I keep reading that cory catfish must be bought in groups of 6 or more.?

Question

Will the fish die of "lonely stress" if I only buy one? Do certain breeds of cory catfish function better alone than others like panda or bronze?

Answer 1

Cories are schooling fish, which means they feel safer in groups. While he may not die of lonelyness, he would feel better in a group, and anyways a group of cories just look cute together. But I have had one alone and he did just fine.

Answer 2

The Sterba's Cory prefers a dark, soft-bottom aquarium shared with upper to mid-water dwelling species, and they don't have to be in schools. A sparse array of plants, tepid clear water with some current, and allowance for plenty of free-swimming space will provide an optimal environment.Sterba's Cory is omnivorous and will require a well balanced diet including dried, flake, frozen, and live foods. Feed a quality flake and pellet food as well as frozen brine and live worms

these ones don't need to be in schools either.

The Brochis Cory Cat inhabits waters with high vegetation and neutral pH levels. A minimum of a 30-gallon tank, highly planted, with plenty of driftwood will help mirror the natural habitat of this catfish. Keep pH close to neutral, with good filtration to ensure proper health and lack of stress.This is a bottom feeding fish that will help keep the left over food that falls to the bottom of the tank under control. If the tank is clean and there is a lack of bottom debris, blood worms, flake food, or sinking carnivore pellets should be fed. It is healthy for the fish to have a variety of different types of food.

Also known as the Green Catfish or Emerald Brochis, the Emerald Green Cory Cat comes from the regions of South America in the Amazon River basin. It's living conditions and food are just like the Brochis Cory Cat.

Other than those, Cory Cats are recommended to be in a group of 6 or more but they will not die from being lonely.

Answer 3

Technically speaking cory cats are shoaling fish not schooling, but the differences are fairly minor. Generally they only hang together when stressed or resting. Yes they are better off in groups, but they won't die from it. Note that some types prefer soft acidic water and many are sensitive to high levels of nitrates.

Answer 4

Yes they will do much better in groups of 6 or more. They won't usually die of being lonely, but they will not be active at all when kept in small groups. 6 or more and they will be much more happy and active. I don't know why 6 is the magic number, but even in groups of 5 they are much less active than if I have 6.