help!!!! my corys look sick

[stingray4540]

I hope someone can help me. My husband has a 29 gallon aquarium that he has set up as a community tank. We have 2 dwarf gouramis, 8 white clouds, 1 german blue ram, 2 algae eaters, and 3 panda corys. We started out with 2 panda corys, then one of them died mysteriously. So we got 2 more. Now 2 of them don't look like they're doing too well. One of them was on his side a couple minutes ago, he has since righted himself, other than that he doesn't look too bad. The other one looks skinny and his fins look a little chewed up. We don't know if these are the new ones or if one of these is one of our original pandas. I know people have said that GBRs don't get along well with corys, but is this the only explanation? She (the GBR) chases one every now and then, but nothing too aggressive. The corys swim all over the tank and she usually doesn't pay any attention. Like I said, only one of the corys has chewed fins. My husband said our water perimeters are fine and stable, so if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. I don't want to lose these guys. :sad:

 

[MoparORnoCAR]

my guess would be the algae eater was bullying the corys. I read that they can be quite agressive, especially towards other bottom dwellers.

I hope everything works out for you!

 

[stingray4540]

our algae eaters are ottos. I know I heard that the chinese algae eaters can be quite aggressive, but is this true for all algae eaters? I've never seen the ottos bother any of the other fish, but I have learned that fish can be very sneaky. We have a lightly planted tank and we have rocks set up in one corner of the tank as a little cave for the corys.

 

[Galaxie]

our algae eaters are ottos. I know I heard that the chinese algae eaters can be quite aggressive, but is this true for all algae eaters? I've never seen the ottos bother any of the other fish, but I have learned that fish can be very sneaky.

No, ottos are completely non-aggressive. If there is a large slow fish around, the otto might hang on it every now and then, but unlike the CAE's, he is not there to leech their slime coat.

 

[Roan Art]

I highly doubt it would be the otos, as the fins are "chewed" as you say. I would suspect either the ram or the gouramis and it wouldn't surprise me if it was both.

Can you remove the ram to QT for a bit and see if it stops? If it doesn't, then it's probably the gouramis. To make sure, you can put the ram back and QT the gouramis for a bit.

Roan

 

[reiverix]

I've also heard about rams and corys not being too compatible. In this case though, I would move the corys to QT and observe them for there. If their fins start improving and they become more active then you will know they do not have an infection of sorts.

We started out with 2 panda corys, then one of them died mysteriously. So we got 2 more. Now 2 of them don't look like they're doing too well. One of them was on his side a couple minutes ago, he has since righted himself, other than that he doesn't look too bad.

This is where I'd be concerned and shows the value of a QT tank. If a new fish dies, and the cause is unknown, then getting more to replace it from the same tank at the LFS could be fatal.

 

[stingray4540]

I know a QT is important, unfortunately we don't have one set up and we don't have the room for one, is there any thing else we can do? The gouramis have never bothered any of the fish. They are curious when new fish are introduced, but they tend to lose interest rather quickly. The gouramis just pester each other and even then they have never done any damage. The female ram is more aggressive, but she's even chilled out since the corys have been added. One of the corys is always out swimming around like he has no idea anythings going on, while the other two tend to just hang out in and around the rock cave.
Along the lines of the infection issue, does anyone know of any diseases, infections, etc. that corys are prone to get?

 

[TKOS]

A QT can be as simple as a rubbermaid container with a sponge filter and heater. Easy to setup and cheap for temp use. Lights aren't needed, just use some filter media from your existing tank.

What sort of diet are the cories getting?

 

[stingray4540]

we feed our fish frozen blood worms, frozen brine shrimp alternating every other day and a few nibbles of flakes whenever we feel like it. We also started feeding them zucchini once to twice a week. If it just turns out that the cories can't be kept with the ram, could we replace the cories with shrimp or will she hate the shrimp too? If she wouldn't mind the shrimp how many should I get (like ammano probably). I would rather trade in the cories then have another one die.

 

[TKOS]

Don't know about shrimp but I would start now by adding a few ghost shrimp. They are very cheap and if they become a snack won't set you back too much.