PlanetCatfish.com

Hey there

I am not sure if "she" is sick or just lighter in color. I think she has actually had loss of color since I got her about 4 months ago.

I have a 10 gallon tank with 2 male guppies and the 4 false julii. She is the biggest but also the palest. Also her dorsal fin is usually down and not standing up. She is also my loner - she stays in a cave with a guppy that is being pestered by my other guppy.

Water conditions appear to be good (ammonia/nitrite 0, ph 6.8, NitrAte 5 -- I change water 50% weekly).

She eats and otherwise seems fine.

Thanks for any insight!

A couple of questions. Firstly I am a little bemused by the name 'False julii' can you post a picture, common and invented names can be totally confusing. You also say water conditions appear OK, but that may be in regard to ammonia and such, but what about temperature, pH and GH, these may not be suitable for the species you have.

Ian

I think the cory was sold as a Corydoras julii (which turns out has more distinct spots and what I got was a C. trilineatus

This is a website that directly refers to them as "false Julii"
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod ... CatId=1176

Anyway, glad I gave you a good laugh!!

My ammonia is 0 as of Monday - but I have a real light bio load so even after a week (when I test on Sundays - there is still no ammonia but Nitrates go up to 10)

PH is around 6.8
GH is really low -- tested awhile ago it was around 2.
water temp is 75 degrees

Thanks for trying to help Coryman.

Also - why would she lay her dorsal fin down flat??

The false julii in your link is indeed the which is the by far most common "julii" that you find in the trade. [See the C. trilineatus link for the difference between that and C. julii.

--
Mats

Next question sorry, what is the substrate? sand is best, but it needs to be smooth grained to avoid abrasion to the Corys barbels and mouth parts.

for the fish to have its dorsal down all the time something within the system is amiss and it could possibly be the substrate.

Ian

I have sand in 1/4 of the tank where a cave is, the rest is a regular aquarium gravel. The pale fish is always by herself in the cave on the sand. The other 3 are under a bridge on the gravel.

My yellow male guppy is also hiding in the cave with the pale Julii. (I have a very aggressive male blue guppy that won't leave the yellow one alone ... I think that is what killed my other male guppy)

I just wish I knew how to help the fish if it is sick but I just don't know what could be wrong.

I see no erosion on their belly's and they have their barbel things. Well...I just looked and the pale Julii her barbels are MUCH shorter!

Should I just up my water changes?? Does increasing heat do anything - 75 to 78/80?

Thanks for any help!