newbie, need some basic breeding/setup articles

jimmyB · Post by **jimmyB** » 25 Jun 2004, 14:33

Greetings! First post, although a frequent reader of this website for months. I feel like I have some great information for the period AFTER I get up and running and the breeding has started, but I need to take a step back and decide first which species to start with, and some of the basics of setting up a suitable tank environment that will encourage breeding. I have always kept one strain or another, but I have never tried to breed corys. I am ready to give it a go! I am starting up a new 20 gallon tank, and I want to concentrate on the corys, with any other fish being the secondary focus. I have not chosen a particular type yet, until I do some research. Can you lead me to some good articles on which species of cories might get me off to a good successful start? Also, basic tank setups, and tank mates? Thanks!

Allan · Post by **Allan** » 25 Jun 2004, 14:54

Hey JimmyB, and welcome as an active on the forum!

Have You seen Ian's homepage? - I think this can provide some limited info for a few species: http://corycats.com/spawning_logs.htm

If You want an easy start and some expirience, I think you should start up with C. paleatus or C. aeneus, and keep other tank inhabitants to a minimum. But there are many other "easy" species than i mention here, it's just the two that I have expirienced as easy.

fishnut2 · Post by **fishnut2** » 25 Jun 2004, 15:39

Hi Jimmy.
Welcome to PC! I agree with Allan regarding start-up species! If you live anywhere near Chicago, you are welcome to see my set-up. I always have eggs, free-swimming fry, and grow out tanks going. I keep about 45 species of cories, and have proven breeders available for both species mentioned. E-mail me if you are interested.
Rich

jimmyB · Post by **jimmyB** » 06 Jul 2004, 19:09

I got my hands on some Corys over the weekend. They were sold as Pepper cats, but as I look at the profiles and research them, they don't look like the C. Paleatus, they actually look more like the Julii. Is the Julii a common strain? The tipoff is the dark band on the dorsal fin, and the distinct rows of spots. The profile of the Paeatus shows more of a blotchy look.

Allan · Post by **Allan** » 06 Jul 2004, 19:12

C. julii is possible, but not likely. Have You taken a look at C. trilineatus?

If You get a picture of them, and still have doubts, then post a pic for all of us to enjoy

jimmyB · Post by **jimmyB** » 06 Jul 2004, 19:49

Could very well be the Trilineatus. I will check it out later today and compare against those photos. thanks!

jimmyB · Post by **jimmyB** » 07 Jul 2004, 14:28

I can confidently say that the smallest one sure looks like the Trilineatus. However, the other 3 do not have any real sign of horizontal lines along their sides. They have dots all over their flanks, but they don't form well defined lines. They have the dark black band on the dorsal fin, and all of them have a dark band that goes across the forehead from eye to eye. They are all happy and swimming in a school, and last night enjoyed some bloodworms and spirulina flakes. They are obviously not from the same batch of fry, even though they were mixed together in the same tank when I bought them. Any ideas on the identity of the 3?

jimmyB · Post by **jimmyB** » 07 Jul 2004, 16:05

I am thinking the smaller one is Gomezi, and the 3 larger are Leucomelas.

jimmyB · Post by **jimmyB** » 08 Jul 2004, 14:57

Thanks for the PM. I am pretty sure about the 3 being Leucomelas, although mine look a lot larger and fuller than the pics on the profile database. I have abandoned the idea of the little fish being a C. Gomezzi, since that little guy does not have a dark band on his dorsal, instead he has a little spot. Also, the spots on his sides are actually connected to form wavy horizontal lines, perhaps 3 or so thick lines, but he does not look anything like the photos of the Trilineatus.

I am leaning towards getting more of the Leucomelas, and let this little guy be the honorary member of the school.