1st REAL attempt at a planted tank

[Kimunaffected]

Pygmaeus, hastatus, and habrosus are 3 of the exceptions for corydoras stocking.

The absolute minimum is 5 gal for a single shoal of 6 WITHOUT other fish in the tank. If in a community, they need a 10 gal standard, meaning not a tall tank. It needs a longer footprint. They are active, but are small. Your tank is a 9, a touch on the small side for a community but your stock is fine and its got a nice footprint to allow swim space for pygmies .

Now if you turned around and wanted to put corydoras aeneus in there, id tell you no you need a 20 gal or larger. Because theyre way too large for anything smaller.

As for the pygmies, they have a very small bioload. Cories in general are pretty good on bioload to be honest, but the pygmies even more so.

Ive asked Planet Catfish the limits of a 10 gallon for pygmies. I got told 10-15 pygmaeus could be housed in a 10. I started with 7 and there was definitely more than enough space for 3 more. I have 10 and personally feel i could have more if they decided to breed on me.

Your guppies will be your largest fish in the tank. And they use all levels of it. Theyre larger, just as active (if not more!), and have a much higher bioload than all of your other fish. If your guppies are fine in the 10, so is a shoal of pygmy cories.



Now, since a 20 is the smallest limit for all cories, im going to go find me a bearded corydoras shoal and shove them in there....

It’s interesting to notice the response is similar to others I heard.
(A) “you can’t do that”
(B) “Oh ok. I would love to understand why”
(A) ....
...
I got it a lot before coming here.
I absolutely agree with what your saying and this was my thought process while stocking I too assumed my 4 guppies were my biggest bio load. Thanks again I am looking forward to posting updates on the plants and the tank itself. This has been so rewarding this time around. No fish loss in this community even with the unexpected add ons from the abandoned tank. And this is my completed fish for the tank! Woot woot now onto the plants ! I absolutely love it! & I am so happy with the community inside. Thanks again guys.

 

[Sprinkle]

PYGMY cories do not need a 20, they can be housed in smaller tanks.

They are still very active so they do need.

 

[Kimunaffected]

I created another post to help me through the disaster. But I felt it necessary to posts here too.
After all that work and dedication... On the Brightside I have a bigger tank right ...??
I love my kids so much, And you better believe they kids are helping mom out extra this week after a cellphone went crashing through my fish tank.

 

[the loach]

Have the kids at least mopped the floor? That makes a hell of a mess..

 

[Kimunaffected]

Have the kids at least mopped the floor? That makes a hell of a mess..

Oh yes but It was the living room so all 9g right on the couch ( now gone ) and the carpet cleaners have been very busy (& by cleaners I mean the teenager and 8 year old who were arguing over the phone that went flying ).

 

[fishorama]

Gee, & people wonder why we don't have kids, lol. I'm very happy for you that you had a good back up plan. Good save!

I had a filter leak in a 20g a while ago, no fish to rescue but still an emergency situation with very wet carpet under a "not really tank" stand. I still have nightmares!