quite likely that they would contract the same fungus or bacterial infection that the fry do.

The life expectancy of corys is greatly reduced by less than clean and sanitary living conditions.

 

[f250fisherman]

The point is, if the corys are in there, there is no build up of foods. I do a siphon every week and raise the water level. After 3 weeks, they go in a 27 gal or a 55 gal growout. The reason the fry get a fungal infection is laying on the bottom when not swimming. When you put a cory in the fry tank, you see a big difference in the areas the fry stay in.

 

[rollntider]

The point is, if the corys are in there, there is no build up of foods. I do a siphon every week and raise the water level. After 3 weeks, they go in a 27 gal or a 55 gal growout. The reason the fry get a fungal infection is laying on the bottom when not swimming. When you put a cory in the fry tank, you see a big difference in the areas the fry stay in.

I see your point and I will try this method on my next batch...sounds like a good plan. Plus i love cory habrosus, a good excuse to breed them

 

[Inchworm]

The point is, if the corys are in there, there is no build up of foods. I do a siphon every week and raise the water level. After 3 weeks, they go in a 27 gal or a 55 gal growout. The reason the fry get a fungal infection is laying on the bottom when not swimming. When you put a cory in the fry tank, you see a big difference in the areas the fry stay in.

Hi f250fisherman

There might be no buildup of food, but there will be feces building up down there. This is enough to cause small corys to become infected. My fry tanks get daily water changes and every other day or so, I push the fry out of the way and scrub the bottom and sides with a plastic scrubbing pad. I just figure cleanliness is essential and don't think there is any good and safe way to avoid it.

 

[f250fisherman]

It's just my opinion, but daily water changes in a fry tank is too much. Besides the fact that you stress the fry, which causes disease, you take the chance of damaging or killing the fry with the siphon or worse a scrubber. I hate dirty tanks, and ammonia is the worst thing of all. However, I don't think I should over do the cleaning. The two spawns before using the cory I raised 46 and 49 juvies to the jarring stage. After using the corys, I raised 84 and 87 juvies. The fish were bigger and had less fin damage. It is hard enough to raise a spawn, without having damaged fish you can't sell. I'm not saying your idea is wrong, and mine is right. All I'm saying is that this has worked for me, and has worked many, many times for several top breeders I have spoken to about this. Feel free to take it as you wish. I have no trouble with that. Probably the best advice I could give about any of this is to try it for yourself, and make up your own mind from the experience.