Introverted Panda Cory?

[StishFicks]

I recently bought five pandas for what I think is a 16G (12"X12"X30" Is that a common size?) tank and I absolutely love them. I set the tank up as a playground for the little corys with rock and log tunnels and a bubble stick for them to swim through but I have one fish that refuses to school with the others. It's the biggest of the little fish and it usually stays on the opposite side of the tank as the others, oftentimes swimming up and down against the glass behind the bubble stick. What gives? Is this a shy fish? Aren't pandas supposed to want to be with their own kind? The only time this fish hangs with the group is when I feed them.

[reignman40]

I have the same issue with one Panda. It's normal don't worry about it. I think it may be an issue of the difference in age/size of why they don't school witht he rest of the pack. I actually got 3 Pandas and then got a 4th one elsewhere that was slightly bigger then the rest. Pretty much all mine at one point do the aerial patterns on the front glass. It's so cool I love them.

[Jericho]

FYI your tank Approximate Gallons = 19

[StishFicks]

Thank you both very much.

[f8ldzz]

Pandas are notorious difficult to keep alive. :(
Does it feed okay?
If not, it might not be in the best of health...

[StishFicks]

no problem eating, just not hanging out with the others. when the others swim over to it it doesn't seem to mind their presence but it only seeks them out when I feed them.

[tanker]

He's just a loner. Some people are like that too.

[f8ldzz]

Yeah, if it's feeding normally, you might just have a cory with a lonesome personality trait. :)

[ekimmel]

What is good to feed panda cories?? I have been giving them flakes. I also have the freeze-dried worms but they float on the top of the water, and my pandas never want to go up and get them.

[devon 88]

Is the big one picking on the little ones?

[StishFicks]

I feed mine algae wafers, shrimp pellets, and tubi-flex worms. Their favorite is the tubiflex. I just break a cube in half and drop it in, it'll sink eventually. They also eat the algae wafers very well.

The big fish is not picking on the little fish at all. He (or she) is not much bigger than they are, just the biggest of the five. It just spends most of its time alone. I did get some good news last night though. I put in a movie, (I have my tank on top of my entertainment center) and the new fish all continued eating through the movie, with the exception of one particularly loud war scene and then all five of them huddled together in a corner. That may not sound like good news but it says two things. The loner cory still seeks out the school when it feels threatened which means that it still feels safer with other fish. The other fish allowed the loner cory to huddle with them which means that they still consider it part of the school. My fish is just shy but it's still part of the school.

[StishFicks]

Also, unrelated question:

My tank is a foot square by two and a half long, I have it setup with lots of holes, tunnels, and hiding places for the corys and they really seem to enjoy it. The only other fish right now is a rubber-lip Pleco and I was considering getting a school of Harlequin Rasboras or congo tetras. From what I've read on the congos, they get to 3" and need open space to swim, I think my tank is long enough for 3 or 4 of these. I've read that the rasboras reach 2" and enjoy larger schools, that they don't require much space, and that they need a well-established planted tank. My plants are fake but I could definitely add more to make them feel safer, if that was the issue.

If you have any input on these two fish, please let me know. I think the rasboras would be better tankmates for the corys since they seem to have the same level of activity and size, but then if I were sure I wouldn't be asking.

[lifetapestry]

I have a 55g planted tank with a baker's dozen corys (was a dozen until one of the many spawns resulted in an actual babe) and a school of 9 harlequin rasboras. The rasboras and corys don't really interact b/c the corys stay mostly on the bottom and rasboras are upper-middle schoolers. The rasboras are a great little fish, very entertaining to watch. They are very peaceful and non-fin nippers as well. Tetras tend to like a lower ph, so if your tank is above neutral you might want to get the rasboras, who are more comfortable in 7-8 ph range.

Karla