I’ve not had good luck with Cory’s over the years, tried them in many tank types…

[Magnum Man28 142]

I have 2 tanks that I set up with sand, with the intention of having Cory’s… both of those tanks have evolved over the years into something else, when the Cory’s didn’t pan out in them…I’ve not tried “every” variety, but have tried 5-6 of the more common varieties, with really only one long term success, and that is 2 Corydoras sterbai, that have been here for about 4 years, and a couple different tanks, the last couple years they have been in my tetra tank that has a smaller rounded edge, river gravel for substrate… they have gotten big and chunky in this tank, but no sand sifting…

I’m wondering if the sand bottom tanks are just harder to keep in a healthy condition conductive to keeping Corys??? I’d like to try some more again…

I’m thinking about sanding the bottom of my 250 gallon, and was wanting to try a few stingrays… but suspect Cory’s and Ray’s wouldn’t be a good pairing in a tank, even with lots of space???

 

[GaryE27 142]

I'd expect rays to eat corys, and then possibly die from the defensive spines. Cory group fish don't go down without a fight.

I can keep corys alive for long lives, but haven't had much success breeding them. I think I'm turning a corner with that now, with some minor successes. First, I prioritize them. They are the central fish in their tanks now. I have a few cory only tanks, and guess which ones they are doing best in?

I've been looking at something I think is interesting. I have had some completely insane Hoplisoma melini entertaining me for weeks. They're too young to breed yet, but their antics have been as good as it gets. I was receiving new fish and wanted QT space, so I temporarily moved some Hyphessobrycon margitae and beckford's pencils into their tank. The plan is to return it to a cory tank once the new cardinals and metae I received are through QT. But my previously manic and delightful melini have become very quiet corys indeed. The behavioural change is striking.

So the wheels turning in my head suggest this could be a major cause of people not having 'luck' with corys. It may be the bad luck belongs to the catfish, and that they are more sensitive to what tankmates they have than we credit them for. The beckfords and margitae aren't visibly harassing the larger melini, but the Hoplisoma don't look like they are having as much fun as they were before. In every community I have corys in, I see the subdued behaviour. In every single species cory tank, I have a gang of lunatics - I see that with panda, CW 027, C 123 and concolor versus Venezuelan black, napoensis, grantii, now melini and paleatus in communities. I just received Brochis splendens and they're sharing for their QT, so I don't know with them yet.

It's something I've just started to see, since I always kept corys in communities before.

 

[TwoTankAmin22]

I have had corys in tanks for a long time. I think the key is doing them only with other smaller fish. I never met a cory I did not like and they are tru;y entertaining to watch when they are in the right environment. Nothing beats seeing a bunch of them rolloing and tumbling around together as they are working to breed.

I have kept them both on sand and on small rounded gravel. In the wild they are found on a variety of substrates as they travel throughout their territory.

 

[Innesfan26 10]

It must be New York's soft and mildly acidic water because I have found cories to be indestructible and eager to increase their number even in community set-ups. I've never made the slightest effort to cater to them other than what I offer all my fish--good food, moderate temps, and frequent large water changes.

 

[Magnum Man28 142]

one of my favorite memories from them, there was a large group in a 55 gallon tank, with white sand, and I don’t remember if it was morning or night, but everyday there would be fresh “crop circle” patterns in the sand, the tank was RO water, the the species was bronze Long Fin Cory Aeneus, and while I tried to set up the tank, just for them, they were not long lived in that tank either

 

[Innesfan26 10]

bronze Long Fin Cory Aeneus, and while I tried to set up the tank, just for them, they were not long lived in that tank either

Have all the cories you've tried been the man-made variants--long-fin, color morphs, etc? I've only kept wilds and hobbyist-bred from wild. Could that be the difference for you?

 

[Magnum Man28 142]

they hav been about half and half…I had one of the black variety, they were natural ( they lasted a few years ), and my sterbai, were natural… one group of my Aeneus, were albino ( which are quite common )

 

[Uberhoust5 4]

The only issue I had with cories is when I tried to keep them in a tank that had aquarium soil. They did not do well with that substrate, barbel damage started right away.

 

[bgarthe28 45]

I have had, and still do have, three varieties of Corycats. My Pepprred, Panda, and Aneus Cories have done pretty well overall. I think the two things that have helped me the most are having coarse sand/fine gravel substrate with hiding places and being real sure they get their fair share of specific Cory food, not just being a clean up crew. They are a crucial part of all my tanks and are a joy to watch. I’ve had some only live a year and others have lasted 4+ years. Several Aneus and Peppered have lasted through salt and Malachite Green treatments and also higher temps in the discus days.

I’d say…..keep on trying, the rewards are worth the effort.

 

[Naughts27 99]

I have had, and still do have, three varieties of Corycats. My Pepprred, Panda, and Aneus Cories have done pretty well overall. I think the two things that have helped me the most are having coarse sand/fine gravel substrate with hiding places and being real sure they get their fair share of specific Cory food, not just being a clean up crew. They are a crucial part of all my tanks and are a joy to watch. I’ve had some only live a year and others have lasted 4+ years. Several Aneus and Peppered have lasted through salt and Malachite Green treatments and also higher temps in the discus days.

I’d say…..keep on trying, the rewards are worth the effort.

Those lifespans could be pretty short for the species you mentioned. Byron used to say aim for 10-15 years, maybe even 20.

 

[bgarthe28 45]

I hope to keep them that long…… atm, my oldest single one is from 2020 in one of my discus tanks.

 

[WhistlingBadger24 6]

I've never had tremendous luck with cories either, with a couple of exceptions. All of my tanks are community tanks--I like to have several species in a tank--so that might be part of it. But even with pristine water and frequent siphoning off of mulm, almost all of mine end up losing their barbels.

 

[Magnum Man28 142]

one of my old chunky sterbai, ( at front center ) having breakfast with an assortment of tetras…

 

[Magnum Man28 142]

my only 2 cory’s… both long timers, saddled up next to each other this morning… one with barbels, and one without…

 

[Tiara]

Hey! Very interesting topic about the Cory's!
Over the years I've also tried little groups of Cory's (mainly panda), but with zero luck, they didn't last more than few months.
Now, I have noticed few things - for me the biggest problems wes tank size, hiding spots (I've had, but probably they didn't like them) and tank mates. My first try was to keep them in a 70 liter tank (with fine gravel, no sand) with Tetras and Pentazona barbs. None of these fish did harass them, but they were always stressed. Then a friend of mine gave me a male Apisto to care for for a week and ofc poor Cory's couldn't be found after that....
Two years ago I started a 110 liter heavily planted tank with fine gravel + sand in the middle part with Rumnynose, Pentazona barbs and Razboras + Garra panda and 2 panda Cory's and 2 Venezuelas. I've forgot about the Cory's, just was seeing one panda from time to time and nothing else. I thought the other s were dead....until 2 days ago when I bought 4 more from both of the species and guess what? The 4 older corys came out! Now the 2 groups roam freely together.
Sorry for my long post, but my point is that A LOT of plants/woods and smaller tank mates are vital to keep them alive. Then is tank space and lastly the gravel. Atleast in my opinion.