What is Schooling Behavior?
Schooling refers to fish swimming closely together in a coordinated and polarized manner, moving in synchrony as a group. Schooling serves several key functions for fish species that exhibit this behavior:

Safety in Numbers
Schooling provides protection from predators that may have difficulty singling out and catching one fish from a large, fast-moving group. There is also safety in numbers when foraging, as a group can better watch for dangers.

Social Benefits
Many schooling species are highly social and require interaction with others of their own kind. Schooling allows them to communicate, develop social hierarchies, and exhibit natural behaviors.

Hydrodynamic Advantages
Moving together in a coordinated fashion allows schooling fish to become more streamlined in the water, expending less energy while swimming. Members towards the back of the group can draft off of the leaders.

Do Pygmy Cories School?
Yes, pygmy cory catfish are known to be schooling fish. In the wild, they would naturally live in large schools together. Schooling comes innately to them and is important for their health and natural behaviors. Unlike some schooling species that may gather loosely, pygmy cories form polarized, tightly-knit schools with all members facing the same direction and moving in synchronization.

A minimum of six pygmy cories is recommended to see their schooling behavior, but more is better. Larger groups of 8-12 create an impressive school that is active and entertaining to watch in home tanks.

Keeping Pygmy Cories in Groups
To keep pygmy cory catfish happy and exhibiting their natural schooling behaviors, it’s essential to provide proper care for the group:

Tank Size
A 20 gallon or larger aquarium with plenty of horizontal swimming space is ideal for a group of pygmy cories. This allows them adequate room to swim as an active school across the tank.

Water Parameters
Pygmy cories originate from the slow-moving waters of South America and require similar conditions. Water should be soft and acidic with a pH between 6.5-7.0, a hardness of 2-10 dGH, and a temperature between 72-82°F. Good filtration and weekly water changes are a must.

Tankmates
Pygmy cories are peaceful fish suitable for community aquariums. Avoid aggressive species that could pester, nip fins, or outcompete them for food. Some good tankmates include small tetras, rasboras, hatchetfish, dwarf cichlids, and invertebrates like snails and shrimp.

Cover
Ensure the tank has areas of thick planting, rock caves, driftwood pieces, etc. where the pygmy cory school can take refuge if they feel threatened. Open areas are also needed for active schooling.

Substrate
A smooth, fine-grain sand bottom is ideal. Sharp gravel can damage their sensitive underside barbels and make it difficult for them to sift and forage properly.

Feeding
In addition to algae-based supplements and sinking pellets/granules, provide a varied diet with plenty of meaty live and frozen foods. This helps bring out their energetic schooling at feeding time as they excitedly dash about together.

Conclusion
The distinct schooling behavior exhibited by pygmy cory catfish is innate natural behavior essential to their health, functioning, and quality of life. By providing proper tank conditions and keeping them in adequate-sized schools of 6+ individuals, pygmy cories will happily school together, entertaining you for hours with their social antics! Seeing a tight-knit group exhibiting synchronized movements brings out their best behaviors.

FAQ About Pygmy Cory Schools
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about keeping pygmy cory catfish in properly-sized schools:

How many pygmy cories should be kept together?
A minimum of 6 is recommended, but groups of 8-12 pygmy cories allows them to form a nicely sized school that brings out more natural behaviors.

Will pygmy cories school with other cory species?
While they may loosely shoal with smaller cory species, only other pygmy cories allow them to form their characteristic tight-knit schools. Keeping a single species school is best.

Do I need to add pygmy cories all at once when stocking?
It’s best to add at least 6 individuals at once if possible so they can form a school right away. Adding smaller groups over time can work too. New individuals will eventually join the existing school.

Should my pygmy cory school have more males or females?
The gender ratio isn’t too important, but having a mix of both sexes may promote breeding and other natural behaviors associated with courtship displays in the school.

How much space does a pygmy cory school need?
Allow at least 20 gallons, with plenty of horizontal swimming room. This allows them space to exhibit their active schooling behaviors across the tank. More space is always better!

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Aquarium Size

These active grazers need ample territory provided through sufficiently large tanks.

75 Gallon Minimum
Even medium-sized rubber lip species require at least a 75 gallon aquarium, with 100+ gallon tanks preferred especially for the larger variants exceeding 10 inches.

Water Conditions

Pay particular attention to maintaining water parameters within precise ranges.

Temperature
Ideal water temperatures for rubber lip plecos range between 70-78°F year round. Use standalone bucket heaters to selectively raise temperatures for these cool water species while leaving community tank levels lower as needed.

pH Levels
Achieving a proper pH proves critical, with rubber lips needing consistent ranges right around 6.4-6.8 in particular. Monitor levels vigilantly since these catfish often develop complicated issues in harder alkaline water.

Currents and Oxygenation
Position powerheads directed along middle tank levels to generate gentle currents across the bottom. Establish additional surface turbulence as well to drive oxygen levels maintaining the higher end plecos prefer.

