I'm wondering whether a pair of Sterbai will school with 3 Julii Cory cats. I just found out that the Sterbai are armored but I don't think the Julii are which may take them out of the "like" species category. For example, I believe Albinos will school with Bronze cory cats as they are both armored - or maybe there is a better reason. Then again, there is the whole spotted similarity - perhaps someone with more insight to the physiological similarities and reasons why some will get along and other won't might help shed light on this?
What Cory Cats School Together?
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All corys are "armored" (as are some other catfish). Albinos are most often corydoras aeneus, bronze corys, so they are the same species just lacking pigment. They can tell they are the same & will breed.
Corys are social but they like they're own species best. That's why we often say get at least 4-6 of one species rather than 1 or 2 of several kinds. Did you see the YouTube clip of corys in the wild recently linked here? It shows hundreds of 1 species together, very cool.
Corys are social but they like they're own species best. That's why we often say get at least 4-6 of one species rather than 1 or 2 of several kinds. Did you see the YouTube clip of corys in the wild recently linked here? It shows hundreds of 1 species together, very cool.
What other fish do you have or plan to get? I think it would be more fun to watch a same species group play together & you really don't have much room. If it were my tank I'd add 1 or 2 more julii & a small school (maybe 6) of smaller tetra or rasboras or a betta IF you don't already have any fish than the 3 corys. Then you're done until the next tank LOL.
I moved my fish from the 10 gallon hex. Here's what I got:
3 Pink Glofish Danios (store gave them to me free so what the heck and they are excellent for top swimming area)
3 Julii Corydoras - They are beautiful little fish and do the carpet cleaning
2 Oto Cats - Cute little guys who allow me to never have to clean the glass as well. A great synergy.
2 Bumblebee Gobies - They are my favorite, the freshwater version. Can't keep too many of them in one tank but they are funny to watch.
At this point I'm really at about my limit, perhaps adding 1 or maybe 2 small fish. At first I was thinking dwarf gouramis but, as beautiful as they are and small, I think they are still too large for the 16 gallon high with all these fish and not dense vegetation. That's why I thought perhaps 2 other fish or adding in one more of something else. I'd think about another Goby but 2 is fine, you can only support 2 oto cats in a 16 for algae and other plant material, 3 pink danios is enough, so...
3 Pink Glofish Danios (store gave them to me free so what the heck and they are excellent for top swimming area)
3 Julii Corydoras - They are beautiful little fish and do the carpet cleaning
2 Oto Cats - Cute little guys who allow me to never have to clean the glass as well. A great synergy.
2 Bumblebee Gobies - They are my favorite, the freshwater version. Can't keep too many of them in one tank but they are funny to watch.
At this point I'm really at about my limit, perhaps adding 1 or maybe 2 small fish. At first I was thinking dwarf gouramis but, as beautiful as they are and small, I think they are still too large for the 16 gallon high with all these fish and not dense vegetation. That's why I thought perhaps 2 other fish or adding in one more of something else. I'd think about another Goby but 2 is fine, you can only support 2 oto cats in a 16 for algae and other plant material, 3 pink danios is enough, so...
i have at least 4 different types of cories and they don't care who they are cories love each other, i buy all the leftovers at the pet store, so no one is left alone.. my baby pandas love playing with my adult julies..they are always with them..
I just read an interesting article about shoaling and schooling. Some say that the different types will hang together but only as a necessary component of practicality and happens much less so with the same species. Personally I'd love to get 2 Sterbai to go with the Julii but I may just get one more Julii and consider just keeping the 16 gallon with 11 fish, which gives them plenty of breathing space. Funny how you continuously feel you need a larger tank.
i have also read that, and i have over 6 julies and and around 10 of the spotted or bandit type and and many pandas and they all still pal around together, no shunning of each other. just sweet little guys.. sort of like goldfish really happy..
It's been my experience over the years, that most strains of cory do in fact prefer their own from a social standpoint. That being said, they will still frequent and even call home to the same locations as other strains of cory. I have Emeralds, Juli, and sterbai together..they have always lived near the same driftwood together. I noticed upon adding some younger emeralds yesterday, that my lone huge emerald I have now had for about 6 years, is in heaven with his new emerald tankmates. It's like he is a new fish! He has become super active and likes to roam the whole tank with the new young guns.
So in essence, i'd have to agree with the theory that cory do indeed prefer to socialize with their own, if for no other reason then they're own happiness & comfort level.
So in essence, i'd have to agree with the theory that cory do indeed prefer to socialize with their own, if for no other reason then they're own happiness & comfort level.