Panda Cory problem

S

SLH913

AC Members
Mar 9, 2007
20
0
0
Northern Virginia
How sensitive to Excel and Ph are Panda Corys? I am having trouble keeping them long term - I have lost 6 over the past 2 months - one at a time several weeks apart. My water params are good - all zeros with about 20ppm nitrates in a 20 gallon - heavily planted with anubias (now blooming) and crypts. My Ph hovers between 6.8 - 6.7. The temp is a steady 78F. I use 1.7ml of Excel per day 6 days/wk with none added on water change day - about 10% of water weekly. The water is DI with Gh, Kh and Ph adjusted to match the aquarium. All the other fish - 4 khuli loaches, 2 gouramis (mated), 4 oto's, 3 sae's are doing fine - I have not lost any other fish in the last 8 months - got the pandas in April and they seemed fine, in fact, they act/look fine until they turn up DOA and generally gnawed on in the morning.

I have read that they are sensitive to Excel and that they prefer a Ph of 7.2 or so - hard to believe that they would be that sensitive, but maybe. I don't want to restock until I understand the problem - any help appreciated, thanks.
 
they could be getting outcompeted for food by the other fish in the tank. that is alot of fish for that size of tank, especially since you have so many algea eating fish. your nitrates should be around 12, and if they are at around 20 you dont need to add any.
 
I've had my three pandas for more than a year, and haven't had any problems with them. I can't tell you anything about the Excel, since I don't use it,but you may want to cut back a bit on it. I would also definitely up your water changes. Pandas seem happier when the water quality is really good. I change 30-50% weekly.
 
What are you using to adjust the GH/KH/pH?

You do have some very active eaters there.
 
i tried keeping pandas with my angels and had no luck at all... finally i gave up and tried the emerald and they're working perfect!

i have pandas in my other set up... the only variable i can think of is that the angel tank had a lot more sand...
 
mcox3 said:
i tried keeping pandas with my angels and had no luck at all... finally i gave up and tried the emerald and they're working perfect!

i have pandas in my other set up... the only variable i can think of is that the angel tank had a lot more sand...
Click to expand...
sand is usually a plus for corydoras tanks. some fish are just fragile.
 
Are you getting them all from the same source?? Like all from the same LFS?? Myabe they are getting them from someone who is majorly inbreeding them thus making them more fragile. I have pandas that are doing just fine in medium-hard water, temp 78, and ph 7.6 - 8.0. Course they are the only bottom feeders I have in my 15gal.
 
I add Aquarium Pharm's Electroright and Seachem Alkaline Buffer to the DI water. Our municipal water is very hard with very high (8) ph and high nitrates.
 
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