Substrate for C. arcuatus
Posted: 14 Dec 2003, 10:13
I have recently found refuge from unemployment at a local Aquatics store. I have kept fish, as a hobbiest for over 30 years. I can usualy spot an unhappy fish. We have a tank full of C. arcuatus (sp?). They do not look particularly happy. All water parameters are adequate, though the temp is a little high for some corys ( 27C). I am concerned that the substrate is not appropriate for this species. It consists of large ( >1cm diamater) rounded gravel that is dark red in color. I personaly would never use anything like this in a tank, especialy one for small fish, but the former manager and team did. I have noticed, in the past, that some corys are a bit particular about the substrate they are laying on. In particular, many years ago, I had some C. paleatus in a tank with standard #1 gravel with rough edges. The C. aeneus had little problem with it, but the paleatus were not thriving. I eventualy moved them to a planted river tank with a sand substrate were they florished. I am having trouble finding information on the prefered substrate for many corys. On a side note, moving the fish is not an option right now. Too many of the tanks have problems that need fixing. If the substrate is the problem, I will move changing it to a higher position on my priority list.
The behavior ( excuse my spelling, but I had a very long day) that I am noticing is A) some individuals spend an unusual amount of time off the bottom B) the entire fleet is grouped *very* close together( I realise that any cory marked like arcuatus will be an intense schooler, but this is ridiculous, individuals are stacked up on top of each other like juvenile Botia macracanthus!), C) the school is not moving around the tank ( except at feeding time) and D) their color is not as bright as it should be ( we have had this group for over a week, long enough to get over transportaion stress). I have pretty much ruled out parasites, though I will be placing some C.aeneus in the tank as a diagnostic ( this species seems to do well on anything that is not too sharp). One more note; I have been feeding the corys a sinking pellet that is 50% shrimp and 50% spirolina and the hikari sinking waffer alternatly.
I have noticed that most people, even some hobbiest, can't see the difference between a happy fish and one that is being stressed. But I can, and I want the fish that I send home with a customer to be in the best shape that I can manage. I find it distressing to work with a customer who is expressing an interest in a cool fish, that is stressed by something that I can't identify.
The behavior ( excuse my spelling, but I had a very long day) that I am noticing is A) some individuals spend an unusual amount of time off the bottom B) the entire fleet is grouped *very* close together( I realise that any cory marked like arcuatus will be an intense schooler, but this is ridiculous, individuals are stacked up on top of each other like juvenile Botia macracanthus!), C) the school is not moving around the tank ( except at feeding time) and D) their color is not as bright as it should be ( we have had this group for over a week, long enough to get over transportaion stress). I have pretty much ruled out parasites, though I will be placing some C.aeneus in the tank as a diagnostic ( this species seems to do well on anything that is not too sharp). One more note; I have been feeding the corys a sinking pellet that is 50% shrimp and 50% spirolina and the hikari sinking waffer alternatly.
I have noticed that most people, even some hobbiest, can't see the difference between a happy fish and one that is being stressed. But I can, and I want the fish that I send home with a customer to be in the best shape that I can manage. I find it distressing to work with a customer who is expressing an interest in a cool fish, that is stressed by something that I can't identify.