Is it ok I add corys in my tank?

[akudewan]

Hi everyone,

I have a 23 gal tank, stats are in my sig. I wanted to buy more fish, and I was thinking about corys.
So here are a few questions I must ask as a responsible fish keeper:

1) How many should I buy? I read that there must be atleast 3. is that right?
2) Will it make my tank overstocked? (I don't think so, but still)
3) Will they be compatible with my present fish (especially mollies) ?
4) I have a gravel substrate. Is that ok?
5) They are quite hardy fish, right?

Ofcourse, buying them would depend on whether they are "in season" in the market or not, else I'll have to make do with guppies

 

[bunjiweb]

1) Anything over 3 is fine, the more the merrier!
2) Nah it will be fine, just keep up with regular water changes and make sure your tank is well oxygenated.
3) Yeap no probs
4) As long as its fairly fine it should be fine. Corys like fine gravel because they do alot of sifting and if its too thick gravel it can damage their barbels.
5) No, not by comparison to the fish you have already. Make sure your tank is AT LEAST 2 months old before adding corys.

Hope this helps.

Ben

 

[akudewan]

Thanks for replying. My tank is around one year old, but the cycle must have been disturbed when I "moved" the tank a week ago. I had emptied 95% of the water and cleaned half of the gravel. So I'll wait for sometme.

The gravel size shouldn't be the problem, since even the mollies can move it.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi akudewan

An important consideration when keeping mollies and corys together is whether or not the mollies are kept in brackish water.

Corys, since they naturally come from fresh water, lack the ability to excrete salt. In salted water they will absorb it through their skins. This puts a strain on their kidneys and livers which, while you might not see immediate problems, will result in shortened life spans.

 

[akudewan]

Thanks inchworm
No salt in my tank, since the tetras hate it too. So the corys should be ok.

Now the question is, will the mollies be ok without salt? They seem to be allright, and the guy at the LFS said that they don't really need it. He kept them without salt too.

 

[bunjiweb]

Yes most mollys these days are acclimatised to freshwater in the LFS, and in alot of cases are even bred in freshwater. The Black Mollies do seem to do better with some salt, but its not necessary.

Ben

 

[Inchworm]

Hi akudewan

I think it's all a matter of how they were raised. They are popular fish and it seems that more and more of them have been tank raised in fresh water. I doubt that many of them are wild caught fish and that would make a difference.

I think if they seemed OK when you bought them, and if they are still doing well, you probably won't experience any long term problems with your mollies.