gravel & panda cories

[purple_drazi]

I've got gravel in my tank and was just reading about cories not liking it much.

I've had one panda since October (the others I bought at the same time didn't make it) and I know they like to be in groups so I bought 3 more yesterday. I'm concerned that they get enough to eat. I always put the pellets in the same corner so that it becomes a familiar feeding place but would removing most of the gravel from that corner so that the food doesn't sink down & get lost be a good idea? My thought is that if I removed most of the gravel from their feeding corner it would make it easier for them.

 

[Dragonscales]

I think that sand is a much better substrate for most/all catfish to be honest. It is alot easier to burrow in and has less chance of damaging the fish, same goes for most/all bottom dwellers IMO.

As for the feeding question, I wouldn't bother as the fish would most likely move the gravel back eventually and you will be driven nuts trying to keep up. Alot of others have had success with placing a plastic or terracotta tray in the bottom of the tank (just on the substrate, no need to attach it to the side or anything) and placing food on that, perhaps this is something which would benefit you as well.

 

[lighter]

So long as your gravel doesnt have any sharp edges, the cories will do fine. Its true cories love sand, and they look very fun when they're digging into the sand for food!

 

[purple_drazi]

Alot of others have had success with placing a plastic or terracotta tray in the bottom of the tank (just on the substrate, no need to attach it to the side or anything) and placing food on that

ah! hadn't thought of doing that. interesting idea.

The gravel I have doesn't have any nasty sharp edges, it's all rounded and pretty soft so I think/hope they are ok.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi purple_drazi

Fine gravel is OK for corys, but the problem with it is that uneaten food tends to settle between the pieces. This is especially true with the larger kinds of gravel.

All corys. and especially panda corys, need very clean water to do well. Uneaten food will feed bad bacteria from which the corys are apt to get infections and will raise the level of ammonia in the water. I've lost pandas overnight when I failed to do a water change, although the albino C. aeneus of the same age, in that tank, were unaffected.

Please be sure to do more water changes than you would normally need if you keep the pandas.

 

[purple_drazi]

thanks Inchworm!

that could be why I lost the other cories, perhaps they were more sensitive than the one that survived. though I do do a 24% change every week and make sure to suction up as much of the old food as possible.
should I do more?

 

[Inchworm]

... though I do do a 24% change every week and make sure to suction up as much of the old food as possible.
should I do more?

Hi purple_drazi

You might want to consider increasing your water changes to twice a week for the pandas. This will reduce their chances of disease but will not effect the beneficial bacteria which, since they cling to the surfaces and are not free floating, will not be removed.

 

[purple_drazi]

twice a week eh? <gulps>

well, ok... ! I'll give it a go and see if I can moush it into my schedule somehow.

just sign me,
slave to my fishies

 

[Inchworm]

Hi purple_drazi

It actually gets easier as you go along.

Since you do great big cleanings once a week, it won't be very dirty in between times. And by doing the additional water change, the big weekly one won't be as difficult.

And of course, having healthy and happy fish is all worth the extra trouble, isn't it.

 

[purple_drazi]

And of course, having healthy and happy fish is all worth the extra trouble, isn't it.

ummm.... YAH!! oh course. right. happy fish. absolutely.....

 

[purple_drazi]

Inchworm: I've a question, glazed or unglazed?

I've posted the question in the general chat section as well in case you don't see this but in case you get here first....
I put a terracotta pot base in my tank today for the corries. It occured to me to check and see if it was safe (<duh>) and now I'm totally confused. Some places say only use glazed terracotta & some say absolutely no glaze.
This is a clean, no paint, glazed pot base. Is it going to kill everybody in the tank?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi purple_drazi

If you mean an ordinary flower pot, that's just fine. Soak it for a day or two in water so that it is clean and saturated before putting it into your tank.

It's the glazed pottery that you have to watch out for. It can contain lead and other things in the glaze that can leach out into the water and poison the fish. If it is safe for humans to eat off of, it's fine for the tank. If not, it's safer if you don't use it.