|Best environ. for cory? Cory happier in empty hospital tank, than regular tank???

[Sazeyplus2]

I put my albino cory into an empty hospital tank (just water and an air stone) and a few days ago because he had some crazy red mark on his head, and I was afraid it was a disease of some kind. Since then, he has done great, swimming all around, happy as can be. Meanwhile, I've never seen my other 2 corys, or my guppies act that happy for that matter. Water quality is the same in both tanks.

My question is, what would be the best environment for my albino corys and guppies? I would have thought this little cory all by himself in a barren tank would be sad, but he's the happiest I've ever seen him! In my regular tank, I have 2 live plants, gravel substrate (about 1 1/2 inches deep), some decorative small aquatic rocks, a fake roman column thing, and a sponge bob pineapple house.

Any thoughts/opinions on best environ for my fishies would be appreciated!!

[Joop]

Add some Sudo fine sand, some driftwood or plants will helps alot...

[Sazeyplus2]

K, thanks.

[icemanken85]

Yes, using fine sand like sudo will enable the cory to siphon the sand into their mouth and release through the gills as they search for food.

It is something fascinating to watch..

[tetrakid]

Sometimes, choosy and spoilt Corys may even pass rejected food through their gills, creating piles of uneaten food all over the place, lol.

[Sazeyplus2]

I got some drift wood, I have live plants, but corys still unhappy! Guy at petsmart advised against sand for a beginner like me because I clean my tank more than once a month, and can be tricky to clean...i did clear part of the aquarium floor of any gravel, so the corys could glide along and forage easily. the first 5 minutes they all seemed happy, but are now back to just sitting. What gives???

[vannel]

Most cories will probably sit around and look pretty once they have had their share of food. I have a giant Nana in my tank to provide ample shade above the substrate and the cories seem to enjoy it. Personally, I use a very fine sand (lighter tone than Sudo sand and finer grains as well) as my substrate and that ensures the cories will not suffer from barbel issues. Also, you might want to try dimming your lights a little bit. I used to paste a piece of printer paper below my light tube to diffuse the light so that the tank is relatively dim.

[tetrakid]

Where are they usually when they are 'sitting'? On the bare portion of the aquarium floor, or where there is gravel?

I got some drift wood, I have live plants, but corys still unhappy! Guy at petsmart advised against sand for a beginner like me because I clean my tank more than once a month, and can be tricky to clean...i did clear part of the aquarium floor of any gravel, so the corys could glide along and forage easily. the first 5 minutes they all seemed happy, but are now back to just sitting. What gives???

[stormhawk]

If you fear using sand, rounded pebbles or quartz gravel will do. In Corydoras tanks, you don't really need a thick layer of substrate because they will uproot any plants if given a chance. When you move or disturb the substrate, dirty substances will cause problems for the Corydoras. They are sensitive to such things, especially methane gas bubbles that form when uneaten food or poop rots in the substrate.

They don't need live plants as much, but having hornwort or some other fast growing surface plant will help to deal with excess nitrates. You must be patient because not all Corydoras behave the same way. Your albino cory running about the hospital tank doesn't mean that it is happy or healthy. A stressed fish will swim all over the place with erratic movements if placed in an un-cycled tank or water conditions are not to its liking.

In your original tank, you mentioned you had decorative rocks, a fake Roman column thing and a Spongebob house. Are these painted? If yes, what type of paint? Unsealed paint that contains lead will KILL your fish. This is why I do not use any painted fake ornaments in my tanks. If you have to decorate your tank, get a broken terracotta flowerpot.