Help! Cory lying on its side.

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Really? I had no idea they had a white play sand now. There used to be a buff tone (what most would think of as normal beach sand) and a dark grey which I happen to have got hold of from my local Home Depot. I will say though that the dark grey looks white under water and the tank 6500K light, which rather surprised me; dry in my hand it most assuredly is very dark. Maybe the fish see it differently than I do outside the tank.

The photo below is a different tank from my main cory tank, but it shows how you can hide a lot of the substrate with wood, rock and dried leaves.

I love this tank so much! And a perfect illustration of what I meant with the wood, bunches of plants, and leaf litter cover. Lots of hiding areas, some open area to explore/feed/swim/spawn, and leaf litter the way it would be in nature for them to snuffle through, and feel protected from view. I want this tank, lol.

The surface plant, is that water sprite?

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Here's the corner after adding more plants. You can see the sick cory in front

I turned off the light after taking the picture. View attachment 154287

That's much better! A great temp solution while you get your hands on other things. Kudos for being open to advice and being willing to change things up for the benefit of the fish <3 If you see them spending most of their time chilling there in between exploring the rest of the tank, or diving there for cover when spooked, you'll see with your own eyes how important having some cover and safe places to hide is for cories.

Some variation in their food as @DoubleDutch suggested also a good plan. DoubleDutch will also know the species I'm sure! Knows a lot about cories and very experienced.
Bug Bites, the microgranules, is one quality brand that cories love, and if you can get your hands on frozen foods, they can be great for having a variety of more natural foods. Just don't overdo it with blood worms, they're an occasional treat Insects like daphnia, cyclops etc are healthier/more natural for them, and keeps them occupied snuffling through and filter feeding through the sand. It's good that you chose sand for cories, even if the colour is a bit bright, and as Byron said, you can mitigate that so it isn't so bright, and it'll look great as a contrast against the wood, plants and leaf litter

I'm sorry about the sickly one.. hoping for you that after the water change, and with a chance to de-stress, she'll rally around. She did seem to rally a bit after your 50% water change from the sounds of it, so maybe test the water again, making sure to really shake the living daylights out of the nitrate bottles. If there's any ammonia or nitrites, or if nitrates are above ten, large 70% emergency water change. Same for if she gets worse or passes away.

Otherwise if tests come back 0/0/<10ppm, I'd lightly feed the tank, monitor from a distance, and hope for the best.

I wonder whether they may have bought a parasite of some kind from the wild, if it turns out not to be a result of stress or water conditions. I don't know how you'd be able to tell for sure though.

Hope she pulls through, sorry you're going through this mate. Please keep us updated.


Darn, if you were in the UK I'd be happy to send you a load of live plant trimmings for your tank.

 

[itiwhetu]

Did you say you were feeding brine shrimp to these guys? Cory's don't like salt in general and brine shrimp may not be the best choice of food.

 

[DoubleDutch]

That's much better! A great temp solution while you get your hands on other things. Kudos for being open to advice and being willing to change things up for the benefit of the fish <3 If you see them spending most of their time chilling there in between exploring the rest of the tank, or diving there for cover when spooked, you'll see with your own eyes how important having some cover and safe places to hide is for cories.

Some variation in their food as @DoubleDutch suggested also a good plan. DoubleDutch will also know the species I'm sure! Knows a lot about cories and very experienced.
Bug Bites, the microgranules, is one quality brand that cories love, and if you can get your hands on frozen foods, they can be great for having a variety of more natural foods. Just don't overdo it with blood worms, they're an occasional treat Insects like daphnia, cyclops etc are healthier/more natural for them, and keeps them occupied snuffling through and filter feeding through the sand. It's good that you chose sand for cories, even if the colour is a bit bright, and as Byron said, you can mitigate that so it isn't so bright, and it'll look great as a contrast against the wood, plants and leaf litter

I'm sorry about the sickly one.. hoping for you that after the water change, and with a chance to de-stress, she'll rally around. She did seem to rally a bit after your 50% water change from the sounds of it, so maybe test the water again, making sure to really shake the living daylights out of the nitrate bottles. If there's any ammonia or nitrites, or if nitrates are above ten, large 70% emergency water change. Same for if she gets worse or passes away.

Otherwise if tests come back 0/0/<10ppm, I'd lightly feed the tank, monitor from a distance, and hope for the best.

I wonder whether they may have bought a parasite of some kind from the wild, if it turns out not to be a result of stress or water conditions. I don't know how you'd be able to tell for sure though.

Hope she pulls through, sorry you're going through this mate. Please keep us updated.


Darn, if you were in the UK I'd be happy to send you a load of live plant trimmings for your tank.

Not sure. Could be CW045 but the bodyshape does look a bit different.

 

[connorlindeman]

Really? I had no idea they had a white play sand now. There used to be a buff tone (what most would think of as normal beach sand) and a dark grey which I happen to have got hold of from my local Home Depot. I will say though that the dark grey looks white under water and the tank 6500K light, which rather surprised me; dry in my hand it most assuredly is very dark. Maybe the fish see it differently than I do outside the tank.

The photo below is a different tank from my main cory tank, but it shows how you can hide a lot of the substrate with wood, rock and dried leaves.

