Pygmy cories

[jollysue]

They are so adorable!!!

I had 25 delivered from bluebettausa.com They are so cute, very active. They swim all around the tank and don't seem to hang out on the bottom. Is this what cories are suppose to act like? Is it because they are in a large group? They actually look alot like small otos.

My plan was to split them up. I have put 7 or 8 in my miniture tank (sparklers, honeys, otos, now diamond head neons but maybe in the future harlequins and cockatoos.) But now I hate the idea of splitting up the other 17 or so. I may have to get more.

I'll try to post pics.

 

[bunjiweb]

Lovely fish and for these little corys it is quite normal to see them swimming around the entire tank, not just sitting on the bottom.

Ben

 

[jollysue]

So, Ben, it's not just a bigger-group behavior that all cories would do if they had twenty of their fellows to swim with?

They are so cute when 15 of them bunch up all swimming together in place looking at themselves in the tank glass.

I have been a little confused about the best food for them.

 

[Barracuda518]

Its definately normal. I have 6 cories and they are always roaming the tank. They will eat just about anything. I feed mine shrimp pellots and algae pellots. I have tried cucumber and zuchinni, but they dont like it..

 

[bunjiweb]

They should do great in a group of 6 or more so if you split it into a group of 12 and a group of 13 that would be cool! Otherwise have it in 6's.

Ben

 

[jollysue]

I have an Eclipse 12 w/ 3 honeys, 4 sparklers, 2 otos , 7 neons and now 7 or 8 pygmys. They fit perfect. The tank sound crowded, but everyone seems to be doing fine. The little pygmies make it really active. You're probably horrified. I guess I can't go on vacation more than a week; I'd miss a water change. ) Everyone is less than an inch except maybe the honeys. I will probably take some sparklers out. I might look into th Eclipse 25 for the pygmy tank. Hmm

I have the other 17 or 18 in a 20 usg together by themselves until I decide where I want to put them.

I've tried the shrimp pellets and the bottom wafers. They don't seem to eat on the bottom as much as my other bottom fish. That's why I asked. I actually held off feeding them this morning because I hoped for an answer. Oh well. I will go with a tried and true fav--Hikari bottom wafers.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi jollysue

Your mineature tank sounds just wonderful! What a great idea!

The pygmy corys are tiny, but are like regular corys in every other way. I keep mine in my panda tank and they swim among them even though the small pandas are many times bigger then they are. Then, from time to time, they swim off and do their own thing on the other side of the tank. They are great fun to watch.

I feed them the same things I feed the pandas, and since the pandas have been spawning that means lots of live blackworms and/or frozen bloodworms. They also get a good quality flake food and, once in a while, a spirulina disc. I can't actually say that I've seen them eat the disc though.

I'm glad to learn that you are happy with your purchase from Blue Bettas. I have an order of corys coming from him and was wondering how they would be.

 

[basia]

I have never seen my pygmies eat but I've had them for months so they obviously do! I think they are my favourite cories, so lively and sweet.

 

[bunjiweb]

Mine eat Hikari sinking wafers and carnivore pellets aswell as frozen mussel or cockle.

Ben

 

[jollysue]

Thanks guys and gals.

I actually saw one nibbling on some hair fern (don't know what it's really called) this morning after I posted. I put an Hikari wafer in the back where they like to hang out. I saw one nibbling on it this evening. But after all day none of it was gone. I need to put some one who eats in there. Actually it looks like it's going to be a betta sorority tank.

Yes, Inchworm, the minature is a delightful tank. There are all levels of fish, and it is very active. It sits right behind my computer. The more I think about it the more I want to change the the tank to a larger acrylic. Then I can put in a community of cockatoos and some more otos. There were 4 otos, but the neons came home with culamnaris and the otos then got sick. I lost neons and otos, before I had the medication right . It looks fine now. I want to replace the diamond head neons with either green neons or harlequins. I also call it my Minature South Seas Tank. I haven't mastered my bubble nest builders needs yet. Poor frustrated little honey.

I was exceptionally pleased with my order from bluebettasuas. I got a pair of HM DT Butterflies, a Cracker Jack Surprise, and the 25 pygmies. All came through excellently. The quality is excellent, and the service superb. Did you get the Hasbrosus? The Haststus tempted me, but they were sold out.

I was so pleased I went back and ordered some Ketapang leaf extract and some duck weed.

I am ignorant of the black worm thing. I am just now looking into it.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi jollysue

No, I asked about getting both habrosus and hastatus, but he is out of them at the moment. I originally ordered C. pastazensis but after you praised him I bid on (and won) some C. armatus, reticulatus and also bought some virginiae. I'm looking forward to them coming next week.

IMHO, live worms are the best food for all kinds of corys, and while they need a balanced diet, it should go a little heavy on the meat.

Blackworms or tubifex worms can be bought live from most independent lfs and some of the chains too. The tubifex are smaller and might be better for your little fish. All of your fish will probably enjoy them.

The single most important thing to remember is that they must be washed thoroughly when you bring them home, stored in the refrigerator just covered with water, and rewashed every day. Be sure to stir them well to break up any clumps of them while you are rinsing them under cold water.

 

[jollysue]

Congratulations on the wins. Post some pics so I have a clue what you are talking about. I will look them up.

Is this Bryan?

Does he ship other than the bluebetta stuff? I hadn't seen anything else offered. I did order the almond leaf extract and some duckweed. All the fish I got have been exceptionally vital.

I will look into the worms today--if I can get away from the computer.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi jollysue,

Yes, it's Bryan. He sells on AquaBid under the name of Betterbettas. Evidently he must import corys too. Here's a link:

http/www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auc...&&&&page=0&pb=0

He is running some of the ones I bought again, but they are scheduled to close today. If they do, I would not be surprised if he runs at least some of them again soon.

 

[jollysue]

I'll take a look. My older bigger cories have not been happy. They never come out to play. I'm not even sure if they are all still there. When I first put them in the big tsnk, they were out and about all the time. I am really concerned about them. They have gone under ground.

I was just on aquabid looking at aoistodave's offerings.

I think betterbetta is the SEAsian breeder. Bryan is the front org for shipping, sales, etc. What surprised me is that they don't offer much on either site but bettas.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi jollysue

Perhaps they only sell on AquaBid. From the looks of the corys, they are full grown and probably wild caught specimens. Corys are quite popular in the Orient and if he has the contacts to import from there, or along with people there, he might just have access to good and perhaps unusual fish.

This is the C. pastazensis that I will be getting:

http/www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/clo...tfish1126118410

About your corys. Are they getting old? Could the clown loaches be too active and big for them?