Okay, thanks! Just wondering- is it odd if my cories are swimming around the middle of the tank, going up and down walls, sometimes going near the top, and then going back on the gravel? They seem to be playing with their reflections or swimming around because they can? (Not sure). They sometimes are going places (i.e. on top of my rock formation to scavenge, or on top on my anubias plant to rest on the leaves) but other times seemingly just swim around for the heck of it, up and down the glass. I think someone told me this is normal. I have seen them go up for air once or twice since I got them, but it's not often of frantic, so I know it's not a water quality thing or lack of oxygen.
They just experienced their first water change in my tank- around a 50%. They seem fine, maybe even better now that the water is cleaner and there is less gunk in the gravel. I decided to do it because of algae I can't stand looking at, plus the tank needed a water change anyways. They weren't very happy with me trying to wipe out all the algae, but I think the water is nicer now and they'll thank me.
I've been trying to feed them, but my tetras and platy are determined not to let any food get to the bottom. Even if it does, my platy and one of my tetras have figured out that after food hits the gravel, it's still edible (what a concept!), so they've been gobbling up whatever does make it down there. I don't have a turkey baster so I tried using my bamboo tweezers (best purchase ever, made for feeding crickets and stuff to reptile but work great when I'm doing frozen food. Fish associate them with mealtime and if they appear in the tank they all crowd around. LOL) to put food on the ground, but ended up with a dripping arm and hiding cories. I think I scared them. Can't go to the store tonight, but I have basic pellets, as well as bloodworms and brine shrimp, that I can give them. Any tips on getting them to eat/making sure other fish don't get it?
