Substrate is ordinary aquarium gravel - pea sized. About 1/6th of the tank has flourite. I have not had a problem with compaction as the thickness is about 1/2 to 3/4 inch. I gravel vac right to the glass weekly, often removing decorations and plants to do entire sections. No cory had a problem ...

I would like to hear from people who have treated habrosus cories with medications and would like to know what worked ok, and what did not work well in terms of reaction. I have 5 habrosus cories that have barbel erosion and thought it may have had something to do with the flourite I had added to a ...

So sorry to hear that Deb. I think you're doing the right thing in lowering your salt. Its funny how those "community" tanks become a balancing act, in your case a Molly's like of salt and the cory's dislike of it. I hope you'll try again later when you get your tank the way you want it. Cories are ...

I've read that there are different schools of thought on barbel errosion. One is harsh substrate, another is bacterial/fungal infection, and I've also read that some believe it has to do with lack of good protein in the diet, and the high nitrate suggestions here. Food that has an opportunity to ...

I can understand the reasoning against o2 problem as it really should affect more fish. I knew it was a stretch, but figured added airstones wouldn't hurt, especially if there were some type of gases building up for some unknown reason. You say you gravel vac "as much of the tank as possible" each ...

How heavily is the tank planted? It sounds like they may be experiencing oxygen deprivation. Can you get some airstones going in the tank, especially at night? Are you running co2 for the plants? Plants will put oxygen in the tank by day, and take oxygen by night. Do you notice them hanging at the ...

If you can get a fish anesthetic that would help. In the states, there is one called MS-222, which is one of the leading meds to calm fish. It is also used to fully sedate fish when procedures are required. At very high doses, it is considered the most humane ways to euthanize a fish. From what I ...

I had two cories in quarantine after bringing them home. Same thing. My eyes aren't the best, unless I get right up close to them which I couldn't do at the lfs. I brought them home, put them in q-tine and had a perception even while they were in the bag that they seemed off, but thought it was just ...

Thanks everyone. Nope - no ammonia poisoning as ammonia and nitrite are 0. Bio-filtration has been solid for over two months now. I do know that the effects of ammonia in alkaline water are much more toxic than they are with more acidic water. I have a suspicion that even though they weren't ...

That being said, what antibiotic is effective yet safe for otos? Is Maracyn 2 at lower doses safe? I could find no info on this med and its affects on scaleless fish. I believe the last one will check out tonite, but can't be sure. I don't like him being alone in the hospital tank, but what else can ...

I had no idea which forum to put this in. I looked up otos, but it doesn't give the family name so I'm guessing. Please move if needed. I bought four otos for my 20 gal long. It's been running for nearly 4 months and is finally loaded with algae. We have high pH at 8, but most lfs don't tamper with ...

Someone I know has a cory that can't seem to rest away from the surface. Like it just floats back up. I don't think they have an air bladder as they gulp air that sits in their digestive tract for bouyancy, if I recall. What could cause this and what can be done for him? I'm wondering if he is ...

I've heard that scale-less fish must be medicated differently than other fish with scales. I have two cories, one that may need medicating (another post on cory with a pimple). What is safe to use? What is not safe to use? If I'm not sure something is bacterial, fungal or parasitic is there ...

I'm kind of new to this. My 20 gallon just got done cycling a few weeks ago and I decided to add my cories. I didn't have a quarantine tank with aged water, I would have had to start with new water and no seeded filter. Now I'm regretting it. I was watching the two for about a half hour after I ...