Whcih dwarf cories?

[clb2196]

I'm looking to get some dwarf cories for my 10 gallon. I was originally looking at habrosus, but I saw some hastatus online, and I like the look better. Is there much of a difference in hardiness or activity or whatever? They're both more mid dwellers than top, right? What are your experiences and which do you prefer?

[Nolapete]

Cories are bottom dwellers, but some venture off the bottom to search for food. None reside mid level or top that I know of.

If you like the look better, then get them. The difference in hardiness should be marginal.

[vanillarum]

They're pretty much the same, conditions wise. The big difference is availablity. Hastatus are nearly impossible to find. And many places will tell you they have them, when in fact, they do not. So if you order some, be careful. I have been looking for hastatus for a while now, with only limited success. Good luck.

[psyche]

Yes the pygmy cories do spent a lot of time in the middle levels, although they do still spend a lot of time on the bottom. I have pygmaeus cories and really like them.

[snoopy65]

From my understanding the Hasbrosus spend alot of time out in the open and do alot of swimming mid level. I know nothing of the other you listed. Pygmaeus spend most of their time on the bottom and hide most of the time. Hope this helps some.

[psyche]

My pygmaeus are out most of the time, but they are in a very non-aggressive community tank.

[vanillarum]

I keep both species in my pleco breeding tanks to help with the food clean up. The hastatus are almost always in hiding, with perhaps feeding time being the exception. The other pygmys are almost always out and about, swimming in the current. When they are not out, they can most often be found perched on plant leaves, driftwood or rocks. If you want visibility, stay away from the hastatus. Of course, it may be different with a large school of them, but I could never find enough of them to make a large school. Good luck, and if you find any hastatus, shoot me a PM. I'd love to have some more !!

[msjinkzd]

i like habrosus over pygmaeus. My pygmaeus are pretty shy whereas my habrosus are very outgoing.

[clb2196]

I ended up getting some pygmaeus cories, cause that's what was available (and cheap!!). If I find some habrosus, I may get some of those, too. So far, they hide a little, but there are usually at least 1 or 2 swimming around. And FWIW, the puffers seem to ignore them, except when they, like typical cories, do their crazy dashing about and collide with the puffers. :lol: But they are cute!

What do you guys feed them? They were quite unenthusiastic about algae wafers that my other cories love. I feed the puffers worms and brine shrimp, and they seem to eat that, but if there anything specific they may like more?

vanillarum- I haven't seen any hastatus around at all. I got the pygmy ones at tropic isle, they had a whole tank full, about $2 a piece. I'm pretty sure skipton in Boston and maybe Ned's get habrosus in sometimes.

[psyche]

I just throw a mix of fish food in, the pygmaeus don't seem to be fussy so long as the food is small enough for them.