5 Gal Bottom Feeders

[Gold]

I am particularly fond of bottom feeders (cory/catfish), but I am relatively new to all this.
I am intending on buying a 5/6 gal hexagon tank, and filling it with plenty of fake plants and bog wood, while the tank will be in a dim room out of sunlight. Perfect conditions for corys.

However I want to know which species will do best, and how many I can keep in the 5 gallon.

I am particularly fond of the smaller corys, such as the Panda and Salt & Pepper, which get to about 1-1.5 inches.
I was at first intending on buying 4 of either species for my soon to be tank.
Would that be ok? I know they are community fish, and they would be the only fish in the tank. I just want to make sure 4 in a 5/6 gallon would be ok, as many websites say many things.

Thanks
Gold ​

 

[Satin and Tat]

Personally, I think a 5/6 gallon tank (especially a hex) would be far too small for any corys. I have a small school of peppered corys in a 29 gallon, and they pretty much take up all the space on the bottom. A small hexagon tank wouldn't provide them with much swimming room at all, which corys really need.

I don't know how much a 5 gallon hex would cost, but around here, 10 gallon tanks go for less than 10 dollars and, if you really want corys, would provide quite a bit more space. IMO it'd probably be worth it, since the corys would be happier and more active in a larger tank.

Also, by salt & pepper, do you mean Callichthys paleatus? If you do, I've found them to be quite large - closer to 2.5 inches. Have you considered pygmy corys (Corydoras pygmaeus? They're a bit smaller.

 

[Gold]

After consulting many people, i have decided to abandon the hex tank idea, and i am going for a more traditional shaped 5/6 gallon (rectangular).

10 Gallons are not too much more expensive than 5 gallons here, but it is a matter of space i have.

Many websites did say salt & pepper corys do not tend to be as energetic as other corys. And no, salt & pepper corys are called Corydoras habrosus. And im 99.9% sure they grow to 1-1.5 inches.
While pygmy corys grow to the same size.
The only reason i listed the Corydoras habrosus was i prefer their look to the Corydoras pygmaeus, but either would do really

Maybe 3 would suit a 5/6 gallon rectangular tank then?
The reason i thought 4 would be ok, is i calculated using a website’s surface area formula, i would be able to get 6 inches worth of fish in my new proposed rectangular 5 gall.

Would anyone else tend to disagree? Or maybe someone else has a better formula?

Gold

 

[ghinksmon]

Gold, referencing my atlas I agree with you that C. habrosus only grows to 1.5 inches, but I also agree with Satin that (at least here) C. paleatus is most often sold as "salt and pepper". That's why common names stink.

 

[Gold]

Indeed common names can be confusing, but scientific names can be hard to pronounce

Either way, how many small 1-1.5 inch corys (what ever species) would you recommend for a rectangular 5/6 gallon tank?

 

[wataugachicken]

3-4