dead panda cories

[Larry Blanchard]

I've got a 20 gallon planted tank with 8 red-eye tetras and seven
platies. I added five small (1/2") panda cories about 3-4 weeks ago.

One showed up dead a few days ago and another this morning. I've
checked them over under a magnifying glass and I see no spots, no
bites, no bloating, etc.. They're just dead.

The tetras and platies are fine and the other pandas seem OK when I see
them - they spend most of the day hiding and come out when the lights
go off.

I'm doing a 10% water change twice a week and the water parameters seem
OK. I am adding Excel, AlgaeFix, and Amquel but I dilute them in the
water for changing so there's no high concentration in one spot.

Any ideas? Are pandas prone to this sort of thing? I read dire
warnings about otos, but I've not had any problems with them, or with
any other fish.

--
It's turtles, all the way down

[Koi-lo]

"Larry Blanchard" > wrote in message
...
>> The tetras and platies are fine and the other pandas seem OK when I see
> them - they spend most of the day hiding and come out when the lights
> go off.
=========================
What are they finding to EAT when the lights are off? Platys are greedy
eaters and scrounge over the gravel for leftovers. The little cories may be
starving to death.
--

Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
NEW PAGE: Aquariums:
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[Larry Blanchard]

Koi-lo wrote:

>
> "Larry Blanchard" > wrote in message
> ...
>>> The tetras and platies are fine and the other pandas seem OK when I
>>> see
>> them - they spend most of the day hiding and come out when the lights
>> go off.
> =========================
> What are they finding to EAT when the lights are off? Platys are
> greedy
> eaters and scrounge over the gravel for leftovers. The little cories
> may be starving to death.

That's a possibility, although I do wait till the lights go off and put
in some Hikari sinking wafers just for that reason.

Anyone know something that cories like and platys don't? Hah!

I've had platys and cories in the same tank before without problems, but
these are smaller.

--
It's turtles, all the way down

[Koi-lo]

"Larry Blanchard" > wrote in message
...
> Koi-lo wrote:
>
>>
>> "Larry Blanchard" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>> The tetras and platies are fine and the other pandas seem OK when I
>>>> see
>>> them - they spend most of the day hiding and come out when the lights
>>> go off.
>> =========================
>> What are they finding to EAT when the lights are off? Platys are
>> greedy
>> eaters and scrounge over the gravel for leftovers. The little cories
>> may be starving to death.
>
> That's a possibility, although I do wait till the lights go off and put
> in some Hikari sinking wafers just for that reason.
>
> Anyone know something that cories like and platys don't? Hah!
>
> I've had platys and cories in the same tank before without problems, but
> these are smaller.
========================
I've had them together as well, but the cories were daytime feeders and so
made a living competing with the platys. The ones I always had didn't seem
to do much moving around at night. They were also at least 1" in body
length when I got them.
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
NEW PAGE: Aquariums:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy/Aquarium-Page4.html
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[MarAzul]

"Larry Blanchard" > wrote in message
...
> I've got a 20 gallon planted tank with 8 red-eye tetras and seven
> platies. I added five small (1/2") panda cories about 3-4 weeks ago.
>
> One showed up dead a few days ago and another this morning. I've
> checked them over under a magnifying glass and I see no spots, no
> bites, no bloating, etc.. They're just dead.
>
> The tetras and platies are fine and the other pandas seem OK when I see
> them - they spend most of the day hiding and come out when the lights
> go off.
>
> I'm doing a 10% water change twice a week and the water parameters seem
> OK. I am adding Excel, AlgaeFix, and Amquel but I dilute them in the
> water for changing so there's no high concentration in one spot.
>
> Any ideas? Are pandas prone to this sort of thing? I read dire
> warnings about otos, but I've not had any problems with them, or with
> any other fish.



As a general rule panda cories seem to be more fragile than other species of
cories. I know several experienced fishkeepers that have never been able to
keep them alive, and that includes a cory breeder.

What are you feeding beside sinking wafers (and what variety are the
wafers - algae or bottom feeder)?

--
Mar
---------
VTIT

[Larry Blanchard]

MarAzul wrote:

> As a general rule panda cories seem to be more fragile than other
> species of cories. I know several experienced fishkeepers that have
> never been able to keep them alive, and that includes a cory breeder.
>
> What are you feeding beside sinking wafers (and what variety are the
> wafers - algae or bottom feeder)?

I alternate between algae flakes and general tropical flakes in two
daily feedings for the platys and tetras. Once a week they get frozen
bloodworms and once a week they get live blackworms.

I did some more testing and found that phosphate levels in the tank were
high, but the tap water was OK, so I added some phosphate-adsorbing
pads to the filter. OTOH, that probably means there's food decomposing
on the bottom, so the cories probably aren't starving.

But I may get rid of the platys anyway. I raised them from fry for my
daughter's tank, but she got tired of waiting and bought some mollies
instead. So I'll either have to set up a tank for them or get rid of
them. Anyone in Spokane area want 7 adult platys?

--
It's turtles, all the way down

[NetMax]

"Larry Blanchard" > wrote in message
...
> MarAzul wrote:
>
>> As a general rule panda cories seem to be more fragile than other
>> species of cories. I know several experienced fishkeepers that have
>> never been able to keep them alive, and that includes a cory breeder.
>>
>> What are you feeding beside sinking wafers (and what variety are the
>> wafers - algae or bottom feeder)?
>
> I alternate between algae flakes and general tropical flakes in two
> daily feedings for the platys and tetras. Once a week they get frozen
> bloodworms and once a week they get live blackworms.
>
> I did some more testing and found that phosphate levels in the tank
> were
> high, but the tap water was OK, so I added some phosphate-adsorbing
> pads to the filter. OTOH, that probably means there's food decomposing
> on the bottom, so the cories probably aren't starving.
>
> But I may get rid of the platys anyway. I raised them from fry for my
> daughter's tank, but she got tired of waiting and bought some mollies
> instead. So I'll either have to set up a tank for them or get rid of
> them. Anyone in Spokane area want 7 adult platys?
>
> --
> It's turtles, all the way down

I agree with MarAzul that Panda's are generally much more fragile than
other corys, as bad or worst than Otos (ime). A low plant cover which
the corys can forage through without competition has worked for me. They
are also more particular about their water, it's quality and suffer
acclimation to a different tank poorly. After 3-4 weeks, acclimation
should be complete, so then I'd agree with Koi-lo in regards to their
diet (from their belly, you should be able to assess how well they are
eating), or they just don't like your water (try not to take it
personally ;~).
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Larry Blanchard]

NetMax wrote:
>
> I agree with MarAzul that Panda's are generally much more fragile than
> other corys, as bad or worst than Otos (ime). A low plant cover which
> the corys can forage through without competition has worked for me.
> They are also more particular about their water, it's quality and

I moved the platys to another tank. So far, the other 3 pandas are
still alive and kicking. I'll just wait and see.

--
It's turtles, all the way down