Will moving them make them sad?

I have panda cories breeding in my 135 gallon. My keyhole cichlid eats the eggs, maybe other fish too but I've only witnessed the kh. I would be ecstatic to breed the cories and raise the fry and have the appropriate tanks to set that up. The cories are happy and healthy in the big tank. Would they be sad if I moved them to a smaller tank just for them, with sand and all?
I struggled in the past with these guys in smaller tanks but I know a lot more now. I have spare cycled media coming out of my ears. I'm afraid to make them sad but there is no way I can save the eggs in my big tank. Their chosen spot to place the eggs is on an under part of a piece of drift wood. So the only way I know there are eggs is when I see the key hole picking at that spot.
I feel torn between setting them with their own tank and a fry/grow out tank or just leaving them where they are and let them be.
My panda cories are my favorite fish. So their well being and happiness is more important than me getting babies.
Any advice or suggestions or opinions?
The tanks I could have available to them with a little rotating of other fish are a 29 gal, a 20 long and a 10. I was thinking maybe adult pandas in the 20 long and fry in the 10?

 

Another question: will cories eat their own eggs if I didn't separate them?

 

How many cories do you have? If you have less than 6 then the 20 gallon would be plenty of space, just have to make sure the new tank is properly cycled.

I would add a few fine-leaved plants or a spawning mop (can be DIY from yarn) for them to lay the eggs, which will make it easier for you to spot the eggs too.

If you want to ensure survival of the eggs and fry then yes, you should separate the parents as they do eat their own eggs. If you have at least 6 in a group and can maintain the water quality then I'm sure they won't be sad

 

I have 5 pandas and could easily get one more. I don't have 6 already because...long story. Anyway, I also have 4 trilieanus and I know one is female and the the other 3 are male. The pandas and false juliI have been together for months. Should I put the false juliI and pandas in the 20? or just have the pandas? either way I'll get enough so each has 6. would 6 of each be too many in a 20 long? Just for clarification the cories will be the only ones in the tank.

About the spawning mop, what type of yarn should be used? I have all kinds as I crochet so that's very convenient I have organic cotton...

Filtration would be a pre-cycled aquaclear 50
I have an in tank breeder box for the eggs then could move them to a 10 gal when they are free swimming. I have a sponge filter powered by a fluval 50 air pump that I will start seeding today by setting it up in my big tank; to use for the 10 gal fry tank.

Sorry for so many questions. like I said, these are my favorite fish and I just want them to be as happy as I can make them. I only plan to breed as many as I can keep them all. So depending if they breed in the breeder tank and how many and how many I could grow out... I'd stop after I had a decent size school and put them back in the 135g. It will be magical to see a big school of them <3

 

I think the 20 gal long will work but I would separate the pandas and false juliis either way. From what I've read, pandas are notorious for cross-breeding with other cory species.

 

Oh wow I didn't know that...
What happens if they cross breed? Are the eggs automatically infertile?

Anyway, ok. I'll start with just the pandas since they are already breeding. When I have enough babies to a reasonable size then I'll switch and try just the false Julii.

 

I'm not exactly sure. I'm pretty sure I got the info from Coradee so she can probably answer that.

 

Yes, if your main purpose is to breed them, a single species tank would be better.

For the spawning mop, any yarn should do the job. Here is a good article that shows how to make them

Best of luck and don't forget to show us the results!

 

Awesome! Thanks guys!