Peppered Corydoras

[pirategrl]

I have 6 corydoras in a 55 gallon.  Over the last few weeks they will float to the top and then hang out at the surface in a vertical position.  They will hang there for up to 5 minutes and then swim back down and act completely normal.  They are all eating and I'm not sure how many are actually doing this because it's no more than 2 at a time.  I'm concerned and haven't been able to find any information as to whether this is normal behavior or if something is wrong.  Any advice would be great!
 
Temp is 77.7
Ammonia is .25 (still cycling)
0 nitrates and nitrites 
ph 7
 
tested with API master test kit

 

[frapadoodle]

Are they running back and forth over the same spot of glass? If so could be prespawn behavior.

 

[pirategrl]

It is always the same place in the tank.  But they aren't going back and forth.  It's more of a float to the top and just hang there. They literally are just hanging.

 

[frapadoodle]

Interesting.

 

[pirategrl]

I know right!?!  I can't find any information on what this is or why they could be doing it.  

 

[Lunar Jetman]

Ammonia is .25 (still cycling)

How many other fish are in the tank? The general consensus on here is that you should cycle without fish. That could be a factor.

 

[frapadoodle]

Oops, missed the still cycling. Need to keep up with daily water changes.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Daily water changes for sure. Usually corydoras will pop up to the top to get a gulp of air, but if they hang up there something is wrong, and I'm guessing it's ammonia.
 
I keep my temp a little lower as well, around 74-75. But I'm not sure what that will do for your cycling.

 

[kad191]

Any air stones in the tank? Maybe an oxygen issue?

 

[rossyk]

Hi, I made the mistake of putting 4 peppered corys in an uncycled tank. One of them immediately started exhibiting the same behaviour as you're describing, and he was dead the next day 

 I'm not saying yours will suffer the same fate, since he died very quickly, but bear it in mind. I did a bit of googling and it seems that most people who have had peppered corys do this have lost them. Maybe it's some reaction to ammonia or stress?

 

[pirategrl]

I do 25% daily water changes.  I went to the store yesterday for an air stone and the guy said it wouldn't make a difference since I have a spill over filter.  I wish I had known about fishless cycling but I didn't until it was too late.  I have to see it through with them.  I have a 55 gallon with 6 neons, 8 guppies and 1 oto. I lost 2 otos and am waiting until it cycles before I add more, I do know that he needs a group but I don't want to throw off my tank.   


I keep expecting them to be gone by morning but everyday they are still alive, still eating.  And still exhibiting this behavior.  It's been going on for weeks.

 

[Aviici]

This does sound quite like swimbladder disease, if you don't take into account that the tank's still cycling all of those symptoms are of a fish with a problem with their swimbladder. Don't quote me as i could be wrong, just thought I'd mention it as nobody else has.
 
Hope your fish get through it though mate

 

[CezzaXV]

I do 25% daily water changes.  I went to the store yesterday for an air stone and the guy said it wouldn't make a difference since I have a spill over filter.  I wish I had known about fishless cycling but I didn't until it was too late.  I have to see it through with them.  I have a 55 gallon with 6 neons, 8 guppies and 1 oto. I lost 2 otos and am waiting until it cycles before I add more, I do know that he needs a group but I don't want to throw off my tank.   


I keep expecting them to be gone by morning but everyday they are still alive, still eating.  And still exhibiting this behavior.  It's been going on for weeks.

You'll need to do bigger than 25%. The perfect ammonia reading is 0, but since that's not possible in an uncycled tank, you need to keep it as low as you can. If your ammonia is 0.25ppm and you do a 25% change, you've still got 0.1875ppm, which is still too much. You need to get it as close to 0 as you possibly can.

Your LFS is right in that if the water surface is rippling from the filter, you won't need an airstone.

 

[pirategrl]

My tap water tests at .25 so no matter how much I change it's still going to be .25 until it can process that.  I just bought prime and 2 airstones which may have been a mistake because now the water is rippling like crazy and my guppies aren't happy.  This hobby is really frustrating in the beginning!


I thought maybe swim bladder disease so I went ahead and fed them some smashed up peas last night.  They aren't doing it right now but it seems to be worse at night.

 

[floraandfauna]

have you been using a dechlorinator?  these products are intended to remove the amonia levels and chlonine levels from the tapwater.  perhaps your corys are not only dealing with an uncycled tank but the existing chemicals in the water.  the brand of dechlorinator i love is by API.