?? Room for one more cory??

[rosita]

In my 5g hex, biowheel filter, I presently have 3 cories: 1 skunk or arched, 2 peppered cories. Oh, how I wish I'd never bought this tank, it's a really awkward size/shape, but the "kids" are really happy in it. In my area it's really hard to find the arched cories, and the LFS where I got the first one back in January has another. It's tiny, not even quite an inch yet, but the first one grew pretty fast. I'd love to get this one, but in this instance I'm just not sure about the bioload. Archer is almost 2 inches now, the pepper twins are smaller. Any suggestions?

BTW, I do partial water changes to all my tanks at least once a week, siphon-vac the gravel (I've learned alot here), and feed a small amount every other day. There is bunch of anacharis and what's left of ludwigia after the mystery snail in another tank turned out to be a rapidly growing, plant-devouring apple snail. I spend alot of time watching them, lots of personality for such little guys.

Thanks!!!! :huh:

[monkey_toes]

Assuming there's nothing else in the tank besides those 3 cories, I'd feel safe with adding one more.

[webcricket]

How long have you had the peppered cories? They are one of the larger cories although many places and websites still list them under 2 inches. Their adult size is is actually 3 to 3 1/2 inches (females known to push 4 inches). I got my three peppered 2 months ago as young 3/4" fish and they are fast growers - already up to 2 1/2 inches in my 20 gallon. I'm just concerned that the 5 gallon hex tank doesn't have enough swim room for them to grow properly for you.

The arched/skunk cory would be a better option for this tank - they stay right around 2 inches. Perhaps you could move out the peppered to something larger and get a few more arched/skunk for this tank to have 3 total?

[rosita]

The two peppers have been in the tank since January, too. They are only @ 1 1/2 inches, and haven't grown much at all. I've waited for them to get bigger but not yet. The arched cory grew quite fast to it's 2 inch size, and has nice girth--looks like an adult :) . I don't believe the peppers' growth is stunted, they cruise all over the tank, and never sqabble over floor space (even with the small footprint of this tank). I can move them to my 10g with one powder blue dwarf gourami, and keep the two arched cories in the 5g. There's nothing else in there except the few stalks of anacharis and ludwigia. So, I guess that's solved. Except then I would only have two in one, two in the other, and they do best in groups of three or more. Or, I could put the gourami in the 5g, and the cories in the 10, and get a couplel more. I don't know. I'm just not in a good place to make decisions (got de-hired from my school). I'd like to get the little arched cory so Archer will have a buddy, esp. as they are so hard to find around here. :huh: Sigh.

[Lorazoo]

Just my opinion, but I think you could move all 4 corys into your 10 gallon tank with the one dwarf gourami. That is, if that's all that will be in there. Then you could do something else with the 5. A 5 is a bit small for a gourami, but I think all 5 would be fine in a 10.

[rosita]

Thanks, lorazoo, that's a great idea.--sounds like the plan, man. The only other thing in the 10g is a small mystery snail. Wow, then I could use the 5g as a quarantine and/or hospital tank!! And everyone would be happy! Woooooo hooooo. Now why didn't I think of that? (cuz I'm burned out right now and my brain is full; need to do a defrag and disk cleanup in there!) :dance:

[SaraB]

You could move your mystery snail into the 5G if you need to keep it cycled.

Just an idea ...

[rosita]

Great minds think alike!!! I've already done that this morning!! Headed off to pick up the arched cory, and see if they'll be getting any more in. Thanks!!!

[webcricket]

Ya'll came up with a good plan - I hope your new little arched guy is still at the store waiting for you! :dance:

[rosita]

Yup, s/he was still there, it's presently acclimating in the "new" quarantine tank (5hex) with the evergrowing apple snail for company. The other 3 are in the 10g, with the gourami. All is quite peaceful, and the cories are lovin' the larger footprint rather than height.

Thanks to all of you for helping me figure out the logistics so I could "rescue" the little cory--this is one of those LFS that feels kind of "unclean"--they used to carry alot of birds and puppies/kittens; now it's rats and babies, budgies in a big bin, guinea pigs on the other side, board dogs in the back, and have emus, zebras, and assorted other critters in the pasture next door. However, the coolest thing is a Lemur--grandfathered in since they've had him before the endangered species laws went into effect. They seem to take really good care of everything but it's kinda overload. Oh, they sell saddles and bridles for horses, too!!! Sometimes diversity is not a good thing.

thanks again!! :clap: