Which cory?

[cowgirluntamed]

So....I'm still going back and forth sort of on which cory species to get for two 55 gallons. Most of this is based on price right now....I would love sterbai cories as it would probably fit the temperature range better, but they are twice as much as peppered cories(paleatus).

So...stocking one is this(minus the cories).
One 3 spot blue gourami (already have)
One male bristle nose pleco (already have)
15 x-ray pristella tetras
15 harlequin rasboras
15 black phantom tetras
I would like at least 10 cories.

Now...because of the gourami, I wanted the tank around 77f. I don't know if lowering it a bit for being able to have the peppered cories would really hurt the gourami or if keeping it at like, even 76 would hurt the peppered cories at all?

2nd 55 gallon
10 marble hatchet fish
40-50 glow light tetras
Probably a bristle nose
And at least 10 cories.
I'm pretty sure this tank could have peppereds...but I want hoping for the same in each tank if it would be easier to get.


Now...I had found the prices on live aquaria to be the least expensive. But the sterbais, are still twice as much as peppereds. I was hoping to get all the fish at once per tank(of course putting them in different quarantine tanks) to save on shipping. The sterbais would, by themselves, be almost $100, where as the peppereds would be under $50 so if I got those I could get the rest and end up around $130 total with free shipping.

I'm not ready to purchase yet. Just looking to be able to make a plan.

So what are your thoughts on this? Especially the first 55 gallon in regards to temperature? Can the peppered cories live OK at 76 or 77?

Thanks for any help!

 

[FroFro]

So....I'm still going back and forth sort of on which cory species to get for two 55 gallons. Most of this is based on price right now....I would love sterbai cories as it would probably fit the temperature range better, but they are twice as much as peppered cories(paleatus).

So...stocking one is this(minus the cories).
One 3 spot blue gourami (already have)
One male bristle nose pleco (already have)
15 x-ray pristella tetras
15 harlequin rasboras
15 black phantom tetras
I would like at least 10 cories.

Now...because of the gourami, I wanted the tank around 77f. I don't know if lowering it a bit for being able to have the peppered cories would really hurt the gourami or if keeping it at like, even 76 would hurt the peppered cories at all?

2nd 55 gallon
10 marble hatchet fish
40-50 glow light tetras
Probably a bristle nose
And at least 10 cories.
I'm pretty sure this tank could have peppereds...but I want hoping for the same in each tank if it would be easier to get.


Now...I had found the prices on live aquaria to be the least expensive. But the sterbais, are still twice as much as peppereds. I was hoping to get all the fish at once per tank(of course putting them in different quarantine tanks) to save on shipping. The sterbais would, by themselves, be almost $100, where as the peppereds would be under $50 so if I got those I could get the rest and end up around $130 total with free shipping.

I'm not ready to purchase yet. Just looking to be able to make a plan.

So what are your thoughts on this? Especially the first 55 gallon in regards to temperature? Can the peppered cories live OK at 76 or 77?

Thanks for any help!

I was looking around and checked out the price of those sterbai corydora, Yikes! But there are a few others that have similar color patterns like the Juhli Corydora and Agassize Corydora are very striking fish and cheaper than the sterbai, I'm not sure if they require different water than you have though as I was just taking the liberty of window shopping

 

[cowgirluntamed]

I was looking around and checked out the price of those sterbai corydora, Yikes! But there are a few others that have similar color patterns like the Juhli Corydora and Agassize Corydora are very striking fish and cheaper than the sterbai, I'm not sure if they require different water than you have though as I was just taking the liberty of window shopping

Yeah I know, right? Lol. Those prices, no matter where, are outrageous for a common cory. I'm not sure how common those other two are though but they are great looking ones too.

I am trying to stick to the more common ones that have been tank raised for quite a whike, as they usually are hardier. I have hard water, pH 8.2, gh and kh of 12-13 on the drops for the api tests (don't remember what the ppm is). So I'm trying to stay with ones that can handle more diverse water.

And it's not that I don't like the peppered cories, because I do. I know that higher temperatures lead to higher metabolism which can mean a shorter lifespan...but I wasn't sure if peppered cories can handle it or if it can be adjusted slightly to the best of both.

I posted on a group on Facebook and one person replied that they keep their tank at 77-78 and have had theirs for 4 years and they've even bred quite a bit.

But...u don't think I can afford the sterbais. If anything I just won't put cories in this first tank afforded just add like, 5 more of each of the other shoaling fish...lol. it's going to be a lot of activity anyway!