Ideal pH for corys?

[lahlumdi]

What is the ideal pH for Corys? One of my tanks is 7.5 and those corys are active. The other I just tested and it is 7 and they seem quiet. I assume they want it a bit higher? This one is 12.5 gallon, but I have a large piece of driftwood in it and I wonder if I should remove it. The corys are very quiet. I was going to ask if corys are nocturnal... but my peppered corys are quite active during the day. These corys that are being very quiet are on sand. Maybe it is too bright and they don't feel they have any place to hide?? Don't know why they don't seem at ease?

[smaug]

corys are not especially sensitive to ph.Up to 7.5 is fine.In the wild they come from a more acidic environ such as 6.5 or so.Being the catfish they are ph sensitivity is not a biggy for them.

[Nautilus29]

It might just be the size of the tank, corys like to move around alot so since they are in a smaller tank they are not as active, they are also more active when you put them in larger groups so if you have more of them in your 20g tank then in your 12.5 then that could also be another factor.

Im sure the other corys are fine alot of corys just sit around and do nothing all day.

[MandyL]

My cories do tend to be more active when the light is lower, and they seem to hide a lot from the light. So that could be it.

[NickFish]

They are sensitive to light, but not overly so. if your cories are hiding all day you know you have a problem. i have a ton of light over my tanks, and all my cories are always active and always foraging for food (I feed a lot, twice a day 1 wafer per cory, they aren't hungry).

Corydoras need groups, and won't be active unless they are in groups. Your tanks are too small for all but panda cories, and your peppereds are much to big for your size tank, if you were to keep them in the proper sized school that is. What you have is ok, but they are cramped up. How often are you feeding them?

Cories, like all amazonian fish, like a low pH, preferably under 7.0. 6.2-6.8 would be ideal IMO, but what you have is fine. Do not remove the driftwood, you could even put more in or run some peat through your filter if you want to get it lower, but it isn't needed. They aren't sensitive to pH.

How often are you feeding them, what and how much?

[LosC]

Proper acclimation is a more important concern unless you have a high pH problem.

[Nick_Pavlovski]

Hmm, I wonder if there is enough shelter for them to explore and so on?

[jbeining75]

As long as the ph is stable that is far more important than the number. Seven should be fine. Mine is at 7.2 in my betta tank and the cories are great. Just give them some plants to cruise around in. Good luck!!!

[lahlumdi]

Sorry guys, I have been kind of busy! So. Today I tried turning the top light off, and just put as side light on. Didn't make a lot of difference. However when I put a food tablet in, that got them going. I usually feed flakes to the whole tank, many float to the bottom and they eat the leftovers happily.

Recently I got this: TetraMin: The Rich Mix, Food For Bottom Feeders. I am not sure how many to put in.

I have been warned so many times to not overfeed fish... and to not have too many excrements from it. They say that fish find so much to eat in the water from fresh plants and algae, to not worry about it. So I never have worried about underfeeding.

So how much should I feed for these tablets?

[doug z]

NLS and Hikari make good sinking tablets..

You should put them in at night (corys like to eat at night), just before or just after you turn off the tank light..

Start small, one tablet per cory, and if there are any left in the morning, scoop them out..

If they are all gone, then you're good.. maybe add 1 or 2 more tablets, see if THEY dissapear..

Cories also like frozen blood worms, so give them that as a treat..

Corys are not real algae eaters, like plecos or otos....

[lahlumdi]

Hey, Thanks. They seem to really like these tablets.

[doug z]

Yup, just remember to vary their diet..

Blood worms occasionally.. Tubifex once in a while.. Sinking pellets..

And remember to try and go at least one day a week where you don't give them anything..

This is good for their digestive systems.. That goes for all the fish in your tank..

[lahlumdi]

Yup. I make them fast every Sunday. They look at my longingly all day like I'm so horrible.

[doug z]

Stay strong!