Cory Species

[Didge007]

Going by what my lfs says, I should have my angel & dwarf gourami shifted from my 2ft in a weeks time. So this leaves me with the exciting task of fish shopping. I have a 60 odd litre 2ft tank which is currently home to a small bgk (in the process of getting him a bigger tank), one neon tetra (don't ask - there was a disaster) and one albino Cory (again don't ask). I have lighting, plants, gravel & a piece of 'fake' wood. I've just installed a new filter which is currently running alongside the old filter, the new filter is larger than required. Ph normally around 7. I can't tell u amonnia nitrate nitrite or mineral levels unfortunately.

Basically, bgk will be there for a little while yet. I want to get more tetras but could I get some cardinals...r they larger & will the neon school with them? Also the Cory I might be shifting over to my other tank as a clean up crew - will he school with other species though? Also what species do u recommend as I prefer pretty fish.

 

[minnnt]

The neon won't school with the cardinal i don't think and neither will the cory if you get a different variety. If the Albino is of the bronze kind then it may shoal with normal bronze.

 

[Didge007]

*sigh* Okay, might see if my lfs will take them. Feel really bad at the moment that they are by themselves.

 

[keimak]

I have 5 cardinals and 5 neons, they shoal fine to me
Harlequin rasboras are pretty too especially if you have them to school.
Some hillstream loach should do the trick too

 

[Didge007]

Not sold on the harlequin rasboras...what about black phantoms or something?
Hillstream loach...I googled and I'm getting a little stingray looking thing? If so, sign me up they are adorable!! Any info on how to keep? Never seen them in my LFS and am unsure as to weather they will get species in for you so how do I aquire them? Also I'm reading cold water? My tanks can get pretty warm in summer (stupid Australian heat).

EDIT: What about Plecs?

 

[fluttermoth]

I don't think hillstream loaches would work for you, Didge. They actually have some quite specific requirements (very high flow rate, highly oxygenated water, fairly low temps; certainly not higher than 24°C) that aren't easy to reproduce in community tanks. They're better off in a species only set-up in all honesty.

Both tetras and corydoras will shoal with other species if none of their own are around, or here aren't enough of them, but their own species is 'better' and what we should aim for if we can.

 

[Didge007]

Not fussed on breeding, never had any luck even when I had guppies. Wouldn't mind one day breeding angels and/or discus but that's a little off topic and in the future lol

Would cardinals be better than neons? I'm assuming my BGK will snack (and has already snacked) on neons. If I had a larger shoal of of them would they not be considered so much of a snack or it wouldn't really matter? The only reason I got the neons (originally had 5) was because my partner and I were at a pet shop and he pestered me and pestered me. I told him I didn't think they'd go well in my tank as they might get eaten being so small, the fella at the pet shop (who seemed very knowledgable but also apparently liked getting a dollar) said they should be fine in my tank. Needless to say three weeks later I have one left

My albino cory is still only very small. A lot of the cory types at LFS are almost full size, would he get bullied at all?

 

[fluttermoth]

Cories don't 'do' bullying, your little one would be perfectly fine.

You BGK will still snack on cardinals, even in a larger shoal.

 

[minnnt]

How come when it was me that was asking for advice on neons i got shot down in flames for asking whether a normal neon would shoal with a black neon...now all of a sudden it's fine to add different species together?!

This site makes me laugh!

 

[Caprichoso]

How come when it was me that was asking for advice on neons i got shot down in flames for asking whether a normal neon would shoal with a black neon...now all of a sudden it's fine to add different species together?!

This site makes me laugh!

Neons can be kept together, all corydoras will school together, neons and cardinals will school together and sometimes they will go off on their own. They are community fish, keep them all together if you want. It sounds to me that you are not particularly interested in breeding them so who cares? Have fun with your fish cause it's all good

 

[minnnt]

How come when it was me that was asking for advice on neons i got shot down in flames for asking whether a normal neon would shoal with a black neon...now all of a sudden it's fine to add different species together?!

This site makes me laugh!

Neons can be kept together, all corydoras will school together, neons and cardinals will school together and sometimes they will go off on their own. They are community fish, keep them all together if you want. It sounds to me that you are not particularly interested in breeding them so who cares? Have fun with your fish cause it's all good

All i'm saying is this is very different advice to what was offered to me not so long ago!

 

[Caprichoso]

How come when it was me that was asking for advice on neons i got shot down in flames for asking whether a normal neon would shoal with a black neon...now all of a sudden it's fine to add different species together?!

This site makes me laugh!

Neons can be kept together, all corydoras will school together, neons and cardinals will school together and sometimes they will go off on their own. They are community fish, keep them all together if you want. It sounds to me that you are not particularly interested in breeding them so who cares? Have fun with your fish cause it's all good

All i'm saying is this is very different advice to what was offered to me not so long ago!

I understand your frustration, it's hard to make a decision sometimes. I usually read all the info I can find and then go with my instincts. They are most often correct.

 

[minnnt]

I don't suppose it matters anymore really as i have since rehomed the last of my remaining community fish. I like to research things normally, and when i do i normally take on board what everyone says. (Which i did) Now i am reading something different.

It's a shame we can't ask the fish what they prefer as ultimately it is us that decides on tank mates for them, whether it be one of each or a group of one variety, who knows how they're happiest.

 

[mattlee]

every fish prefers to be with its own species with a few exceptions where they just dont get along when mature like bigger cichlids. if you have a group of different corys and a group of same species corys you will see the difference in behaviour as the same species group will act much more natural. yes different species will swim together and get along but not as well as all the same species fish.

it also looks much better to have a large group of same species fish as it gives a more dramatic effect

 

[Didge007]

Thanks for your help guys I appreciate it. Thinking I will just stick away from neons & cardinals.