How many cory catfish should i get

On the other hand, Corys tend to make a bit of a mess as they poke through the substrate and send algae and other muck into the water. Bottom line, while they can be considered part of your tank's "clean-up crew," they'll need a little help from snails, shrimp, and other scavengers.

Bandit Corys have been in the aquarium trade for a long time and are one of the more popular members of this family. They are easily identifiable by the black mask over the eyes. Bandits are more sensitive to variations in water temperature than some other species. Like Pepper Corys, Bronze Corys are very popular and readily available everywhere. These two species of Corys are hands down the most commonly kept members of this family. Bronze Corys are available in several color morphs, including green, bronze, albino, and black.

They do well in a range of conditions but should be kept in schools. Although this species may be seen for sale in pet shops, it rarely is the real McCoy. Instead what is labeled as a Julii is its kissing cousin the Three Stripe Cory. True Julis have spots that are generally not connected into long chains, as they are in the Three Stripe Cory.

Panda Corys are highly social and should always be kept in schools of its own kind. One of the best things is that Cory Catfish care is easy. Corys have a calm, peaceful and non-aggressive temperament. Some Cory Catfish types are more shy and timid than others.

This may also have something to do with their size relative to the other fish in the tank. It also can be related to the tank dynamic in general. Corydoras Catfish are active and curious bottom dwellers, methodically scavenging the tank bottom looking some food to eat. Cory Catfish can be very active during the day, but they can also spend time peacefully resting motionless in the same spot. Corys may move about the tank at night, but they seem to be more active during the daytime hours.

Tank Size: Cory Catfish can do well in covered tanks of nearly any size and dimensions. Many beginner hobbyists keep Corydoras Catfish in small tanks like 10 gallon aquariums. Cory Cats can thrive in larger tanks too. Either way, hobbyists need to remember that all living species tax the bio-load capacity of a tank.

Hobbyists will often hear a snapping or popping sound as the Cory Cat breaks the water surface and moves quickly to the bottom of the tank. This is normal behavior and should not be considered a sign the water lacks oxygen, provided aquarium care is adequate. Cory Catfish School Together: Cory Catfish are very social creatures, especially with others of their kind.

While Cory Cats can survive alone, they seem much happier in a group of two or more. Two Cory Cats of the same type will often stay close to one another as they move throughout the tank to feed. This is especially true when they rest. When one Cory Cat takes a break in the corner of a tank, other Cory Cats will almost always be seen an inch or two away. Two Cory Cats of different types may behave the same way.

But in general, Corys of the same type seem to stick together most often. You have to find a suitable way in which they can grow without any mental or physical stress. They are sensitive and severe problems can occur due to slight negligence of the owner. There are different numbers that researchers tell as the situations that you provide to them. The type of Cory fish also matters a lot in this regard. You have to consider all these things while deciding the number. You have to pay attention while choosing it because it affects the health of the fish.

Many Cory Catfish owners note that they cannot live alone. You have to keep them in groups. You have to make it two or three. You can increase its number as you increase the size of the aquarium. Different problems arise in the health of the Cory catfish that can lead to its death.

There are different adverse effects of stress on the health of the pets. They cannot perform their activities in solitude.

You have to provide a proper environment for them to play and performing other daily activities. These activities are playing the role of oxygen for them because they cannot live without these activities.

You have to provide a suitable environment for them to get proper nourishment in minimum time, otherwise African cichlids can have seizures. As one of the most popular species of Corydoras, Peppered Corys can be found at most fish stores and online fish retailers. That said, no two Peppered Corys are the same — a trait that a lot of aquarium owners love. Bronze Corys a color variation of Green Corys are known for being active, expressive, and easy to keep — even when compared to other Corydoras species.

They generally grow to about 2. Though the coloration of Bronze Corys may not be as attractive as the other species on our list, they are a great choice for aquarists looking to learn about keeping and breeding Cory Catfish. One of the rarer species of Corydoras on our list, Julii Corys are admired for their unique striped patterns. Since true Julii Corys are generally hard to find, False Julii Corys Corydoras trilineatus are a great, more prevalent option for those who really love the striped pattern.

Like most other Cory species, Corydoras julii and Corydoras trilineatus are easy to care for and thrive in a range of water conditions. One of the most visually appealing species of Corydoras, Sterbai Corys are a favorite among freshwater fish-keepers. They are known for their energetic, comical personalities and are very tolerant of different water conditions. Like most Corys, Sterbai grow to about 2. Pygmy Corys are definitely the most unique species of Cory catfish on our list.

Although Corydora species-only tanks can be incredible, most aquarium owners like a little variety. We will go through everything you need to set up a gorgeous, natural Cory tank the right way.

One of the most important pieces in any Cory catfish tank is the substrate. Sand is, by far, the best option when it comes to keeping Cory Cats.

While sand it definitely your best option, it poses a problem with live plants. Sand has a low CEC meaning it does not absorb nutrients well — therefore, root tabs are necessary to supply your plants with the right nutrients.

Place them at the base of your plants underneath the substrate — within a few months, your sand should be mature enough that the root tabs will no longer be necessary. Cory Cats are not picky at all when it comes to plants — in fact, just about any species should work. In addition to plants, Cory Cats love hiding in driftwood and slate shelves.

Feel free to get creative with your aquascaping and layout — this is the time for your creativity to shine! I really recommend going with an LED fixture for multiple reasons — they last longer, they put off much less heat, and produce healthier plants. Although lighting is important for plants, Cory Catfish tend to enjoy low light environments. That said, Corys are very adaptable and will adjust to just about any light you throw at them.

Just try to make sure there are a few caves or similar structures present so that your Corys can escape the light once in a while. This should go without saying, but make sure your tank is completely cycled before you introduce any fish. If you need any help with this process, read through our complete guide to the fishless cycle.

In fact, there is a lot of evidence that plants can actually help speed up the nitrogen cycle. Use these few weeks to shop around for suitable plants, read about aquascaping, and getting your tank set up exactly how you want it. At some point, most Corydora owners want to breed their fish — luckily, breeding Cory Catfish is actually pretty easy. In this section, we go through everything you know about setting up a breeding tank, encouraging spawning, and raising Cory fry.

Here are a few ways that you can approach putting together a breeding tank:. The dedicated breeding tank route is great for those who keep their Corys in community aquariums. While they will still spawn with other species present, tank mates and even the Corys themselves will make a quick snack of the eggs.

That said, moving your breeding colony back and forth from the main aquarium to the breeding tank can be very stressful for your Cories. Personally, I prefer going with strategy 2 — I find it to be easier and safer for my fish. Ideally, the fry tank should be set up early in the process — you want to give the aquarium enough time to stabilize before adding any delicate fry. The fry tank should be as simple as possible — completely bare is my preference. A bare aquarium is extremely easy to clean, which makes it much easier to keep water parameters stable which is vital to keeping fry alive.

A 10 gallon aquarium should be fine starting out. Use water and filter media from the main tank — rub the filter media on the tank walls and anything else in the aquarium.