Is It Cause Of The Gravel?

[MizuFish]

Two days ago a little Cory baby joined my little shoal and they're all just loving each other. He settled in really well and quickly. However when I saw the new little fellow I realized that I had gotten a little blind and not noticed that my other two's barbles ? ( I fail to remember what they are called ) are way shorter and a little white-ish? They can still look for food and are acting normal but that's not good enough for me, they should be 100%. Is this because of my gravel I wonder? I have 1/3 beach sand in the Cory corner and 2/3 tiny gravel pebbles (to me they are round and smooth looking) of course the little ones move over the whole tank they don't just stay on the sand.

Could it be the gravel or is t just something they perhaps go through when they grow them or.. I don't know.

 

[minnnt]

I would say its both. Aquarium sand is usually 'softer' if that makes sense. Beach sand can be coarse and very sharp. I would replace it with some proper sand or even play sand. Lots of water changes will help with infection and new growth.

 

[MizuFish]

I would say its both. Aquarium sand is usually 'softer' if that makes sense. Beach sand can be coarse and very sharp. I would replace it with some proper sand or even play sand. Lots of water changes will help with infection and new growth.

I'm sorry, I really should word things better, it's not sand from the actual beach I just wanted to underline that I meant fine sand and not tiny gravel. It is sand bought from an LFS not something I found outside.

I'm changing it all then, I'll put in an order for new proper sand, does soil work? Does it have to be sand?

Thank you, I will do a water change right away.

 

[fidjet2]

i would recomend play sand. I have it in my tank with 6 panda corys. Its alot cheaper and if washed proparly is great.

 

[MizuFish]

I ended up buying tank soil, it looks nice and is good for the plants. And it's a hit with the Corys. They love the soil! I never got this kind of response from them when I added the sand. I also figured out that it was actually the sand hurting them not the gravel I had in before I've had the soil in the tank for almost 2 days and the bigger Cory's almost completely healed so the soil is just pure awesome.

 

[mtbdean]

I'm using 3mm Pea Gravel, and my Cory's really like it!

 

[Tizer]

They will like sand a lot more