Corydoras Julii Tank Mates?

[Vibora]

I have a 14 gallon with two Corydoras Julii and only those two. Once they are settled in happilly, I'd like to add more fish. Obviously, the two Corys need shoal mates as well as other types of fish. Bare in mind, my tank is a bit warm at 78F. I'll number off my questions, since it seems to be easier for me to understand answers that way for whatever bizarre reason.
 
1. I need shoal mates for my cats. What kind of Corys will be about the same size with the same care requirements that will school with them?
 
2. How big should the shoal be?
 
3.I'm pretty much dead set on getting a Zebra Nerite snail to be the algae cleaner? Would this work out well?
 
4. Are top feeders or middle feeders more important to a healthy tank?
 
5. Any suggestions for my mid or top?

 

[frapadoodle]

1. More Juli's
2. 5 or 6
3. Should be fine
4. No. Tank health is more determined by maintence. Lots of folks have cory only tanks. At present my 4 footer just has cories. Although mid and top dwellers add more action and intrest.
5. Plenty of variety in tetras and rasboras. And perhaps a smaller gourami as a centerpiece.

 

[greenmumma141]

I agree with Frapadoodle. I would only add more of the species of cories that you already have.  A proper shoal is 5-6 of the same species. You'll get much more interesting behavior from them and they'll be much more happy/healthy.  I would stick with 5, as 14 gallons is not a very big tank.

 

[frapadoodle]

To clarify, cories will interact, but do prefer thier own species.
I have bronze and peppered. They play together, but at feeding time or rest time it's normally two seperate groups.
And yes, 14gal. Is a lttle small.
Also jealous, never see juli's round here.

 

[greenmumma141]

I'm a bit on the cynical side and always assume they're false julii's. Petsmart and Petco sell them as "juliis" but we know they're not.  

 

[Vibora]

Thank you, everybody.

I'm a bit on the cynical side and always assume they're false julii's. Petsmart and Petco sell them as "juliis" but we know they're not.  

I didn't buy from a chain store, but my very respected LFS. I have a picture though.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

You almost NEVER find true julli's in the local Petsmart/Petco... you might be able to find them from a local dealer, but it would be fairly rare, and more than likely only wild caught specimens.
 
So, with that said, whether they are julli's or false jullis doesn't matter much in the end - a proper size shoal of 5-6 individuals would nearly fully stock your 14 gallon tank.  Adding another shoal of fish to that tank will just overstock you.
 
If anything, I'd suggest you add a pair or trio of honey gourami - or a single betta and call it 'fully stocked' - once you boost the number of the cories.
 
And please stick to a single species of cories if you are under the proper minimum shoal number. 

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

14 US gallons (53l) is far too small for a group of Corydoras unless they are pygmeus, hastatus or habrosus.
 
Are you sure you have Corydoras julii (a tropical catfish) and not Corydoras trilineatus (a temperate catfish)?
 
6 of either will be ~30cm of adult fish and would fully stock a 54l tank, but these catfish need more space to move around in on the tank floor (the minture species sped a lot of time midwater). A 75x30cm footprint should be the absolute minimum, ideally longer, allowing stocking room for a 10+ group and some upper water dithers.

 

[greenmumma141]

Thank you, everybody.

I'm a bit on the cynical side and always assume they're false julii's. Petsmart and Petco sell them as "juliis" but we know they're not.  

I didn't buy from a chain store, but my very respected LFS. I have a picture though.

 
Hmmm... beautiful cory  Not a julii, but I don't think it's a false julii either....  Geeze, after reading my above comment, I realized it sounded a bit rude I really didn't mean it the way it came out! 

 

[Vibora]

Hmmm... beautiful cory

 Not a julii, but I don't think it's a false julii either....  Geeze, after reading my above comment, I realized it sounded a bit rude

I really didn't mean it the way it came out! 
 

That's fine. I didn't take it as rude. I'm not too sure just what they are, but they seem happy. Wouli more pictures help?

 

[Vibora]

Could they be Corydoras acrensis?

 

[greenmumma141]

Hmmm, maybe.  More pictures always help

I got it!!! I'm thinking it's a sodalis http/www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=120

 

[Shaddex]

Defiantly not a Julii or False Julie, as they both have a central lateral line of spots.
Wouldn't say it was a Corydoras acrensis either as they have spots rather than yours which has wobbly lines.
Can you get a better picture ?

 

[Vibora]

I'll grab a better picture, but the LSF said they were reticulated corys. Seems right.

 

[greenmumma141]

juliis and false juliis have a black tip on their dorsal fins. And they have lines down their sides, yours is just reticulated all over. I still say sodalis. Which are still awesome little cories