My First Cory's - Need Opinions

[mandi]

What should I get for my first corys?

They're going to be in a 20 gallon long tank (when its finished cycling) along with my platies.

I really like the emerald ones I saw at the LFS but they looked HUGE. I also really like panda corys but haven't seen any of them locally. The only ones I am not too fond of are the albino ones (for some reason they give me the creeps haha).

So I'd like opinions -- what would be a good type to start with (feel free to suggest anything because I'm new to corys totally and haven't seen too many different types yet) and how many should I get?

 

[Phantom Thief]

How many platies are you going to have?

I really like the normal Bronze Cories, or the Sterbai if you can get your hands on them. With cories, the more you get, the better , but at least 3, preferably 6>

P.T.

 

[mandi]

I have 2 red wag platies that will be going in the tank as soon as its cycled. I have 11 fry (some twinbar, some red wag) in another tank and I was thinking about moving them into the 20 so they can grow in a bigger environment. Ultimately, I want to keep about 4 or 5 full-grown platies (and probably misc. fry every so often LOL though I'm thinking about getting rid of all my males and just keeping females so I don't have that problem any more)

 

[Phantom Thief]

If 4-5 platies, you could easily keep 6 bronze cories

P.T.

 

[parker313]

Any of the cories that you find are going to be a good choice. The albino is probably the albino of the bronze...

I haven't seen sterbai at my lfs before, but they most frequently have the peppered cories and trilineatus. Just a couple weeks ago, they finally got some pandas.

If you have a real, local fish store, the owner may be willing to order some fish for you. If that's the case - you could get your pandas They really are cute.

Just seeing pics of them and even seeing them in the store, I didn't quite get all the "fuss" about them, but seeing them at home in the right setup, I see it now

Another good one is leucomelas - the blackfin cory. They look similar to the trilineatus.

 

[kenneth_kpe]

This morning i went to my LFS and saw some skunk cory's and they were cute but super expensive !! (450Php each around 8 dollars a piece ) are they really that rare but they look really nice

 

[clutterydrawer]

Heya

A good starter cory would be Bronze or Peppered. These are relatively hardy, look nice and are entertaining. My personal favourites are Pandas but they are a bit more delicate and very sinsitive to high temperatures so you'd need to keep your tank around 24C max.

 

[aquanut]

Mandi,
I agree that bronze cories would be a Great first cory. The skunks ,Paleatus (peppered), and Panda cories are beautiful but the bronze cories (Cory Aeneus) are probably the hardiest ones I've ever kept. They are very tolerant of a wide range of water parameters and if kept in sufficient number (at least four) are extremely active and very entertaining to watch.
Whichever Cories you decide on just remember that they wil be healthier and happier when kept in larger numbers. In the wild Cories can be found in shoals of hundreds and up so keeping just a couple of individuals in a tank will cause them a great amount of stress. The higher number it is practical for you to keep the more natural their behavior will be. While they can and do survive in very small numbers or even alone in tanks they invariably become shy and "run for cover" every time you come near the tank. Hope this helps.

Aquanut

 

[Inchworm]

Hi mandi

There are few readily available corys which would not be good to start with. Most are comfortable in the same temperature range and water conditions that your platties require.

I like to recommend bronze or albino C. aeneus for a beginner because they are very outgoing and friendly. While they are not the most beautiful, I cannot think of one that compares to them for personality.

C. paleatus (peppered cory) is another easy to find cory that would be good. So would C. julii, C. trilineatus, and C. sterbai.

They are all schooling fish and you should have at least 3, but more is better for them. They also need a little cave or some low growing plants so they can get into the shade when they want to.

If you are thinking that you might want to try your hand at breeding them, the bronze or peppered corys are good ones to start with. They are easy and often need no incentive other than a good water change to get them going.

Whichever ones you decide on, I'm sure you will enjoy them.

 

[tear-scar]

Parker313-- your LFs always have triliniatus but rarely have pandas?

That's odd because mine is the reverse.

We ALWAYS have pandas around, and rarely have triliniatus. LFs only have them when local breeders finish raising a batch. Recently found some true juliis too; going to get some aldofois soon too . . . heh heh

 

[parker313]

Parker313-- your LFs always have triliniatus but rarely have pandas?

That's odd because mine is the reverse.

We ALWAYS have pandas around, and rarely have triliniatus. LFs only have them when local breeders finish raising a batch. Recently found some true juliis too; going to get some aldofois soon too . . . heh heh

Yup! Although right now they only have bronze cories but nothing else - well regular bronze and albino aeneus.

They also have skunk cories often too. When I was in last week, they were talking about putting in a big cory order in the next couple of weeks

Think I can cram more cories in my tank?...

 

[clutterydrawer]

I think someone should give me some of those surplus pandas i really want some but can only find more common ones like aeneus and trilineatus...

 

[kevin007]

i would reccomend sterbais...only with NO PLATTIES..they are the sneeky type who goes up to the cories and hips their fin..this is from EXPERIENCE..not reaserch..i find experience more reliable.....

 

[tear-scar]

I can't believe trilineatus are so common for u peoplez.

I can understand you guys like the tiny lil' pandas; but I always thought the spotted species were more attractive/elegant. Whatever; props for the sterbais (though I'm with Inch on aenus as better for beginners) and, can't wait to buy my adolfois!!

 

[parker313]

I can't believe trilineatus are so common for u peoplez.

I can understand you guys like the tiny lil' pandas; but I always thought the spotted species were more attractive/elegant.

I agree and didn't quite "get" the thing with the pandas til I got them. They're just so cute!

I even have a one eyed trilineatus! I'd seen it at the lfs when I got a couple others and made sure *not* to get that one. But then, I saw him still there like 3wks later so I figured he was pretty darn hardy after all! Sure enough, he's the hardest little worker I've got in there, other than my albino!