Panda/sterbai/dwarf

[unfamous]

I would like to know what every thinks i should get panda cories? sterbai cories? or dwarf cories? for a 100 gal amazon biotope that i am setting up soon. i can't seem to decide so i would like to know what everyone else thinks

[MonoSebaelover]

I voted Panda, I have yet to see a more cute cory! Just my opinion. Good luck in the decision!

[monkey_toes]

I would like to know what every thinks i should get panda cories? sterbai cories? or dwarf cories? for a 100 gal amazon biotope that i am setting up soon. i can't seem to decide so i would like to know what everyone else thinks
100 gallons?! For crying out loud, get all three! Ten of each! The sight of 30 cories vacuuming the gravel at feeding time will be SWEET, and so will the huge cory dogpiles when they're sleeping it off.

[unfamous]

man that would be an awsome sight to see cory dogpiles!!..lol
would it really be ok to get all three cories ..10 each?

well here is the unnoficial tank list
15-? Rummynose tetras
15-? Cardinal tetras
4 German blue rams
6 discus
10-12 marble hatchetfish
10 or so otos
1 rare pleco( not sure wich one yet)..ideas plz!!

and if possible all three cories..10 of each??

[shaunakadub]

Maybe not 10 of each with that many fish already in there =p


Maybe 15, half and half of the 2 species you like could work?

And about your rare pleco question, two ideas come to my mind:
1.) If you want to shell out some cash, go for a Zebra Pleco.
2.) I've always liked Royal Plecos.

[monkey_toes]

well here is the unnoficial tank list
15-? Rummynose tetras
15-? Cardinal tetras
4 German blue rams
6 discus
10-12 marble hatchetfish
10 or so otos
1 rare pleco( not sure wich one yet)..ideas plz!!
and if possible all three cories..10 of each??

Wow - that's a lot of fish for a 100 gallon. Sounds more like a 180 stock list. I didn't realize all that was going in, so maybe 30 cories would be a bit much. I also didn't realize discus would be in the mix. What temp do you plan on keeping the tank at? Most corys (sterbai and pandas included) are happiest at 72-77°F, which is too cool for discus, and most dwarf corys would prefer even a bit cooler. If you're going 84°F or over, you'll probably need to choose different cory species. There are some that can handle higher temps than others.

Based on tank size, I would stock more like this:
10 rummies
15 cardinals
4 rams
3 discus
10 hatchets
10 otos
14 corys (7 ea panda/sterbai)
1 smaller rare pleco (8" or less)

Adapt all your bottom fish slowly to the aquarium temp, if you can. Start them off at 75° or so and raise them temp to what you need for your discus over 7-10 days. You'll usually expect to lose a few otos in the first 2-3 months and I would expect the loss rate to be higher because of the high water temp. Once the fish are adapted, I think they'll do fine. I'm currently keeping otos and several species of corys at 82°F with no difficulties. My oto attrition rate was 75% over about 6 weeks.

BTW, I'm reasonably certain all the pandas and sterbai on the market are imports. QT them and treat for internal parasites; whether or not they show symptoms, they're almost definitely carrying them.

[unfamous]

ya i figured that was a lot of fish even for a 100 gallon. well i was thinkin of stocking a long the same lines as u monkey toes. but i think imma cut down a bit on the cories so i could do the 6 discus. so if i acclimate the cories properly the should be OK with the temp being at around 83 deg?


And about your rare pleco question, two ideas come to my mind:
1.) If you want to shell out some cash, go for a Zebra Pleco.
2.) I've always liked Royal Plecos.

i would luv a zebra plec but i don't wanna spend too much on it so if anyone knows a website that sells them at a reasonable price let me know!

[thesydmonster]

In a tank that large I would maybe skip the dwarf cories.... they would get lost in a big tank like that with so many active tankmates and it might be more difficult for them to get to the top for air. 7 each of two different larger cories would be great -- jeez, I am jealous :)

[unfamous]

thesydmonster
In a tank that large I would maybe skip the dwarf cories.... they would get lost in a big tank like that with so many active tankmates and it might be more difficult for them to get to the top for air. 7 each of two different larger cories would be great -- jeez, I am jealous

i think ur right about the tank being too big for the dwarf coris..wow i never thought i'd say a tank is too big for a fish! lol
the tank is a birthday gift so i preolly wouldn't have it if it wasn't but it is somthin to be jelous about=)

[VTwinFanatic]

you said about 83 degrees for your discus....id suggest atleast 85-88 for discus, but thats just me.

