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If you have a fish pond, fish tank or are seeking advice about keeping tropical fish, you can find advice on our Fish forum.

Original poster

Thinking about getting tank for number 1

34 replies

NoWittyName · 13/05/2012 22:24

I'm a very happy 130l tank mummy but am thinking of getting smaller tank for number 1 to have in his room. We were looking in my aquarium book today at fish and thinking about the ones we have at present. I was saying I love the character of the corys and then wondered if you can have a tank with just corys?

What do you reckon?

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EauRouge · 14/05/2012 08:22

Sure, you can keep just corys. They are quite active and like to be in a group so they need a fair bit of space. There are some titchy cory species if space is an issue but I still wouldn't go any smaller than 60l for a small shoal. Sand substrate is best for them as it doesn't hurt their barbels.

The most common of the smaller species are habrosus, hastatus and pygmaeus- you should be able to find some in a larger specialist aquatic place (don't mix the species, just pick one!). They reach about 1.5" so you could house 8 quite happily in a 60l tank.

Panda corys stay quite titchy too, they get to around 2".

Corys do prefer softer water- what's your tap water like?

Original poster
NoWittyName · 14/05/2012 09:42

We've got nice soft water (Yorkshire) so that's one tick on the list. I was thinking of about a 60l tank, so that's another tick, and I was hoping of a shoal of about 6 so sounds good so far! The only thing was that I was hoping to perhaps have 3 of two different types of mini cory. Would that not work?

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EauRouge · 14/05/2012 14:12

They do prefer to be with their own kind. It's not like guppies where they are all the same species, just different colours- corys that look different are a different species to each other. They will probably shoal together if you get different species but they'll be much happier with their own kind.

With some species you can get an albino variety but I'm not sure if you can get albino versions of the dwarf species- they are normally aeneus which get a bit big for a 60l tank.

Original poster
NoWittyName · 14/05/2012 16:10

Pleased I asked because I just thought a cory was a cory!

What about tetras? Could you do 3 and 3 of them, or would they again have to be 6 of a kind (sounds like poker)!

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ZeldaUpNorth · 14/05/2012 16:22

Again with the tetras, they will be happiest with their own kind. I'm planning on getting some panda corys in the next few months. It is best to put them in an established tank of about 3-4 months but as long as you give them algae wafers and occasionally blood worm they should be ok. They also like a cooler temperature (about 23 degrees) than most tropical fish. I can't wait to get mine they look so cute in videos on you tube Grin

EauRouge · 14/05/2012 20:36

Corys are seriously cute Grin

Tetras are a family of several species of fish, so again best to stick to one species- they can vary a lot in size and temperament. Piranhas are very closely related to tetras and you wouldn't want to mix them with neons.

Original poster
NoWittyName · 14/05/2012 20:59

Was having a general online search about tetra species and saw a pacu!!! That thing's huge! Surely a very distant cousin several times removed from my little cardinals!

Is there anything you can think of that we mix to have two different species in a 60l tank?

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Original poster
NoWittyName · 14/05/2012 20:59
  • could mix
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EauRouge · 14/05/2012 21:40

The problem with shoaling fish and 60l tanks is that once you've got a shoal of one thing then you haven't really got space for a shoal of something else. If you had 6-8 dwarf corys then you could have a dwarf gourami too.

EauRouge · 14/05/2012 21:41

Bugger, I hadn't finished that post. Dwarf gouramis are anti social territorial so you could keep one male on his own.

Original poster
NoWittyName · 14/05/2012 21:46

That sounds like a nice combo, thanks eau.

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ZeldaUpNorth · 15/05/2012 10:36

Dwarf gourami's are pretty susceptible to disease due to intensive breeding and heavy use of antibiotics during breeding, so you may want to research a bit about them. I was going to get 2 but decided against it, was recommended bolivian rams instead, but just going to stick with harlequin rasboras, cory's and guppies (maybe a few shrimp)

EauRouge · 15/05/2012 11:13

Rams instead of gouramis? That's an odd substitute, their requirements are very different. Here is some info about anabantids (gourami family).

ZeldaUpNorth · 15/05/2012 11:55

Oh it wasn't because they're similar in need, more because i asked for a pretty but small fish that could go with harlequins and guppys.

EauRouge · 15/05/2012 12:08

Oh right, that makes more sense then Grin They are lovely fish, I used to have a pair of Bolivians and they were real characters. They need so much space though, for the poor female to escape the over-amorous male.

A pair of peacock gobies might be a better option, they are a bit picky about their food but otherwise easy enough to look after and get along fine with corys. Their spawning dance is pretty spectacular to watch too.

Original poster
NoWittyName · 15/05/2012 21:24

Have any of you ever heard of the 'Aquael' range of fish tanks?

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EauRouge · 15/05/2012 21:31

Nope, never heard of them. I've had a quick google, I've seen lids like that before, they're a bit flimsy. The biostart stuff is bound to be rubbish, most of them are. Not sure about the filter.

I'd be more tempted to get a second hand tank and spend the money on a decent filter. A Fluval U for a 60 litre tank would be about £30-35.

Original poster
NoWittyName · 15/05/2012 22:04

What do you reckon to this one? this one
Greater capacity so more fishie options!!

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EauRouge · 16/05/2012 08:48

Looks fine to me. Will they let you check for scratches, cracks etc? I'd use Paypal just in case, then you'll be able to get your money back if it's a duff. The seller seems pretty thorough though.

Bigger is always better Grin

Original poster
NoWittyName · 16/05/2012 08:53

Grin Will have to watch it to see what sort of price it goes to. Have put an initial bid in but can't imagine it'll stay under £15!! Don't think there are any cracks because they've filled it and left it with pump running for 8 hours with no problems. Will message them to ask about scratches - thanks for that advice. x

If I get it I'll come back to ask for more thoughts on fish!
xx

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Original poster
NoWittyName · 20/05/2012 22:31

:( Lost out on that tank in the last 5 seconds. By £1!!! :( Okay ladies.

Seen another for 96L, so...What would be your thoughts for a 96L tank? Def a shoal of corys, but what else?

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EauRouge · 21/05/2012 08:56

Ooh, 96 litres Grin You could easily have a shoal of corys and a shoal of something else small. Cardinal tetras maybe, they are nice and bright.

Original poster
NoWittyName · 21/05/2012 21:14

Hi Eau (and anyone else out there). I'd really appreciate your thoughts on this tank...
here
Thanks

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EauRouge · 22/05/2012 09:30

Looks pretty good to me. Juwel filters are fine for a tropical community set up. Loads of goodies thrown in too, sounds like a bargain!

Original poster
NoWittyName · 22/05/2012 19:21

Got it!!!!!

Come on ladies, tell me your dream fish to fill it...it's 96l

xx

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