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I have a 5.5 gallon long tank that I'm cycling right now. What cory's are really hardy and good for this tank?

Pygmeus.

Okay let me try this again out of these types because there all my LFS's carry. Albino,Bronze,Green,Panda

Just jumping in here ... of the corys you have mentioned, I am not at all sure that any of them will be suitable for the set-up you are suggesting. Bronze corys (C. aeneus) are coming into the US hobby a little bigger and chunkier, it seems to me. There are a few undescribed varieties out there, and you may end up with one of these new ones. I can't see keeping three or four in a 5.5 gallon.

The albinos are most likely the albino form of C. aeneus, and your 5.5 gallons of water will not support several of them comfortably. You could keep one, but where is the fun in keeping one cory? It is not recommended, as they are a sociable fish that travels in large shoals.

Pandas (C. panda) are notoriously weak, IMO. You can search these boards and find post after post telling of pandas that just didn't make it, despite much better conditions than you are prepared to offer.

Green cories. What are these? I have heard of C. melanotaenia being called by this name. Do you think that is what your LFS means?

In my area, cory relative Brochis britskii are called "Large Green Corys," which is so odd as to be bizarre. You just never know what kind of a name the stores will attach to a fish - especially when they have no idea what it is.
Please check the cat-e-log here - there is a link at the top - and verify the species offered in your LFS.

In short, I don't think 5.5 gallons of water is suitable for a small group of corys, especially the ones you are suggesting. Can't you upgrade to at least a 15 gallon?

Deborah

5,5 gallons is just below 21 litres. If you only keep Corydoras in the tank you can havea group of 5-7 pandas.

I keep my breeding group og 8 fish in a 25 litre (6,6 gallon) tank. You have to keep up your waterchanges at 15-20% a week though.

Thanks for the help, I decided not to go with corries in that tank. However I have a 10 gallon with a powder blue drawf gourami, what corries out of what I listed would be good in that tank?

Now you're talking! In a ten gallon I think Kim's recommendation of 5-7 Pandas would work. Make sure they are healthy at the point of sale. Ask the LFS how long they've been in the tank, and how many have died already.

Normal color or albino, if you like bronze corys, and who doesn't, you could probably have 3-5 in 10 gallons. Let your own water changing routine guide you. If you are reliable with water changes, then go with 5, because the corys will like being in a bigger group.

I'm sorry, I still don't know what you mean by "green."

A small gourami and a few corys in a nice planted tank would look good. Down the road, you could add some more small fish, such as a few tiny rasboras.

Deborah

Green are kinda like emralds from what I've been told. I think I'll go with 3 albino cory catfish in that tank to start and maybe add two down the line. Panda's are read are really not a good fish for a beginer because depending on where you get them they could be very weak so I'll stay away from them right now. My LFS keeps his fish for 2 weeks before he sells them and is a good guy.

Pandas (C. panda) are notoriously weak, IMO. You can search these boards and find post after post telling of pandas that just didn't make it, despite much better conditions than you are prepared to offer.

why are they delicate? My lfs did not warn me- they are with the hardy fish.

Is there any advice how to look after them ?

My pandas float in the plants looking asleep or on the surface upside down - Could it be "swim bladder disease?" how can I cure it and avoid it in the future- what causes it

any ideas?

Thanks