Coryd55

Hey I was wondering if I could put some Cory's in the 10G future home of my future betta. He is coming at the very very beginning of February. The transhipper's closest shipping date is 27th =/. I was wondering if I could go ahead and start off the tank with some corys? Maybe 3 or 4? I don't know what specific kind of cory so suggestions would be nice to. I like pandas but I heard they have a low life expectancy for some reason. I have flat glass marbles in the tank right now. I want to put some live plants in but I don't know how with that kinda of substrate.(These things http://www.gelstuff.com/clear-glass-gems.html) Any ideas on that would be apreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Barbrella

After your tank is well cycled and established, it would be best to add the cories so you can quarantine them before adding the betta.

Corys do best on sand, but VERY smooth pebbles (about a 2" layer) can be used and plants put into that.

You can also tie some Java fern and anubias to rocks or driftwood. They're both low light plants and you could put some cryptocornes directly into the substrate.

Pandas like cooler temps than bettas do, so you might be better off getting another kind.

4 of them might be crowding things a bit, unless you get a smaller variety.

Coryd55

I originally planned on sand for the tank but many people said that bettas can eat it and it will kill them. I have http://www.gelstuff.com/clear-glass-gems.html in there right now. Will those work for corys or should I put those somewhere else and replace with some kind of medium sized pebbles?

Barbrella

Those glass pebbles are fine for a fish like a betta, but corys spend their lives digging and searching the substrate for food so those aren't suitable for them. They could easily pinch their barbels while pushing the glass around and it's a very unnatural substrate for them.

As I said, very small gravel would be fine for both plants and corys. Just make sure it's very smooth with no sharp edges. You could even use Eco-Complete for the plants if you want to.

I've kept fish on sand at various times for the last 20 years, and not yet have any died from eating it. BUT, sand isn't best for growing plants.

BTW, I've ordered stuff from that company. Very nice things they have!

Butterfly

I have that type of substrate in my 10G Betta tank and he has a Cory with him.
I think three Corys and the Betta would be fine.
I take no credit/blame of/for the decor in the Betta tank It is my husbands pride and joy (also his Betta). It has green, blue and yellow glass marbles with two neon orange caves. The Betta and Cory love it so that is all that matters. A couple more Corys are coming, I just hate to move them from my tank so I just may buy him more friends.
Carol

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Coryd55

Ok, so the cory's will be fine on the marbles like you/your husband has?

Butterfly

The Betta and Cory have been in that tank for about 7 months without any problems so far
Carol

COBettaCouple

Corys are actually the reason we first switched over to flat marbles instead of gravel when we read they needed smooth surfaces for their barbels, but we were just starting out and not ready to take on sand. I found that the corys quickly learned how to search for food in the marbles.

The corys are more sensitive to water conditions than Betta and definitely would be best added when the tank is cycled.

For plants, you could look for water sprite and let it float on the surface. The Betta would love it and it's really easy to keep.

Coryd55

Ok I have 2 water sprites at the moment(one in the 55 and one in a 30) I can see if a LFS has one around here. I know at least one place carries plants so I will check them out. The tank is cycled. I put a sponge from my QT 10G in there to seed it. I just switched back the sponges today and the readings are perfect. The two ghost shrimp are doing perfect as well. I will look into what kind of corys I can have and I will try to find a water sprite as well. Do bettas like any kinda of cover? like driftwood?

Butterfly

Cory- float a leaf from your water sprite in the top of your tank and it will put on daughter plants . You will have all the water sprite you want
Carol

Coryd55

I noticed these like little floating what looked like mini water sprites but I thouught ther were just fallen off leaves. I just saw roots on them though. I will put as leaf and a few of those in there.

Thanks =)

Butterfly

Check this out
floating leaf
I just let it go and had to raise my lights because this is what it looks like now.
Thats almost half the top of my 75g
Carol

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Coryd55

Wow how long did it take to grow that large?

COBettaCouple

True, every week we pull daughter plants from the 3 tanks that have the water sprite in them. I love how fast and easy it is to grow.

Barbrella

Butterfly, that plant is crazy big!!

Butterfly

the one in the 75G is from the leaf I posted about in September. In November I did add stronger lights but the original plant in the 55G that the first leaf came off of is trying to escape the tank It has just stock strip lights.

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