My new corys

I have two corys in a 5 gallon with a betta. ( I know it's a bit over stocked, but with more frequent water changes I figure it'll be alright.) I just got them today, and they aren't swimming around too much, just chilling behind the plants, hiding and breathing. The betta doesn't attack them, he gets close, but only to watch his new buddies. They don't move much... Could this be because they're just getting used to their new enviroment? Kind of establishing themselves? I'm worried about them. The water seems a bit cloudy, but since it's a relatively new tank i'm assuming it's a bacteria bloom and should go away in a while. Oh correction, one's zooming around the place at the moment... they still haven't found the wafer that i've hidden for them...though the betta found it. (!!!) I've read that they're either night or day feeders, what's the best way to feed them? I have the small sinking wafers by Hikari, you know...the package with the corys on the front, I figured it'd be good. I put in one wafer, will that be enough for the two of them? Or possibly too much?? I know this is a lot of questions, but i'm very curious and I just want the best for my new babies. They're precious and I love them.

Well...wouldn't you know it!

Of course once I say that my betta wasn't attacking him...he goes and does it! He picks on one cory in particular, and has nipped at it's poor dorsal fin. There's two bits taken right out of it! So, now the naughty little boy is in his cup again as time out for the night.

He was in the tank before the corys and it was suggested to me that I change the tank around before adding them and take the betta out while doing so. Simply because then when the betta gets back in, he'll think he's in a new tank and will have to make his own territory again. So i'm going to try that tomorrow before I put him back in. I feel so bad for my little cory cats! And i'm so angry at Neil! He even ate their food too. They boy needs a stern talking to. Hopefully this time out will teach him a lesson! And hopefully my corys will be ok. They don't get fin rot, do they? What are the chances of my corys not doing well? All I want is the best for them they're so adorable. I do believe that I read that they'll die if too scared, is that true?? I know they're afraid of the betta... when he swims by, the one that's been nipped at swims away like mad! And the other swims off a little more calmly, but he hides too. I just don't know what to do...

 

you need to give your Betta a good spanking and tell him he was a bad boy and if he does it again, he'll not see any more bloodworms!

 

I made a video of the two of them since Neil is in time out. I'm not so sure this is normal....it seems just...so weird!!

 

Strange...Most times when corys behave that way it's because something is amiss with the water parameters. Most of the time mine rest during the day and become more active as it gets later in the day and in the evening. I'm surprised the betta is bothering them too. Most of the time I would think they could care less since they occupy different areas of the tank.

Did you test your water? It seems awfully cloudy in the video. If it is indeed a bacterial bloom, it's a doozy.

 

do they swim like that all the time? do they swim like that when it's low light or dark? ours sometimes swim like that, but not all the time.

 

The water perameters are fine. Yes, I did about a 30% water change this morning and the water is beginning to clear up.

pH = 7.6
Ammonia is about .25ppm
Nitrite= 0ppm
Nitrates= 0ppm

I put in biospira so the tank's still cycling. The cory cats seem fine, honestly. However, since they are more delicate to water conditions, I'll continue to do small water changes every morning to help them out with the ammonia levels.
The one that was nipped at last night, his dorsal fin is about 50% healed already! In a matter of 24 hours. And it wasn't small nips either, it was about 25% of his dorsal fin completely detached from his body and gone. Which is half healed now. Yes, last night I added Vita-chem and it really seems to be working wonderfully!!

I'm thinking of this: Getting a couple male guppies and getting the betta a tank of his own. Would that be a good solution? Would two male guppies get along with each other fine that you guys know of?

do they swim like that all the time? do they swim like that when it's low light or dark? ours sometimes swim like that, but not all the time.

They don't swim like this all the time, no. They do have rest periods. They were calm on the bottom of the tank for quite a few hours earlier today, but now as the day is getting later, they are getting much more active. When it's low light, they scavenge the ground looking for goodies. When it's later in the day and well lit, they swim up and down like in the video. And mid day, they're calm, and resting in their hiding spots no matter what the light is.

 

3 is better with male guppies. 2 of them often leads to one picking on the other. I think your corys sound normal and fine.

 

The cories do seem to be acting normally from what you describe. Try feeding the cories pellets just before lights out if you're concerned abot the betta eating their food. They'll root around for food in the dark more readily. I put shrimp pellets in the tank right at the time the lights turn off for the day. The other fish can't be bothered at that point.

They may also be slightly bothered by the pH...They like their water closer to 7.0.....But they'll probably adjust to it over time.