Injured corydora?

Question

recently added 5 corydora, 1 of which did not make it past the third day. 1 other is not doing so well either. I have a 55 gal tank and have been changing 10gal every 4 - 5 days. There is one other corydora, an older one which does not seem to be concerned with the younger ones. I also have 3 small tetras. The one corydora appeared to not care about food and would hide alot more than the others. His barbells seem to be injured.

PH level is around 8
Nitrites are nearly 0.5
Nitrates are nearly 0
Ammonia is 0

I am concerned and want to know if placing the cory in a small 2 gallon hospital tank would help. He is not eating

Unfortunately the local water here in Delaware from the tap tested a bit around 7.8 I asked a specialist about adding a small driftwood log since I heard that it lowers the PH, he said that it would not change it much and that the Corydora would be fine with the PH as is, and that once the cycle has completed to add a few plants. I was forced to do a cycle in the tank with them in it since they would have died in the small tank they were in before I got them. The levels in that tank were terribly high so I bought a 55 gal tank and set it up ran it for about a week and transfered them. I figured as poor as the water was in their previous tank, they must be somewhat hardie and hopefully would do fine during the cycling. I have been changing 10 gallons almost every other day sometimes every day depending on the results of the water tests. I am trying to keep the nitrites and ammonia down. I have added a bacteria supplement to assist in the growing cycle.

Answer 1

The ph is fine for them. As long as it remains at that and not fluctuating too badly, that's good. The ph in my tank with cories is about 7.6-7.8.

Increase your water changes to daily about 10-15% until it cycles. Then you'll want to do them weekly at about 25%. That will help dilute the toxins in the water. As mentioned, I wouldn't add salt with the cories or tetras. They're both sensitive to it. You could also pick up some Prime by Seachem. It's a water dechlorinator, but it detoxifies ammonia and nitrites to a safer form for the fish, but it doesn't remove them, which allows the tank to continue cycling. You may still get readings on your test kits though, kind of a false positive. Can't say for sure on that though, haven't researched that.

You can try moving the sicker one to the smaller tank, just be sure to change that water out frequently as well.

Answer 2

There shouldn't be nitrites in the tank, so I am thinking this tank has not completly finished the nitrogen cycle yet. Nitrites present in the water would account for the lack of appetite too. I would increase the amount you change out for now. Ten gallons out of 55 is a little bit low, but about 25 % overall. Move it up to about 40 or 50%. Cut down the overall food to a small feeding once a day as well. This is one time I say don't add salt in the water as Cories are very sensative to salt. Isolating it is not a bad thing either. At 2 gallons, that wouldn't be too small to treat your cory.

JV

Answer 3

Is there a reason your PH is up at 8 ? corydoras are south american and prefer a PH of 7 or slightly below. The other point about PH is that if they all came out of a tank that was PH 7 then the shift to PH 8 is a huge shock to them and would explain what has happened
elevated nitites are always a concern but are not excessive so a few water changes should clear that up
if they are stressed by the PH the nitrites may be affecting them

Answer 4

Your tank is unfortunately not even close to cycled yet
you will experience an ammonia and nitrite spike in the middle of it
you need to change at least 25% every day, and not just 10% every other
cory's are not hardy at all, the pH is no problem, but the ammonia will get a problem for them

Read up on cycling on the link provided
http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php

I know there is a plant that lowers pH, but unfortunately I don't remember the name right now
If I find out, I will let you know


Hope that helps
good luck


EB


for live help, follow the link in my profile

Answer 5

It is very risky putting pet store fish in an uncycled tank because many are very weak and can"t take the stress .The routing a fish takes to get to a pet store is very long and vigorous . Most start out at a comercial fish farm mostly in Asia but still some in Florida. Prior to shipping they are not fed for several days so their intestines are cleaned out to prevent fecies being expeled in the shipping bag. They are shipped by air with betwen a100 to 500 fish per bag to a wholesaler who puts them in a holding tank to be sold to the local pet store. Feeding and care is not the best during this period so the fish are weak and can not endure further stress like uncycled water.

Answer 6

purchase some tension coat and positioned it interior the tank on an identical time because it heals. I particularly have observed those little adult adult males tend to get random injuries. I particularly have peppered, and albinos, and that i swear 2 situations considering the fact that I particularly have had them they have had tiny scratches randomly staggering there. they are in a sand tank with silk vegetation. So It could desire to be something they are doing. It has not occurred considering the fact that they have been given better. This used to ensue when I first have been given them, at like a million inch or much less each and each. :P basically get some tension coat, thats what I did. :) they are alive and correctly :)