Which cory cat? Undecided here.

[Ketso]

I went to Aquarium Adventure (Columbus, Oh) yesterday to get plants for my 55g tank. And, so far, I must say they have the best livestock I have seen yet in my area (not that I'm an expert). While I was there, I looked around for the different species of fish I want in my tank after I am done planting it. I sort of had my heart set on Leopard Cories but it would seem nobody around here carries them. So, I made a list of the ones AA carries. There was nothing really that jumped out to me about any one of the cories listed.

They are:
Albino - Bronze - Green - Panda - Paleatus

If you had to choose one, which would it be? Also, I plan to have 9 tetras, 7 Dwarf Rainbows, 9 Cherry Barbs, and a pair of Bolivian or German Blue Rams. As for the cory cats, I am planning 6.

 

[wataugachicken]

usually bronze and albinos are the same species - aeneus - although sometimes the albinos are actually a variation of the paleatus cories. emerald green cories aren't cories at all, but Brochis Splendens, which get 4 inches long - too big for that tank. If your rams breed and get aggressive, they might be able to harm the panda cories, so. . . . bronze or paleatus. personally i don't like the look of the albinos.

 

[Waylander]

I agree with wataugachicken. My first choice would be the paleatus "Peppered" Cory, then the Panda Cory. The Pandas would probably be okay with the Rams, since it's such a large tank and there aren't too many other bottom dwellers, you would just have to make sure they had plenty of places to escape to.

 

[Cory Lover]

Hi,

I really like the four Bronze I have. They are quite daring and very fun to watch (when they're not lying on their pudgy bellies) And also Bronze are the hardiest species of Cory so they could handle being chased a little by a Ram.

So with that being said I would go for Bronze Cories.

Good luck with whatever Cory you choose!

Cory Lover

 

[etspam]

For a 20 gallon tank, what corys would be good? Have been trying with panda corys, but I've lost 4/5 within the last two months. I'm looking for something smallish to fit in the tank, but maybe are a bit more hardy than panda corys. I was trying to limit it to 2" or less, but maybe 3" would work? I have 5 rasboras and 6 gold white cloud minnows also in the tank. I was also thinking of getting some oto cats for cleaning (had to get rid of my gold algae eater for chasing the panda corys, and he wasn't doing a good job, eating the food for the pandas), but heard they're hard to keep too.

 

[monkey_toes]

I sort of had my heart set on Leopard Cories but it would seem nobody around here carries them.

Have you asked at the LFS about special ordering? There are way more kinds of fish on the available stock list than they have in their tanks. Also, many cories are only seasonally available because they are wild-caught. That said, I would suggest you go with C. paleatus, because they're captive-bred and will be very hardy. If you are able to find leopards, get 10 and expect some die-off — it usually happens with wild-caught cories.

 

[hellocatfish]

I have Albino Aeneus (Bronze), One C. Paleatus (Peppered), and Sterba Cory. I find the Bronze and Peppered to have the most personality per ounce. They can also handle not being with their own kind better than Sterba, which need to be in a small shoal to show their most normal behavior. I can find my Aeneus and Pepper having fun all over the tank, and the Aeneus even school with my Danios sometimes.

The only thing about Aeneus and Peppers is that they can get kind of big. Aeneus looks chunky overall as an adult, and Peppers look longish. Mine are all juveniles, but I've seen the adults at the LFS. My juveniles have been very hardy, surviving a cycling tank that just refuses to stay cycled. (Installing a canister filter soon).

 

[Ketso]

Thanks for the input folks!

I think I will go with the Bronze Cories. They seem to be, atleast mentioned, in everyone's replies. I've read up on them a bit too. And I think they will do nicely.

Regards,
DeMonZ