Looking for the appropiate species of cory

[Bob57]

Hi,
I'm new to catfishes.I plan to set up a 75 gallons tank with a natural habitat for 6 or 7 wild Peruvian P.Scalare and a school of 25 to 30 tetras(either cardinals or lemon).
I would like to add a small group of corys,the prettier and smaller the better for the bottom of the tank.I have seen in the past one that have numerous spots.I don't know the name and/or if is compatible with my tank parameters.
Any recommendations?
The tank will have a low PH,not much light,peat moss added to the canister filter for the tannins,R/O water(soft,a temperature of about 82 F and the set up will consist of sand substrate,a few rocks and driftwood,no plants.
Your help is appreciated.

[MChambers]

82 is on the warm side for most corydoras. Sterbai is one that does well at higher temperatures. There may be a few others.

[Bob57]

82 is on the warm side for most corydoras. Sterbai is one that does well at higher temperatures. There may be a few others.

I have seen in the past one that have numerous spots.I don't know the name and/or if is compatible with my tank parameters.

What a magnificent coincidence!I looked upon sterbai and is the one I mentioned I have seen and like it.
That will be the perfect choice!
Thank you!

[MatsP]

I would suggest that you think carefully about putting cardinals with Angel-fish. It can work, but if you are unlucky, they become (expensive) dieatary supplement for the Angel-fish when they grow big.

--
Mats

[Bob57]

Mats,I was worried about that too,but I consulted a few people that keep angelfishes and some of them told me that if I introduce the cardinals first into the tank and let them grow to full potential size and then introduce the angelfishes(small to medium size)they will get along well.
However,I'm still afraid that what you say can happen and that's why I'm considering the alternative of lemon tetras,which have a deeper body than cardinals and maybe are less prone of become a tasty meal.Besides-even if I like the contrast of the blue and red of cardinals with the angelfishes-the complimentary colors of the lemon tetras with the yellow and black accents will also harmonize with the colors of the angels and sterbai corys.A black background to the tank will give the whole "painting" a final "artistic" touch.

[MatsP]

Sounds about right - I doubt very much that Angelfish will eat lemon tetras, they are too big. I would also expect the Lemon tetras are happier in Florida tap-water (hard, alkaline) than Cardinals.

--
Mats

[Bob57]

Sounds about right - I doubt very much that Angelfish will eat lemon tetras, they are too big. I would also expect the Lemon tetras are happier in Florida tap-water (hard, alkaline) than Cardinals.

--
Mats

Correct me if I'm wrong,but I understand that lemon tetras like soft acidic water as do the angels and sterbai.All of them come from soft and acidic waters from South America.

[racoll]

Correct me if I'm wrong,but I understand that lemon tetras like soft acidic water as do the angels and sterbai.

Neither the lemon tetra Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis nor

Corydoras sterbai

are from blackwater environments, and will both only be available as tank bred fish from the Far East. This means they will be just fine in hard, slightly alkaline water. They won't complain in softer water, but certainly don't need it.

It is really only blackwater species (e.g. the cardinals and the wild Pterophyllum) that you need to worry about the water hardness for (sounds like you have that covered though).

[Bob57]

and will both only be available as tank bred fish from the Far East.

Here in South Florida,these are also imported from South America,not only tank breed,and the wild ones are the ones I'm after.
I have seen them in the past,along with other types of corydoras,tetras,discus and angels at a now out of business importer/exporter in my city,about 7 years ago when Alberto Barboza,now owner of Aquatechnics in Plantation,FL,used to go there to buy wild green discus from Peru at ridiculous low prices.
And this is what I gathered in a search:

Ideal water parameters for Sterbai Corydoras
Soft to moderately hard (hardness to 15 dGH), acidic to slightly basic (pH to 7.6) water, temperature 24-28C/75-82F. Most fish will now be commercially raised and suited to the given parameters; wild-caught fish require soft, acidic water.

Ideal water parameters for Lemon Tetra
Soft to moderately hard (< 20 dGH), acidic to slightly basic (pH 5.5-7.5) water, temperature 22-28C/72-82F.The fish will be more colourful in softer, slightly acidic water.

[racoll]

Ideally yes, you would provide identical water conditions to the wild for the fish you keep, and certainly if you wanted to breed a difficult species.

In practice, however, only extreme stenotopic species (e.g. those from blackwaters) fail to adapt well to reasonably mineral rich and basic tapwater.

[Bob57]

I want to do an almost biotope aquarium.I'm a bit picky and err on the safe side.I plan to provide the tank with R/O soft water,peat moss in the canister filter for tannins and acidity,not much light,sand substrate,driftwood,tempt in the low 80F(about 82F).
Ideally I would stock it with just wild angels and wild cardinals,but these can become a fast meal of the angels and I want to add wild corys for the bottom column of the tank.
I don't mind the water changes or all the monitoring,time is on my side ;).
In essence,I don't want to adapt the fishes to my environment and water parameters,I want to provide them with the most near to their natural habitat.

[racoll]

That's certainly admirable, but you may want to do some research on the natural habitat of C. sterbai then.

I want to provide them with the most near to their natural habitat.

I plan to provide the tank with R/O soft water,peat moss in the canister filter for tannins and acidity

Making the assumption that they come from low pH tannin stained waters rich in organic compounds may be just as "wrong" as saying they'll be fine adapting to neutral/alkaline tapwater.

[Bob57]

Making the assumption that they come from low pH tannin stained waters rich in organic compounds may be just as "wrong" as saying they'll be fine adapting to neutral/alkaline tapwater.

Racoll,I don't assume anything about the sterbai or the lemon tetras.
They might or may not come from waters rich in tannins in the wild,but certainly from acidic and soft waters.
What is left or added?The peat moss to provide tannins to the main feature of the tank:the wild Peruvian P.Scalare.Is a compromise that I take,and I repeat,I'm not yet sure if they live or not in an environment where this is present.Is something I must research more later.And if I go the route of the cardinal tetras,2 species will be living happily in water that resemble close enough their habitat.Yet to determine about sterbai.
One thing is clear,alkaline hardwater like the one we have here isn't the right choice.

[racoll]

One thing is clear,alkaline hardwater like the one we have here isn't the right choice.

Absolutely, and given that you have an RO unit I'm sure that what you propose will work out perfectly. Sounds like a really nice tank.

[Bob57]

Hopefully it will be.Lets cross my fingers and see how fast I can come up with the money I need for this new set up after years without practicing the hobby.

[[email protected]]

Both sterbai and most tetras are farm-raised in Florida using ground water. As probably were your angels. They all do fine in a mixed tank at 80-82F, even using tap water.

Experience talking, sterbai, cardinal tetras and angels, along with a few silver dollars and a demented ancistrus that prefers the inside of the AquaClear to the tank itself.

Jeff

[joefish72b]

Just something to keep in mind, the tetras could make quick work of any angelfish spawns you have. I have angels mixed with some of the larger tetras (bleeding heart, diamond, Buenos aires) and the tetras are wiggler killers.