Cory not moving all day, what to do

Hey guys, one of my flass Julii Cory (leopard Cory) has been lethargic and not moving sicne yesterday morning. He stays at the bottom where there is shade. I thought he might have been dead but when I went to net him, he swam away to hide to nearby. Noticed he's alot smaller then 5 my other cories and I believe he might have lost some of his barbells. Thinking I can get him out and isolate him on my fluval breeder tank or would that just make things worse since he will be alone? Also this might not be related but I have noticed sometimes when the cories go up for air they seem to not pay attention and hit themselves on my big driftwood or rock on the dive back down..Not sure if it's the same one doing that or multiples one but seen it several times now. Any ideas or suggestions on how to proceed would be appreciated.

Water parameters:
0 ammonia and nitrites
20 ppm nitrates
Temp 77.8
Will be doing a 40% water change here shortly.

 

Some people say that if your cory loses their barbells, they will surely die. However, I've read that they can grow back after a couple of months with proper care. It does open them up to infection though. Your water parameters and temperature look fine. What is your PH? Sometimes acidification can bother them easily.

I would not isolate him as I've had cories almost die in isolation only to make full recovery as soon as they are introduced back into the main tank. If you see any signs on him of something contagious (white spots, etc) then of course you'll have no choice but to quarantine him...

My cories all have different personalities and some of them tend to lay around for a full day or so, then move and be active, then laze around again. Has he ever done this before? Is he usually more easily excited?

If he's barely moving at the sight of the net and only flops a few feet away, something is probably wrong. I've had experience with parasites hiding in my gravel for many weeks, dormant, then finding a host and nearly killing my cories. If he is waifish or bony that is a huge sign that the parasite is starving/irritating him.

TLDR: Is he bony? Might be parasite. Maybe PH? Otherwise, he might just be lazy...

 

Some people say that if your cory loses their barbells, they will surely die. However, I've read that they can grow back after a couple of months with proper care. It does open them up to infection though. Your water parameters and temperature look fine. What is your PH? Sometimes acidification can bother them easily.

I would not isolate him as I've had cories almost die in isolation only to make full recovery as soon as they are introduced back into the main tank. If you see any signs on him of something contagious (white spots, etc) then of course you'll have no choice but to quarantine him...

My cories all have different personalities and some of them tend to lay around for a full day or so, then move and be active, then laze around again. Has he ever done this before? Is he usually more easily excited?

If he's barely moving at the sight of the net and only flops a few feet away, something is probably wrong. I've had experience with parasites hiding in my gravel for many weeks, dormant, then finding a host and nearly killing my cories. If he is waifish or bony that is a huge sign that the parasite is starving/irritating him.

TLDR: Is he bony? Might be parasite. Maybe PH? Otherwise, he might just be lazy.

Ph is at 8.0, been like that since tank started. I did the water change and he's still at the same spot. I haven't noticed any of them sit in one spot for this long. Everyday I can count all 6 by them moving around. He doesn't look skinny but he's definitely the smallest of the 6. Im pretty sure he's one of the 3 from the 2nd batch and the other 2 grown alot more. Haven't noticed any spots on him but he's just been showing me his left side everytime he has moved by me startling or touching him.

 

The pebble sized gravel in a lot of cases gives issues for corys.
Think about switching to sand, make a sandbeach.
BTW it is a C.trilineatus

 

Ph is at 8.0, been like that since tank started. I did the water change and he's still at the same spot. I haven't noticed any of them sit in one spot for this long. Everyday I can count all 6 by them moving around. He doesn't look skinny but he's definitely the smallest of the 6. Im pretty sure he's one of the 3 from the 2nd batch and the other 2 grown alot more. Haven't noticed any spots on him but he's just been showing me his left side everytime he has moved by me startling or touching him.

Interesting! Well, cories like basic water more than acidic water. 8.0 is at the top-ish end of their budget, but according to what I've found on the internet over the years I'm sure it's fine.

