Hypatia
05-22-2006, 8:45 PM
I have a newly cycled 37 gallon heavily planted and landscaped tank. It has lots of territories, such as pipes hidden in the back and a hollow drfitwood stump and two levels. The PH is a little high (about 7.8-8), but it is otherwise seems to be in good shape for water quality (has a 50G rate bio-wheel external). Temp should be at about 75-78 (as that is what the heater is set to and the light has fans), but I keepforgetting to get a themometer so I am not sure. There are 3 Congo Tetras, 5 Black Skirt Tetras, and 6 Green Aneus Cory Cats. All ready to go and looking good... I was so looking forward to enjoying sitting peacfully and watching my serene little pseudo-habitat... WHEN....
My Corys started going NUTS! They spend nearly all thier time swimming up and down the front of the tank in circles in the small current produced by the filter. :shark:
It would be kind of cute if it happened occassionally, but it is nearly constant. There does not seem to be any disease in the tank thus far, and they are otherwise eating and swimming normally. I have watched corys in the store tanks alot and have had one in a 5.5 (he was happy, I tried to introduce another, he hated it, so I took the other out), but I've never seem them swim around all manic like these do.
Is this perfectly normal? Is it just that they have a good school and a lot of space and so this is what they do when they are really happy? Could it be a green aneaus thing? Is there some water parameter that this might point to (i.e. maybe my tests are going stale?)
It seems like there are one or two primary ring leaders and the others are just following because they like to school. It seems to take one of the two middle sized guys going in circles for a while before they get the others riled up enough to start, but once they get started it goes on for hours! :shark:
I really like green aneaus corys for so many different reasons (help keep food waste down, really cute, general antics, great color, cool to have a schooling bottom dweller... if they would ever just dwell on the bottom), and I don't mean to sound like I don't like to see the fish swimming around or being cute or anything, but this is downright dizzying... once on an otherwise stressful day, it even gave me a migraine. I am feeling guilty that this may be normal and I am SOOooo annoyed by it, but it makes watching the tank feel just as crazy as the rest of my life, instead of tranquil (which is why I have the tank). :shark:
Is there anything I can do, before I give up on corys... or at least these corys?
My Corys started going NUTS! They spend nearly all thier time swimming up and down the front of the tank in circles in the small current produced by the filter. :shark:
It would be kind of cute if it happened occassionally, but it is nearly constant. There does not seem to be any disease in the tank thus far, and they are otherwise eating and swimming normally. I have watched corys in the store tanks alot and have had one in a 5.5 (he was happy, I tried to introduce another, he hated it, so I took the other out), but I've never seem them swim around all manic like these do.
Is this perfectly normal? Is it just that they have a good school and a lot of space and so this is what they do when they are really happy? Could it be a green aneaus thing? Is there some water parameter that this might point to (i.e. maybe my tests are going stale?)
It seems like there are one or two primary ring leaders and the others are just following because they like to school. It seems to take one of the two middle sized guys going in circles for a while before they get the others riled up enough to start, but once they get started it goes on for hours! :shark:
I really like green aneaus corys for so many different reasons (help keep food waste down, really cute, general antics, great color, cool to have a schooling bottom dweller... if they would ever just dwell on the bottom), and I don't mean to sound like I don't like to see the fish swimming around or being cute or anything, but this is downright dizzying... once on an otherwise stressful day, it even gave me a migraine. I am feeling guilty that this may be normal and I am SOOooo annoyed by it, but it makes watching the tank feel just as crazy as the rest of my life, instead of tranquil (which is why I have the tank). :shark:
Is there anything I can do, before I give up on corys... or at least these corys?