:unsure: Wrong Substrate For Corys

[doresy]

I have been reading this forum for corys after running my tank for several months and OH NO I have dropped a bo bo!
I have 2 peppered and 3 that I am not sure of....see picture....

As you can see in this picture I have substrate of Black quartz which is a tad sharp. Reading here I should have sand or smooth gravel.
Also, although I have 5 in total they are 2 different kinds so here it is....

1. Do I get 2-3 more of each type to make them happier even though I have the wrong substrate

2. Do I do the above but before hand destroy my current set-up, change substrate, up-root plants etc. etc

3. Do I take........ ..I can't say it....... awwww..take them back to the lfs

4. Maybe leave things as they are as they have no visable effects and seem happy enough

As I said, no visable effects....all barbels present and long. They feed without effort and sleep on the substrate in a huddle.

Ps. an ID on the ones in the picture would be welcomed

 

[Bozza]

From the small pics looks like Tilis.....

 

[Richie Hell]

Look like Corydoras Schwartzi to me.

 

[doresy]

Hi thanks for the id. How about the substrate

 

[KathyM]

I have my cories on black glass "sand" (it's actually chips but sold as sand) and they're fine It's light enough for them to swish around without any damage.

 

[doresy]

I have my cories on black glass "sand" (it's actually chips but sold as sand) and they're fine It's light enough for them to swish around without any damage.

Thanks for that The thought of loosing my corys was unbearable as was changing my set up. I'll go with you for now

 

[Coryman]

This is a subject that crops up all the time and there ought to be a sticky for it.

However lets just look at what Corys are normally used to in their natural habitat, basically sand, silt, sometimes clay, sand and pebbles/stones, but very rarely would they encounter gravel and never at all would they encounter glass chips or black quartz.

All Corydoradinae Catfish (Aspidoras, Brochis, Corydoras and Scleromystax) are primarily filter feeders, that is to say they take up mouthfuls of substrate and filter out the food particles they find in it and eject the unwanted material through the base of the gill openings. They also graze the bio-film which forms on submerged objects such as plant/tree roots rocks, fallen branches looking for microscopic organisms as well as small crustaceans and insect larvae.

Cory barbels are sensory organs, used for sensing and are not designed to manipulate gravel particles, which is what they end up doing when food particles fall in between the bits of gravel or other large substrate particles. The picture below shows a typical Cory habitat.

Picture courtesy Fabien Naneix @ Corydoras world

Many people keep their Corys on all sorts of substrates without ever having any problems, making my comments above seam contradictory, but nevertheless they are the facts.

Ian

 

[doresy]

This is a subject that crops up all the time and there ought to be a sticky for it.

However lets just look at what Corys are normally used to in their natural habitat, basically sand, silt, sometimes clay, sand and pebbles/stones, but very rarely would they encounter gravel and never at all would they encounter glass chips or black quartz.

All Corydoradinae Catfish (Aspidoras, Brochis, Corydoras and Scleromystax) are primarily filter feeders, that is to say they take up mouthfuls of substrate and filter out the food particles they find in it and eject the unwanted material through the base of the gill openings. They also graze the bio-film which forms on submerged objects such as plant/tree roots rocks, fallen branches looking for microscopic organisms as well as small crustaceans and insect larvae.

Cory barbels are sensory organs, used for sensing and are not designed to manipulate gravel particles, which is what they end up doing when food particles fall in between the bits of gravel or other large substrate particles. The picture below shows a typical Cory habitat.

Picture courtesy Fabien Naneix @ Corydoras world

Many people keep their Corys on all sorts of substrates without ever having any problems, making my comments above seam contradictory, but nevertheless they are the facts.

Ian

Thank you for your very professional and informative reply

 

[Coryman]

Your more than welcome.

It seems that every third of forth Cory type post here is about substrate.

Ian

 

[dwarfgourami]

Your more than welcome.

It seems that every third of forth Cory type post here is about substrate.

Ian

Which is a good thing, isn't it? shows people are aware that there can be issues