Are my corys starving?

[Lady Hobbs]

I found a dead cory last week and this morning another. I have no idea why and they are the only bottom feeders in the tank other than the "blankety-blank" snails.

I drop in algae pellets and veggie wafers for the corys at night and in the morning they are covered with snails so I wonder if the corys are able to get any. Could they possibly be starving? Everyone says overfeeding causes a snail explosion but the corys have to eat, too.

My plan is to pull up all the plants and soak in alum and clean all the substrate with HOT water to kill off the snails but I was hoping to do this when I move. I really hate to go thru all this twice. I don't mind the work involved other than the catching of all the fish.
:scry:

[Northernguy]

I just did an overhaul on my ten because of snails.
They are so much fun aren't they!
I feed my cories sinking pellets at night and in the morning.As soon as they soften up the cories dig in.
Maybe its the type of pellet you are using.I feed mine the Nutrifin Max sinking pellets.They also go after the flake food I feed the guppies.

[Lady Hobbs]

I have about 50 snails on one stupid pellet so maybe the corys are getting none of it. D*** snails are like having a housefull of flies! I hate them.

[clayton]

I feed mine Aquarian bottom feeder shrimp pellets. I don't think corys feed primarily on algae.
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The article here suggests that they like some meat in their diet, you may want to try a different food.

[robflanker]

I feed mine Aquarian bottom feeder shrimp pellets. I don't think corys feed primarily on algae.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]
The article here suggests that they like some meat in their diet, you may want to try a different food.

Hobbs might be using the Hikari sinking wafers - which come in algae and non-algae.

You could always feed them bloodworms. Corys love those and the snails would have a hard time beating out the corys. The other fish would be interested in them too, but i find very few of my fish will touch anything once its on the bottom. Thus, the corys get them

[clayton]

Good point, I didn't think about that...

I just thought it odd, my corys don't even let the pellets hit the bottom good before they start nibbling on them.

[Discus_Dude]

How long have you had them and what temp do you keep your tank(s)?

[rich311k]

Your corys are not starving from competeing with snails. they would just knock them out of they way. Not to mention they would get there a lot faster. Something else is bothering them, I wish I had an idea what.

[Northernguy]

Clayton, Corys do not eat algae.
At least I have never heard of one eating any before.They may pick at it but they will never eat much of it.

I hope you find a pellet they enjoy Hobbs!

[clayton]

Clayton, Corys do not eat algae.
At least I have never heard of one eating any before.They may pick at it but they will never eat much of it.

I hope you find a pellet they enjoy Hobbs!

I didn't think they did, mine love the shrimp pellets. The article said that they eat some plant matter and are foragers, but I doubt that means algae.

[Northernguy]

No algae! lol:22:

[Lab_Rat]

I also doubt they're starving, my cories push others out of the way for food. You may want to try the Hikari bottom feeder wafer rob mentioned as cories need a meatier diet, not algae wafers. I feed those to my cories and they also eat the pellets that drop for the other fish. They love bloodworms as well.

How are your nitrates? Have you noticed any barbel erosion?

[Lady Hobbs]

I have several others that are all fine. I just lost those two and still have the ones I've had for a couple years.

Mine get several things to eat, not just what I mentioned. They eat the fish pellets, cukes, zucchini, apple, etc. All seem to eat very well but seeing all these snails this morning and finding another dead cory just got me to wondering.

I am in the process of tearing this tank apart and killing snails. What a mess this is gonna be!