Cory Cat Stocking

[Tyler LaZerte]

I have a 16 gallon aquarium that will have 20 Neocaridina davidii "Blue Dream", 20 cpds, 6 Nerites, a Rabbit Snail, 2 Cappuccino Snails, and a White Wizard Snail. Do you think it would be possible to add a group of 6 corys (maybe Sterbai) to it? I'm just thinking it may be too small for the corys. 

[Colu]

I would go with pygmy Cory's group of six to eight I don't think they would bother your snails

[Tyler LaZerte]

@Colu I was thinking Adolfi or Sterbai. Would you say those would be alright?

[Colu]

I think with the stocking you have  puting a group of Adolfo or sterbai might a bit much as they both get over 2in I don't think they will both your snails

[Tyler LaZerte]

Okay that's what I wanted to know. Thank you!

[CorydorasEthan]

23 hours ago, Tyler LaZerte said:

I have a 16 gallon aquarium that will have 20 Neocaridina davidii "Blue Dream", 20 cpds, 6 Nerites, a Rabbit Snail, 2 Cappuccino Snails, and a White Wizard Snail. Do you think it would be possible to add a group of 6 corys (maybe Sterbai) to it? I'm just thinking it may be too small for the corys. 

I agree with @Colu. Dwarf species like pygmy cories (C. pygmaeus), dwarf tail-spot cories (C. hastatus) would work, as well as other smaller species such as dwarf salt-and-pepper cories (C. habrosus) and panda cories (C. panda), to name a few. As you were considering, C. adolfoi may work, although the females could potentially grow a little too large for a 16 gallon tank. Unfortunately, I have to rule out C. sterbai from the possibilities, because they are one of the larger and bigger-bodied species, reaching around 3 inches for the females. I hope this helps!

[Tyler LaZerte]

@CorydorasEthan Thank you for the idea and list! How many pandas would you put in here?

[CorydorasEthan]

It really depends on the footprint of the tank here. Cories prefer a longer tank rather than a taller one as they dwell towards the bottom of the tank. What are the dimensions of the tank?

[Tyler LaZerte]

23.6"x11.81x14.17" 

[CorydorasEthan]

5 minutes ago, Tyler LaZerte said:

23.6"x11.81x14.17" 

Since it is a little limited on "floor space" for the cories, I would say 5 pandas. You could push it to 6, though this would be the limit.

[Tyler LaZerte]

@CorydorasEthan and you think with 5 pandas, 20 cpds, 20 blue dream shrimp, 6 nerites, a rabbit snail, cappuccino snail and a white wizard snail the tank will not be overstocked? Keep in mind, it is also going to be fully planted. I just want to make sure they will have enough swimming area. 

[CorydorasEthan]

1 minute ago, Tyler LaZerte said:

@CorydorasEthan and you think with 5 pandas, 20 cpds, 20 blue dream shrimp, 6 nerites, a rabbit snail, cappuccino snail and a white wizard snail the tank will not be overstocked? Keep in mind, it is also going to be fully planted. I just want to make sure they will have enough swimming area. 

I think you might have to limit the number of celestial pearl danios due to swimming space. I haven't kept them before, but this many in a 16 gallon might be too crowded. I would recommend around 10 of them instead. Also, you might want to start with only a few blue dream shrimp (maybe 7 max), as Neocaridina's will reproduce.

[Tyler LaZerte]

@CorydorasEthan Okay thank you for that. In my process of adding fish, when would you add the corys?

[CorydorasEthan]

In terms of fish, I would add in the cories first, as (based on what I've heard) they are generally hardier than celestial pearl danios. Is the tank already cycled?

[Tyler LaZerte]

@CorydorasEthan I don't even have the aquarium yet haha. But when I do, I have a seeded sponge filter and Fritzyme 7 to add