Corydoras Substrate?

[Noahsfish]

Hey guys, I just ordered some tahitan moon sand for my 20 gallon with sterbai cories in it. Seems like theres lots of controversy over it...I was wondereing if I should just stick with my gravel and use the sand for a different aquarium? The gravel I have is pretty large and rough though.

 

[leighton_87]

Someone on another forum I saw (can't link as against forum rules) e-mailed the manufacturers and were told that while lots of people use it with their cories and have no problems there are substrates more suited to cories.

If the manufacturers are saying that then I would stay well away to be honest.

 

[BerryAttack]

i use play sand works good, no complains.
 
for cories use sand its better for them than gravel. (depends on how small or large) they seem to be happier with sand because they have those little whiskers on them and with gravel could be damaged... and its always way more fun to see them sift around.

 

[This Old Spouse]

We've gone around and around this discussion on TFF for ages. What I got out of it was that cory will do well on many substrates, but it's best to stay away from anything sharp that could cause damage to their barbels. I think you're fine.

 

[snazy]

If you want to be on the safe side, don't use the tahitian moon sand in a cory tank. It's sharp. They won't enjoy it the minimum, so it isn't beneficial for corys. It can cause possible cuts and bruises that can open the door for diseases in the right conditions as well.  But sharp large gravel is also not good.
A minor open cut, a bit of stress from something else like too much noise, or some skipped maintenance, or minor ammonia from an innocent thing like an overcleaned filter,  and it can get bad.

 

[Noahsfish]

That's what I'm saying snazy, I know the tahitan moon sand isn't the best, but I'm guessing it's better then my gravel...I mean, it can't be razor sharp..right?

 

[snazy]

That's what I'm saying snazy, I know the tahitan moon sand isn't the best, but I'm guessing it's better then my gravel...I mean, it can't be razor sharp..right?

 
Well see when you get it I guess. Try it between your fingers and you'll feel how it is. A manufacturer would recommend their product for corys unless they really knew it isn't suitable

  The fish could learn to avoid it, but that's like you tryint to avoid eating from your dish because someone put shiny nails in it to make it pretty.  You won't necessarily get hurt, and the more you eat from it, the more you'll learn how to avoid the nails but that isn't the point?