Dwarf corys, guppy not happy

Vicker3000 · 09-21-2006, 09:51 PM

After searching long and hard, I finally got six Corydoras hastatus from Mark Denaro for my 10gal. For those who don't know, Corydoras hastatus are tiny little fish that don't get bigger than an inch.

Before their arrival, the tank was home to a lonely guppy and an oto. Today the corys arrived, and after acclimating them I put them in the tank. They seem to love it in there, but the guppy doesn't seem very happy about them. He's been arching his back at them and doing this twitchy swiming backwards thing. The corys ignore him completely, except when he occasionally nips at the face of one and the cory retaliates by chasing him around for a bit.

They have only been in there for about two hours now, so maybe I just need to give the guppy time to get used to his new neighbors. I hope this won't be a long term problem. What can I do about this?

spypet · 09-21-2006, 10:17 PM

Nice find. I have a few of them too and would say a 20" long 10gal is room enough for everyone. make sure there are plants around (even plastic), especially up along the back glass. also consider getting your guppy a new friend of the same species, and preferably of the opposite sex. keep in mind that fish that have been solitary for a while take a lot longer to acclimate to new tank mates, if ever. another trick is to always acclimate new fish when the lights are off for the night, so turn them off early now, and see if things look less hostile in the morning. the Cory's will stay hyper active for a day or so, but once they settle in, the Guppy may find their company less annoying. also try not to have them compete for food. use floating flakes for the guppy, and fast sinking food bits for the Cory's. most people buy these Cory's thinking they will stay on the bottom, but in fact these are more mid-water fish that will rest or hunt on the bottom occasionally not exclusively, thus they are in the guppy's domain.

esarkipato · 09-22-2006, 01:09 PM

I would second the notion of getting the guppy a friend, but don't get a female unless you are willing to deal with a population explosion!

09-21-2006, 09:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
Vicker3000 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 59	Dwarf corys, guppy not happy After searching long and hard, I finally got six Corydoras hastatus from Mark Denaro for my 10gal. For those who don't know, Corydoras hastatus are tiny little fish that don't get bigger than an inch. Before their arrival, the tank was home to a lonely guppy and an oto. Today the corys arrived, and after acclimating them I put them in the tank. They seem to love it in there, but the guppy doesn't seem very happy about them. He's been arching his back at them and doing this twitchy swiming backwards thing. The corys ignore him completely, except when he occasionally nips at the face of one and the cory retaliates by chasing him around for a bit. They have only been in there for about two hours now, so maybe I just need to give the guppy time to get used to his new neighbors. I hope this won't be a long term problem. What can I do about this?

09-22-2006, 01:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
esarkipato Planted Tank Infatuated (View User Tanks) PTrader: (28) Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: W. Michigan Posts: 1,985	I would second the notion of getting the guppy a friend, but don't get a female unless you are willing to deal with a population explosion! __________________ -Ernie 29 Gallon Tank: 110W PC Lights, Milwaukee MA957 CO2, Fluorite/Sand Substrate, Checked into E.I. Rehab MY RENA FILSTAR XP3 PIMPS ME! (#67)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

09-21-2006, 10:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
spypet Banned (View User Tanks) PTrader: (56) Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Forest Hills, NY Posts: 3,298	Nice find. I have a few of them too and would say a 20" long 10gal is room enough for everyone. make sure there are plants around (even plastic), especially up along the back glass. also consider getting your guppy a new friend of the same species, and preferably of the opposite sex. keep in mind that fish that have been solitary for a while take a lot longer to acclimate to new tank mates, if ever. another trick is to always acclimate new fish when the lights are off for the night, so turn them off early now, and see if things look less hostile in the morning. the Cory's will stay hyper active for a day or so, but once they settle in, the Guppy may find their company less annoying. also try not to have them compete for food. use floating flakes for the guppy, and fast sinking food bits for the Cory's. most people buy these Cory's thinking they will stay on the bottom, but in fact these are more mid-water fish that will rest or hunt on the bottom occasionally not exclusively, thus they are in the guppy's domain.

Advertisements
Get Rid of Advertisements