Are sterbai ok on BB long term?

[Paul Sabucchi]

Just considering what I may do once my "crop of melons" are all grown up. I have freed a 45 gal tank so was thinking come spring to order some additions, shoals of cardinals, rummy-noses and/or lemon tetras but possibly also some corys. I have grown to really appreciate the benefits of a bare bottom discus tank so does anyone have long term experience of keeping sterbai in a BB tank. Appreciate any advice

[discuspaul]

I haven't done that Paul, but I see no reason why it shouldn't be tried out, even if it's turns out to be temporary.

Cories do seem to enjoy coasting rapidly( flitting might be an apt word for this) through sand substrate looking for food though, so they may not feel comfortable in a BB tank. In which case I think you would soon sense it simply through their behavior.

[Paul Sabucchi]

Thanks, fair enough Paul. Whenever I have kept them it has been on fine sand and they seemed very happy with it. Just wondering if anyone has kept them apparently at ease on a BB. As you say worse case scenario I can always add a thin layer of sand (dang, I'm gonna miss hoovering with the hosepipe)

[Adam S]

Like Paul said, super fine sand is ideal because most cories sift sand through their gills in search of food, but many breeders use bare bottom as well. The barbel issue is mostly caused by poor water quality, and in nature, cories live over a variety of substrates (mud, boulders, leaf litter, gravel, sand, plants, etc.).

[Paul Sabucchi]

Like Paul said, super fine sand is ideal because most cories sift sand through their gills in search of food, but many breeders use bare bottom as well. The barbel issue is mostly caused by poor water quality, and in nature, cories live over a variety of substrates (mud, boulders, leaf litter, gravel, sand, plants, etc.).

A little while ago I was watching videos of Corey (Coop), JH and others going to collect fish in Peru, obviously colder water than their lowland cousins, but in habitats far removed from fine soft sand...more like nasty shale! So it proves what you were saying, the cause of the damage is probably not the apparently inappropriate substrate but rather the unsanitary conditions that can go with it

[Willie]

All my corydoras are kept in barebottoms tanks: sterbai, julii, panda, knakii.....

Willie

[fljones3]

Same here.

[Paul Sabucchi]

All my corydoras are kept in barebottoms tanks: sterbai, julii, panda, knakii.....

Willie

Thanks, good to know

[Paul Sabucchi]

Same here.

Appreciate your advice, thanks

[sayid]

I have had 5 sterbai in a BB tank for the past 5 years absolutely no problem.

[Paul Sabucchi]

Thank you for letting me know