Stinging Corydoras?

[FireDancer7905]

:eek3: I picked up a few new Metae Cories (common name: Bandits) this evening. When the guy was netting them, he said, "Be careful working in a tank with these guys - they sting!" Ok, I've had cories for a few years now, and have never seen, read of, or been stung by a cory. Is this info true?

[trashion]

He could just be referring to the spines on their dorsal fin. I've heard they can really hurt when you get poked with them.

[svf]

I am sure that trashion is correct. They hurt if you get poked with them. That is why catfish are always double bagged at the lfs.

[Lupin]

Their dorsal and pectoral fins have spines.:)

[Inka4040]

There's an article in a recent TFH about this. I'll have to check which one, but i think cories are actually capable of stinging somewhat. I can't remember if it had something to do with irritants in the mucous or actual envenomation however.

[tanker]

I have been stung by corys (my fault for being stupid), they hurt and swell a little but did not need to go to see a doctor. When you net corys they spread their fins and you must work to free them, that is when I got stung--but have never been stung while hands in the tank. Corys do not stab at you with fins.

[FireDancer7905]

Gotcha! Spines like plecos, some swelling if 'stuck good,' can be avoided by being careful with the net. Thanks!

[blissskr]

I got stung by a cory and it hurt kinda like a bee sting, it was stuck in the tube part of the filter intake the very end part and I couldnt get him out because he wouldnt close his fins. Anyways I got stung then had to cut his side spines off with nail clippers to get him out, but it worked and he's still around. I also bought two spotted corys yesterday and they put two cherry barbs I got in the bag with them when I got home less then 15 min later the barbs were dead corys were fine I think they got spined on the way home

[white-worms]

He could just be referring to the spines on their dorsal fin. I've heard they can really hurt when you get poked with them.

Most likely, A few weeks ago I saw what looked like a massive cory in the local aquatic shop. I bought the fish and guy at the time said. "Well it not accually a cory (even though it did look like a bog standard cory), common species. Well, I was try to move it from one tank to another when I got a new 6ft tank. And I could not get it out the net for ages. It had nasty spines in it's gills and dorsol fin. Anyway, to cut a long story short. I took it back and give it them back for free.

As I keep discus and had no idea this huge cory had such spines as this, the thing was lethal.