[Luriol]

I have a 10 gallon that currently has a betta and 3 baby cories. I got a long-fin bronze cory Wednesday and today got a Sterbai and a Panda. The tank is at 76-78* F but I just read that Panda's like slightly cooler water and that the current temp is pushing the upper limits of their range. Should I take it back and get another sterbai or will he be okay?

I don't want to take him back, he is the teeniest little bug, but the store is really good so I know he'd be okay there if it's better for him.

 

[BWG]

You're not going to like this post, but I'm going to be honest. Your best option is to take two back. I wouldn't personally keep bronze cories in a 10 gallon given that they can get close to 3 inches. The sterbai is smaller and the panda smaller still. The current temp is in the middle of the sterbai range and the top of the panda range. So the panda is better for a small tank, but the sterbai is better for the temp. Regardless Corydoras like to be in groups...of their own species. My suggestion is to take back the bronze and sterbai, lower the temperature if possible, and get more pandas.

 

[Luriol]

I would rather not lower the temp anymore. How bad is it to keep the long fin with 2 sterbai? I know they like their own kind but I thought they weren't the most biased and would still school with other species? Also since it's right at the edge of the range would it be okay, or no?

 

[BWG]

72 is the low range of both the Betta and the panda. It's always best to hit the middle so if you want to stay at the temp range you are at then it's best to find fish with a midrange of that temp. Dropping the temperature a degree or two helps to put you more midrange for both the panda and Betta which is the reason I suggested it.

Again I wouldn't keep a bronze cory in a 10 gallon, so I'm sorry but I would still say no to that. Corydoras absolutely do prefer their own species, and not just 3. The minimum you want is 6. I would never do less than 6 of a species and a 10 gallon doesn't afford the room for multiple groups that size. That was the main reasoning for my suggestion of the pandas since they are smaller and you need more fish than you are currently thinking.

 

[Luriol]

Bettas are happiest around 78* Minimum of 74* Maximum of 82* if you want them at their peak health. Taking the bronze back isn't much of an option. I just need to know if the panda should stay or go.

 

[BWG]

Betta splendens – Siamese Fighting Fish — Seriously Fish My source seems to differ from your's.

As for the fish, I've already given my opinion on the matter. Can't very well just go and change it We'll have to see what the rest of the forum thinks.

 

[Thoth]

You should have no temperature problems with Cory if you lower your temps to the 74 to 76 range. Smaller cory fit in to the common forum stocking levels and grouping suggestions for a 10 gallon. 6 cory seems to be the most commonly accepted number; 5 seems to be an acceptable IME more times than not. I respectfully disagree that sterbai are a smaller fish , (I have several examples that dwarf my adult bronze cories in height and width.. length they are the same (FL) ) nonetheless, adult sterbai are not going to be happy being kept in a 10 gallon tank.

 

[jentralala]

Agreed, both those species will get much too large to be housed happily in a 10 gallon tank, especially if you house them in proper numbers.

 

[Luriol]

Just letting everyone know, I saw a full grown sterbai yesterday. hadn't really put 2 and 2 together for full grown size. Picked up 5 pygmy cories and we will be taking back the sterbai and long-fin.

Also yesterday we got 6 ember tetras for the tank and 1 celestial pearl danio (it was all alone in a tank and we were already planning on getting a total of 7 from my LFS, so no he will not be alone). A couple of plants for the betta tank 2 apple snails for the goldfish as well.

 

[Flint]

What about the panda?

 

[Luriol]

Oh, we took him back and got a sterbai instead. So It's both sterbai and the long-fin going back. The only thing is, even the .5mm NLS small fish food is too big for the ember tetras and CPD. It needs crushed pretty small. They do like blood worms though.