Filtration Requirements

As prodigious plant and wood chewers generating substantial mess, filtration capacity should get significantly oversized.

Overfilter 3-5 Times
Filter rubber lip aquariums using canister models rated for tanks 3 to 5 times larger than actual volumes present to accommodate their very heavy bio loads produced. Large media baskets allow customization too.

Use Strong Water Flow
Focus upon models moving at minimum 5-10 times tank capacity turnover rates hourly. Optimal filtration proves essential for these sensitive species. Consider installing multiple cascading systems as needed to achieve suitable currents rubber lips appreciate.

Dietary Options

Herbivore foods make up the majority of their diet in home setups.

Leafy Greens
Rubber lip plecos need regular feedings of agricultural greens like spinach, kale and chard blanched to soften them up before binding to hardscape areas using vegetable clips. This allows mess-free grazing.

Quality Driftwood
Provide an assortment of waterlogged malaysian driftwood, cholla branches and seed pods granting both supplemental nibbling and shelter opportunities. These get voraciously demolished steadily.

conclusion

Rubber lip plecos bring exceptional algae extermination capacities provided their particular housing and husbandry needs get adequately fulfilled in home setups. Give them room, establish technical setups facilitating prime water conditions through robust customizable filtration and tend their unique nutritional fare for success keeping these outstanding species long term.

FAQs About Caring for Rubber Lip Plecos

1. What size tank does a rubber lip pleco need?
Individual rubber lip plecos require large solo setups of 75-90+ gallons. However most thrive best maintained in compatible shoals necessitating massive 150+ gallon long tanks to accommodate 8-10 individuals comfortably provided with ample broken sightline territories.

2. Do rubber lipped plecos eat algae?
While grazing on algae frequently found in natural habitats, aquarium-acclimated rubber lips seldom manifest substantial interest in aufwuchs or other ornamental algae within home tanks unfortunately. Never rely upon them solely for cleanup crews.

3. What fish can live with rubber lip plecos?
Select tankmates sharing similar water conditions needs that tolerate cooler water temperatures under 78°F year round. Species like rainbowfish, roseline sharks and giant danios make properly compatible active choices not bothered by rubber lip behaviors or territorial disputes.

4. Can rubber lip plecos live in a pond?
Yes, provided chilling equipment gets installed allowing maintenance of suitable thermal regimes under 80°F including internal pond pumps safely heating during winter months. Ensure adequate hideaways exist guarding against predation since rubber lips fall prey to larger aggressive pond inhabitants easily.

5. What do baby rubber lip plecos eat?
Young rubber lipped plecos require increased protein levels to sustain rapid juvenile growth rates. Supplement usual wood and green fare with blanched zucchini, occasional meaty bottom feeder pellets and calcium-enriched freeze dried offerings until reaching maturity thresholds around 3-4 inches long.

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Temperament Factors

While personalities differ between bottom feeding fish types, most exhibit relatively peaceful behaviors.

Generally Non-Aggressive
Bottom feeders rarely bother well-selected tankmates without provocation since their primary focus involves foraging left over foods and grazing algae. Less competition for resources occurs than mid and upper dwelling species.

Actual Aggression Triggers
However most bottom dwellers still exhibit territorial instincts around securing prime locations, potential mates and especially limited food sources. Cramped tanks and pairing combative species sparks conflicts.

Vulnerabilities

Their niche position also exposes bottom feeders to potential harassment by more aggressive choices.

Slow Moving Targets
Maneuverability limitations make sinking foods easier targets for faster moving fish to steal meals before reaching bottom levels where slower paced bottom feeders patrol. Ensure all get fed.

Fin Nipping Problems
Long flowing fins on species like ancistrus plecos tempt obsessive fin nippers like tiger barbs. Avoid combining vulnerable species with known fin nippers.

Compatible Tankmate Selection

Choosing appropriate tankmates facilitates harmonious integration.

Upper Level Schoolers
Fast moving schooling top and mid range fish like tetras, rasboras and small barbs make excellent companions. Their water column position and behaviors pose minimal competition.

Bottom Species Schools
Likewise keeping conspecific bottom dwellers together in dedicated species groups helps curb infighting while allowing natural shoaling behaviors. This also prevents hybridization.

Tank Setup Considerations

Properly arranged aquascapes aid reducing territorial aggressions.

Provide Separate Feeding Stations
Position driftwood, rock piles or plant barrier at opposite tank areas to create distinct dining zones for various fish groups. This allows everyone secure meal access.

Select Compatible Plants
Avoid plants bottom feeders easily uproot like glossostigma or delicate stems. Hardier choices like anubias, java fern and moss instead get grazed safely.

Conclusion

While rarely overtly aggressive, bottom feeding fish thrive best housed with appropriate tankmates selected mindful of known temperament reputations and vulnerabilities. Choosing peaceful mid-high water column dwellers, furnishing separate dining spaces, and selecting hardy plants able to withstand foraging prevents needless conflicts establishing conditions facilitating successful coexistence.