[monkey_toes]

ya i figured that was a lot of fish even for a 100 gallon. well i was thinkin of stocking a long the same lines as u monkey toes. but i think imma cut down a bit on the cories so i could do the 6 discus.
Six discus in a 100 gallon is the main issue. That's only 17 gallons per fish, which is pretty stingy for discus. I don't have discus experience, but from a pretty good stockpile of book knowledge it seems 30-40 gallons per fish is about you should be shooting for. Maybe a new thread specifically on discus would garner some opinions on that from discus keepers.

[unfamous]

i have put this stocking list up on the simplydiscus forum website and they said that it would be fine jus to have a lot of filtration. and i do have that. i just got in the mega flow sump. model 3. it seems to be a very good and can pump up to 115 gallons of water. plus i'll be doing about 2-3 water changes weekely if needed

[peleg38]

Back to the original question. I think I would pick the sterbai corys. I agree the pandas have a high "cute" factor, but I think the orange fins are just too cool looking.

I have a couple ideas about your stocking also. I ignored what I have come to believe was good advice so I'll share my story. I decided I would get young discus and put them in a planted tank with other species even though most discus people you talk to will recommend a bare bottom tank and little if any species mixing. I knew it would be a challenge but in retrospect I bit off more than I could chew. I was changing the water 50% twice a week and still had problems with fish health. IMHO the water requirements for discus are very specific and mixing other species and having plants will present a large challenge.

One last thing before I get off my soap box. The Rams are called Rams for a reason. I saw mine actually get a swimming start and smash itself into my discus. The Rams also will harass corys because they tend to inhabit the same areas.

Just my experiences. I wish you all the best with what sounds like a dream tank.

Derek

[DiabloCanine]

You should look on planet catfish for the temp needs of these cories, the sterbai is the only one that can handle discus temps, about 10 degrees warmer than pandas like......DC

[fish_breeder_05]

cories are too small for my tast. i like hoplo cats, wich look like 5" cories and are also native to the amazon

[NatakuTseng]

Sterbais are the only option if you are gonna have the water temp up that high, at least from the list you have given.

Thats nice Fish Breeder, but that wasn't the question, as we all can see stocking intellegence obviously isn't your greatest asset, and I sure would hope no one would take your stocking suggestions seriously with such massively overstocked tanks and fish way too big for those tanks.

[fish_breeder_05]

i do respect your knowlege in fishkeeping and am aware of my problem. they will get a 125+ soon. but you mind telling whats wrong with me suggesting a hoplo catfish. they were asking for amazon native opinions

[fish_breeder_05]

i think ur right about the tank being too big for the dwarf coris..wow i never thought i'd say a tank is too big for a fish! lol
the tank is a birthday gift so i preolly wouldn't have it if it wasn't but it is somthin to be jelous about=)
hoplo goes along those lines

[unfamous]

well then looks i may be goin with sterbai because they sem to be the best option and they are kinda easier to get...i never heard of hoplo catfish u mind showing me a pic?

[fish_breeder_05]

http://www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Catfish,%20Hoplo.htm

http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/callicht/megalech/14_F.PHP

that is the only current color type of hoplo that i'm aware of. treat em like cories. they get to a bit over 5". tropical fish distributers sells nearly fully grown ones for $5.00. overnight shipping. great prices. the shipping is $50, but if you make a larhe order than it is well worth it.

http://bellsouthpwp.net/t/f/tfdfish/
hop you enjoy, although i doubt NatakuTseng will, due to his own reasons.

[NatakuTseng]

Hoplos do not tollerate discus temps, so forget about them.

We've also been hearing this 125gal theory for a while, but the tanks just keep gettin more packed with crap, and now even a 125 probably wouldn't be suitable.

[monkey_toes]

One last thing before I get off my soap box. The Rams are called Rams for a reason. I saw mine actually get a swimming start and smash itself into my discus. The Rams also will harass corys because they tend to inhabit the same areas.
Rams are called rams because of their Latin name, Mikrogeophagus ramirezi. Also, I've kept rams with cories,other dwarf cichlids (Dicrossus) and glowlight tetras with no signs of aggression, except occasionally toward other rams.

[TetraFreak]

If you're gonna have rams in there...Stock Cories with Extreme CAUTION.

If the rams pair up and spawn, they will seriously THUMP the corries to protect their eggs. Thusly you will most likely end up with those infgamous "One Eye'd Cories" after the rams get through protecting their space! Rams are VERY defensive of their space and generally will confront any fish...even bigger cichlids.