Advice On Breeding Pygmy Corydoras

Hello! I'm relatively new to fishkeeping, and definitely new to breeding, so I was hoping I could get some direction when it comes to trying to breed pygmy corydoras. Though I've tried to look at the best instruction when it comes to breeding corys as I could find (my local aquarium club has the Ian Fuller book for reference, for instance), there are some questions I have that I haven't found answers for.

First of all, I currently have 16 corys in a 10 gallon tank which I am sure is overstocked, however, I'm not sure of how many I SHOULD have together for breeding purposes. I know that some people say that the corys shouldn't be in anything less than 15 gallons (I previously had them in a 30 gallon with some neon tetras and cherry shrimp and can easily return them to that), but as far as I read 10 gallons was also fine for breeding. Basically, I'm hoping someone could help me figure this out if they had any experience.

Secondly, I am currently housing them with cherry shrimp as I know they don't hurt each other and I like to have the cherry shrimp around to help with keeping the tank clean. All breeding advice suggested a species-only tank for breeding, but I'm not sure if it was written with inverts in mind and if cherry shrimp change the behaviour of corydoras in any notable way.

Finally, the corys are quite skittish, which I've heard is not uncommon, but I wonder if this behaviour might indicate a lack of comfort that could prevent them from wanting to breed. Of course, since they are in this new tank they probably aren't totally used to it, but even in the 30 gal the majority of them hid almost all the time and I'm not sure if they would've changed that behaviour or not, or if it even matters as long as they felt that they had/have safe spots.

 

16 is fine in a 10 gallon with regular water changes and lots of plants.
Cherry shrimp are actually a benefit because they eat dead or fungused eggs and leave healthy ones alone.
Give them plenty of plants, preferably moss, and eventually u will have more, as they tend to not eat their eggs as much
Coradee and DoubleDutch are well versed in cories and may be able to give more insight.

 

I'm attaching a picture of my current set-up for reference. I'm guessing from what you're telling me that more than anything I might just need more patience!

How would you suggest I get in contact with Coradee and DoubleDutch? I'm a new member so as far as I can tell I can't PM them at this point.

Oof, that picture is blurry. I've got another one.
Either way, both corners have moss in them, though it might be a bit tough to see.


I have had a group of 15 pygmy corys since April of last year that I have recently been wanting to breed. I moved them from a 30 gallon with neon tetras and cherry shrimp into a 10 gallon last September, also putting some of my less colourful / not red cherry shrimp into that same tank (I wanted to breed for colour but I don't have the space for another tank).
So far they have had moments of being active, such as a few days in December, but largely have been sticking around the bottom for most of the day, only really shoaling or eating at night. They seem to get spooked when I come near to the tank and hide behind the filter or under the African water fern / driftwood. They were apparently wild caught, though I'm not sure if that's the root of any issue I've had with them or not. There are a lot of shrimp in the tank now and I wonder if they bother the corys in any way by, say, moving around a lot.
Overall I'm worried that they're just not comfortable, though the water parameters are fine for the species as far as I can tell. Perhaps the light is too bright, though the one I have cannot be dimmed any further if necessary (not sure of how to safely tint it darker, and it's tough to search that).

I have heard about replicating a dry season, or using cooler water changes (water is currently at about 23 C. I don't use a heater) to induce spawning but basically I have a lot of variables, some information, but no real way of knowing if I'm doing anything right, so I'd appreciate any advice from people who have bred pygmy corydoras.

Here's my current set up, excuse the blurriness and the tilt:




Some of these guys on a good day:

 

Honestly they usually just show up in a thread once u mention them lol, might take a day, as I'm not sure how often they're on.
I think the setup looks good, just needs time to grow lol.

 

I have heard that they like a ph of about 6.5 to spawn. You mentioned that you have tried to replicate the dry season but from what I have read it is the opposite for these guys. Try to recreate the rainy season and see if that helps. If you can get a way to replicate something like raindrops hitting the surface, I have heard that can help a lot.

