Questions on Corys

[SpockthePuffer]

Well I'm venturing over to the FW section because I'd like to get some corys (or cories... not sure how to spell it) for my 10 gallon tank that currently houses a betta.

I love peoples pictures they have of corys and I think I've read around that they can be kept with a betta... at least I hope they can or that would kind of kill my idea.

Anyways, I went to my LFS and these are the ones that they had:
melanistus
panda
albino
sterbi

I think I've read that the Panda cories stay small... not sure about the others though

I also have crushed coral as a substrate so I'm going to switch all that out for sand.

I read that they like to be in groups, how many should I get for a 10 gallon?

Also, I used this tank to breed pond snails for my puffers, the cories won't eat the snails or be bothered by them will they?

Are cories hardy fish? Do they need anything special? Will they eat veggies along with those sinking wafer things? What kind of ph for them?

I think thats all my questions... :D

[Bagshaw]

They shouldnt be botherd by the snails although with the snails eating a majority of the food on the ground you may have to make sure there eating. They are quite hardy, but it hardiness should not matter, all fish should be treated the same. Im not sure about veggies they might eat cucumber pieces like many bottom feeders? for PH about 5.8-7 is good, i would take the crushed coral out, it makes the ph shoot far too high.
Good luck :)

[irishspy]

Pandas I think would be your best bet from that list. If the betta is the only other inhabitant of the tank, then four would be a good number. No less, though, since they're most comfortable in a group.

I've had good luck with cories and bettas, but you still have to keep an eye on things. Some bettas just don't like sharing their tank, while others are no problem. FWIW, my betta is sharing his tank with four Japonica shrimp, and there's been no problem. :)

You'll probably want to drop a feeder pellet in for the cories once or twice a week, but, again, watch the betta. I discovered mine is a little water-pig. :irked:

[Squeakfish]

When you bought your betta, was he in one of those cups? If so, was he a hyper-active guy or did he just laze about in the cup? If he was an active guy, you might be careful.
The betta I had only bothered the platy that was in the same tank. All the bottom-feeders and less brightly-colored fish got left alone. Cories should be okay, as they are bottom-dwellers.

[Lupin]

4-5 panda cories should be okay in a 10g. Look into Corydoras habrosus, Corydoras hastatus and Corydoras pygmaeus which are even smaller. Please bear in mind most cories like cooler temperature so keep temp steady at 76-78 degrees. Bloodworms, mosquito larvas, commercial foods, brine shrimps, etc are relished. Never seen them eat veggies but worth a try I guess.

Both bettas and cories thrive in soft acidic waters better than in hard alkaline waters although they will do equally well since plenty of fish have been bred in captivity enabling them to adapt well in various water conditions.

[SpockthePuffer]

He actually had tankmates a long time ago before I came onto forums. The lady at petco had me put some tetras and something else in there. The betta just stayed in a corner and looked miserable. I'm hoping since these guys are just on the bottom zeus won't mind sharing.

So I will get 4 panda cories after I change out the substrate. Hopefully zeus will behave himself!

[SpockthePuffer]

Lupin, just read your post, thanks for the info and I will ask about the types when I go to the LFS next

[Adroit]

Panda cories all the way. I have both the panda cories and the ablino cories, and the albino one looks so ugly. Both acts the same though and are great fish cleaners.

[meili.harrison]

Definitely Panda Cories!! I love them!

[OldMan47]

I'm going to agree with Lupin on this one. I have some of the habrosus corydoras and they are great little guys. They are always swimming everywhere and its never a dull moment with them.

[SpockthePuffer]

I switched out the cc for the sand lastnight, it looks so pretty!

I looked up habrosus corydoras, they look cute! I will have to see what I can get :D

[Blueiz]

Would love to see a pic of your tank! I have panda cories, albino, bronze and schwartz cories. The pandas are my favorite out of all of them..