CPO tank mates

**Kenny Leong** · 14th Apr 2012, 14:23

Hey folks,

I'm intending to get a CPO from East Ocean Aquatic Trading Centre.

Right now, my (very casual) aquarium has:

7 tetras (cardinal and neon)
5 lyretail swordtails
3 cherry barbs
3 corys (tow bronze and one albino)
2 guppies
1 ghost shrimp
Some plants and hiding places for the shrimp (and fish)

I'm also looking to get some freshwater clams to add life to the aquarium and help with keeping the water clean.

Here's the question — will the corydoras' constant active bottom feeding and poking around stress the CPO?

If I do get clams, will they be constantly disturbed by the corys and end up starving and eventually dying?

The tank ain't big, measuring 22cm tall, 18cm wide and 60 cm long.

Many thanks!

**mincedmeat** · 14th Apr 2012, 14:30

Both your corys and CPOs are bottom feeders so they will compete for food. What is likely to happen is that the CPOs will start being territorial by nipping at the corys (you will start seeing damaged fins) but I don't think there will be deaths. Just make sure there's enough food to go around.

**Kenny Leong** · 15th Apr 2012, 12:45

Thank you very much, mincedmeat!

**mincedmeat** · 15th Apr 2012, 16:28

No worries about it. Your tank seems narrow, so you've got to be mindful of how much livestock your tank can take. Have fun!

**stormhawk** · 16th Apr 2012, 18:50

I wouldn't add the clams because the possibility of them dying is high. They are basically filter feeders and if you cannot provide them with fine food they will starve in your tank. The rooting behavior of the Corydoras will affect them one way or another. The CPO should be fine but watch for its night time activities.

**mincedmeat** · 17th Apr 2012, 10:26

Originally Posted by stormhawk

I wouldn't add the clams because the possibility of them dying is high. They are basically filter feeders and if you cannot provide them with fine food they will starve in your tank. The rooting behavior of the Corydoras will affect them one way or another. The CPO should be fine but watch for its night time activities.

What "night time activities" are you referring to??

**stormhawk** · 18th Apr 2012, 08:57

They are fairly active at night, or when it's dark. That is when they go foraging around the tank and nipping at anything that they do not "like". Even though they are small, they still have claws which can hurt sleeping fish.

**mincedmeat** · 18th Apr 2012, 09:12

Not so much surprising there as my corys are nipped at by the CPOs (which I think its a constant affair). The corys are a little more docile in nature.

**Kenny Leong** · 19th Apr 2012, 10:48

I've had the CPO in the tank now for four days and so far I haven't noticed any irregularities to the fish, including the corys and the guppy.

Let's hope they continue to co-exist (if they already are) happily.

**Emokidz** · 25th Apr 2012, 04:10

My experience with CPOs told me that they are nasty and vicious little creatures. One lone CPO killed all my yamato shrimp one by one whenever they molted - witnessed it once when I chanced upon im trying to eat the struggling yamato.