Congo Tetras Outcompeting Tankmates

[Landon]

I have a 48 gallon tank with:

• 6 Orange Laser Cories
• 6 Congo Tetras - 4 males, 2 females
• 1 Hillstream Loach
• 2 Mystery Snails
• Amano Shrimp

I was really enjoying my Cories but since adding Congo Tetras, I hardly ever see them. My biggest concern is that the Cories aren't getting much to eat. Anytime the Tetras see a Cory eating (the little buttwiggle), they push them aside and take it away. 

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1. I've tried feeding the Cories in a heavily planted corner of the tank, but the Tetra still seem to get in there
   
    
    
2. I've tried feeding the Cories at night. They may be getting some of it, but it's hard to tell in the dark lol
3. I usually feed them all at the same time, and I've tried different types of food (Repashy Gel, flakes, wafers, frozen food). The Tetra just snap it all up until they're bloated and lumpy. 
4. Nobody in the tank seems interested in veggies except for my snails

One of my Cories has grown quite a bit, but the others are lagging behind. Also, it looks like one of them is starting to lose it's color. Would more Cories restore the balance at feeding time, or is this always an issue with aggressive eaters and Cories?

My goal for this tank is to have a Spotted Congo Puffer at some point, so I imagine feeding times could get even more challenging... 

 

Edited September 13, 2022 by Landon
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[Flumpweesel]

Your corys are probably finding there food at night probably continue to add a bit more after lights out. Distracting the tetras with floaty food might buy the corys more time 

The cory that is getting bigger than three others is probably a female there is quite the size difference between sexes.

I'm an overfeeder so no they best at giving advice. Do throw the sinking and floating foods at the same time and I cover the tank with fine food so there will always be something to be snuffled out 

[Landon]

On 9/13/2022 at 12:58 PM, Flumpweesel said:

The cory that is getting bigger than three others is probably a female there is quite the size difference between sexes.

Oh! That would explain the size difference. Thank you for the info 🙂

I'll try crushing the flake food into fine bits as much as possible, so hopefully some of that will trickle down. 

[Tanked]

Floating food on one end of the tank for he tetras, and sinking food administered with a piece of pvc pipe or other tube on the other side of the. my help insure them getting their share.