How many for a 10 gallon tank?

[martiemcg]

I have a 10 gallon open top tank planted with Anacharis, Aponegeton and Pennywort. I cycled it with plants, and with mulm from an established tank, which I highly recommend for the quickest way. It only took about 2 and a half weeks to cycle versus over 6 weeks with fish.

For 6 months now I've had one male Platy and 3 Bronze Corys in there. Water parameters stay great. My Corys aren't exhibiting schooling behavior. Would 2or 3 more Bronze Corys be overcrowding?

[smaug]

You could add 2-3 more ,no problem.

[martiemcg]

Awesome. I love my little Corys.

[gm72]

Agreed that more corys would be appropriate.

[VoidParadigm]

You should add a few more cories, but it doesn't nessicarily mean they'll school when you're watching either. Mine don't start schooling until about 3 a.m.

[EddyC]

As everyone else said, you can get more cories. I'll also add that I'd get 1-3 more platies too. Get all males if you don't want breeding. Platies are typically described as schooling fish, though they don't form tight groups and instead swim by themselves. But they DO prefer having other platies in the same tank with them, and do a lot better with company.

[martiemcg]

Yeah, Earl (the Platy) tries to hang with the Corys. They don't mind but they don't pay him any attention either. Every once in awhile he'll kind of bump one like, "Hey, why are you ignoring me?"

He's become mainly a bottom dweller because he prefers to be with the Corys than to be alone.

Male Platies won't fight with each other? Cause I really didn't want to see him chasing girls around harrassing them. It would ruin the peacefulness of my tank ;-) Selfish me...

[martiemcg]

But 6 Corys and 3 Platies would be too much for a 10 gallon wouldn't it? I have a filter rated for 15 gallons and the tank is planted.... The plants pearling like crazy....

[EddyC]

Technically that tank would be a bit overstocked, but since they occupy different parts of the tank (cories = bottom, platies = top/mid), that stocking should be alright, as long as you do frequent water changes. A 25% water change once a week is enough, and should be standard practice anyway.

Male platies do fight each other a bit, but never hurt each other. They just kinda throw their weight around and strike intimidating poses. What's more important is that they have some company, or they can get really stressed out.

[Deleted User]

We've got a couple 10g's and in each we have 1 male betta, 6 platies, and 2-3 cories. I'd like to add more cories, but not sure I can in that amount of space. I do 50% pcw's 1x a week in the tanks. Probably more than needs to be done but that's how I do it for all the tanks (50%).

[martiemcg]

Thanks guys. I'll give it a whirl. I do feel sorry for Earl....The things he does to try and get those Corys to notice him.

He'll get mouth-fulls of their shrimp pellet and blow it out at them in huge clouds. He pulls the larger tropical flakes under like little blankets and drops them on the Cory's heads like he's trying to feed them. He always finds the food before them, so they follow him when they smell it.

He does seem to be a very social little guy. Watching him, you know there's alot more going on in his head than just eating and pooping.

[wolf_eyes]

Hmm bronze cories are one of the larger species of cories commonly availible. I really wouldn't recommend a 10 for them after they reach the 2" mark. This may also be why they don't school as well. I had a group of three peppered cories in a 10, and a lot of the time they would just hide under the logs and not socialize a lot. but when they were moved into a 20gL they became very active, would school around and spawn. I also added to the group and they very very happy little guys. I would add to the school, but if/when you get the chance, I would also upgrade to a bigger tank