Cory

temull2 · 08-23-2009, 11:04 AM

I bought a spotted Cory (sorry for the unofficial name, lol) because my friend had one in her tank and I thought it was the cutest thing ever. So I got one, but I noticed that hers actually swims up to the top to eat the flakes, bloodworms, and such... but mine never seems to notice. I know they're supposed to be bottom feeders, but the little guy's been in there for a few days and I have never seen him eat anything! Is this normal?

Kissyboots · 10-15-2009, 12:12 PM

Cories like to be in groups. I had two when I started fishkeeping (should have had more) and one of them died. The other didn't eat until I got her a buddy. Now I have a group of five and they are doing well. You might want to get 2-3 more if you have enough space. If not, then return it.

temull2 · 10-15-2009, 12:43 PM

He's still alive and kicking! I still never seem him eat from the top... but I guess he always picks up what the other fish leave behind...

I'll probably get him some buddies to play with soon.

Kissyboots · 10-15-2009, 02:09 PM

Cories usually don't eat from the surface, so it's normal for him not to go up to the top. You could also try algae wafers if you're only feeding flakes now. That may help.

temull2 · 10-15-2009, 02:24 PM

there's tons of algae in my tank.. I was actually considering getting a pleco bc it keeps cropping up... should I just leave it for the cory?

Kissyboots · 10-15-2009, 04:47 PM

Cories aren't very good algae eaters. You definitely don't want a pleco because most species will get too large for your tank.

A good solution would be to return the cory (since you don't have room for more) and get 3-4 otos. They clean up algae and don't procude a lot of waste. However, this would not solve your algae problem. Check why you have algae in the first place...too much light, etc. But otos would be nice to have.

beckyd · 10-17-2009, 11:56 AM

Cories not only aren't the best algae controllers, they aren't herbivores. You need to drop in bottom dwelling shrimp pellets for them, not algae wafers. They will eat it, but they need the shrimp.
I agree with kissyboots about skipping the pleco. I took one that had outgrown a friend's tank. He lives with our turtle. Turtle tanks get alot of algae. Its still not enough for him, he still needs algae wafers and he's huge- about 11 inches long. That's alot of algae eater. And he's a pooping machine.
Control your algae by getting your water quality under control and get your cory some friends. Mine spawned and despite me not taking the eggs out, a few survivied. I now have two cory babies. Talk about cute! I love my cories, but you can't count on them to clean up the algae. They help clean up left over food instead.

AndiH · 10-18-2009, 05:00 PM

Speaking of what cories will eat.. I bought some blood worms for my betta but he doesn't seem to like them. Do you think the cories can/will eat them?

Kissyboots · 10-18-2009, 06:15 PM

They might. From experience, they tend to eat anything labeled "food."

beckyd · 10-28-2009, 06:52 PM

My cories LOVE bloodworms. So does everybody else, weird for a betta not to. Oh well, feed them to the cories.

08-23-2009, 11:04 AM	#1
temull2 Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 35	Cory I bought a spotted Cory (sorry for the unofficial name, lol) because my friend had one in her tank and I thought it was the cutest thing ever. So I got one, but I noticed that hers actually swims up to the top to eat the flakes, bloodworms, and such... but mine never seems to notice. I know they're supposed to be bottom feeders, but the little guy's been in there for a few days and I have never seen him eat anything! Is this normal?

10-15-2009, 12:12 PM	#2
Kissyboots Super Fish Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,865	Cories like to be in groups. I had two when I started fishkeeping (should have had more) and one of them died. The other didn't eat until I got her a buddy. Now I have a group of five and they are doing well. You might want to get 2-3 more if you have enough space. If not, then return it. __________________ Kissy's Tank <--NEW PICS AND BLOG ENTRIES!!

