Single Cory

[plecoman1413]

I bought a spotted cory cat fish about 2 months ago before i knew that they do better in groups. My question is that if i go out and get a few more of them will they all school together and do they have to be the same species to school together?
Thanks a lot!

 

[nakomis90]

I bought a spotted cory cat fish about 2 months ago before i knew that they do better in groups. My question is that if i go out and get a few more of them will they all school together and do they have to be the same species to school together?
Thanks a lot!

Mine schooled together straight away i have peppered and broze

 

[Iron Man]

You can have two different types of cories and they will only school with their "type" and not the other, so I'd get the same type so he's all the more happier.

I'm dealing with the same thing at the moment having acquired a 20 gallon from my dad there's only one (HUGE) emerald cory in there that hides 98% of the time until nighttime when it comes out and forages for food. They are def not good alone.

 

[CrashingWaves]

You can have two different types of cories and they will only school with their "type" and not the other, so I'd get the same type so he's all the more happier.

That's the opposite of what my experience with corydoras has been. At one point I have 2 Juli, 3 Panda, and 1 Albino corydoras all hanging together.

God Bless,
Joshua

 

[Inchworm]

I'm dealing with the same thing at the moment having acquired a 20 gallon from my dad there's only one (HUGE) emerald cory in there that hides 98% of the time until nighttime when it comes out and forages for food. They are def not good alone.

Hi Iron Man

I think what you have is a Brochis splendens, not a corydoras. They are related to corys, but are somewhat larger. Like corys, they should have companions in order to have a more normal life in your tank.

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/speci...?species_id=114

I keep cory communities and have found that all corys get along together, but do like to spend some time with their own species. If this isn't possible, the next best thing is to keep them with other corys. I you ever see one lone cory in a tank at the lfs, don't hesitate to buy it and give it a home with your other corys.

 

[Iron Man]

Thanks for that Inchworm!

I'm thinking of getting rid of him/her now as the 20 gallon seems just too small for 4 of them which is the least number I'd be comfortable keeping since they like to shoal.

Getting 4 or 5 smaller cories would make me feel a whole lot better than having 4 of these little monsters in there.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Iron Man

Unless your lfs currently has more of the B. splendens, so he has a good chance of being sold as part of a group, please don't take yours there. The chances are that he'll just be bought by someone who will still keep him alone, and that would be a sad situation. At least you know he is now being well fed and kept in a clean environment.

When you buy a living creature, it's a commitment. Think of it this way: his life and health is more important than your comfort. Please consider taking care of him for the rest of his life. Perhaps you might find more of them some time, and if you can even add one more to your tank, it would make him very happy.

 

[Iron Man]

Thanks inchworm. I would love to keep her. I say her because this tank and the fish were my dad's before and I got it from him, so the fish came with the tank and she has had babies under his care before. He had others in with her but they didn't make it for some reason (he didn't change the water weekly like I told him to for one thing).

And you're right. When I got this tank I purposely changed out the black gravel in here for pool filter sand just for her so she can dig comfortably. So I do care for their well being.

I'll consider keeping her then and getting a couple more. I just don't want them to be uncomfortable in such a size tank.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Iron Man

Oh, I'm so happy that you are going to keep her.

But now I'm starting to wonder if she really is a brochis or perhaps just a big, mature, female C. aeneus. While B. splendens could spawn in a home tank, it's quite common for C. aeneus to do so.

I've just put up pictures on another thread. Perhaps you can tell for sure what you have. Remember that a C. aeneus can get to 3' which is just about the same length as a brochis splendens, but the brochis will be taller.