How many Corys

[DebzN]

I have a fully cycled 200l tank with sand and live plants. I have 5 corys in the tank, along with a Bristlenose and 6 Platies. Would it be OK to add more Corys? First time I've had them and have fast become my favourite fish so I'd love to add more but don't want to overcrowd

 

[GaryE]

You have lots of room to add.

I can't know which members of the huge Cory group you have, but you have several main options. You could add 5 more of the species you have, or 10 more, even 15. Or you could add 5, and a group of 10 of another, similar sized Cory species.

I love watching larger groups of Cory cats, as their sociable ways increase with numbers. They are very gregarious fish that want to be in herds. They do tend to hang out with the same species - we are sociable too but wouldn't want to hang in a group of chimps. There are lots of related Cory type fish in nature and in the hobby, depending on how good our local stores are.

You just have to stay with the need to change a percentage of the water weekly (I do 30%) and the tank should thrive.

 

[DebzN]

You have lots of room to add.

I can't know which members of the huge Cory group you have, but you have several main options. You could add 5 more of the species you have, or 10 more, even 15. Or you could add 5, and a group of 10 of another, similar sized Cory species.

I love watching larger groups of Cory cats, as their sociable ways increase with numbers. They are very gregarious fish that want to be in herds. They do tend to hang out with the same species - we are sociable too but wouldn't want to hang in a group of chimps. There are lots of related Cory type fish in nature and in the hobby, depending on how good our local stores are.

You just have to stay with the need to change a percentage of the water weekly (I do 30%) and the tank should thrive.

Thank you for your reply. My current Corys are Pandas. I'd like to try another species too. So many different species to choose from Would like similar size and preferably active ones as some people have told me that some can hide a lot. Not sure how true that is

 

[CassCats]

Be mindful that pandas are among the most notorious cories to hybridize with others, so I'd be careful on which you mix them with.

BUT, I'd opt to double them:

10 pandas
10 another cory species.


I'd opt for anything in the osteogaster, gastrodermus, or brochis genus. Gastrodermus elegans (formerly corydoras elegans, common name Elegant Cory) is a good option! They're pretty and a smaller size than some others. These would be the least likely to hybridize with the pandas.



Cories recently had a genus reclassification, so many aren't "corydoras" anymore, including panda, which is now hoplisoma panda. So any "hoplisoma" genus cories you want to avoid. Which is a LOT because it's the larger group of species



Cories are one of those fish that are nearly impossible to overstock on as long as water quality is where it needs to be (nitrates below 20ppm, ideally less than 10ppm) because they like more friends than anything. There are exceptions to this as some particular genus are a bit "different" in terms of aggression--males are known to fight other males and even kill off one another if there's not enough space. But, these genus are the former lineage 1 cories, now the true "corydoras" genus and the other is Scleromystax genus. You'd know if you were looking to buy either of these groups as they're usually very long nosed fish and even torpedo shaped in the case of the Scleromystax genus.

 

[DebzN]

Be mindful that pandas are among the most notorious cories to hybridize with others, so I'd be careful on which you mix them with.

BUT, I'd opt to double them:

10 pandas
10 another cory species.


I'd opt for anything in the osteogaster, gastrodermus, or brochis genus. Gastrodermus elegans (formerly corydoras elegans, common name Elegant Cory) is a good option! They're pretty and a smaller size than some others. These would be the least likely to hybridize with the pandas.



Cories recently had a genus reclassification, so many aren't "corydoras" anymore, including panda, which is now hoplisoma panda. So any "hoplisoma" genus cories you want to avoid. Which is a LOT because it's the larger group of species



Cories are one of those fish that are nearly impossible to overstock on as long as water quality is where it needs to be (nitrates below 20ppm, ideally less than 10ppm) because they like more friends than anything. There are exceptions to this as some particular genus are a bit "different" in terms of aggression--males are known to fight other males and even kill off one another if there's not enough space. But, these genus are the former lineage 1 cories, now the true "corydoras" genus and the other is Scleromystax genus. You'd know if you were looking to buy either of these groups as they're usually very long nosed fish and even torpedo shaped in the case of the Scleromystax genus.

Thank you for your reply. I've done some research and following a visit to my local fish store I've doubled the pandas and got a group of 8 bronze corys. They're only young and store only had 8 left. All seem happy together

 

[CassCats]

Thank you for your reply. I've done some research and following a visit to my local fish store I've doubled the pandas and got a group of 8 bronze corys. They're only young and store only had 8 left. All seem happy together

Good mix! 8 works perfect, bronze (osteogaster aenea) can get "big", females can get 4 inches in size over a couple years.

 

[Rhysp87]

Panda cories are my favourites in my tank. I started with 7 and within a couple of months had more than 30. Hopefully with your 10 you’ll soon see some fry!