Cory Wars!

[Ruskull]

I was just checking on my 20 gallon sand tank & I noticed 2 of my 3 Corys were fighting! Yes, that's right, they were fighting. They are Threelined, False Julii Corys and the 2 were swimmming side by side leaning in toward each other, ramming into themselves.

Is that normal? I thought these guys were supposed to be the most peaceful fish in the tank? Is this some mating ritual? Is one just establishing dominance? The one that's not involved is actually the largest one..............maybe a female? How do you sex these things anyway?

Any help appreciated................

Oh, and yes I realize they're supposed to be kept in groups of at least 6, but PetCo didn't have anymore, I bought the 3 they did have. I'm planning to add maybe 3 Pandas or 3 Sterbai to the mix when I see them available at any of the local Fish Stores.

 

[Akasha72]

were they kind of wrapping themselves around each other? and were they both the same breed of cory? if so it could be their mating thing ... the first time I saw my bronze pair doing that I thought they were fighting but they were mating.

They are incredibly peaceful fish although mine can get a bit insistant at feeding time - especially if there's a tubiflex block on offer - then they will barge the other fish out of the way to get to it.

Keep your eyes open for eggs. I understand they lay them pretty much anywhere. Never seen any in my tank but I have seen just one cory fry so they are there somewhere!

 

[soybean]

Mating behaviour. Females often larger than males, or at least more egg shaped when viewed from above.

Nothing to worry about.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Have a good look to see if the "fights" are only involving males? Some male Corydoras get shocking nasty with each other (as in fatal injuries), using the thicker first pelvic ray as a scythe!

 

[Harlequins]

I've never known corys to fight........

It very much sounds like they're breeding,they will swim side by side,quivering,chasing each other around
The larger being the female,smaller slim line being the males.
Keep an eye out for eggs, the normally hide them well under plants is usually the tri's hiding places.

Good luck,let us know if you find any eggs

 

[Ruskull]

Thanks for the replies!

This is the best way I can describe it:

I have (3) Trilineus Corys and it was only happening with two of them. They were swimming along side each other tilting so that their dorsal fins would touch and they were bumping each other a bit violently IMO. It looked like they were "buzzing" with each one trying to push the other away. One of them is slightly more yellow in base color where the other two have more of a grayish silver base color, but both appear to be the same size & the patterns on them show me that they are both Threelined Corys. The largest one was not involved.

It seemed to me that they were fighting at first but now it seems they might have been trying to mate. Either that or maybe they were two males fighting over the female? I don't see any eggs & the tank is fairly barren so I'd think you'd see some somewhere........

Now everything has returned to normal & it's their nightime so I guess we'll see what happens when the lights go on.

Have a good look to see if the "fights" are only involving males? Some male Corydoras get shocking nasty with each other (as in fatal injuries), using the thicker first pelvic ray as a scythe!

I can't tell the males & females apart

 

[Fishy friend2]

males are a bit slimmer than females

 

[Ruskull]

males are a bit slimmer than females

Sounds like a subjective way to determine their sex. Just like saying the larger ones, since they could be just a bit older........

Is it okay to add (3) Pandas to the mix? False Juliis aren't really ever available locally & I think the difference would add a little more diversity to the tank.

 

[Akasha72]

it's fine to add another breed of cory if you want to. I have a pair of bronze and 3 peppered and I'd like to add a pair of panda's if I could. They should be kept in groups where possible but I find my bronze and peppered all interact with each other despite the different 'types'.

 

[KRamgren89]

my sterbi and bronze all hang together all day too