Pearl Being Bossy!

[miniman]

Haas anyone esle kept a pearl with corys?

My pearl keeps chasing the corys around the tank and Im a little worried that it may cause them stress. It only seems to be at feeding time - is this just some hierarchical behaviour?

They dont seem that fazed by it, most of them tend to feed at night or late eveing anyway but as they are getting more adventurous and coming out at feeding time in the day, pearl tends to chase them back in again - they norally re-appear quite quickly so i'm not sure if are really that bothered!


ps - its one on four - I keep trying to tell them to work as a team and chase him back but they dont seem to listen!

 

[Biulu]

Haas anyone esle kept a pearl with corys?

My pearl keeps chasing the corys around the tank and Im a little worried that it may cause them stress. It only seems to be at feeding time - is this just some hierarchical behaviour?

Hi Miniman, I am keeping 2 adult pearls with 3 cories in my tank and no problems at all. The pearls do not even bother to look at them! What I do notice is that my pearls chase other fish when I turn off the pump, which is around feeding time, but as soon as I put the pump back on, it stops.

 

[miniman]

Thank for the reply.

I'm getting a bit worried about mine. Last night he started chasing the cardinals too! He is fine all day untill feeding time! He eats his food hppily but then when finished he goes looking for more food, then wo betide the cory rummaging at the bottom! This lasts for about 30-60 mins after.

Perhaps I should feed him just before nights out as after dark he a big wuss!

 

[sylvia]

You should first try feeding smaller portions several times a day and including sinking catfish pellets, as well as floating flakes etc, at each feeding - that way the catfish and pearl won't be competing directly most of the time.

Also, how big is your tank?

The behaviour isn't hierarchical - it's just the pearl wanting all the food to himself

 

[miniman]

Thanks for the reply, my tank is 20gal.

I have been trying to get the cory's to be more active in the day by feeding all the fish at the same time, so for exmaple sinking pellet for the corys and flakes for the peal and cardinals. I had thought about trying to do two feeds a day to take the emphasis away from eating in that one sitting but I just dont think I can really do it with shift patterns.

However I have had some success today - I think Pearl might just have a real taste for the sinking pellets! I fed flake food and pearl and the cards were tucking in. I dint however put in any sinking pellets... strangely enough the corys are out and about when usually they are not, hopefully they are growing in confidence!

SO Pearl had some flakes but then headed south, he literally combed the floor every inch like he was looking for something! The corys were playing and although they got out his way as he came past there was no chasing!

So i think now I will feed the corys after lights out which they like and feed pearl on the top surface only, this way he wont think the corys are competing. Not much I can do with blood worm which goes everywhere - but it looks like I have found piece once again!