Corys Not Active

I just got two albino corys and they pretty much stay to the bottom. Yesterday they were active zipping around the tank but today they've been going for long periods of time just staying in one spot not moving. I even put food in there and they barely moved. Is this common for corydoras to rest in one place for awhile or should I be worried that they're sick or even dying?

 

Mine have days where they just lay around, then other days they are swiming crazy all over (kinda like humans, sometimes active, sometimes lazy!). They've been doing this for awhile and aren't sick.
On the other hand, have you done any water testing? What are your ammonia, nitrite, nitrate levels? Has anything in the tank changed, such as the temp? It could be that they are just being lazy, or it could be something more serious.

 

Since making this thread they have moved around quite a bit but they also just sit there at the bottom from time to time. I just found that weird because no fish I've had before have done this. And a few days ago I bought a freshwater master test kit and all my important levels were just where they needed to be thankfully.

 

My corys are the same way sometimes I can't even find them in the tank, other times they are exceedingly entertaining. I do notice that they never go right for food, they like it to sit around for a while before they think it is interesting.

--R

 

I think it's common for corys to act like that and it sounds like things are good for yours. what are you feeding them?

 

mine zip all round when I stand a little bit back but when I look closely they stop pretending to be dead and looking like there stuck in my java moss

Peace Out Callum!

 

I'm feeding all my fish TetraMin flakes, but I'm thinking I might need some tiny pellats because the flakes don't reach the bottom in time for them to get to em unfortunately. Would it be alright to feed my fish two different foods in small doses?

 

It is a good idea to feed them a variety. I've found my cories like shrimp pellets (got mine at walmart, they are wardley brand). I also feed fish flakes/crisps (tetra)and algae sinking wafers(hikari).

 

I totally second that. Variety is the name of the game in fish-feeding. They also sell bottom feeder mini-pellets, by the way. That might be a nice addition to your food port folio.

 

Thanks for the info guys. I'll go to Pet Supermarket tomorrow and buy some. Would brine shrimp pellats be a good choice?

 

they can be messy, but the corys sure love them.

 

Okay, you people are going to be so proud of me. I no longer feed them just flakes. I feed flakes, freeze dried bloodworms and pellats (for the bottom feeders) regularly and once maybe twice a week I'll give them a frozen treat of frozen bloodworms or frozen brine shrimp. I also picked up some spirulina algae discs! Yup, yup, my food portfolio looks good.

 

Have you noticed how they get spastic when there is a weather front moving in ? Mine act like their losing their mind
Carol

 

LOL.. funny how these little fish can be barometers. Bettas and Platys change behavior too when storms are coming.

Have you noticed how they get spastic when there is a weather front moving in ? Mine act like their losing their mind
Carol

 

Quite a few fish will spawn more easily also when a weather front is moving through.
Carol

 

I have a cycled 55 gallon aquarium and the parameters are 0/0/5. I have one male molly and two male platy. I bought 4 albino cory 2 weeks ago. They were so active always zipping around the tank. A week ago I bought 3 more and now I never see my corys. They are always just sitting somewhere or hidden. I can never count 7 of them! Some of them come out at feeding time so I know they are eating. I thought adding more would make them much more active. I fell in love with how active they were, but now I never even see them.

I have thought one of my corys was dead twice! I found it on my filter so I thought it was dead. I touched it with my net and it scurried off. One also like to hang out in my plants.

Why won't they come out now? I am so dissapointed. Thanks.

 

They're probably just more comfortable now that they've settled in and have more of their own. Mine rest a lot, in, under and between plants so I think that's quite normal.

 

Hello Miss...

If you notice different behavior in your fish, it could mean your water chemistry isn't right. What is your water change routine? Even larger tanks need large, weekly water changes. If you're not removing and replacing at least 50 to 60 percent of the tank water weekly, you should consider it. Water that constantly runs through a filtering system changes over time. The filter removes trace minerals that are important to the fishes' general health. The water change doesn't just remove dissolved nitrogen from the fish waste, the change replaces the minerals in the water that help maintain a steady and safe water chemistry for the fish and plants.

You likely just need to increase the amount of fresh water the fish get. The more water you remove and replace and the more often you do it, the healthier the tank.

Old

 

Hello Miss...

If you notice different behavior in your fish, it could mean your water chemistry isn't right. What is your water change routine? Even larger tanks need large, weekly water changes. If you're not removing and replacing at least 50 to 60 percent of the tank water weekly, you should consider it. Water that constantly runs through a filtering system changes over time. The filter removes trace minerals that are important to the fishes' general health. The water change doesn't just remove dissolved nitrogen from the fish waste, the change replaces the minerals in the water that help maintain a steady and safe water chemistry for the fish and plants.

You likely just need to increase the amount of fresh water the fish get. The more water you remove and replace and the more often you do it, the healthier the tank.

Old

I change my water weekly, but probably only change 30% at most. I am still using the bucket method so I guess I am not doing as much as I should. I am hoping to get a python soon though.

 

With the current stock you have in that tank size, I doubt it's a water quality issue if your nitrates are only at 5 and you do 30% weekly.

Again, I don't think it's a concern with the behavior you're seeing. Corys spend a lot of time resting. They just like to do it under plants or decor.

 

It sounds like normal cory behaviour to me.
When you first get them they can be very active & glass surf while they're getting used to their new home, once they've settled in they can spend a lot of their time just resting, especially if you have bright lighting, they prefer more subdued light so some floating plants would help bring them out more.

 

Thanks everyone!! I am so relieved!!! I do have a lot of decor so they are probably just hiding. Right now I have no lights and just use natural lighting because my house is full of windows. I plan on setting up a light soon. I would like the get some floating plants. Any idea what kind would be best? All of my other plants are fake.

 

I have water sprite floating. Amazon frogbit is nice too though it can spread fairly quickly. Water wisteria, anacharis and hornwort are some others.

 

+1 for Amazon frogbit but it does spread quickly.

 

I have had the same issue with my corys. Now when things are quiet & esp if there is food they come out. I have both water Sprite & water wisteria. Both can grow planted or floating. They grow fast, despite my doing nothing for them.

 

I have Pennywort floating in my betta tank and it's really nice as well