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Cory schooling

2K views 5 replies 6 participants last post by  LisaC144 
#1 ·
Will corys of several different species school together or is it just better to stick with one species if possible?
 
#2 ·
I may be getting corys soon but as i have been researching it is best to idealy get a group of 4 plus of the same species or 3 of one and 3 of another so on....:)
 
#4 ·
In their habitat, the species of Corydoras occur in groups (shoals) of hundreds of the (same) species. In several areas, different species are found together, but there are dozens if not hundreds of each individual species within that collective group.

A group of five of each individual species appears to work the best. Several species can be combined in the same tank as long as there are at least 3 but preferably 5 of each individual species.

In my experiences over 15 years I have found that the species tend to remain together more than mixing. However, there are many times during the day when individual fgish, or two or three of the five will be on their own. And sometimes different species will be together swimming. But for the most part, they tend to remain together as individual species when resting.

As previous responses have indicated, and I agree, you should have a minimum of 3 of any one species; depending upon the tank size, you could have for instance 3 of one species and 3 of another and 3 of another, or 4 of one and 5 of another, or all the same species depending upon your preferences. Corys are fascinating little fish, and having different species if you have the space works very well.

They have a preference for water flow too; some species that occur in very slow streams and pools prefer quiet tanks and will take up residence as far away from a filter outflow as they can. Others that occur in streams with more flow will take up residence close to the filter outflow. By "take up residence" I mean that when they rest it is usually in these areas.

Byron.
 
#5 ·
The more I read about Cory's the more fascinating I find them and the more I wish I could try some. I do not feel I have the right set up for them and am a bit fearful of having a fish that won't be happy in my tank. Been there, done that, don't wish to repeat it.
 
#6 ·
It is important to know what corys prefer when referring to flow or no flow. My outflow is set up on the left side of the tank, and my Albino Corys take up residence at the very far right back of my 6 foot tank. There is virtually no flow on that side of the tank. They can all be seen resting together in the back corner behind a piece of driftwood. It is quite evident that this type of cory prefers no flow. My loaches take up residence near a piece of driftwood by the outflow where flow is very strong. It's interesting to observe the natural behavior of such fish, and shows the importance of providing an equilibrium in your tank.
 
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