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My cories have gone into hiding. I mean I don't see them at all. They are hiding in a log. They are in a 60 with 4 fancytail goldfish and two very active pleco. Could it be the pleco that are scaring them off to hiding? I have no other place for them right now. My jewels would tear them to shreads, very vicious.

Well, what kind of cories are they, and how many do you have? Cories are shoaling fish, and can become shy if not kept in big enough groups. And, how big are those plecos? They may very well be stressing the cories out.

Also, I have to tell you that your tank is overstocked. Goldfish and plecos are huge waste producers, and grow very large. If I were you, I'd move those plecos, and two of the goldfish to larger tanks (if you can), or sell them. Fancy goldfish (depending on the variety) reach over six inches, and common plecos get to at least fifteen. Removing those fish and adding more cories will certainly cheer up the ones you already have.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Cories are usually shy and prefer to hide during the day, so it might be normal. When they're new to a tank they go about a lot to get to know their new environment, but soon they establish a territory and they prefer to stay there. They are also supposed to go out of hiding when it's food time. So it might be okay.

On the other hand, plecos are very territorial, usually only towards their own species, but if they have been in the tank for a long time before the cories, then a bunch of cories added to the tank might get them territorial towards them as well, as they feel their territory is threatened. If the cories are new and that is the case, you will see the pleco swimming around the cories and landing where they are to scare them off. The cories will scurry from the pleco and will usually find a hiding place which they cannot go out because of the pleco.

If that is the case, there are two things you can try. The first is moving the plecos to another tank for about a few days. The cories will have a chance to become familiar with the tank and when the pleco is back, it will have to share its territory with them, something they don't really mind doing if they are the "guests". If you don't have another tank, I was told that re-arranging plants and any ornaments you have in the tank might help, as it forces the fish to claim new territories, in which case the pleco might accept the fact that it's not the only fish in the village. If your tank is big enough (which it should be, as sirbrooks said), you can add add driftwood (if you don't have any) or another one (if you already have one) -- something that provides a hiding place underneath it between the wood and the substrate is the best as both the cories and the plecos don't really like strong light and that will give them the shade they need.

If it is a territorial dispute, you must do something as things won't get better by themselves and the cories will just be too stressed and too scared to come out even if only for eating.

Thanks for the advice. I keep the light off in one end of the tank and that is were they hide out so I think the light issue explains it.

I wouldn't rule out the goldfishes, either, though. How big are they?