Corys v. BN Pleco

[MichiganMan]

In terms of bottom dwellers for a 29g community tank (note this will be my *first* tank, so hardiness is a consideration!), which would you go with? Other stocking will be something along the lines of...

• 1 angel *or* possibly 1-3 pearl gourami
• 6 or so platys or lemon tetras (depends if I want the angel to do "fry control" or not)
• ??? - may add another small school down the line
• the aforementioned corys or BN pleco

I like the BN mostly because they are cool looking and I like the idea of another larger fish in the tank, but I'm wondering the cories would be more active and thus be more interesting to watch.

Thoughts? Opinions? Pontifications?

 

[Mokomon]

I'm a cory girl all the way

 

[crimsonmoon]

i voted both because i would rather go with more bottom dwellers than schooling fish, but thats just me

 

[rocker92]

i would go with corys but if you get some make sure they are tank breed, i have some and they just hide but their 1 fry that i have is( tank breed) swimming around the tank all day long looking for food!!

 

[Bubbles2112]

Personally, I'd like to have both. But, for a new fishkeeper--I'd go cories only mostly for the interest that the cories would add. They are active fish that are easier to care for and feed for the beginners IMO.

 

[saram521]

I say cories. They are very active, fun to observe and are very cute! Some species of corydoras are fairly hardy, but I wouldn't take advantage of that fact and add them to your tank before it's cycled or skip on weekly maintenance.

Concerning your desire to have one angel or 1-3 pearls, I would opt for one angel or one pearl, but not three pearls. A 29 is smallish for a trio of fish that each get 4 1/2"-5" in size as adults, esp. if the 29 will be the permanent home for these fish.

 

[robott]

they are very different. the pleco will be very shy, especially at first, but will do algae cleanup. the cories are really sweet bumbling balls of schooling fun, who love to sift across your substrate for something good to eat.

i actually love both of these fish a super lot.
i have to common plecos that i would get rid of everyone else in the tank for, except maybe my corys. but my friend has a BN that is just adorable.
it's a hard choice.

 

[MichiganMan]

I say cories. They are very active, fun to observe and are very cute! Some species of corydoras are fairly hardy, but I wouldn't take advantage of that fact and add them to your tank before it's cycled or skip on weekly maintenance.

Concerning your desire to have one angel or 1-3 pearls, I would opt for one angel or one pearl, but not three pearls. A 29 is smallish for a trio of fish that each get 4 1/2"-5" in size as adults, esp. if the 29 will be the permanent home for these fish.

I go back and forth on that as well - from all accounts, the pearls are just great community fish, but the angels are so cool to look at. Of course, having something peaceful like a pearl would let me put some shrimp or snails in, or smaller schooling fish.

Decisions, decisions

 

[d00d]

cories own. they never stop moving

 

[jpappy789]

I think you could possibly go with both if you are diligent with maintenance.