Help: Shelter for Corys??

badger-pants · June 8th, 2009

Hi there! I am just wondering what sorts of things I can use to give my Corys some shelter? My aquarium lights seems to be a little bright for them and I have read in many places that Corys aren't keen on bright lights..? I had thought of taking one of the bulbs out...would that help them any so its not quite so bright? I'm currently using two flourescent tube lights in the top of my hood (not sure of the size as the tank is second hand. I have looked at buying things in LFS but they can be quite pricey and my hubby is already having a cow about how expensive this hobby is getting lmbo nevermind if I go spending £20 on somewhere for them to hide. At the moment when the tank lights are on they seem to hide under the filter and they hide around the base of my Amazon Sword and slightly tucked under the edge of my driftwood, but the driftwood doesnt have holes or anything in for them to sneak into...its just a lump of driftwood that came with my tank.... any cheap and nice alternatives for them to hide in? Or do you think that the driftwood, filter and amazon sword is sufficient? Thanks in advance for any help.
P.S Also, is there anything I can do to help them stay happy and healthy? They are fairly new to my tank and are the only current inhabitants. I have bought them some algae wafers to eat and I dropped one in and they don't seem all that interested in it but they are swimming around quite happily and schooling well

even looked like two of them were kissing earlier

soooo sweet.

aquarist48 · June 8th, 2009

Hello and Welcome to Fish Lore! I would like to suggest adding a couple of small terracotta pots. Ones that haven't been glazed or painted in any way. They are also porous and great for the biology of the aquarium (collecting good bacteria). Hope you can share some pictures along the way!

badger-pants · June 8th, 2009

Are the terracotta plants okay if they have a hole in the bottom? And (sorry if I'm being really thick...but I just want to make sure I get it right) how is it best to put them in? upside down or lay on their side? Or both...? Jeez I never knew fish could be soooo complex...lol

aquarist48 · June 8th, 2009

I just lay my pots on their sides. Some members here have actually cut and drilled holes in them...sanding away any sharp edges. Some have cut them in half making two hiding spots out of one pot. All of my pots have a hole in the bottom. There are pictures of mine in my profile if you want to take a peek.

I'm sure some other members will tell you their ideas and show you too. Anything terracotta to hide in would be great. I have one terracotta urn, has little handles on it that is very nice. I have a couple of terracotta columns I lay on their sides as well.

aquarist48 · June 8th, 2009

Clay pots for hiding
check out this thread from Johnathan P his looks wonderful and did them himself.

too, he explains how he did it.

badger-pants · June 8th, 2009

Thanks

great help! I'm going to go out and get some now me thinks

Moe Jacob · June 8th, 2009

Welcome to Fishlore!

I use the pots as well ... the cories are always in them ...

I also have 4 flat pieces of slate that I have "leaned" against each other creating a hiding spot with every piece of slate that I lay down ... you can play with the placement to create little hiding spots.

I have also placed my driftwood and rocks so that they create hiding spots as well.

Hope this helps!

badger-pants · June 8th, 2009

Okay, just got back from the only place I know of that sells unglazed terracotta pots: Hobbycraft! and I have placed in 3 pots and one dish, I have angled one of the pots so it shades the dish, and I have put the other two almost facing each other on their sides (I will do picis soon but don't want to startle them...Okay, so, the wafer has been there AGES and they still haven't eaten it? Despite them looking like they're rummaging around for food! AND they still seem to prefer hiding under the ruddy filter and keep sneaking up between it and the glass - I'm worried theyre going to get stuck! Anything I can do to disuade them from hanging out there? It seems to be their favourite location and they snuggle up down there. The two smaller ones keep sending the larger one out to investigate things. Quite cute really.

aquarist48 · June 8th, 2009

Your fish will take a little time to adapt to the new additions. I'm sure they'll find them homey in time. As far as them hiding behind or under your filter, if there is any way possible to add a sponge to the intake tube or area or even a filter media bag to keep them from getting sucked into it would be a good idea.

Too you may want to move the filter a little bit more away from the glass sides. To completely block them from going behind it?

badger-pants · June 8th, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by aquarist48

Your fish will take a little time to adapt to the new additions. I'm sure they'll find them homey in time. As far as them hiding behind or under your filter, if there is any way possible to add a sponge to the intake tube or area or even a filter media bag to keep them from getting sucked into it would be a good idea.

Too you may want to move the filter a little bit more away from the glass sides.

My filter is a Fluval 2 Plus and the air intake thing (for oxygenating the tank) has a tube stuck into it to draw air through the tube so I can still have the filter submersed and the actual filter doesn't have big enough holes anywhere they could get sucked in to. I'm just concerned about them going behind it. It's about half way along the glass side so it's not too close to the front or the back...but the side its attached to I can't make that a bigger or smaller gap than it is :s can I?

aquarist48 · June 8th, 2009

I see...I wasn't exactly sure what your filter was like. Maybe someone with that type of filter will see this thread and give you some suggestions. Is there any way you can stuff some filter sponges to the side where it is attached inside the tank?

badger-pants · June 8th, 2009

Now that's an idea! LOL I'm such a numpty. I don't know if one will fit down the back without knocking it off the side...I will invest in one and see. Will any kind do? I've got some spare Carbon Filters lying around...?

aquarist48 · June 8th, 2009

I wouldn't suggest over dosing with the carbon filters. If you have any other type of filter sponge...filter floss that you could put into a mesh bag...not only will this keep the fish from the filter but will collect good bacteria for the bio cycle. You could always use it to help jump start the cycle for a new tank as well.

badger-pants · June 8th, 2009

Now that I've put in some nice medium sized pots and switched off the bright lights I can see them swimming around and checking out the pots

they even seem to have eaten the wafer I left out for them

Totally unrelated to this topic but is one wafer enough once a day? They are the only fish in my tank at the moment so they don't get the leftovers from fish flakes...should I feed them more than that? They're only little, maybe about an inch - inch and half from tip of nose to tip of tail...

aquarist48 · June 8th, 2009

I would think that 1 good size wafer should be plenty. You don't want to over feed and create a mess. Glad they are getting into and checking out the pots. I'm sure they like it since it's dark because they are nocturnal. Best of luck! Have fun!

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