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My Peppered cory's keep swimming to the surface.

69K views 12 replies 8 participants last post by  FuelingFire 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hi, I got 4 peppered corys, and they seem happy and playful. I have a 55-gallon tank. But today, I noticed that they are swimming to the surface every few minutes for air. Tho they are still playing and chasing each other, and I don't see anything wrong, they aren't acting strange.

I do know they occasionally go to the surface for air, But why are they going to the surface every few minutes?

I have plants in my tank and only six black kuhli loaches. But I'm just wondering. Any help would be appreciated. thank you.
 
#8 ·
lol yeah. I got one peppered who isn't like the rest. all day he lays on the bottom. but when the lights go out he is swimming until after i feed him in the morning. but His tail fin is very short. i thought it might be fin rot but it isn't it just short. It's like it never really developed. but he is my favorite.
 
#9 ·
Sometimes the temp can be too warm and cory's will do this as there is less dissolved oxygen at higher temp's.
Also , there will be less dissolved oxygen at the bottom than there is at the surface without good movement/circulation.
Temp's much above 76 degree's F are uncomfortable for the majority of this species.
With this said,, I have observed new cory's do this for a couple day's after being placed in new surrounding's .
 
#10 ·
Yea my temp is at 79, it doesn't get above 79. even with my lights. the others seem to do fine. its just that one seems to lay around. he does swim but more so at night. i also think because his tail isn't very big he can't swim as fast as the others. I do have 2 of them that will not leave each other. they stay together 24/7 then the other 2 just seem to do what ever. in the tank. but i constantly keep my eyes on them. cause i am always worried about them.
 
#11 ·
You might want to turn the temp down to 76-77F. I know 77 doesn't seem far from 79, but to fish living in it with no means of controlling their internal temperature, this is very significant. And assuming the other fish are those in your signature block, 76-77F will be fine.

It is generally best to stay in the middle of the temperature range for any species. The higher the temperature, the harder the fish has to work just to function normally, and this takes more oxygen and wears the fish down faster.

Byron.
 
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#12 ·
I read some of the earlier post while at work and wanted to respond once I got home. As suggested above, I would turn down the temperature if possible; I target 74°F-75°F for my peppers. Also, while Corys going to the surface to get air is a normal behavior, any noticeable frequency of multiple fish doing this in the same tank may be a sign of an issue. I have 3 tanks with Cories (50+ of varying ages) and I go weeks not seeing a single fish go to the surface for air.
 
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