Oh The Shame

[lurch1000]

As I have previously mentioned, I recently set up my 60l tank, and stocked it with 3 Neons, 3 Glowlights and 2 Panda Corys.

Or so I thought. I like Corys, so I've done a little more reading and had a look at some of the other 'models' out there. It appears that my Pandas are quite possibly Bronze Corys.

I bought the from Pets At Home, and took them on trust (hence the shame).

I think it's another advert as to why you should avoid (as many others have said to do so) PAH at all costs. I'm not sure I even want to give them my money for AquaSafe or anything that even they can't screw up.

I've added a link to a photo of one of the Corys - the link takes you to Flickr.

Fu the ? Cory on Flickr

I feel such a fool. However, it there is a positive - I really do like these two Corys, they have quite a character, and distinct traits from each other, and I'd be very disappointed if I lost them.

Thanks to all in the Forum for the help and advice I've obtained from here so far - I just wish I'd got here before stocking the tank!

Damo

 

[Fintastic!]

I'm no expert Damo but they do look like bronze corys. I have 3 (along with 3 albinos) and they're identical to Fu. I assume his buddy is Kung. That made me laugh. Do you plan on upping their number? They'll be happier as a group of 6+. They need a lot of floor space though.

 

[lurch1000]

I was thinking of upping them as they're great fish.

I've got a floor of 2'x1' (near as #39####), so I was certainly going to add another one - think 6 might be a bit too much. I live near Tingley Tropicals, and I know they keep Bronzes in stock. I'd like to get one sooner, but I'd like my tank to be cycled first - it's only had fish in it for 2 weeks.

Kinda wish I bought a bigger tank, but most of the fish I like are bottom feeders - I'd love a Plec and some Clown Loach, but that isn't going to happen in that tank!!

Fu's buddy is indeed Kung. It was meant to be amusing for my 3 year old who had just watched the movie, but she didn't get it!! I think Fu is male and Kung is female, but until they're a little bigger, I don't think I can be 100% sure. I'm going to have to watch the movie again to find more names.

They're easy to tell apart, Fu has a more reclined fin than Kung, and since the ammonia spike, Kung is also a lot lighter in colour than Fu. Kung is lazier than Fu too!

 

[scotty]

just out of interest how much did they charge you for the corys?

 

[lurch1000]

2 for £10 they were, £5.50 each.

Expensive so I understand. Now...

 

[soybean]

But if you had even done the tiniest bit of research into panda corys beforehand, you wouldve know what a panda cory looked like surely? So I can only assume you actually pointed to the corys and said "two of those". Even if you said to the assistant "two panda corys please", didn't you pick them out, or at least stand and watch him/her catch them? I'm really struggling to understand how you could only just notice you have bronzes.

I don't think that you should come on a public forum and say "never buy anything from pah, the massive screw ups", as that's entirely unfair on the whole chain, and really all I see here is a display of your own lack of research, either before buying the corys or afterwards. I mean no offence, I just think its unreasonable to publicly tar a chain with the same brush on the basis of your own unusual experience.

 

[CezzaXV]

I agree. Although it appears they have been mislabelled (I dont know enough about bronze cories to say that's what they are, but they're not pandas), you really need to do your research into fish before you buy them. If you had, you'd know that first of all they're not panda cories, and secondly that two is a completely unacceptable group size for them to be in.

My LFS sells trilineatus for 2 for £9, and most other cories are around that price mark so I wouldnt say you've been ripped off.

 

[Liamm]

2 for £10 they were, £5.50 each.

Expensive so I understand. Now...

Seriously? That MUST be a mistake, my store sells them at £2.99 each, £5.50 for two!

 

[lurch1000]

Soybean - I did indeed ask for two Pandas, and they were the only Corys in that tank.

I thought that as they are young fish, that the markings would develop as they got older, but I have to put my hands up and say that I hadn't researched enough before I got them, and do accept that I am not blameless in this situation.

Perhaps I shouldn't state that PAH are bad, or that all PAH are bad, and indeed, if people have had a good experience with them, do carry on shopping there, but perhaps for people who haven't been there, then they can go there knowing that they might want to do the research that I didn't. However, there are many reports online about how poor PAH are, and I haven't found praise for them anywhere. I am merely stating my opinion, maybe a little vociferously, but it is my opinion, and I would like people to exercise caution, or perhaps go elsewhere to somewhere that might know what fish they have.


CezzXV - I do intend upping the group, however, I've read in many places that 3-4 is acceptable. I shall research further on this, and add accordingly once I'm cycled.

 

[scotty]

hi there,

has your tank not cycled yet?

 

[lurch1000]

PAH are definitely not cheap for fish at all.

To additionally clarify - I'm definitely not unhappy with the Corys I have, they're great! Just bemused how they don't know what they're selling!

The tank's not cycled yet, but I'm watching it like a hawk.

 

[scotty]

have you got a test kit?

have a read here My link

you will find it really useful.


scott

 

[lurch1000]

I was reading that a few days ago after my ammonia got out of hand.

I've also read another site, I forget the exact name, but it's something like first fish tank or first tank and it's a .net site. Not on my laptop as it just went flat, so I can't get the address just now.

As for the test kit, I rapidly discovered that the test strips aren't recommended or accurate - so over to liquid now.

Are test strips any good at all? Or are they just for a quick rough idea as to how your tank is?

 

[scotty]

keep using the test kit if you have one,idealy it would be best to return the fish and do a fishless cycle,if not you will need to keep doing waterchanges to keep the ammonia levels down.
is there anyone you know with a tank who could give you some mature media from their filter?
not had any experience with the test strips but would be better than nothing unti you get your liquid tests

scott

 

[lurch1000]

I've got the time available for water changes. A friend of mine has a tank, and I've recently tried to contact him to try get some media, and hopefully he'll come back to me soon!