Cory Behavior by Species

Wycco

Wycco

Eat more pine trees
Apr 19, 2009
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34^N 81^W
Real Name
Kim Jong Il
Do different species of Cory have different behaviour patterns?

I understand that some Pygmy are actually more of a mid-level fish than a lower level fish. Others Pygmy more typical of a bottom dweller.

Do any other Cory species exhibit this trait (frequent mid-level swimming)? What about activity- is one species more active than another?

Or-for the most part, are Cory species identical in behaviour and only differ in colouration and slight differences to body shape?

What I'm especially interested in is in the more common species- with my experience level I'm not going to risk a rare or expensive cory!




Also, whilst talking about Cory species and behaviour... regarding schooling. I've read that when in mixed species (and only one or two of each species) they will school together- but when there is 3 or more of their own species they prefer to school seperately by species. (leading me to believe they would be more comfortable with their own).

If 4 Albino Aeneus and 4 Green Aeneus were in the same tank- would they school as one or would they seperate into two groups? Same species just different colour. Obviously I'd want my Cory to be as happy as possible- and if they'd be happier as a single colour I'd do that- but if the mixed colours of the same species school together I'd rather that as it would bring more diversity to my aquarium.


Thank you.
 
My 4 aeneus (albino/bronze/gold) hang out together, and the 3 peppereds hang out together, but the 2 groups don't really mix. They're not particularly tight schoolers anyway, they might be for you since you have more. My peppereds are definitely more shy than the aeneus are, and stick more towards the bottom. The aeneus are often all over the tank. (They try to current surf like the danios, but they're not quite as graceful lol).
 
Thank you... that is, more or less what I wanted to hear.

I want two species of bottom dwellers and I'm torn between two groups of Corys or one group of Corys and some Kuhlis or Horsefaced Loaches.

If Cory's all have the same behaviour I'd probably just get one species of Cory and some Kuhlis rather than two species of Cory.


Aeneus and Peppered are two kinds I was considering (partially because of how common they are- so lots of input for me asking questions if I have problems... and a larger gene pool so likely healthier).

If one is more active than the other- one stays on the bottom and one swims higher that would be a benefit to me.


- I wonder if your Aeneus are more active though because there are more of them than the Peppers- if you had another Pepper or two would they be as active.

You Aeneus school together- but I wonder if they would if you had more of each colour- or if the different coloured Aeneus would segregate into smaller groups based on colour.
 
Cories definitely do not all exhibit the same behavior! I have kept and still keep several varieties. I can speak about the pygmaeus, false julii, sterbai and albino aneus. By far the most active and comical/entertaining are the albino aneus. Out in open all the time, swimming at mid and bottom level, sleeping out in the open on plant leaves and such. They do not dart and hide when approaching the tank. I have an adult group of 6 that are a few years old in my sidthimunki tank, 4 males and 2 females. They do not move in a school but they have their own best friends. Rarely is one alone, rather they stay in a click of 2, 3 or sometimes 4. The females I see of all the cories seem to be a bit more less dependent on other cories for needing a swimming companion. The males seem to gather together more with other males or their favorite female and tend to not spend much time foraging alone. I would imagine the green aneus would be the same in personality since they are just a different color strain of the same variety.

The juliis for the most part stay near the bottom and tend to hide when you approach the tank. With a group of 9 I observed no total group schooling, but again they split up into smaller groups of 3, 4, 5 and travel most of the time in that type of buddy group. They did not travel with other cories in the tank. Not as entertaining as the aneus, but cute nonetheless, and quite a bit smaller when full grown than the aneus.

With the pygmaeus, I had a very large group of 38, different sizes and ages. Whenever new ones were added, complete group schooling was observed for about the first week. Then they too broke up into favorite groups. In all the varieties I've kept, it seems that males stay with a particular female. Even when spawning is going on with one of my females, it never involves all the males, just a small group. There were times I had 3 different groups of pygmaus spawning at once, but only in small groups keeping to themselves, while the other males that were attached to females in nonspawning groups did not join in. Pygmaeus are shy and spend most of the time hiding and were not out in the open unless spawning was going on. Most times, the tank looked empty and I didn't even feed them unless I knew no one would be entering the room for several hours or just at lights out. Otherwise they would not come out of hiding to eat it. Their behavior might be a little more brave if their were other swimming fish in the tank to make them feel more secure, but I kept them in their own tank.

Sterbai also don't school as a whole group. With a group of 19, they also break up into smaller groups and travel that way. A few males to each female. They are not as bold and active in the open when you're in the room as the albino aneus. Mine always scatter to the back of the tank when they see people movement in the room. They are mostly bottom dwellers as well. They are a large cory, almost as big as the aneus.

I think most cories won't pal up with a different variety unless you only have one. They do seek cory companionship. In the pet store I recently observed in a tank with maybe 9 albino aneus and 3 peppered, one of the peppered had chosen an albino to buddy up with and would not leave it, actually just about swimming on top of it's back each time the albino moved. I felt so bad knowing that they'd get probably get separated when purchased. (I am such a emotional cotton ball! lol!).
 
Ahhh excellent... So it sounds like from a perspective of having an entertaining cory- Aeneus is the one to go with. Inexpensive, easy to find and entertaining.

If I get two species- I'd like one to stay low and one to swim around and explore more- just for the sake of variety. In behaviour as well as colour and shape.

I was watching the Cory in the LFS- they had them all in one tank labeled "Assorted Cory $4.99 each" I did notice there that the Albino and the pepper looked more active than the axelrod (or what I assume was an axelrod- looked like the picture of them I've seen).

When I buy- I'll buy from the guy here at AC rather than from my LFS. My LFS has a bad rep and the guy on AC has a great one... that and it would cost less.


A lot of questions answered on here though, thank you!





The one that remains though. When Cory seperate by species... is it ONLY by species- or will they seperate by colour too? If I have 8 Aeneus and 6 Peppers - would it be better for the Aeneus if I get the same colour- or would they not care if I mixed colours for the same species? I've seen recommended to get a minimum of 6 of the same species of Cory. From my perspective I think 4 Albinos and 4 green would be more entertaining- but I want whats best for the fish- and if they would prefer 8 green I'd do that.

I know Danios for example couldn't care less what colour they school with- a red glofish is the same as a Zebra as far as they're concerned. Is a white Aeneus the same as a green one to an Aeneus?
 
It is only by species, not by color within the species.
 
Fantastic news!!!!!

Thank you everyone!
 
I have a 55 bow front 18 types 5-6 of each type they school as a big group when feeding and split off into there own groups after and spend time in ther groups amongest the whole crowd.

Currently as of today I have 49 types of cories. All cories act different but tank raised cories are by far more active than wild caught no matter what the species. Thats just from observing my cories. Aeneus cories have been breed for a hundred years maybe more so it seems they are very well suited for a hobbyist that wants great activity and good hard working cleaners.
 
i have a mishmash of a lot of different species and most seem to shoal together. the most separatist of them would be the emeralds (brochis splendens), but if they get wound up and start playing chase me around the tank, most of the others will join in :)
 
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