grouping for cories and other catfishes

[Sgooosh]

for cories and otos and loaches and critters like that do you have to put at least 6 of them in the tank? i have a 75gallon

im guessing you can have less in a small tank

---

small side question: how hard is it to keep otos and do cories eat algae off of leaves and glass?

 

[Circus]

Some people would argue that you don't have to put them in schools of 6, but that is what I would think of as the minimum. More is better, usually. If I were doing my 80 or 90 with corycats or a 4" to 6" loach, I would probably get a dozen or more.

My cory cats will graze the biofilm off of my Indian almond leaves occasionally, but they are not algae eaters. They tend to prefer a meatier diet.

When I first got into fish, I made the mistake of getting otos too soon in too small of a tank. Almost all otos are wild caught and have a hard time in captivity since they are reluctant to eat prepared foods. Knowing what I now do, I would not put an oto in a tank less than 8 months old.

 

[jonny-5]

I only have 4 Corys in a 30Gallon.......yes i need a few more.....1 is 5 years old & he was on his own for 3 of them years in a 10Gallon, & on gravel ??
There was nothing else in the tank at all, As his tankmates died after maybe 2 years.
I dont recommend this but i simply lost interest in the hobby & neglected the tank for a while ?
My intention is to get more corys but ive had tank problems so really did not want to add anything else right now.
The group of 4 i have are always out looking for food, They swim in all the areas of the tank

 

[Essjay]

small side question: how hard is it to keep otos and do cories eat algae off of leaves and glass?

Cories are not algae eaters, they will eat some vegetable matter but they also need meaty food and they don't usually eat algae.

Otos are algae eaters, but they only eat certain types of algae.
They are wild caught, and they tend to be kept in tanks with no algae from the time they are caught to when they arrive at the store. Once they reach a certain point of starvation, they can't start eating again and usually die after they reach this point. This is why it is recommended not to buy them till they've been in the store tank for a couple of weeks as by that time, the ones that are going to die will already have done so. And buy the individual otos which have nice rounded tummies (not bloated) as those have been eating.
Many otos will eat nothing but certain types of algae, and if your tank doesn't have these types, or not enough of them for a shoal, they'll die. Some otos will start to eat commercial algae containing food, and if you can get them eating this they'll be OK.

 

[Slaphppy7]

For otos, don't forget blanched or steamed veggies, mine love them....my corys will graze on them, as well

 

[jonny-5]

I forgot to say i also feed the Corys meaty foods as they prefer that.
I have fed algae wafers in the past but you can tell they are not really lovers of that,As it takes them a good while to eat it but if i put Bug bites or shrimp wafers in they will go mad for it

 

[Sgooosh]

Cories are not algae eaters, they will eat some vegetable matter but they also need meaty food and they don't usually eat algae.

Otos are algae eaters, but they only eat certain types of algae.
They are wild caught, and they tend to be kept in tanks with no algae from the time they are caught to when they arrive at the store. Once they reach a certain point of starvation, they can't start eating again and usually die after they reach this point. This is why it is recommended not to buy them till they've been in the store tank for a couple of weeks as by that time, the ones that are going to die will already have done so. And buy the individual otos which have nice rounded tummies (not bloated) as those have been eating.
Many otos will eat nothing but certain types of algae, and if your tank doesn't have these types, or not enough of them for a shoal, they'll die. Some otos will start to eat commercial algae containing food, and if you can get them eating this they'll be OK.

ill get cories and ill feed them algae wafers with some sinking veggies maybe? or cory food

 

[Essjay]

No, feed cories on a meat/fish/shrimp based sinking food. Cories are not vegetarians they are omnivores so they need both veg and 'meat' in their diet. A lot of members say their cories go mad for Fluval Bug Bites.

 

[Slaphppy7]

Hikari Carnivore Pellets are a big hit with my corys...

 

[jonny-5]

Yep Fluval Bug Bites,They go down very well with my Corys & all the Guppys

 

[Sgooosh]

No, feed cories on a meat/fish/shrimp based sinking food. Cories are not vegetarians they are omnivores so they need both veg and 'meat' in their diet. A lot of members say their cories go mad for Fluval Bug Bites.

Yep Fluval Bug Bites,They go down very well with my Corys & all the Guppys

Hikari Carnivore Pellets are a big hit with my corys...

Nice, nice had good experience with top fin color enhangcing food which has lots of fiber and meat in it. Getting fluval sinkers wanna try it out. Already have hikari fancy gupp and sinking spirulina algae

 

[Sgooosh]

hey... one more question is it possible to put different cories together etc 4 bronze albinos and 3 emeralds??

 

[Slaphppy7]

Sure...

 

[jonny-5]

Technically they are the same,So yes

 

[Sgooosh]

Sure...

will they be in a group....