10-15-2009, 12:43 PM	#3
temull2 Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 35	He's still alive and kicking! I still never seem him eat from the top... but I guess he always picks up what the other fish leave behind... I'll probably get him some buddies to play with soon. __________________ 10g Tank: -1 mickey mouse platy -1 black molly fry (-ish.. it's growing up to normal size now. ) -2 Whiteskirt Tetras -1 Blackskirt Tetra -1 peppered Cory I know it's a bit crowded.... but it just sort of happened. oops.

10-15-2009, 02:09 PM	#4
Kissyboots Super Fish Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,865	Cories usually don't eat from the surface, so it's normal for him not to go up to the top. You could also try algae wafers if you're only feeding flakes now. That may help. __________________ Kissy's Tank <--NEW PICS AND BLOG ENTRIES!!

10-15-2009, 02:24 PM	#5
temull2 Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 35	there's tons of algae in my tank.. I was actually considering getting a pleco bc it keeps cropping up... should I just leave it for the cory? __________________ 10g Tank: -1 mickey mouse platy -1 black molly fry (-ish.. it's growing up to normal size now. ) -2 Whiteskirt Tetras -1 Blackskirt Tetra -1 peppered Cory I know it's a bit crowded.... but it just sort of happened. oops.

10-15-2009, 04:47 PM	#6
Kissyboots Super Fish Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,865	Cories aren't very good algae eaters. You definitely don't want a pleco because most species will get too large for your tank. A good solution would be to return the cory (since you don't have room for more) and get 3-4 otos. They clean up algae and don't procude a lot of waste. However, this would not solve your algae problem. Check why you have algae in the first place...too much light, etc. But otos would be nice to have. __________________ Kissy's Tank <--NEW PICS AND BLOG ENTRIES!!

10-17-2009, 11:56 AM	#7
beckyd Medium Fish Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 357	Cories not only aren't the best algae controllers, they aren't herbivores. You need to drop in bottom dwelling shrimp pellets for them, not algae wafers. They will eat it, but they need the shrimp. I agree with kissyboots about skipping the pleco. I took one that had outgrown a friend's tank. He lives with our turtle. Turtle tanks get alot of algae. Its still not enough for him, he still needs algae wafers and he's huge- about 11 inches long. That's alot of algae eater. And he's a pooping machine. Control your algae by getting your water quality under control and get your cory some friends. Mine spawned and despite me not taking the eggs out, a few survivied. I now have two cory babies. Talk about cute! I love my cories, but you can't count on them to clean up the algae. They help clean up left over food instead. __________________ Save money. Earn money. Buy more fish! www.365days-in-the-black.com 75g Community tank: lyretail balloon belly mollies, black moscow guppies, red hifin lyretail swords, 10 cardinal tetras, cory cats 29g :2 fantail goldfish 55g :angels, 55g :turtle tank,ghost shrimp, 1 pleco, 2 tadpoles (until they grow legs)10g :female bettas, 1 ADF 5g: king betta, 2g: VT betta

10-18-2009, 05:00 PM	#8
AndiH Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 60	Speaking of what cories will eat.. I bought some blood worms for my betta but he doesn't seem to like them. Do you think the cories can/will eat them? __________________ 14g, 3 cory (2 panda, 1 skunk), Colisa lalia (1 flame and 1 blue?) 5g, Divided with 2 male betta

10-18-2009, 06:15 PM	#9
Kissyboots Super Fish Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,865	They might. From experience, they tend to eat anything labeled "food." __________________ Kissy's Tank <--NEW PICS AND BLOG ENTRIES!!

10-28-2009, 06:52 PM	#10
beckyd Medium Fish Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 357	My cories LOVE bloodworms. So does everybody else, weird for a betta not to. Oh well, feed them to the cories. __________________ Save money. Earn money. Buy more fish! www.365days-in-the-black.com 75g Community tank: lyretail balloon belly mollies, black moscow guppies, red hifin lyretail swords, 10 cardinal tetras, cory cats 29g :2 fantail goldfish 55g :angels, 55g :turtle tank,ghost shrimp, 1 pleco, 2 tadpoles (until they grow legs)10g :female bettas, 1 ADF 5g: king betta, 2g: VT betta