FAQs About Bottom Feeder Compatibility

1. What fish get along with Cory catfish?
Small schooling tetras, rasboras and danios, along with surface fish like hatchetfish and bettas tend to ignore peaceful cory cats, making great tankmates for them. Avoid known fin nippers.

2. Do plecos eat other fish?
Common plecos only consume invertebrates and plants. However, carnivorous ancistrus and predatory plecos species could prey on very small fish. Never keep pint-sized tankmates with largemouth bass or vampires plecos.

3. Can you put a betta with Cory catfish?
Yes, given sufficiently sized 10+ gallon tanks, passive bettas and small corydoras species like pygmies or hastatus make excellent tankmates. Avoid fin nippers instead like tiger barbs that may bully slower moving bottom feeders.

4. Do Cory catfish fight each other?
While corydoras shoal naturally together, keeping fewer than 5-6 individuals of a single species together risks relentless infighting from lack of proper group dynamics. Maintain corydoras groups minimum 6 individuals ideally.

5. What fish bother Cory catfish?
Larger territorial or aggressive fish like cichlids, oscars and Jack Dempseys often bully smaller cory cats when housed together by denying them foods access or even attacking them. Avoid combative tankmates prone to harassment.

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Corydoras Sterbai

Out of all cory varieties, corydoras sterbai stand as one of the most recognizable and popular. These catfish grow to around 2 inches long and exhibit handsome black and white banding along their bodies.

Distinguishing Features
Sterbai corys feature a cream underside and throat. They have two thick black stripes running horizontally across their sides contrasted by white bands above and below. Their black adipose fin and white tail fins complete the look.

Temperament & Housing
Peaceful and active, sterbai corys thrive in planted tanks of 20 gallons or more with schools of 6 or more catfish. Provide them with plenty of sheltered bottom territory.

Feeding
Sterbai corydoras eagerly accept most bottom feeder foods like shrimp pellets, sinking algae wafers and even blanched vegetables along with supplemented live, frozen and flake brine shrimp, tubifex worms and micro pellet foods. Feed just once or twice daily since they require minimal calories.

Banded Corydoras

The banded cory catfish (corydoras metae) offers a subtler yet beautiful and contrasting look among cory varieties. Exhibiting an elegant gray and black color pattern, these catfish grow to around 2.5 inches long.

Distinguishing Features
Silvery gray overall with black edging their fins and three thin stripes running vertically along their bodies characterize banded corydoras. Their underside displays bright orange or reddish coloring around the throat.

Temperament & Housing
Banded corys thrive in planted community aquariums of 25 gallons or more with several cory groups totaling 6 catfish or more, along with other compatible fish like small tetras or rasboras. They occupy all levels of the tank happily scavenging for leftover foods.

Feeding
Offering sinking foods like shrimp pellets, algae wafers and other sinking bottom feeder fare makes feeding simple for banded corydoras. Meatier supplements are relished as well. Avoid overfeeding them.

Green Corydoras

The small green cory catfish reaches just over 2 inches maximum size but packs loads of visual appeal into its little frame. Metallic green sheens overlaying black fins and a black and white body never fail to dazzle.

Distinguishing Features
Iridescent greenish hues shine brightly over the black portions of their fins and upper half while the lower body and throat displays clean white. Some metallic blue sheens may mix in with the green as well.

Temperament & Housing
Unsurprisingly green corys make amazing tank cleaners for planted community setups with other small shoaling fish species provided the tank is 30 gallons or larger. Keep them in busy groups of 8-10 catfish.

Feeding
Green corys forage actively across all tank levels for morsels of fish food, plant matter and tasty aufwuchs growth. Feed a mixed bottom feeder diet of vegetables, spirulina algae, shrimp pellets and meaty foods.

Conclusion

With well over a hundred unique corydoras species available, fishkeepers have lots of wonderful options to consider when selecting these popular armored bottom feeding catfish. Stunning sterbai, banded and green cory varieties make excellent starter species that thrive when kept in appropriately sized tanks furnished to meet their needs. Discover your perfect cory!

FAQs About Cory Catfish Identification

1. What are the most colorful cory catfish?
Some exceptionally colorful varieties include the laser, neon orange, glowlight, similis, metae, panda, pygmaeus and adolfoi cory species among others.

2. How do you tell male vs female cory catfish?
Mature female corydoras tend to exhibit a rounder, thicker body shape while males show a more streamlined slender physique, especially noticeable when viewing them from above.

3. What is the rarest cory catfish?
A few ultra-rare and expensive cory species include C. tukano, C. duplicareus and C. cardinalis which can cost $300-500 per fish. Habitat destruction limits their availability.

4. What cory catfish have stripes?
Some commonly striped varieties are C. sterbai, C. trilineatus, C. duplicareus and C. metae catfish. The three lined cory features three black stripes along a white body.

5. How many cory fish can go in a 10 gallon tank?
Most recommend keeping just one single species group of 4-6 pygmy corydoras in a moderately planted and maintained 10 gallon aquarium. Avoid mixing multiple cory species in small tanks.

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