New Tank For Corys

[stucolls]

Hi there, I currently have 3 peppered (I think) corys in my main community tank and I plan to move them to my 6 gallon fry tank to keep it cycled while I have no fry (molly) my questions are these....
how many corys could I have in this tank as I want a couple more?
do they only breed species to species?
do they eat their own fry like livebearers?
and do they eat anyone elses fry?

I appreciate there are alot of postings re this, and I have read up on how to breed them just want the above clearing up.

Thanks all

 

[MHunt]

As far as I know, peppered cory's generally only breed with their own species, but you never know if it takes their fancy, you could get some interesting hybrids. They may eat any fry they can catch, including their own they do sometimes eat their own eggs, so if you want to raise fry in the tank, take the cory's out.

Good luck breeding them, it is really interesting! I'm onto about my fourth batch of eggs that i've chosen to raise.

 

[stucolls]

excellent thats cleared that up, only other question is how many could i stock, i have 3 in a 6gal now

 

[jollysue]

If you waited any time to put them in after removing the fry, then the tank is no longer cycled. Do what I said in the other thread to get it cycled up to the level of 3 peppers. 6 gals--even UK gals--is doable for 3 peppers for awhile. Do weekly water changes and frequent filter maintenence. Do daily small water changes and add media from the other filter until the new tank is able to process the ammonia from 3 Cories.

I have not had pepper fry survive as yet in the parent tank without a net and the eggs are always eaten.

 

[stucolls]

ok....so just to clarify....

squeeze from juice from main filter into wool in the box filter....
im already using 25% water from main tank and some substrate from there.

When shall I introduce the corys?
and then its a case of say daily 15% water changes until the filter is mature enough to support them, then when my fry arrive I can do a straight swap of tank for the cory and fry (molly fry) unless the cories breed them im buggered lol

oh and what temp are they happy with becuase I have no heater for the tank just a lamp shining on it (my lfs and numerous others have said this time of year Iwont need a heater?)

thanks all

 

[jollysue]

haha I have never tried squeezing juice. Don't actually know how well that works What media do you have in the cycled tank? Can you take some of it?

Temp issues are fluctuations in a short time like overnight. Acclimate them to the temp in the new tank if it is different than the old. Peppers can tolerate say 69 F - 78 F/20C - 25 C if it is constant, usually I aim in the mid 70's/20's. But sudden changes will stress their immune system and can result in sudden shocks with overnight deaths. And certainly fry won't tolerate much of that.

The nitrifying bacteria only live a few hours without a supply of ammonia. You put the fish in when you add the colonized media. The water is not the main source of bacteria. The bacteria live in the filter usually where there is a constant supply of ammonia, water, oxygen/good aeration. A good example is the bio wheel or sponge on some hobs. A sock of the carbon or the wool or something where there is tank water and air mixing through. If you are using a canister just take a fist full of the carbon/ceramics balls/wool/etc and put it in with the new media.

I mentioned using tank water for the fry because there would be a constant of the composition in the water, such as ph. Old water can have a different composition that tap water.

Do you have at least a test kit for ammonia and nitrites? That wouyld be your test for water quality. I have used filter seeding with no negative water states to show up. It is good even when adding new fish to an established tank or changing the old media for new to do seed to help boast the nitrifying bacteria.

 

[stucolls]

ok, well the media in my filter (elite stingray) is just 2 sponges and 2 little cases of what looks like gravel (but I cant prise them open to remove any media) so have just squeezed some gunk onto the wool in my little box filter, added 1 bactozyme tab (even though by popular opinion they are usless) and I have added the corys.
The temp is 23 to 25 all the time, even with no heater.
I acclimatised them first though as main tank temp is 26 to 27 all time (with a heater).
So heres hoping they make it through and do a good job for me, im sure they will as they look like hard little chaps (if they are chaps? i dunno how to sex corys?)

thanks

 

[MHunt]

Personally, i would hatch the fry out in a small tank or even tub with a heater for the temp, and simply an air line in the water to keep it moving. When you start feeding the little wrigglers, add a small air powered sponge filter, as the fry start to produce waste, the filter sponge will cycle, and as you should be doing daily water changes for the first week anyway you shouldn't get any ammonia or nitrite killing the fish. You can then move this filter into your growing on tank if necessary to continue the cycle in the larger tank.

 

[jollysue]

It makies more sense to me.