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I just put 6 new panda corys in my tank. They have been in there for a little under a week now. Their roomies are 3 platies, and 1 dwarf gourami.

I fed them a few of the algae wafers a few times (chopped in 4's), and they didnt even seem to pay attention to them.

I feed flakes and bloodworms to the other fish. Do you think the corys are getting enough to eat by what floats to the bottom, or should I keep putting in the wafers they don't seem to eat?

I have a 20gal tank. Nitrates have been on the high side, so I try not to overfeed, but I also have what looks like rust spots (brown algae) on some of the decorations, so I have been trying to cut WAY back on feedings.

Thanks

Do they get much of the flake/bloodworms? Mine go crazy for the bloodworms, which tend to sink to the bottom anyhow (if you start from frozen). Have you tried the sinking wafers/pellets geared towards corys rather than the algae wafers? Although corys might touch the algae wafers, they are not algae eaters themselves.

Also, if your nitrates are on the high side then it might be time to do a water change

For my Three-Lined Coriesy, as long as there's food on the bottom, they're get plenty to eat. All of my cories have nice full bellies!

Whats your nitrate reading? Mine is usually about 20-25ppm every friday (also when I do water change).



Last edited by sly at 07-Oct-2004 14:50

I fed them a few of the algae wafers ... and they didnt even seem to pay attention to them.

Try something with a bit more protein ...corys aren't algae eating fish, they do like a bit more in their diet. I tend to agree that so long as food is making it's way to the bottom that they're getting enough....

High nitrates....instead of large water changes try multiple small water changes each week....say 10% every other day, just be extra careful about matching temp ect. Some hornwort floting on the surface of the tank if you can get some will also help.

The diatoms may be due to phosphates in your tap water....if you can, see if your LFS will run a test for you...phosphate removers can be found in the SW section of most shops.

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I didn't know there were sinking pellets for the corys. Where I bought them, they only had the algae wafers, so I bought them, but wasn't sure if they were right, then sent the hubby to get some different ones, and he got exactly the same ones, but in a different container!

I have been doing weekly 25% water changes. I haven't checked my nitrates since I did the water change on Monday. But I will try to do it tonite. Oh, and my Nitrate levels have been running between 40-80 (thats all the test reads) and I cant tell the difference from 40 to 80 to 100, so it could be anywhere in that range.

I have no idea if they are getting enough to eat or not. Iknow there is food down there, as I have gravel vac'ed alot out. (I know, I overfeed, Im workin on it). So I would assume there is some down there. ANd they are actively rummaging on the bottom, but then again, so are the rest of the fish.

Thanks for everyone's help, I will keep posting.

Last edited by CyndieL73 at 07-Oct-2004 16:21

They'll eat the algae wafers, so they are probably not starving. As for more nourishing meals, are your other fish really scavenging the bottom? In my experience they aren't as voracious as some others . . .

Some more pellets would definitely be more reassuring, though.

Hikari sinking algae wafers are eaten...

The first ingredient is white fish meal.

--garyroland.

Try freeze dried tubifex weighted to the bottom with a plant weight.

My Panda Corys go nuts for this treat!

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

corydoras are primarily meat-eaters. my pandas like hikari sinking wafers for bottom feeders but wont touch algae wafers.

however they also go mad for frozen black mosquito larvae. you should definitely try to get them some live or frozen food, this is very important if they are still young as they need the protein to grow big and strong.

You could try Hikari brand Sinking Wafers for Bottom Feeders (not algae wafers), or try Nutrafin Sinking Tablets for Bottom Feeders and Invertebrates.
My corys love both of these. Frozen Bloodworms are relished, as is freeze dried tubifex, Wardley Slow sinking crumbles, Wardley Shrimp Pellets, and even the occassional HBH Frog and Tadpole Bites.
Corys are omnivores, meaning they will eat almost anything. If they have round bellys, they are getting enough to eat. IF one swims up belly to the glass, and the belly seems sunken in or really flat, then you need to feed more. You can just make sure you add enough flake that some gets to the bottom for the corys.


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My cories go nuts for shrimp pellets as well as flake.

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