corydoras melanistius killing my fish possible?
- Thread starter HellyHans
- Start date
I worked in the fish business for several years. All corys came in the same bag together, not each one separate. I've been poked numerous times by their dorsal fin. Yes, it hurts, but it could have been things the water introduced into the wound that caused the burning/sting.
I've never even heard of this. They are peaceful fish. That dorsal ray will poke predators and hopefully spook them off. They use it as a defense. I've had to take cory's out of the mouths of larger fish. They spread out their dorsal and pectoral fins to "stab" at the larger fish and making it impossible for them to be swallowed. The corys survive if they are removed soon enough, the larger fish not so much. I think if they were that toxic, everyone would be aware of the issue, much like we know about lion fish..etc. (I've been stung by a lion fish as well)
I've never even heard of this. They are peaceful fish. That dorsal ray will poke predators and hopefully spook them off. They use it as a defense. I've had to take cory's out of the mouths of larger fish. They spread out their dorsal and pectoral fins to "stab" at the larger fish and making it impossible for them to be swallowed. The corys survive if they are removed soon enough, the larger fish not so much. I think if they were that toxic, everyone would be aware of the issue, much like we know about lion fish..etc. (I've been stung by a lion fish as well)
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hi, I'm not arguing with you here,but just because you handled and worked many years in the fish business, doesn't mean you handled a specific specie that had a mild toxin... what I meant to say was, they are packed only with their own species and NOT with other species when shipped around.( not all species have a toxin )
The importer my brother works for probably knows more than me, and if you search for "corydoras toxin" on google.. you will see MANY discussions about some corydoras that have a toxin and some not.
If the person who handled the specie I have and had his thumb hurt for an hour..I'm guessing hes not going to BS me, lol
Also his boss told him after that this kind had a mild toxin.
Anywho, I've done the research online and found the information quite easily concerning some species with a toxin, but thanks for the help.
Now I know my issue here is my 2 oscars
fyi:
http://theaquariumwiki.com/Category:Corydoras
The Poison of Corydoras
Many species of Corydoras have a poisonous self-defence mechanism against being eaten by much larger fish. All Corys have very sharp fin spines and some seem to give off a low level toxic chemical into the water when frightened or highly stressed.[SUP][2][/SUP] This toxin is believed to be only mildly irritating to people and only if the person is stressing and handling the Cory with their bare hands and is stung.[SUP][3][/SUP] [SUP][4]
[/SUP]
Self-poisoning
A rare but recorded event is that at least some some species of Corys appear to be capable of releasing a poisonous mucus from its gills when alarmed which causes itself and other fish in confined volumes of water to rapidly die. Species believed to show this trait are C. adolfoi, C. arcuatus, C. melini, C. metae, C. panda, C. robineae', C. rabauti, C. atropersonatus, C. sterbai and C. trilineatus. This ability is poorly researched and other Corydoras species may be affected. [SUP][5][/SUP][SUP][6][/SUP]
http://theaquariumwiki.com/Category:Corydoras
The Poison of Corydoras
Many species of Corydoras have a poisonous self-defence mechanism against being eaten by much larger fish. All Corys have very sharp fin spines and some seem to give off a low level toxic chemical into the water when frightened or highly stressed.[SUP][2][/SUP] This toxin is believed to be only mildly irritating to people and only if the person is stressing and handling the Cory with their bare hands and is stung.[SUP][3][/SUP] [SUP][4]
[/SUP]
Self-poisoning
A rare but recorded event is that at least some some species of Corys appear to be capable of releasing a poisonous mucus from its gills when alarmed which causes itself and other fish in confined volumes of water to rapidly die. Species believed to show this trait are C. adolfoi, C. arcuatus, C. melini, C. metae, C. panda, C. robineae', C. rabauti, C. atropersonatus, C. sterbai and C. trilineatus. This ability is poorly researched and other Corydoras species may be affected. [SUP][5][/SUP][SUP][6][/SUP]
I agree there are specific breeds that do have a toxin they can use. But, they very very very rarely do. If they did I think you would see a lot more issues. In my tanks I've got almost every breed that does have it. Some that don't. Never ever any issues. But let's yet to the point of your issues. Your incurring deaths in your tank. I'm 99.9% sure its not the cory cats. First is the fish you have dying aren't living at the substrate level where the cories live. You know its not disease as you have quarantined them for 2 weeks. Besides disease wouldn't kill them a couple days after adding. I'm sure you would see signs of issues first as well as right now. You now have seen with your own eyes the 2 agressors in the tank. The 2 oscars. Get rid if them and you should fix the issue. But beware of the pictus cat. They get large and can cause issues to.
yup, that's the reason I started the thread, because I just wanted to know if it WAS possible that the toxin of the cory's are able to actually kill fish.
Now that I know my issue is the oscars, I'm going to Q them tonight and return them to the shop tomorrow.
I know my pictus will get big, but for now, they are ok... once they get bigger, they will be heading to my bigger tank that will have my big fish in them.(big glass knife,Bichir and spiny stripped eel)
