Tetra1990
Aquarium Advice Addict
It might just be a Mollie thing, they can be bullies. How big is the tank and what are the other tank mates?
Sand is great! My cories were on gravel for awhile. It didn't affect their barbels but now that they have sand the barbels have really grown. I'm not sure if this is actually possible maybe they grow with the fish but they've def gotten longer/thicker.
I think my old substrate was having a real impact on their barbel growth to the point where all of them were ground down and I was facing the prospect of disease or death.
They seem so much happier with the sand although a bit hesitant at 1st to really have a good dig. They seem to have settled though
ooooh, I am going to go look for a few cories today! any suggestions which type(s) for a very heavily planted 29 g with 5 neons, a male betta and a pea puffer. bizarre mix i know but so many plants, driftwood and tunnels it works nicely. My gravel is fine, will that do? only a river shape the rest is sprouting swords and crypts etc
I would set up some thin flag stone type rocks on top of a few pieces so they have a couple inch area to hide under, you could make it look stacked and cliff like, and silicone them when you get a nice design shape, so they don't fall and crush anybody. Another option is some stacked driftwood pieces. Making sure to have entrance and exit places just in case a rouge Betta gets them in a corner they can sneak out and not be trapped.
The African Dwarf frogs were easier since they are basically flat, lol Mr. Betta can't get to them as easily.
But I have seen a Betta lay on the bottom horizontally, to pick at snails and try to pick at my previous ADF, while the ADF were in their safety zone.
After I found the cranky Betta was after them and set up the safety zone.
He was too mean. The ADF got moved from his space and went in their own little tank. This was over 3 years ago, the last little ADF passed on about 2 years ago, but I am considering some more. Just have to do some checking for compatibility. (I miss those guys too/know this is about Cories, AND crazy Bettas, lol)
I have 5 albino corys in a 15g column with a crowntail betta (Renji) and a gold mystery snail. To accommodate Renji, I diverted the flow of my penguin 150 biowheel downward with a sponge. Although I had an sir stone on a small top fin air pump, I noticed that the corys and the snail seemed a bit sluggish (no pun intended, haha). I got to thinking that maybe there wasn't enough oxygen exchange going on, so I added a stronger air pump and a larger air stone. Well, that opened the flood gates! My corys have been up and down and all around, riding in the bubbles, and generally having a fabulous time on a nearly continuous basis ever since They are SOOOOO much fun to watch, I'm smiling and laughing at them all the time!
Autumnsky, I am going to heed your advice and get a Cory Cave for them in case Renji, who's currently behaving himself, turns rogue, as you suggest. Thanks for mentioning
My blue male betta is an expert hunter of shrimp. I have 2 large pieces of dw in his 10 g and I've seen him wriggle under it to flush shrimp out. I'm sure it would be the same with cory cats. I like the stacked idea with a raised bottom. But if the substrate is sand, then the betta may be able to 'dig' them out. Bettas are temperamental!