If he doesn't look skinny I am definitely stumped. The parasites that I had caused my cories to be so skinny you could see every bone, and their bellies sloped into the tapering of their tailfins (they're fine now). Are you able to take him out and put him in a cup just long enough to observe him? I know you do not want to disturb him, but it would be interesting if you could see if there are any worms or visible parasites. Have you acquired any new fish lately? If the other cories are new-ish (the second batch you said?) They could have brought a parasite with them, no fault of your own. Lastly, if you can, see if his gills are inflamed or red? gill flukes?

I'm not betting on bacteria as your water parameters seem fine, and based on you having new fish acquisitions I'm still leaning towards parasite. Not sure though.

I've never had issues keeping cories in gravel but the above poster is definitely true in saying others have experienced many issues (one of the main ones being loss of barbells). Maybe make at least a sandy resting spot for your cory friends.

 

The pebble sized gravel in a lot of cases gives issues for corys.
Think about switching to sand, make a sandbeach.
BTW it is a C.trilineatus

Yes it is, and every water change I'm vacuuming up the sand and putting it on the front. Most of the front of the tank is sand now.

Interesting! Well, cories like basic water more than acidic water. 8.0 is at the top-ish end of their budget, but according to what I've found on the internet over the years I'm sure it's fine.

If he doesn't look skinny I am definitely stumped. The parasites that I had caused my cories to be so skinny you could see every bone, and their bellies sloped into the tapering of their tailfins (they're fine now). Are you able to take him out and put him in a cup just long enough to observe him? I know you do not want to disturb him, but it would be interesting if you could see if there are any worms or visible parasites. Have you acquired any new fish lately? If the other cories are new-ish (the second batch you said?) They could have brought a parasite with them, no fault of your own. Lastly, if you can, see if his gills are inflamed or red? gill flukes?

I'm not betting on bacteria as your water parameters seem fine, and based on you having new fish acquisitions I'm still leaning towards parasite. Not sure though.

I've never had issues keeping cories in gravel but the above poster is definitely true in saying others have experienced many issues (one of the main ones being loss of barbells). Maybe make at least a sandy resting spot for your cory friends.

I can try to get him in an isolation when I got home. Don't see any inflame gills. His barbells haven't completely receded but my other bigger cories definitely have longer barbells. Only new fish I have gotten are my cardinals tetras. None of my other fish are showing any sings of illness at the moment.

 

I had a cory that, a few weeks after I got him, got super lethargic and would not move around. After two days he died. Then a few days later, another started behaving the same way. I moved him to a quarantine tank and did a round of antibiotics and anti parasitic treatments. I have no idea what it was, but he eventually perked back up. I kept him separate for several months and then moved him back and he has been doing fine for months now. He is about half the size of the rest of the 6 pack though (when I got them, they were all the same size). Not sure what happened to him but he is surviving! Just thought I'd throw my experience out there in case it helps.

 

I had a cory that, a few weeks after I got him, got super lethargic and would not move around. After two days he died. Then a few days later, another started behaving the same way. I moved him to a quarantine tank and did a round of antibiotics and anti parasitic treatments. I have no idea what it was, but he eventually perked back up. I kept him separate for several months and then moved him back and he has been doing fine for months now. He is about half the size of the rest of the 6 pack though (when I got them, they were all the same size). Not sure what happened to him but he is surviving! Just thought I'd throw my experience out there in case it helps.

Thanks for info, any idea what medication you gave him? If I was to isolate him, I'm guessing my fluval breeder tankthat clips on the outside would not be an good idea because it circulates the water back to the main tank. Would that be bad for my my tank fish having the medication possibly affecting them?

 

Update, he's finally out moving about!! Didn't do anything different since I noticed the symptoms on Saturday. Hope he's all good from here on out.

 

Thanks for info, any idea what medication you gave him? If I was to isolate him, I'm guessing my fluval breeder tankthat clips on the outside would not be an good idea because it circulates the water back to the main tank. Would that be bad for my my tank fish having the medication possibly affecting them?

So sorry I never saw this reply, I gave him API General Cure and API Erythromycin. Hopefully you don't need either. Glad he seems to be doing better!

 

So sorry I never saw this reply, I gave him API General Cure and API Erythromycin. Hopefully you don't need either. Glad he seems to be doing better!

No problem, think I have to go get me some api general cure and look into the erythromycin for future use.