Cory Trouble Please Help!

[Stoty]

Hi. As of earlier today i had six peppered corys. The smallest and youngest one was acting lethargic last night and basically just rolled over and died a few hours ago. His coloration was fine and i do not know what was wrong. I have another cory who is hanging our at the top alot breathing air. He still goes down to the bottom and does cory stuff with the rest of them but is at the top more than often. His coloration is fine and looks healthy. Mind you, the one that died was not doing this. Any idea why this guy is at the top? The reason the other died is a mystery.

Thanks in advance.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

What are your water parameters? ammonia, nitrite, temp, ph, etc.?

 

[Stoty]

i just did a water change today. i do one every friday. its a 20 gallon tank. Been established about 6 months. Ammonia is fine. I dont have a nitrite test kit but i imagine its fine. Its planted and ive never had water problems. The temp is usually about 80-82 this time of year. Right now it is at 79 but that is probably because i just did a water change. Ph is usually at 7.4. A bit high but the fish do fine with it. The inhabitants are:

5 peppered corys (as of now)
4 gold barbs
9 neons
2 swortails
2 otos
1 mystery snail


banana plants
creeping charlie
ancharis
java moss


I had another cory pass on me a few months ago. He had a bad swim bladder. Other than that everything has been fine. All of these fish have lived together for several months. The only new addition were the ottos. Had them about 2 weeks now and are fine. I know a bit overstocked but i keep up with things.

 

[Tizer]

when you say ammonia is fine, what does the test kit show?

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Temperature could be a factor in this, as Peppered Corydoras prefer the cooler end of the scale for cories, around 22C (71/72F).

Besides the high metabolic rate issues, the oxygen levels in the tank will be lower at your current temp, which might be then causing the corydoras to ingest air regularly from above the water level.

How much water surface rippling does your setup currently have?

 

[Harlequins]

Temperature does play a part,has corys can't handle to high a temperature,22-25 degrees is the most before its uncomfortable for them.

Has mentioned,whats your exact ammonia reading?,and you really need a test for nitrite also,you cant assume its fine unless you test it...

 

[Stoty]

i took a water sample to the LFS and they tested everything for me. I dont remember the exact readings but they were all in the safe zone. The only thing i can think is temp. Last weeked i lost the gasping cory and it looks like another is on his way out. This sucks. How do i cool down an aquarium? If it isn't the temp i am really stumped.

 

[This Old Spouse]

"Safe zone?" The only safe zone for ammonia and nitrite is 0, so please get the water tested again and write down what the actual numbers are so we're better able to help you. I think the temp is a factor and the only good way I can see to lower the temp (if you don't have a heater to turn down) is to do water changes with cooler water than is in the tank. You can also freeze a bag of water and put it in the tank to melt (be sure to keep the bag sealed).

 

[Stoty]

zero and zero

 

[Stoty]

i might just give the rest to a pet shop. I dont want them to die if they dont have to. This is horrible. I have no idea what else to do. These corys are going one at a time. It starts with one cory hanging out at the top breathing lots of air. Then he eventually becomes lethargic and dark in color, and then dies. I just lost one today and have another gasping for air at the top. Could this be a virus? Why is it happening only one cory at a time instead of more than one having problems at once? I dont get it. This is horrible. The corys are the most interesting fish in the tank. Are there any cories that can tolerate higher temps? I have access to albinos, emerald, trili, and some sort of half trili half panda looking corys.

 

[Stoty]

it has been hot all summer and i have had no problems with any fish until i introduced 2 ottos about a month ago. They are fine and i did not put any of the water they were in into my tank.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Did you quarantine the ottos before introducing them into your tank?

 

[Stoty]

nope. i floated the bag and netted them into my tank.

 

[Stoty]

well. i am going to try the ice bag. If another one croaks on me im taking them back, which will make my tank dull.

 

[This Old Spouse]

I don't know that the LFS would take them back if they're dying. How long after you got them did they start dying?