Cories in a non-substrate tank

[gourami*girl]

Hello all,

Just picked up 6 pygmy cories for my 20 gallon community tank today. :1luvu:

I have them in a QT tank now with no substate in the bottom. I notice that they are acting kind of strange (or maybe not, I've never owned cories before). They're not hanging out on the bottom at all, rather they are staying at the sides of the tank and swimming up and down and back and forth across the sides. Is this normal behavior for these little guys? Is it possible the lack of substrate is bothering them?

Thanks!

[troy]

Pygmy corys spend a lot of time in the mid levels so they are perfectly fine. Right now they are just getting used to the tank.

[Wild Turkey]

Yup those species tend to swim kind of high in the tank relative to other corys. However, i find that corys do act a little funny in a glass bottom tank, i think its because they cant dig into the substrate.

[Gemini]

I've read that corys do act differently without substrate to dig around in. Pygmy corys are just the cutest!!

[Sharon]

I've also heard that you need to keep the tank bottom really clean if you don't use substrate. If the bottom gets slimey the barbels get infected. This is something that I've read, but I've no experience with bare bottom tanks...:ssmile:

[korith]

I have about 20 of these guys, they will pretty much explore the whole tank. They do stay around mid level a lot. Do seem to forage a fair bit.

[gourami*girl]

Thanks for all the input, puts my paranoid mind to rest, lol.

They're very cute fish and so active I can hardly believe it, you'd think they would have to rest occasionally! I only have them in a bare bottomed tank while I am QTing them. They'll be going into a tank with substrate in about 2 weeks or so. Hopefully then they'll be a bit more at ease.

[korith]

Thanks for all the input, puts my paranoid mind to rest, lol.

They're very cute fish and so active I can hardly believe it, you'd think they would have to rest occasionally! I only have them in a bare bottomed tank while I am QTing them. They'll be going into a tank with substrate in about 2 weeks or so. Hopefully then they'll be a bit more at ease.

They do rest at night or even during the day sometimes, they'll rest on any plant, even hornworts, on any decoration, substrate, anywhere there is a spot for them. Fun trying to spot them all.

[Northernguy]

Corys definately need sand to sift through! IMO
That slime killed one of my cory fry.I have nothing on the bottom of my fry tank now but as soon as I get more eggs hatching I plan on sand.

[mac]

Yes that is one thing Corys do act strange when there is no gravel sand in their tank. With out it they feel lost.

IMO I would get sand in the tank ASAP, so they Corys have something to sift around in.

As for Pygmy Corys spending there time swimming around the lower mid section of the tank, I have to disagree. I hardly ever see my Pygmy Corys swim further than a few 2cm above the gravel surface.

mac

[Brookfish]

I have to agree with the guys Re adding sand as a substrate,
cory's love to forage for their food, adding sand will provide
a playground for them.

[troy]

Yes that is one thing Corys do act strange when there is no gravel sand in their tank. With out it they feel lost.

IMO I would get sand in the tank ASAP, so they Corys have something to sift around in.

As for Pygmy Corys spending there time swimming around the lower mid section of the tank, I have to disagree. I hardly ever see my Pygmy Corys swim further than a few 2cm above the gravel surface.

mac
Mac I find that my pygmy will stay at the bottom only when they are resting or eating.

[mac]

Mac I find that my pygmy will stay at the bottom only when they are resting or eating.

Interesting. Mine are normally always on the bottom of the tank.

mac