How Many

[Boohoo]

I was thinking about getting some salt and pepper cory's. Can anyone tell me if they are a good choice and what size school do they like to be in? Not sure if they will be for my 10g or my 55g.

[ChileRelleno]

Well, that depends...
Whats currently in your 10 and 55gal tanks?
What type of substrates?
Any aggressive/larger Cats or large Plecos?
What types of other tankmates?
Etc... Etc...

Generally Cories do better with atleast 5-6 fish and the more the merrier, IMO they do best in shoals of their own species, however they will kinda of mix when there are just a few of one or more types.
They are are peaceful shoaling fish that is good for a community tank, they prefer a sand or fine gravel substrate and they are very fun to watch when zooming around the tank chasing each other in a game of follow the leader ;)

For excellent profiles and more info, I suggest www.planetcatfish.com/

[congealedmeat]

I'd get a minimum of 3 of the same species, preferably 4-5.

My corys are quite racist it seems. I have 1 Bronze and 3 Pepper corys and the Bronze is definitely the loner of the group. He pretty much ignores everything in the tank, but hangs out with the Peppers sometimes, but they ignore him just as much.

These fish will get picked on pretty easily by anything, especially territorial fish. Mine rush blindly/stupidly into my Red-Tail Shark's territory and get bonked around a bit.

Watch that you don't keep these guys with something that will swallow them, as they have a locking spiky dorsal fin to prevent just this. I've heard of people losing both the cory and the eating fish because of this.

These are by far the easiest fish I've taken care of. Undemanding, active and entertaining, you just need to watch that they aren't getting picked on too much.

[Boohoo]

Do you think the would do well with neons and a betta?

[congealedmeat]

Do you think the would do well with neons and a betta?


They'd do great as long as your betta isn't too aggressive. Corys aren't wimps or anything, they're some of the hardiest fish out there. It's just their demeanor is so peacful and nonchalant that they get beat up easily. If your betta is already with tetras I don't see it being a problem. I've never had a tetra even go near a cory cat.

[Crabbypatty]

Corys can go with your beta and neons :)