Peppered Corydoras

[gatotsu77]

Are they just less tolerant of higher temps than some of the other variants? I have had 4 peppered corydoras die in my tank, whereas I've only had 1 spotted corydora die. (who knows, maybe its my luck, maybe its where I'm getting them, maybe its how old they are, etc.) The tank is kept at 86 degrees fahrenheit, which I know is quite warm for them, but could that be a big factor in why the peppered corys keep dying? Water is always pristine. I do my best to do 2 50%+ water changes weekly, but on busy weeks I'll do one 75%+ change. Params are always 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, <10 nitrate, as tested with API liquid test kits. (I'm fairly certain the pH is 7.4, but since I can't remember off the top of my head, please disregard that factor until I can test tonight.)

One last observation. All of the other ones looked perfectly normal when they died, aside from the fact that they were laying upside down on the sand. This one had his belly picked at a bit, and looked like his barbells had been chewed off. I don't know the exact time of death. My fish might have had a chance to pick at him after he died, before I got home from work. Any thoughts?

[inkyjenn]

fish can be weakened thanks to shipping and if they werent being kept with the greatest care in the store, it can further weaken them. did you quarantine them first? what are your water parameters?

[Hooked Newbie]

Peppereds do prefer cooler temps. The most recommended cory for a discus setup and temp range is Sterbais. I keep mine at 82. There may be others that I'm not aware of...

[noodles62]

86 is pretty warm.....if you google them, it states that they can tolerate cooler temps than other corys...I have peppered corys in my tank which is a steady 80* w/out a heater on and they seem active, healthy and happy (even laying eggs); perhaps it is too warm???? I would guess that the other fish picked at the poor little guy after he passed.

[Lupin]

Noodles, the very reason why the temperature is warm is because of the discus. Sterbai cories are really your option, Gatotsu. If not, switch to kuhli loaches.

[noodles62]

Noted Lupin...:uhoh:

Now I know what happens if my tank overheats............

[gatotsu77]

Noodles, the very reason why the temperature is warm is because of the discus. Sterbai cories are really your option, Gatotsu. If not, switch to kuhli loaches.

I've not located any Sterbai Corydoras locally... though I might talk my lfs into ordering them for me. What would be an acceptable temperature range for kuhli loaches? I've been debating a drop to about 84, but I'm not sure this change would be of much help to the corys. Should I find a new home for them and make the switch to kuhlis?



86 is pretty warm.....if you google them, it states that they can tolerate cooler temps than other corys...I have peppered corys in my tank which is a steady 80* w/out a heater on and they seem active, healthy and happy (even laying eggs); perhaps it is too warm???? I would guess that the other fish picked at the poor little guy after he passed.

They have been active and playful since I got them, and they're quite the little piggies when blood worms are involved. :p: I've not ever seen my corys lay eggs, but then I don't have eyes on my tank 24/7. (unlike when I first got my discus... couldn't pry me away from the tank with a crowbar)



fish can be weakened thanks to shipping and if they werent being kept with the greatest care in the store, it can further weaken them. did you quarantine them first? what are your water parameters?

Params were in original post, but just since you asked, Ammonia = 0, Nitrite = 0, Nitrate = <10. pH is believed to be 7.4, under the assumption that I am remembering it correctly. I'll check it when I get home tonight and post it. (or at the latest, tomorrow before I leave for work) The fish were not quarantined, (yes, I know... dumb idea, but I literally have no means of quarantining new fish, and cannot talk my folks into a viable method of doing so for long enough to effectively quarantine a fish) but I've had them for 3-8 months, depending on which fish is being referenced. (the 2 spotted and I believe 1 of the peppered are from the original batch I got late last year, the other 2 peppered are from a more recent batch which I believe I got 3-4 months ago)

[gmh]

Lupin did you say Kuhli Loaches for that tank? I thought they preferred cooler water but I am no expert on them.

I would consider trading those cories (if you can catch them) for some zebra or Yo-Yo loaches as the loaches would do better in those warm temps although 86 degrees is pretty warm for even them. Most Cories originate in the higher elevations of the Amazon headwaters and prefer lower temps than other SA fish.

You also mentioned the barbells on one fish appeared to be mostly gone. What kind of substrate do you use?

[Lupin]

Lupin did you say Kuhli Loaches for that tank? I thought they preferred cooler water but I am no expert on them.
They're tropical fish, gmh. I tried kuhlis with my discus before and they seem to work well in temperature consistent at 84-86 degrees Fahrenheit. Kuhlis also like still waters so they make perfect alternatives for corydoras.


