Its Ok To Use Melafix With Cory's, Isn't It?

[Lazerus]

Hi all,

I'm thinking of adding some panda or adolfoi corydoras to my Betta tank.

Seeing as Bettas tend to be prone to getting fin rot on occasion, or just nipping at their tails sometimes and damaging them, I would need to treat the water with a diluted amount of Melafix, so would having cories in the tank pose a problem for this medicating?

I just want to be confirm that its ok to use this medication on occasion with cory's in the tank....before I consider going out and buying a small 'herd' of cories?

Thanks!

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Lazerus

You could easily keep 5 C. adolfoi corys with your betta, in a ten gallon tank, if the water temperature does not exceed about 78 F. The water should be kept well oxygenated for them and the betta must be non aggressive toward them.

Since corys are prone to the same bacterial infections that the betta could get, be sure to keep the water clean and the bottom well vacuumed. Melafix, in limited amounts, will not hurt them, but bacterial infections will.

C. pandas are the more delicate of the two species mentioned.

Please let us know how you do with your corys.

 

[Lazerus]

Thanks for the reply!

I really like the Adolfoi more than the Pandas, but they are sooooo expensive? More than twice the price of the pandas!

Also, both the Panda and Adolfoi seem to be so hard to get too (I'm in Ireland) The one shop that does supply them is asking extortionate prices for them compared to other shops who get them in occasionally. I just can't get my hands on them?

I'd really love a little group of them though. I was even trying to see if I could get them online...but I'm not really finding anywhere that stock them who deliver to Ireland.

Anyway, great!....so Melafix is ok for cories... I only would only use a diluted version for my Betta anyway, as recommended.

Anyway, thanks for that!

 

[JasonU]

Could you let me know how your betta gets on with the adolfoi?

When I put my betta in with adolfoi they got on great for the first few months. They pretty much schooled together. It was a nightmare at feed time though, the betta developed a liking for the cory's food. He also became a skilled bottom feeder.

I saw a young betta that had been very badly tail nipped last week, if I thought he would get on the corys I would have taken him. I know alot of it is down to the individual betta but I was wondering how yours get on. I would like to put another betta in the tank ay some time.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi JasonU

The temperment of the betta is not the only thing to consider when you are thinking about keeping these two fish together.

Corys need well oxygenated water and their tank should have a little water movement at the surface to make it that way. Bettas prefer still water. Their long, flowing fins make it difficult for them to swim against a current. While they might seem to enjoy it, it tires them and tends to decrease their life expectancy.

They both do well on good quality flake food and blackworms or frozen bloodworms, so just be sure to put enough in the tank for all of them.

 

[JasonU]

Hi JasonU

The temperment of the betta is not the only thing to consider when you are thinking about keeping these two fish together.

Corys need well oxygenated water and their tank should have a little water movement at the surface to make it that way. Bettas prefer still water. Their long, flowing fins make it difficult for them to swim against a current. While they might seem to enjoy it, it tires them and tends to decrease their life expectancy.

They both do well on good quality flake food and blackworms or frozen bloodworms, so just be sure to put enough in the tank for all of them.

I know everyone says about bettas not liking currents but so far nobody has told my betta about this, he loves playing in currents. When he was in the tank with the corys these used to 'surf' against the filter together.

I used to feed them the usual types of food, bloodworms, daphnia, brine shrimp, mosquito larvae, peas, cucumber and various dried foods. I also fed them catfish sinkers. The betta would eat everything before it hit the ground. He then started to swim on his side so he could eat the catfish sinkers off the bottom. He was trying to eat everything that went in the tank. We tried a wide variety of things to try to maximise the chances of the corys getting their share of the food.

The one thing I did learn unfortunately through experience is that you should never put salt in the corys water. When I was treating the betta for fungus I added salt to the tank. I asked advice in my local fish store and was advised to do this. Luckily I noticed the change in the corys behaviour and got them out the tank straight away.