How Many Corydoras In A 30 Gal

[Liv15]

30 gal / 3 ft tank. Already have sand substrate. Was thinking about 6 cories

 

[ShinySideUp]

Six cory's? Easy, no problem, especially with the sand; they love that. If you only want cory's you could go to twelve in a tank that size. They tend to mooch about rather than charge around like loonies so as long as there are things to mooch around in they will be happy.

 

[Liv15]

Cool, I will also have a few platys and although they apparently prefer harder water to cories, there are loads of people who have kept them successfully together so it shouldn't be a problem I hope!

 

[Akasha72]

hi, I'm agreeing with Shinysideup, you could fit a dozen in really. I just wanted to add (in case you didn't know) that cories like to be kept in a species group and some cories get bigger than others. Peppered cories tend to get larger, the females especially. Where-as panda cories stay quite small in comparison. So depending on what types you prefer will depend on how many you can fit in.
 
I'd advise doing some research to decide which type of cories you like and what size they get to etc. If you decide on two types then two groups of 6 will be perfect.
 
I've kept platies with cories and they were fine together

 

[Lillefishy]

Depending on what other stock is in there then 12 corys would be good.
You could have one large group of one species, or two groups of 6
Temperature will have a factor in the cory species you choose, peppered & pandas for instance prefer cool temperature whilst sterbai prefer it warmer.

 

[Byron]

I agree with all that's been posted here.  Corys fare better the more there are, and I have found that this includes the species and combining species.  I always try to get five or six minimum of a species; sometimes for various reasons this is not possible, but that is my goal.  Beyond that, I keep mixed species in both of my tanks with corys, so the total number can be anywhere from 12 up to 40 or more, depending.  In my 20 years of doing this, I have seen some species that prefer to stay relatively close together, and others that are very rarely in the same area of the 4 or 5-foot tank.  There is certainly "safety in numbers" and that means less stress and healthier corys.
 
In your 3-foot tank, I would have 10-15 corys minimum; one species, two species, even three.  The temperature issue is important, but with platy and cory you can be in the 75-77F range.  Water parameters were also mentioned, and provided the extremes are not present you should be OK.  Platy being livebearers will not be healthy in very soft and acidic water, and most corys will not do well in very hard water, and these are the extremes.
 
Byron.

 

[Liv15]

Great advice everyone thanks. I was thinking of a mixed group of peppered, bronze, and albino cories? These are the types that are in my LFS and I especially like the peppered but also want a variety to make it interesting.

 

[Akasha72]

great choices 5 or 6 of each should be fine

 

[Liv15]

Ahh can't wait! Gonna have to wait though cause my tank's only been running for a week so I'm not gonna risk it, especially for something as cute as cories! Will probably wait a couple months

 

[Akasha72]

cories are not good with water quality issues. Panda's are especially sensitive to bad water. Make sure your tank is fully cycled before adding any fish

 

[Liv15]

cories are not good with water quality issues. Panda's are especially sensitive to bad water. Make sure your tank is fully cycled before adding any fish

Yeah will do when the time comes, how many do you think I should add at once? I don't want to overload the tank but I don't want the cories to be lonely for too long

 

[Akasha72]

I'd add them in their species groups so if your getting 5 of each then add 5 of the first species and then add 5 of the next species and then the final 5 ... that way your filter gets chance to get up to speed. Keep an eye on the water stats for a few days after adding all new fish just to be sure

 

[Liv15]

I'd add them in their species groups so if your getting 5 of each then add 5 of the first species and then add 5 of the next species and then the final 5 ... that way your filter gets chance to get up to speed. Keep an eye on the water stats for a few days after adding all new fish just to be sure

Thanks, also how much time do you think I should leave between adding fish? Like should I add a group of 5 and then wait a week? Or 2 weeks? Before adding the next group?

 

[Akasha72]

sorry, I should have said that above. I'd give it at least 2 weeks. Let the first bunch settle in, make sure you don't stress your filter and then if all is stable then add the next five (or 6 if that's what your going with)

 

[Byron]

I agree with Akasha to add the entire species group together, and after the biology is established; corys settle much better the more there are in the group, and once water stability is achieved. I would howevedr not wait so long between adding fish.  A few days, a week at most, if all you are adding is five or six corys a time.
 
But that brings me to another thing, plants.  Are there live plants in this tank?  With some fast-growing plants, especially surface plants, you are even better.
 
Byron.