Corys For A Betta Sorority

[Imber]

I'm setting up a 29g betta sorority that'll have 8-9 girls. It'll be a live plant/sand/slate rock set up. I've always thought corys were adorable and I think they would go well with this tank. I'd like probably 5 or so of mild temperment, smallish ones I think so what types would you guys recommend?

Also, I always quarantine my fish and usually use salt to help get rid of any nasties, but I've heard that these guys are salt sensitive so what would you guys recommend? I'm really worried about introducing parasites into a tank so I've taken special precautions to sterilize plants and quarantine the bettas, etc., but I don't know what to do for corys. Thanks much!

Oh and also.... I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this one, but would it be ok to introduce the corys after the bettas have been in the tank for a while or will this end in territorial disputes?

 

[Bozza]

I think u may have abit of trouble with adding corys. I have a female betta in a community tank and she chases any new fish around the tank for the first few weeks. Maybe if u had alot of fish. If u have more then 1 betta and a add a few corys u will run into trouble. Hope any of that helps

 

[bUcky]

OK, i have many betta, female, male, unknown...lol

they dont bother corys at all. infact the corrys bother them more.

I have bronze corys and the smaller black stripe ones also and still they are ok in my betta tanks.

even if a betta did want tto pick a fight, i dont think it could hurt the cory, have you ever held a cory, they have body armor and spikes on there fins, trust me i know they hurt.

so i think you will be fine, just watch the amount of females for the size of your tank, lots of hiding spots and plants.

 

[jollysue]

Be sure to keep an eye on the tank long term. It is always good to watch a Betta tank anyway; never know when someone will get in trouble. I had a Betta with 6 Brochis splendens for quite awhile--6 months? He was fine, then suddenly he decided to take to chasing the Brochis. They got terrorized and stayed under their log even after I took him out. Same thing happened in the panda tank. These were PK males, but Betta behavior can turn quickly--especially as the Betta mature, I think. Right now I have just restarted my sorority tank. I have 3 ADFs and 3 Botia straita in the tank. First morning and the girls were hunting ADFs. The girls are only 1/2" compared to the ADF's inch.

As I said, watch the tank. The girls will nip each other and need to be watched for finrot. Betta can have salt all the time in their water. It helps them with their oft infirmities, but the cories will absorb long term salt, and it will damage them.

Everything depends on the Betta in question. They are full of individualities, and we love them for it. But that means they are unpredictable. It doesn't take much to cause cories to hide.

 

[DarkEntity]

When you add the Corys just move some stuff in the tank around aswell, that way the females will need to setup territories all over again. They will be so busy doing that by the time they notice the Cory they will ignore them. Having said that i just put Cory's in both my tanks without moving anything and there wasnt a problem.

 

[puppyduck]

Our male betta Steve gets angry at new fish too. But the only fish he leaves alone are the corys. Maybe because his territory is the top and middle water and the corys stick to the bottom. Not sure about lady bettas though.