Shy Sterbais

[SamLovesCorys]

I have 2 Sterbai Cories and 2 Three-line cories, which I added to my tank yesterday. The three-lines are out and about, while the sterbais are very shy. When I came back home today they were all out, but when they saw me the sterbais bolted for cover. I know I should have brought a group of one species, but they only had 2 sterbais, so I got a group of 4 with 2 three-lines. Would the easiest way to get the sterbais more confident be getting them more same species pals? By the way, the tank is a heavily planted 65 litre, with part sand and part gravel substrate, if this is relevant.

Any ideas?

Thanks, Sam

 

[This Old Spouse]

I think you answered your own question, but yes, they will be much more comfortable in a larger shoal. They come from shoals of thousands, so imagine how freaky to be put in a tank with just a couple of you and also strangers! The trilineatus need to be in a bigger group as well. Ask your LFS to order up some for you.

Also, even though cory can survive with gravel, they're so much happier with just sand.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

My 10 Sterbai were very shy in the 620T, until the day I moved them in with my 11 Brochis splendens in the Rio240, these bigger peaceful catfish acted as perfect "dithers."

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Also, they will start to recognise you after a couple of days and stop taking off whenever you approach the tank.

 

[SamLovesCorys]

Also, they will start to recognise you after a couple of days and stop taking off whenever you approach the tank.

Yeah I think this has started to happen, they've both been milling around happily for the last couple of hours! Spoke too soon! I will get a couple more of both species sometime in the future though.

 

[dan112211]

more sterbais is the answer, at very least 4 but really at least 6