Pygmy cories

[jencheung]

I picked up a group of 4 pygmy cories (I believe they are C. Hasborus) yesterday and they appear to be settling in nicely to my new Fluval Edge tank. I know that cories periodically gulp air from the surface. My question is that there isn't a ton of surface area the way that these tanks are set up. The water is supposed to touch the top piece of glass so it's only the square in the middle (maybe 25% of the surface area) that is exposed to air. Will the cories figure this out or is this going to be a problem? There doesn't seem to be an oxygen problem for anyone else (micro rasboras and cherry shrimp) who have been in there for a while, I'm just concerned about the cories finding the air at the surface. Thanks!
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[inkyjenn]

you can't lower the water level a little to give the cories a breathing area? they may crash into the top as they go pretty fast when they surface for air.

also, why didnt you think about this before getting the cories?

[rich311k]

I would give them a little room. Cool little tank.

[Taysius]

I would give them room as well. More surface area is always good.

[foolishfish]

Definitely more room or you'll see them mashing up their faces on the lid. Also the O2 present for the shrimp and others has nothing to do with the air that the corys are surfacing to gulp. Whether the little cats have the ability to learn and remember where their air hole is or not I wouldn't want to guess. Much as I like them that sounds like a pretty fair load of advanced brain function for a rather small brained critter. Last but not least, partially because of the fact that they sometimes jet to the surface at mach 1 you need to have a lid that will keep them off of the floor. IMAO ya might want to think about a different fish for the tank or visa versa.

[Big Mike]

I agree. Lower the water level for the Corys. They dart to the surface very fast and would run into the top.

[psyche]

Cories aren't to bright about this. I used to have a bridge between to tanks that was completely water filled. Pygmy cories would dart up for air, panic, run around and end up in the other tank looking confused. They never learned so I took down the bridge. I would suggest lowing the water level for them too. I think they just go up, and expect air.

[jpappy789]

I would agree, might as well lower the water level.

[Stargazer53]

I believe you should lower the water line as well. Cories need the air and I think they would not be able to understand why there was no surface area. :)

[aj2494]

How do you like this tank so far?

[Dwarf Puffers]

Deffinately lower the water level at least a 1/2" or so. I have a thick plant layer between the water surface and the open air in a few of my tanks, and the cories in those would rather wriggle up through the plants than go to an open spot a few inches away. Stubborn or hard-set (I don't like calling my favourite fish stupid :rolleyes:). Also, I'd get a few more dwarf cories, they like large groups, I have 7 and even they aren't as friendly as they could be.

[cheechy]

Got this exact issue today when I was hoping the new pygmies may find the "porthole" on the edge tank but every time they go round the edge of the tank, then along ther middle - just before they get to the open area they just dive again.

Looks like I'll have to lower the water level a bit. Its a shame as the tank looses a lot of its asthetic appeal when you get condesation droplets on the underside of the glass on the top :(

The daph rainbow fish might not like it either but they'll live with it lol!

[SidtheMonkey]

Do you have C. pygmaeus or C. habrosus?

Pygmys do the shoot to the surface thing but I dont remember if Habrosus do.

[msjinkzd]

habrosus do as well. Moving this to the catfish section :)