I would consider trading those cories (if you can catch them) for some zebra or Yo-Yo loaches as the loaches would do better in those warm temps although 86 degrees is pretty warm for even them. Most Cories originate in the higher elevations of the Amazon headwaters and prefer lower temps than other SA fish.
I do agree that Botia striata will work however the B. almorhae will not. Yoyos have the tendency to annoy and harass placid specimens such as the discus. They are feisty by nature and will swim around much to the annoyance of the discus and other fish. Furthermore, these are fast growing fish reaching 6 inches in size and preferring fast flowing movements. I noticed they tend to move sluggishly around without the currents which the discus lack tolerance for.


You also mentioned the barbells on one fish appeared to be mostly gone. What kind of substrate do you use?
Ditto. Sand is pretty much your best bet.

[Lupin]

I've not located any Sterbai Corydoras locally... though I might talk my lfs into ordering them for me. What would be an acceptable temperature range for kuhli loaches? I've been debating a drop to about 84, but I'm not sure this change would be of much help to the corys. Should I find a new home for them and make the switch to kuhlis?
To answer your question, gatotsu, kuhli loaches prefer 24 degrees Celsius minimum. 30 degrees would be the acceptable maximum although in most cases, 28 degrees seems the norm. 84 degrees shouldn't hurt as it is pretty much less difference from 86 degrees Fahrenheit although for discus, usually the warmer the water, the better for them.

I suggest relocating your current corydoras and switch to kuhli loaches, should you fail to locate C. sterbai at all.

[gmh]

You could consider a school of Cardinals instead of the bottom dwellers. They hang around the bottom and do well in warm water.

Thanks for clarifying, Lupin. I should know better that to second guess the resident Loach expert.

[inkyjenn]

sorry about asking about the parameters

i need to read more slowly

[gatotsu77]

You also mentioned the barbells on one fish appeared to be mostly gone. What kind of substrate do you use?

This was the case on the cory which was dead, not on any of the living ones. I have a sand bottom. (quickrete #40, which I believe is their medium-grain sand)



To answer your question, gatotsu, kuhli loaches prefer 24 degrees Celsius minimum. 30 degrees would be the acceptable maximum although in most cases, 28 degrees seems the norm. 84 degrees shouldn't hurt as it is pretty much less difference from 86 degrees Fahrenheit although for discus, usually the warmer the water, the better for them.

I suggest relocating your current corydoras and switch to kuhli loaches, should you fail to locate C. sterbai at all.

I'm all for kuhli loaches, I love the little guys, and I know where to get them. How does their bio load compare to the corys?



You could consider a school of Cardinals instead of the bottom dwellers. They hang around the bottom and do well in warm water.

Thanks for clarifying, Lupin. I should know better that to second guess the resident Loach expert.

As irony might have it, I used to have a school of cardinals. I took them out of the tank, since they kept eating the eggs/fry a pair of my discus were producing, but since having removed them, the discus have not made another attempt at breeding that I have noticed. (I ended up getting some synodontis nigriventris since then anyway, and they naturally prey on cichlid eggs. I'll worry about getting them to breed once I can get them their own bare bottom breeder tank)



sorry about asking about the parameters

i need to read more slowly

No worries. :) Having read back over this thread this morning reminded me to check the pH in my tank. In this case, it seems my memory did serve me well, the pH is stable at 7.4.

[Lupin]

I'm all for kuhli loaches, I love the little guys, and I know where to get them. How does their bio load compare to the corys?
Due to their unusual body shape, I'd level them with the length of the penguin tetras. As far as the bioload is concerned, I do not believe they excrete too much wastes compared to the corydoras.

[jpappy789]

With your stock I wouldn't worry too much about the bioload...as Lupin said its pretty much negligible compared to corys.

[gatotsu77]

So if I did go and get some kuhli loaches, would 6-8 be appropriate? Or should I get more/less than that? I know that they feel much more secure in a larger group, as is common with loaches. I know that the water change schedule I keep combined with the filtration/plants I have would help keep nitrates down even if I decided to go and buy 20 kuhli's, but for the footprint of a 55g tank, is there such a thing as an ideal number to have? Oh, and there shouldn't be any compatibility issues between the kuhli loaches and the synodontis nigriventris, correct? (I know that they are still synos, but they don't get to be large like most of the ones I frequently see. Based on what I've read, 3-3.5" max size. I'm not worried about the kuhli's being eaten like spaghetti, since I believe they'd be too big for that, but I don't want them getting picked on either)

[jpappy789]

6-8 should be fine and they should do just fine with your syno's.

[Hooked Newbie]

:iagree:

Even peaceful loaches hold their own pretty well. ;)

[gatotsu77]

Glad to hear they'll get along fine. Didn't want to create any potential issues in the tank... its meant to be peaceful, fun, and relaxing, not chaotic, stressful, and frustrating. :p: