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August 3rd, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Can't seem to keep Corydoras alive
I have a 55 gal community tank, no aggressive inhabitants.
Use API Test, ammonia @ 0, nitrite @ 0, Nitrates @ 20.
I have purchased 14 corydoras in the last 4 months, punctatus, schwartzi and julii. All were purchased @ various times in groups of at least 3.
All were introduced to the tank in a 45 min period with 3 small amounts of water added to bag.
As of today, I am now down to 2? All have died after a minimum of 2 weeks in tank and never more than one at a time (no mass die-off). No signs of damage or sickness with the exception of 2-julii which exhibited red around the mouth.
I currently have 7 neon tetra which have been in the tank for approx. 2 months, so I would assume they would be the first to go if water conditions were poor, which they are not.
I really want to keep a school of 6 to 9 corydora but need to find out why they keep dying. Is it possible my pH-8.4 is too high for corydoras? All my fish were purchased @ the same LFS and I have not lost a single fish from there. Any help would be greatly appreciated. | 
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August 3rd, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Generally, the ones you have are the less hardy of the cory species, I think the most hardy is the albino.
On the other hand, it may just be that the LFS you buy from has a bad stock.
Or the tank isn't old enough, cories need a very established tank to survive, maybe yours just isn't old enough?
Good luck, I love cories 
*EDIT*
Cories don't like nitrates generally of over 10-15, maybe look into lowering those first, that's why I don't keep thenm, my nitrates in tap water are 40! | |
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August 3rd, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| im sorry for your losses..they are amazing fish for sure... that is a high ph and although ive only had julie's out of your cories, without issues, im not sure even with proper acclimation if that ph might be your issue...im even surprised as you say that your neons are ok...is there a reason you keep it so high? | |
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August 3rd, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Quote:
Originally Posted by ABCDemily  Generally, the ones you have are the less hardy of the cory species, I think the most hardy is the albino.
On the other hand, it may just be that the LFS you buy from has a bad stock.
Or the tank isn't old enough, cories need a very established tank to survive, maybe yours just isn't old enough?
Good luck, I love cories
*EDIT*
Cories don't like nitrates generally of over 10-15, maybe look into lowering those first, that's why I don't keep thenm, my nitrates in tap water are 40! | Besides the Albino, can you suggest other cories that are hardy?
Unfortunately my well water has nitrates of 10 so I do weekly 50% water changes. But I guess I may have to give up on the cories. | |
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August 3rd, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawnie im sorry for your losses..they are amazing fish for sure... that is a high ph and although ive only had julie's out of your cories, without issues, im not sure even with proper acclimation if that ph might be your issue...im even surprised as you say that your neons are ok...is there a reason you keep it so high? | I am on well water and that is the natural ph. I really do not want to get into altering the ph. I guess I might just have to accept the fact that cories are not meant for this tank. Thank you. | |
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August 3rd, 2009
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| | Moderator
| My daughter keeps peppered corys and hasn't had a problem. Her nitrates stay around 5, though. I have albinos and juliis, but my nitrates stay at 5-10. | |
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August 3rd, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by kahuna I am on well water and that is the natural ph. I really do not want to get into altering the ph. I guess I might just have to accept the fact that cories are not meant for this tank. Thank you. | im also on well water but I do run a softner and my ph is 7....I dont think having nitrates is an issue tho ....I agree no altering as a stable one is much better....im still shocked with your well that the ph is that high...I wish you luck with all the fish babies! | |
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August 3rd, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawnie im also on well water but I do run a softner and my ph is 7....I dont think having nitrates is an issue tho ....I agree no altering as a stable one is much better....im still shocked with your well that the ph is that high...I wish you luck with all the fish babies! | I actually do have a softener and it is still at 8.4, unbelievable huh. Thank you, I guess maybe I will try something more adaptable to my water. | |
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August 3rd, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by kahuna I actually do have a softener and it is still at 8.4, unbelievable huh. Thank you, I guess maybe I will try something more adaptable to my water. |  wow that is unbelievable! do you know the expiration of the test kit as someone asked ? check the lot# on all the bottles ... | |
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August 3rd, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by kahuna I actually do have a softener and it is still at 8.4, unbelievable huh. Thank you, I guess maybe I will try something more adaptable to my water. | SO sorry your having problems. I have terriable water to. It ranges between 7.8-8.2 Ph and between 10 and 20 nitrate right out of the tap. It's crazy. I keep peppered cories in my 120gallon. They are sweet little things and seem pretty hardy. I would give them a try. Even when I had a driftwood problem that killed my anglefish the cories lived. They are very sweet little things. Also try the drip method for acclimating. Do it over about 2 hours. I really think this will help. Cories can be sensitive to change so a SLOW acclimation is a great start to getting them used to your water. I'll find a link showing you how to do it. | |
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August 3rd, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Hello. So sorry to hear about your fish loss. I have well water and my pH is off the charts it's so high. I have to mix distilled and spring water to get my pH to 8.0. Once I do (my tank is "very" well established) get it to 8.0 I can do my water changes with all well water and the tank doesn't go over 8.5. It just takes some practice to get the level you want to start with. I have a common cory cat and it's about 8 years old. My pH levels mostly stay at 8.0. So I don't know for certain that your pH levels are the problem either.
Here is a link you may find helpful (in case CH doesn't find it)  http://www.fishlore.com/acclimating-tropicalfish.htm | |
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August 3rd, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawnie wow that is unbelievable! do you know the expiration of the test kit as someone asked ? check the lot# on all the bottles ... | Okay, if I understand this correctly the last 4 numbers of the lot# is the expiration? If that is correct than they range from 6/08 to 9/08 which puts all expired. That really stinks because I purchased this @ Petsmart in May of 09.
But I still have approx. 17 other fish along with mega platy fry. The cories are the only fish I have lost. So if the tests were completely wrong I would expect to be losing other fish as well? | |
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August 3rd, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| no its 3 years from that number according to other members...so I think you are safe....as others have said, it just might not be able to handle the higher end of the ph and going for some less sensitive ones might work ...good luck! | |
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August 3rd, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Quote:
Originally Posted by CHoffman SO sorry your having problems. I have terriable water to. It ranges between 7.8-8.2 Ph and between 10 and 20 nitrate right out of the tap. It's crazy. I keep peppered cories in my 120gallon. They are sweet little things and seem pretty hardy. I would give them a try. Even when I had a driftwood problem that killed my anglefish the cories lived. They are very sweet little things. Also try the drip method for acclimating. Do it over about 2 hours. I really think this will help. Cories can be sensitive to change so a SLOW acclimation is a great start to getting them used to your water. I'll find a link showing you how to do it. | Okay, you are now giving me hope. Your water conditions are very similar to mine. I have seen pics of the peppered cory but have never seen them at my lfs, but I believe I may go fish shopping today. I have 2 cories left, a punctatus and schwarzi, they are from the earliest groups I purchased and I would very much like to give them a larger school. Thank you. | |
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August 3rd, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Quote:
Originally Posted by aquarist48 Hello. So sorry to hear about your fish loss. I have well water and my pH is off the charts it's so high. I have to mix distilled and spring water to get my pH to 8.0. Once I do (my tank is "very" well established) get it to 8.0 I can do my water changes with all well water and the tank doesn't go over 8.5. It just takes some practice to get the level you want to start with. I have a common cory cat and it's about 8 years old. My pH levels mostly stay at 8.0. So I don't know for certain that your pH levels are the problem either.
Here is a link you may find helpful (in case CH doesn't find it) http://www.fishlore.com/acclimating-tropicalfish.htm | Thank you, another voice of hope here. My ph never seems to change, it is extremely consistent @ 8.4, so possibly if I try a hardier cory such as the peppered cory I might make this work. | |
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August 3rd, 2009
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| | Fish Addict
| Hi kahuna,
My water comes out of the tap @ 7.4 and within 4 hours raises to 8.2.
I'm told it has to do with co2 (or lack there of, I've forgotten which) that the water co. adjusts in the water
to keep the pH lower so it doesn't damage thier pipes.
Needless to say, I pre-condition my replacement water for partial water changes.
All my tanks sit at pH 8.1 to 8.2 High? yes, but stable.
I keep both panda and sterbae corydoras.
I did a little research on your cories:
Planetcatfish states your corydoras punctatus does better in a lower pH and is a very social catfish.
It will not only get along with other cats, but will do better with them.
So planetcatfish strongly recommends keeping them in a shoal with any corydoras.
Also, according to planetcatfish the schwartzi species is still imported in large numbers,
so they recommend quarantine, especially if adding to groups in well established tanks. 
As a suggestion, if you don't have access to a local breeder, I would try albino, emerald green or bronze corydoras.
They are bred from the same species, lean toward the higher end of pH (7.8-8.0)
and should be adaptable to your pH if you acclimate them carefully.
All cories are sensitive to water conditions at the bottom of the tank, so
gravel vaccing and doing partial water changes low in the water collum might help your cause.
How thick is the gravel in your tank?
2" should be plenty and will hold less debris and make gravel vaccing easer.
If you have alot and want to remove some, post that info and we can help you so you don't have mini cycle problems.
Be sure they get food. They do much better if not treated as scavengers, but are fed like other fish.
You could try adding sinking food after lights out... with the following disclaimer:
Since you have only 2 right now, don't accidentally over do it and pollute the tank.
I hope at least some of this helps you,
alicem | |
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August 3rd, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| I'm on the same wavelength with CHoffman and Aquarist48. Call up your LFS and ask them what there ph runs. (I always check the water in the bag myself) If there is a large ph difference, that might be the problem. Slow drip the cories for a longer time. Cories can be real sensitive to ph swings. I don't think the nitrates would be a factor because they have the ability to swim to the top to get air when water chemistry is not perfect. Although if they are constantly going to the top for air- that would be a red flag. | |
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August 5th, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Omg I can't keep cory cats too. I also have lost 14 cory all seem to only live 1-2 weeks. I thought it was due to the bad batch at the store.
My tank is 55 gal planted sand ammonia 0 nitrites 0 nitrates 10 ph 6.5 I have soft water. I talked with another person on a site. I think there might be something in my water that effects the cory something I can not detect maybe copper zinc something. I bought 3 schwartz and only have one left it's been 2 weeks.
I'm trying to find other fish keeperss in my town and see if anyone has had the same problem. Because like you I keep up with
MY water changes and sand cleaning. It just does not make sence that I can't keep them but can keep rams medusa pleco and spawn blue acaras.
So I feel your pain. | |
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August 5th, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Quote:
Originally Posted by alicem Hi kahuna,
My water comes out of the tap @ 7.4 and within 4 hours raises to 8.2.
I'm told it has to do with co2 (or lack there of, I've forgotten which) that the water co. adjusts in the water
to keep the pH lower so it doesn't damage thier pipes.
Needless to say, I pre-condition my replacement water for partial water changes.
All my tanks sit at pH 8.1 to 8.2 High? yes, but stable.
I keep both panda and sterbae corydoras.
I did a little research on your cories:
Planetcatfish states your corydoras punctatus does better in a lower pH and is a very social catfish.
It will not only get along with other cats, but will do better with them.
So planetcatfish strongly recommends keeping them in a shoal with any corydoras.
Also, according to planetcatfish the schwartzi species is still imported in large numbers,
so they recommend quarantine, especially if adding to groups in well established tanks.
As a suggestion, if you don't have access to a local breeder, I would try albino, emerald green or bronze corydoras.
They are bred from the same species, lean toward the higher end of pH (7.8-8.0)
and should be adaptable to your pH if you acclimate them carefully.
All cories are sensitive to water conditions at the bottom of the tank, so
gravel vaccing and doing partial water changes low in the water collum might help your cause.
How thick is the gravel in your tank?
2" should be plenty and will hold less debris and make gravel vaccing easer.
If you have alot and want to remove some, post that info and we can help you so you don't have mini cycle problems.
Be sure they get food. They do much better if not treated as scavengers, but are fed like other fish.
You could try adding sinking food after lights out... with the following disclaimer:
Since you have only 2 right now, don't accidentally over do it and pollute the tank.
I hope at least some of this helps you,
alicem | Thank you for all the great info. You actually hit on a couple things we discussed with our lfs. They suggested that the catfish were not getting enough of the food and initially we thought that was the problem. The Platy and the Dwarf Gourami are generally the first to the food dropped to the cories. We started dropping the shrimp pellets, algae wafers or veggie wafers right in the area the cories were hanging out and for approx. a month we did not lose a single cory. But out of the blue they started dying again.
We also discussed the gravel and feel we are ok with that. It is approx a 1 1/2" deep. We do 50 % water changes weekly, vacuuming 1/3 of the tank each week.
I think you probably hit the nail on the head with the cories that can tolerate higher ph, and of course acclimating them.
Kind of strange that so many people in Billings Montana are on well water and have very high ph but it is almost impossible to find the peppered, emerald or bronze cory.
Thank you again for your research it is greatly appreciated. | |
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August 5th, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Quote:
Originally Posted by snowflake311 Omg I can't keep cory cats too. I also have lost 14 cory all seem to only live 1-2 weeks. I thought it was due to the bad batch at the store.
My tank is 55 gal planted sand ammonia 0 nitrites 0 nitrates 10 ph 6.5 I have soft water. I talked with another person on a site. I think there might be something in my water that effects the cory something I can not detect maybe copper zinc something. I bought 3 schwartz and only have one left it's been 2 weeks.
I'm trying to find other fish keeperss in my town and see if anyone has had the same problem. Because like you I keep up with
MY water changes and sand cleaning. It just does not make sence that I can't keep them but can keep rams medusa pleco and spawn blue acaras.
So I feel your pain. |
Unfortunately I can relate to your pain also. I originally was not that interested in any catfish but decided as a scavenger it has a benefit to the tank. When I did get the original 6 cories I realized that they were awesome little fish and I also soon realized that their shyness required extra feeding.
Now I have really grown to appreciate this little fish and would very much like to have at least 6 healthy ones. After the many great posts I believe I should have done more research on the ph requirements on these little guys.
Thank you all. | |
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August 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Addict
| Quote: |
Kind of strange that so many people in Billings Montana are on well water and have very high ph but it is almost impossible to find the peppered, emerald or bronze cory.
| I searched around for clubs too, nadda that I could find either... 
If you are willing to risk it, is there any way the LFS can get some in for you?
According to planetcatfish these are all pH 8, except noted:
Brochis splendens (green cory)
Corydoras acutus (black top cory)
Corydoras eques (Horsemans cory)
Corydoras reynoldsi (Bumblebee or Reynold's cory)
Corydoras seussi (Seuss' cory)
Corydoras agassizii (Spotted cory) there were several named "spotted cory"
Corydoras brevirostris (spotted cory) pH 7.8
Corydoras venezuelanus (Venezuela's cory) pH 7.8
Corydoras lamberti (C009)
Corydoras blochi (C032)
Corydoras aurofrenatus (CW005)
There were some with just the "C" number names which might work, but I was too lazy to look though them. 
Before you order any fish, let's think about this...
There may be some metal/minerals (or something) in your well water that the cats don't do well in...
Have you ever had any other catfish, plecos or anistrus?
Another possibility would be to call the health dept. and see if they would test your water for more than what you can at home, like metals and minerals.
Since it is from a well, they probably would. I'm sure they'd have specific directions for drawing water from your faucet.
If they won't do it, ask them if they have any suggestions?
Would they have any publications on local ground water/aquifer conditions?
There is an extension center from the University of Illinois in the town up the road from me,
that is pretty accomodating in terms of agriculture and environmental stuff.
We are a heavily farmed state and that directly affects our ground water.
Any universities around your area with a chemistry or biology dept. that may have some interest in testing your water?
Just tossing ideas out here.
alicem | |
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August 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| I've kept Corydoras Aeneus (these are the natural version of the aformentioned Albino). They were my first fish and I purchased them in a group of 5. Everything seemed fine, then after a few days 1 died. A few days later another died. After that it was fine for a year (one just died this week, no idea why, bringing me down to 2). To get back to the first two that passed away, I have a strong feeling they were not getting enough food. I'd suggest gambling on the side of over-feeding a tad for cory's and cleaning the tank and changing the water a little more often if you use gravel (if you have sand you'll be able to see the uneaten food and adjust feeding volume off that). Once I did this I stopped losing them. | |
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August 12th, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Thank you all for the great advice. I went to my lfs on 8/8/09 and purchased 6 little bronze cories. So far they seem real healthy and they seem to have drawn out the 2 remaining cories. But as stated before, the other 12 cories generally lasted @ least 2 weeks.
Just a note on the food. We do believe that there is a possibility the first couple cories might not have been getting enough food. They are extremely timid and my platies are extremely aggressive in regards to food, but I am confident the cories are getting sufficient food now.
These little guys seem to be much more active and visible...we will cross our fingers. | |
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August 13th, 2009
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| | Fish Addict
| Fingers are crossed in Illinois.
alicem
ps,
Don't forget, with extra feeding, keep the water stable and clean and the substrate vac-ed.  | |
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September 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| How are your little cories doing? Are they all doing well, I hope? | |
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September 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Lore Newbie
| OMG I too am having problems with my cory's. I love them. I've had my 29 gal tank for about a year now and had 6 neons (just died, one at a time over the past month), 5 blood fin tetras, 5 checkerboard split tail tetras, and 3 cory's. Two of the cory's have died one at a time. They exhibit the same behavior, and now the 3rd one is doing the same thing. They were active, eating and appeared happy, then for no reason one will start trying to swim to the top of the tank, but not be able to get there. The cory will spend all day trying to get to the top. It looks like he's tiring himself out to get to the top of the tank. I change the water about once per month, RO water, so no additives. The temp stays around 78, PH around 7.2, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates (not sure if that makes since after reading a few posts). I have an under gravel filter and a carbon filter on the tank. Oh yeah, my cory's are green corys.
Any help is greatly appreciated! | |
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September 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote: |
I change the water about once per month, RO water, so no additives
| If you are changing your water once a month your nitAtes can't be zero.
One: Either you got a false reading. Try it again, making sure your mixing the bottles and test tube as directed (especially bottle #2!).
Two: the bottle is expired. Check the lot number, a seven digit number stamped on top of the bottle. The last 4 digits of the lot number is month/year of manufacturer. Test kits expire 2 year from that date.
Three: Are you using ONLY RO water? If so you need to replenish some of the minerals ( calcium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium) back into the water. I use Kent RO conditioner. Or you can mix some tap water, but the ratio can vary greatly. I've read some use 2 gals RO/One gal tap. I only use 12 gals RO to one gal tap, just enough to keep the water stable.
Four: your UG filter should be fine but how often do you replace your carbon (I'm assuming from an HOB filter. You may not need to put any carbon in if your tank is well established (but that's another thread).
Well that's a start... oh and by the way: Welcome to Fishlore!  | |
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September 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| those numbers do sound a bit odd. while they are possible if you have a heavily planted tank, it doesn't sound like it in your case?
otherwise, i mostly agree with dvc_r.
and welcome to fishlore! | |
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