Tropical Fish Forum
Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => General Fishkeeping advice => Topic started by: Mad_BMS on January 29, 2015, 05:00:58 PM
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Hi again
I had 6 bandit Cory's bought in 2 groups of 3 that were always hiding and never really seen as 6 especially after plants became established. However as I was never seeing many I did a search during a water change and 3 have disappeared! No evidence of bodies
3 were in the tank throughout the bacterial bloom and ammonia spike I saught advice about a few months ago. Is it possible they were damaged then? I have never seen any fighting or bullying (have 3 clown loach as well) but as the surving 3 are really hiding most of the time is this due to stress from others dying and obviously becoming a food source? Should I replace them to give a bigger shoal?
Thanks for any advice.
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#2 Grandson has had one of his corrys disappear completely this week. We searched all round the tank and can't see it and no evidence of body parts.
I shall watch replies with interest
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A few suggestions: could they be in the filter (ie sucked in), buried under the sand/gravel, in the corner of an ornament/cave (sometimes only identified once they're actually moved out of the way, not simply by looking in), or could any larger fish have eaten them?
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Hi fcmf no the filter is external with a guard on the outlet they could not get through. I took out all ornaments leaving only the plants and bogwood and while they could still zoom into hiding my wife watched as well and we though we had 4 but in the last few days only see 3 in their 'cave' where they stay together. Vacuumed the gravel as well and checked what was removed.
More worried about survivors as they do appear to be hiding unless coming out nocturnally. In last 2 days I have started to place a tablet of food in their cave while others are feeding elsewhere. Sanjo interesting your grandson has had same experience.
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The remaining cories and the loaches - and all the other fish - would reduce any bodies to nothing in a few days. No fish will turn its nose up at a free meal.
And yes, the remaining cories could be stressed by lack of numbers. My pygmy cories were down to three. I never found any bodies, except for the half cory I found under an ornament which I think I killed by putting the ornament on top of it during a water change :-[ The last 3 hid all the time until I bought 5 more and now they are out all the time.
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Thanks Sue what I was thinking guess I will have to check LFS for Cory's. Do they have to be same type? Do you think the 3 deaths could be related to the bacterial bloom and ammonia in Sept?
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It is quite possible the deaths were related to the ammonia. Both this and nitrite in the water can shorten the life span of fish.
Cories really do prefer to be with their own species. They will shoal with other species but only if forced to by lack of numbers of their own.
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Thanks again will look for same ones then.
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Was in luck and they had masked Cory's which was what I bought as the second group of 3. I now have 9 Cory's hiding as a shoal😞. Still hopefully all will come out to play when they settle in😁
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Good luck with this lot Mad, bet you'll be doing a head (or fin) count every day for a while :)
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Trying to Aquamaid but they all seem to be getting on living in the same cave as the 3 survivors, how they fit themselves in I don't know! Managed to count 8 though so not bad :fishy1: They are beginning to explore tank though but cannot distinguish new from old as the new ones are same size.
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Hi Sue
Well in the words of a Victor Meldew I do not believe it! I have 9 Cory's (at least 😀) all over the tank. I must admit I thought this 'stress' caused by small numbers a bit questionable (probably dating back to attitude to fish in the 70s) but these fish are definitely happier and the cave is empty. My wife finding it incredible as well but telly being ignored again glad the lights have gone out😁😁😁
Thanks again for advice
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Aww it's true for some "the more the merrier" ;D glad they are out and about.