Yeah, this play sand is supposed to be tan. I think that it's the lighting that makes it look extra white. I dimmed the lights now it looks tanner.

That's a nice tank!
As for leaves: Can I take leaves from our oak/beech trees outside and dry them? If so how would I make sure there are no pests and how long to dry them.

I'll pick up some Malaysian driftwood on Sunday I think.

Some variation in their food as @DoubleDutch suggested also a good plan. DoubleDutch will also know the species I'm sure! Knows a lot about cories and very experienced.
Bug Bites, the microgranules, is one quality brand that cories love, and if you can get your hands on frozen foods, they can be great for having a variety of more natural foods. Just don't overdo it with blood worms, they're an occasional treat Insects like daphnia, cyclops etc are healthier/more natural for them, and keeps them occupied snuffling through and filter feeding through the sand. It's good that you chose sand for cories, even if the colour is a bit bright, and as Byron said, you can mitigate that so it isn't so bright, and it'll look great as a contrast against the wood, plants and leaf litter

I'll try to pick up some more frozen foods at the fish store. My LFS has a huge selection of frozen foods! I'll also take a look at the bug bites as you suggested.

I'm sorry about the sickly one.. hoping for you that after the water change, and with a chance to de-stress, she'll rally around. She did seem to rally a bit after your 50% water change from the sounds of it, so maybe test the water again, making sure to really shake the living daylights out of the nitrate bottles. If there's any ammonia or nitrites, or if nitrates are above ten, large 70% emergency water change. Same for if she gets worse or passes away.

Unfortunately last night she died. I'm going to do a large water change now.

I wonder whether they may have bought a parasite of some kind from the wild, if it turns out not to be a result of stress or water conditions. I don't know how you'd be able to tell for sure though.

I did post a thread about a month ago showing a large worm like thing inside one of the corys. I don't know if that was the one that died.

Hope she pulls through, sorry you're going through this mate. Please keep us updated.

Thanks so much for your help.

Darn, if you were in the UK I'd be happy to send you a load of live plant trimmings for your tank.

I wish so too!

 

[connorlindeman]

Did you say you were feeding brine shrimp to these guys? Cory's don't like salt in general and brine shrimp may not be the best choice of food.

I am feeding brine shrimp to the whole tank. The other fish love it but I noticed the corys don't eat too much of it. I'll try to find something else for them

 

[connorlindeman]

Not sure. Could be CW045 but the bodyshape does look a bit different.

I found the search I did on them when I got them from the store. They are Corydoras Virginiae

Corydoras virginiae – Miguelito Cory — Seriously Fish

www.seriouslyfish.com

 

[Oblio]

I am feeding brine shrimp to the whole tank. The other fish love it but I noticed the corys don't eat too much of it. I'll try to find something else for them

Are they getting to the substrate?, my Anaeus and Paleatus love them, though I need to place with a turkey baster. They will also graze any that end up on the pre-filter.

 

[connorlindeman]

Are they getting to the substrate?, my Anaeus and Paleatus love them, though I need to place with a turkey baster. They will also graze any that end up on the pre-filter.

Yeah it gets to the substrate. I pour it in right next to the output on my HOB so it pushes it straight down to the substrate.

 

[Byron]

I love this tank so much! And a perfect illustration of what I meant with the wood, bunches of plants, and leaf litter cover. Lots of hiding areas, some open area to explore/feed/swim/spawn, and leaf litter the way it would be in nature for them to snuffle through, and feel protected from view. I want this tank, lol.

The surface plant, is that water sprite?

Yes, and thank you.

 

[Byron]

As for leaves: Can I take leaves from our oak/beech trees outside and dry them? If so how would I make sure there are no pests and how long to dry them.

Collect dead and fallen leaves from oak, maple, beech, most hardwoods are safe. If they have fallen to the ground as in autumn they will be dead dry, that's important. I collected mine from the back yard, just make sure the site is safe (no pesticides, fertilizers, oil, etc). Leave any with bird droppings, or of questionable appearance. You can rinse them off, then lay them out on paper towels to fully dry, then bag them.

 

[connorlindeman]

Collect dead and fallen leaves from oak, maple, beech, most hardwoods are safe. If they have fallen to the ground as in autumn they will be dead dry, that's important. I collected mine from the back yard, just make sure the site is safe (no pesticides, fertilizers, oil, etc). Leave any with bird droppings, or of questionable appearance. You can rinse them off, then lay them out on paper towels to fully dry, then bag them.

I guess ill have to wait a few months till autumn. I can buy some online for now

 

[DoubleDutch]

I found the search I did on them when I got them from the store. They are Corydoras Virginiae

Corydoras virginiae – Miguelito Cory — Seriously Fish

www.seriouslyfish.com

Definitely right ! Wildcaught nevertheless.
Brightness of the tank is a thing as mentioned. Of you look at the pics they're searchibg for the darkest spots.

 

[connorlindeman]

I would like to thank you all for your help. I got those sinking micro granules and some additional frozen foods and the corys are coloring up a bit. Also, I have some Malaysian driftwood arriving today

 

[connorlindeman]

Unfortunately the one that was sorta skinny didn't quite bounce back like the others. It passed away today.