Best number of corys for my tank?

**pckroeger** · 03-02-2013, 09:12 AM

This is my tank below. It is a 100L/26g tank and I have decided to change the current black and white gravel to a fine 1mm sand so I can properly house corys.
Based on your own experience and the picture of my tank, how many corys should I get?
I was planning to get julii corys but if you think otherwise I am open to changing which kind of corys I get :)

**~firefly~** · 03-02-2013, 09:53 AM

I can't see a picture posted, but if your tank is a long (as opposed to a high) you should be ok with 6-8 if your footprint is big enough. That's a neat little school.

**talldutchie** · 03-02-2013, 10:12 AM

Here are his tank dimensions. He posted these when asking how much sand he needs:

I have a 100L/26g tank, dimensions: 66cmX39cmX48cm/26inX16inX19in (LXWXH).

**pckroeger** · 03-02-2013, 10:17 AM

sorry i forgot to attach!
here it is:

**~firefly~** · 03-02-2013, 10:26 AM

Ah yes, I've seen this photo in another thread. I'd lose the volcano to free up floor space. Consider the smaller panda Cory and 6-8 should do well if you have a good water changing schedule.

**FreakyFishie** · 03-02-2013, 01:58 PM

I keep hearing that cories like to be in the bigger groups 6-8, but I personally only have 3 in my 36 gal, it's a show tank so the bottom dimensions are about the same as yours. My cories are actually much happier in the smaller group and are always out and about doing their thing, they're even spawning. I would personally say that 6 is the most to have for your tank, 4 being a good number. Cories get to be decently big 2-3" so if you had 6 that's 18" and 8 are 24" of tank taken up by cories.

I saw they are happier in the smaller group because at first I had 5 and two paired up and started stressing out the other three so bad they died. I bought two more and only one was accepted into the group to make the three I have now, they ostracized the 4th one and he died too. So they actually made themselves into a small group.

**talldutchie** · 03-02-2013, 02:14 PM

Have you ever seen footage of cories in the wild? Might be interesting, there's several clips on youtube.

**~firefly~** · 03-02-2013, 07:12 PM

I think the only way of measuring fish "happiness" is by scientifically monitoring stress levels. More often than not, in fish, this is done by monitoring breathing rates.

Breeding is not a good indicator of happiness, particularly in cories where frenzied breeding is often triggered by a sudden drop in water quality or other conditions.

Interesting.

**talldutchie** · 03-02-2013, 07:28 PM

Drifting off slightly...

Most aquarium kept species breed for one of two reasons

1. Conditions are likely to deteriorate so much that the fish knows it's going to die but guesses a few eggs or fry might survive
2.A change in conditions signifies the arrival of the rainy season which means food for the fry.

**ameliaaahx** · 03-02-2013, 10:22 PM

Way back when they used to recommend keeping Cories in pairs, and then they did some research and learned that they're a schooling fish are have the greatest longevity and general health when kept in an adequate school... I would advise against telling beginners not to keep schooling fish in schools.

I think 6 Panda Cories would be perfect in that tank, though.