 

I'll try lowering the ph, as it seems to be a bit high at around 7.4.
When refilling after water changes, I pour the water into plastic containers I've put holes in that does replicate drops on the surface, and I think I can figure a way to make them cover as much of the surface as possible. Unfortunately, I can't keep it going in a loop or anything since I don't have any extra pumps; I'd have to refill them by hand. Not sure if the fish need constant "rain".
Thanks! I'll see how it works.

 

Yea the continuous rain loop can be a tricky one. Here is the guy I like to watch on youtube, he has had luck with breeding many kinds of fish and is very thorough.

 

I'll try lowering the ph, as it seems to be a bit high at around 7.4.
When refilling after water changes, I pour the water into plastic containers I've put holes in that does replicate drops on the surface, and I think I can figure a way to make them cover as much of the surface as possible. Unfortunately, I can't keep it going in a loop or anything since I don't have any extra pumps; I'd have to refill them by hand. Not sure if the fish need constant "rain".
Thanks! I'll see how it works.

If your running an HOB filter could you maybe lower your water level an inch or two and rig the setup you have with the holes in it that you refill the tank with so the hob returns the water through it instead of a waterfall and simulate the rainy season? Just a thought.

 

If your running an HOB filter could you maybe lower your water level an inch or two and rig the setup you have with the holes in it that you refill the tank with so the hob returns the water through it instead of a waterfall and simulate the rainy season? Just a thought.

Unfortunately, that won't work as I've only got the sponge filter.

 

Unfortunately, that won't work as I've only got the sponge filter.

Ahhh ok hmmm then I think your best bet is as mentioned finding the right water parameters and temps for themto breed.

 

Yea the continuous rain loop can be a tricky one. Here is the guy I like to watch on youtube, he has had luck with breeding many kinds of fish and is very thorough.

I was going to mention that video as an example of something I'd LIKE to do, but I just have two tanks in an apartment without much room to work around setting up additional things, and really, I'm not very "handy".

Maybe I could make a sort of spray bar and attach it to my filter? I only have a sponge filter so I'd worry about the output being too weak, but I could definitely get some pipe and tubing to try it out.

 

Maybe you could switch the sponge filter with the hob in you other tank, take a giant tote lid, poke holes in it, and duck tape it to the rI'm of the tank

 

I don't know where you got the idea that I had a HOB filter, because I'm afraid I don't. I only have two sponge filters. One is just larger than the other.

 

I was going to mention that video as an example of something I'd LIKE to do, but I just have two tanks in an apartment without much room to work around setting up additional things, and really, I'm not very "handy".

Maybe I could make a sort of spray bar and attach it to my filter? I only have a sponge filter so I'd worry about the output being too weak, but I could definitely get some pipe and tubing to try it out.

Yea I think that could work! The vid is also good just for tips like PH and the little spawning mop he made. If only we all had a fish room and multiple tanks like that guy lol

 

So I've put together a sort of amateur rain loop (annoyingly I had to use tubing that ended up being sort of inflexible and bent from being coiled up, and didn't effectively plan out what joints I might need). The water pressure isn't GREAT, but it works well enough for now. I might need to put bigger holes in it or corral some of the frogbit so the drops are more noticeable. After taking this picture I've filled up the tank a bit more with dark water that I boiled Indian almond leaves in and checked the ph, which is at about 6.4.
I haven't seen much activity from the corys (they're staying under their piece of driftwood for the most part), though I've seen one, who I believe is female, swimming out alone every once in a while for some reason.

 

Sorry, I thought I read that you had a hob. Happy to see that you got something set up though

 

So I've put together a sort of amateur rain loop (annoyingly I had to use tubing that ended up being sort of inflexible and bent from being coiled up, and didn't effectively plan out what joints I might need). The water pressure isn't GREAT, but it works well enough for now. I might need to put bigger holes in it or corral some of the frogbit so the drops are more noticeable. After taking this picture I've filled up the tank a bit more with dark water that I boiled Indian almond leaves in and checked the ph, which is at about 6.4.
I haven't seen much activity from the corys (they're staying under their piece of driftwood for the most part), though I've seen one, who I believe is female, swimming out alone every once in a while for some reason.

Looking good! Maybe she is coming out to lay her eggs...can only hope!