Hi everyone, I was hoping somebody who has cory cats might be able to give me some housing advice. I just got two bronze cory fish, hoping to get more if space allows but the pet store only had these two. They will be in QT for two weeks minimum, but I want to sort of plan out where they will be going after that and what I need to do to alter their permanent tank, if anything. Right now they are in a cycled 10 gallon QT tank with a tiny fantail goldfish. The goldie will be moving into the big goldfish tank when he is out of QT, and I had originally planned to put the cory cats in the black moor goldfish tank. I figured since the moors are so messy and miss so much of their food the added bottom-feeders would help.
After some reading it looks like the corys would do better with a heated tank. However, I live in the desert and it is rarely lower than 76 degrees in any of our tanks, even the 30 gallon goldfish tanks. The only issue is that these tanks are not a stable temperature like the heated tanks are. I do not know if corys can handle temperature fluctuations. I also read that if the goldfish tried to suck them up, the cory's barbs could be dangerous, but I am not sure how big a goldfish would have to be for that to be an issue. I know corys are common betta tank-mates, but I have been reading that they need lots of aeration and bettas usually want very still water. I figure there must be a way to make this work since so many are doing it, but I could use some expert opinions. I am going to upload pictures of each tank they could go in with a brief description in hopes that someone can help me figure out which they would be happiest in.
Tank 1: 30 gallon goldfish tank. Cycled and kept at a temperature between 76 and 81 degrees. Heavily aerated and moderately full of artificial plants. The gravel is rougher in this tank than the others. These two are seperated at the moment because of some issues with nipping. The new goldfish will be going in this tank when he comes out of QT, so there would be a total of three fantails in here when the corys were ready to move.
Tank 2: 30 gallon black moor tank. Also cycle, double filtered, and kept between 78 and 81 degrees. Aerated and fairly open because of the moors' fragile eyes. There is nothing rough in this tank and I would probably be reluctant to add many more plants or ornaments. The larger of the two is about 4.5'' long and the largest of my goldfish. I am not sure if he would be able to fit the cory in his mouth, but I doubt it.
Tank 3: 10 gallon with one male veil-tail betta. Claude is the least aggressive of my bettas. I have only seen him flare once. He stays near the middle of the water and keeps pretty active. His tank is heated and is usually kept around 79 degrees, but it has been up as high as 81 recently because of the weather. His plants are half artificial and half live. The live plants are Amazon Sword. No added aeration in this tank. This tank has been up and running longer than the other betta tanks.
Tank 4: 10 gallon with no added aeration. This tank is also kept at about 79-81 degrees. It does have a heater with a thermostat, so I can ensure that it doesn't get below a certain temperature but it may go as high as 82 degrees on a very hot day. The plants in this tank are artificial. The decoration in the tank has various entrances and could make a good cory cave.
Tank 5: 5 gallon heated tank, no added aeration. I am assuming that this tank would be a last choice because of its size, but I do have it as well. Right now Axol is being treated for ich, so if they were to go in here it would have to be after I was sure he was ich-free.
After some reading it looks like the corys would do better with a heated tank. However, I live in the desert and it is rarely lower than 76 degrees in any of our tanks, even the 30 gallon goldfish tanks. The only issue is that these tanks are not a stable temperature like the heated tanks are. I do not know if corys can handle temperature fluctuations. I also read that if the goldfish tried to suck them up, the cory's barbs could be dangerous, but I am not sure how big a goldfish would have to be for that to be an issue. I know corys are common betta tank-mates, but I have been reading that they need lots of aeration and bettas usually want very still water. I figure there must be a way to make this work since so many are doing it, but I could use some expert opinions. I am going to upload pictures of each tank they could go in with a brief description in hopes that someone can help me figure out which they would be happiest in.
Tank 1: 30 gallon goldfish tank. Cycled and kept at a temperature between 76 and 81 degrees. Heavily aerated and moderately full of artificial plants. The gravel is rougher in this tank than the others. These two are seperated at the moment because of some issues with nipping. The new goldfish will be going in this tank when he comes out of QT, so there would be a total of three fantails in here when the corys were ready to move.
Tank 2: 30 gallon black moor tank. Also cycle, double filtered, and kept between 78 and 81 degrees. Aerated and fairly open because of the moors' fragile eyes. There is nothing rough in this tank and I would probably be reluctant to add many more plants or ornaments. The larger of the two is about 4.5'' long and the largest of my goldfish. I am not sure if he would be able to fit the cory in his mouth, but I doubt it.
Tank 3: 10 gallon with one male veil-tail betta. Claude is the least aggressive of my bettas. I have only seen him flare once. He stays near the middle of the water and keeps pretty active. His tank is heated and is usually kept around 79 degrees, but it has been up as high as 81 recently because of the weather. His plants are half artificial and half live. The live plants are Amazon Sword. No added aeration in this tank. This tank has been up and running longer than the other betta tanks.
Tank 4: 10 gallon with no added aeration. This tank is also kept at about 79-81 degrees. It does have a heater with a thermostat, so I can ensure that it doesn't get below a certain temperature but it may go as high as 82 degrees on a very hot day. The plants in this tank are artificial. The decoration in the tank has various entrances and could make a good cory cave.
Tank 5: 5 gallon heated tank, no added aeration. I am assuming that this tank would be a last choice because of its size, but I do have it as well. Right now Axol is being treated for ich, so if they were to go in here it would have to be after I was sure he was ich-free.