A few questions before I start a tank.

**Splishy Splashy** · 02-10-2013, 07:27 PM

If endlers are not sold, would guppies be alright, though? I have heard of lots of people keeping all male guppies and having them behave.

**~firefly~** · 02-10-2013, 07:34 PM

Endlers is a good idea actually (also slightly smaller). If not you should be fine with four or five males and eight cories. Consider panda cories - they stay quite small.

**talldutchie** · 02-10-2013, 07:42 PM

I recommended bronze because they're pretty much newbie proof but yes, pandas is another option.

In any case, once again.

1. buy tank, I assumed a 20 gallon long for this project
2. get a filter (have to defer to the Americans here for suggestions on that)
3. get a heater
4. get a decent liquid test kit
5. Get some ammonia
6. get some pool filter sand
7. fill tank to your liking
8. read an article on cycling
9. start that process while you ponder how to decorate the tank (wood and plants or fake plants and ornaments, it's up to you)
10. once it's cycled get your first batch of fish
11. wait a week or two and introduce the second species.
12. remember, guppies eat flake, cories eat a cory wafer.

**Splishy Splashy** · 02-10-2013, 07:44 PM

Hmm. So eight panda cories and four or five male endlers. What is a good male-to-female ratio for cories?

**~firefly~** · 02-10-2013, 07:54 PM

I've never been able to sex them so you probably won't be able to control this. As ever - I would recommend more females than males, at least 2:1.

**Splishy Splashy** · 02-10-2013, 08:03 PM

Any tips for filters? I think I'm pretty much decided on what I'm going to do. All I think I need to do now is find out what filter to get, figure out the cost of everything, and find a good spot to put the tank.

**talldutchie** · 02-10-2013, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by ~firefly~

I've never been able to sex them so you probably won't be able to control this. As ever - I would recommend more females than males, at least 2:1.

Actually, they breed better if you get more males than females. Either way is fine, they're very mild mannered among themselves. Sexing is indeed tricky, with adults you can see that the females are rounder, more chubby.

**Splishy Splashy** · 02-10-2013, 08:40 PM

I'll see if I can get more females than males, then. I don't want to have to deal with fry and having to do something with them once they hatch.

**talldutchie** · 02-10-2013, 08:50 PM

Cories that actually make it trough the first 6 weeks can easily be sold off. It's not a difficult species to breed but there's always demand.

**~firefly~** · 02-10-2013, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by talldutchie

Actually, they breed better if you get more males than females. Either way is fine, they're very mild mannered among themselves. Sexing is indeed tricky, with adults you can see that the females are rounder, more chubby.

Interesting, I didn't know this.

I have 6 peppered cories. One of them is HUGE compared to the others (twice the size) and I've seen her laying eggs. Not sure about the others.