Peppered Corydoras

[JimmyD24]

I am in a very strange situation. I have got two peppered corydoras one with only one eye and she is a female. The other one is a male who is very energetic and is always looking for food. But she just sits in the one spot doing nothing and occasionally move but won't look for food while she does. I am worried if she doesn't move she will starve. Oh and the eye was not there from the beginning and only relished this when I got home. Any suggestions would be helpful.

 

[Lunar Jetman]

Firstly, I'd not have just two corys. They would be better in a shoal of at least 5. What other fish do you have in the tank? What size is the tank and how long has it been set up? How long did you cycle for?

And what are your water stats?

 

[JimmyD24]

I keep them with a couple of white clouds and a baby rosy barb and a 5 year old paradise who doesn't really move because he is too old. The tank is thirty litres. It has been setup for just about a week and cycled for two weeks. Can't do water stats live a lot in country Victoria no pet ships or aquariums will have to get test kit next time at Grandmas.

Sorry bad auto correct I didn't mean pet ships I ment pet shops and country Victoria is in Australia. Whoops.

 

[JimmyD24]

Firstly, I'd not have just two corys. They would be better in a shoal of at least 5. What other fish do you have in the tank? What size is the tank and how long has it been set up? How long did you cycle for?And what are your water stats?

Sorry still getting used to the forum thing hoped it would add to the other bit

 

[frapadoodle]

Question how can it be cycled for a week longer than it was set up?
Anyway sorry to say it sounds like it is not cycled. I reccomend daily 50% waterchanges.

 

[Brianandrews1951]

I wouldn't be too concerned about your cory having just one eye. They forage for food largely by smell, so she should be fine. We don't always see our corys feeding as they will also forage at night. If you see your fish lose condition, (getting thinner) that will be more of a worry. Just watch for that. (Hopefully there is no other problem, such as an infection in the eye. I would expect not, as it sounds as if it is an old loss.)
 
Also, five or more would make a nice group, but this is not essential. Two will be just fine, unless of course you would prefer more. My guess is that there are far more ones and twos of corys in tanks around the world than there are bigger groups. It would be nice to meet all these preferences of fish, but it is just not possible. Better to meet those preferences (or requirements) where they are really necessary, with more difficult fish. This is one of the (many) things that is so good about corys - they are so easy going in so many ways. Beautiful aquarium fish! 

 

[JimmyD24]

Question how can it be cycled for a week longer than it was set up?
Anyway sorry to say it sounds like it is not cycled. I reccomend daily 50% waterchanges.

I ment cycled it for 2 weeks. And I have had the fish in for a week. The corydora seems all right now. Doing some laps and eating off the bottom. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Lunar Jetman]

Question how can it be cycled for a week longer than it was set up?
Anyway sorry to say it sounds like it is not cycled. I reccomend daily 50% waterchanges.

I ment cycled it for 2 weeks. And I have had the fish in for a week. The corydora seems all right now. Doing some laps and eating off the bottom. Thanks for the advice.

 
I think what the frapster is getting at is that you can't possibly be cycled in that short space of time, especially if you have no test kits to measure your water. Just because fish seem fine at the moment doesn't mean they're not getting high levels of Ammonia or Nitrite that could end up killing them.

To be safe I'd change up to 50% of the water daily as advised and then take a look here, paying particular attention to the cycle process and how it works. Do you plan to get hold of a test kit? It might be worth your while.

 

[JimmyD24]

I wouldn't be too concerned about your cory having just one eye. They forage for food largely by smell, so she should be fine. We don't always see our corys feeding as they will also forage at night. If you see your fish lose condition, (getting thinner) that will be more of a worry. Just watch for that. (Hopefully there is no other problem, such as an infection in the eye. I would expect not, as it sounds as if it is an old loss.)
 
Also, five or more would make a nice group, but this is not essential. Two will be just fine, unless of course you would prefer more. My guess is that there are far more ones and twos of corys in tanks around the world than there are bigger groups. It would be nice to meet all these preferences of fish, but it is just not possible. Better to meet those preferences (or requirements) where they are really necessary, with more difficult fish. This is one of the (many) things that is so good about corys - they are so easy going in so many ways. Beautiful aquarium fish! 

Will start feeding at night. Do you use pellets or let them eat the stuff off the bottom? I live not near a pet shop but next time I will try and get one more because I think they have bronze corydoras at the one I normally go to. Really like the corydoras always find myself watching them in the tank. Thanks for the help the corydora that wasn't moving is starting to move a lot more. Good to know that her eye problem won't be too bad seems to be healed no dangly fleshy bits.

 

[JimmyD24]

Just added some gravel from one of my other fish tanks. Read that that carries all the bacteria and stuff you want. With the test kit just had a look at how much it costs, to expensive, I'm 14 can't have a job and literally have $11 at the moment.

 

[Brianandrews1951]

With other fish around it's not always easy to get food to corys on the bottom at the time of feeding. Corys will scavenge, but it's always nice to ensure they get some good food too, especially if you feed conservatively. Although it's normally not necessary, as they seem to manage very well without too much attention as a rule, if you put a few (sinking) pellets in every second day or so, after dark, that should ensure they get some. (Not more than they can easily consume on their own of course.) Once the pellets soften, the corys will be able to eat them, no problem. If you let the pellets fall where they will be visible, you can check in the morning to make sure they have been eaten. (Not good to have uneaten food around, but depending what other fish you have, probably someone else will help out in that department the following day!) The corys themselves will scout all over at some stage.
 
Again, if your corys stay healthy and robust, which they most likely will, there will be no need for this special attention, but if you are concerned this is one way to go. 

 

[Lunar Jetman]

Just added some gravel from one of my other fish tanks. Read that that carries all the bacteria and stuff you want. With the test kit just had a look at how much it costs, to expensive, I'm 14 can't have a job and literally have $11 at the moment.

The bacteria you want is in the filter.