2 quick questions!

[Billy Bob]

hi can u help? ???

1) just finished cycling my 29 (us gallon) 20g in the Uk was wondering because ive heard u aren't allowed to add more than a couple of fish at once, however if i have no fish and want to add some zebra danios (i hear its best to have at least 6 or they will fight) will that be ok?

2) can corys be kept with slate in the tank as it is quite sharp in places and supposedly your not meant to have sharp edges because of their barbs?

hope sum1 knows!

*celebratesmiley* *thumbsupsmiley* *celebratesmiley*

 

[WonderFish]

Since zebra danios are small fish, you can add more of them than you would for say any larger fish.  So it should be ok.  If you're worried about it being to much of a bioload, then add 3 at a time. The thing is, you don't want to add any more fish than the bacteria that have built up in your filter or gravel can take.  And since zebras are small and thus create less waste, more can be added.  I've never heard of them fighting, but they're schooling, so they need several of their own kind to feel safe, otherwise they'd be hiding in a corner.  6 is the usual number given.  These fish are much more interesting in schools.  

If the slate has sharp edges, it could hurt corys.  You could try covering the sharp edges with something, say gravel or driftwood.  Something that would keep them from getting at the sharp edges.  

 

[Billy Bob]

thank you! *twirlysmiley*

 

[catfishmike]

i have a plethora of cories and some have had barb damage some have not. avoid pepperd cories as they seem most sensitve  i bought two once and they had damaged themselves in less than two hours,still haven't healed up all the way as ones barbs will shrink from time to time,but thats my only bad experince.

 

[colesea]

Sharp gravel is usually the problem for long wiskered or barbled catfish, not shop decor.  My cories navigate around decor without a problem, and have had no damage to their barbles at all. But rooting around in sharp, pointy gravel has been known to create more wear and tear on barbles than rounded, smoother gravel.  Barble damage is also related to water chemistry, with sensitive cory species sometimes having the barbles errode due to toxicity in the water, or fungal/bacterial infections caused by something in the tank.
~~Colesea

 

[aznpanther98]

if ur still concerned about the sharp slate edges try using sand paper and smooth the edges out just us some fine sand paper and smooth i had a really bad expierience with two albino cories i had they had a freak accident with my heater some how both of them got stuck against the heater and the corner of the  tank... while i was cleaning my tank i pushed the heater over to the corner of my tank and the heater fell off the suction cups and well i just left it there and later i noticed my cories wereno where then closer look i found the stuck together against the heater and glass unfortunately they died later i got other cories in my tank so i'm makein sure they don't end up like their two friends u know getting crushed or something i just like to say these guys are interesting and curious lil guys one i got from  friend with a rosy barb and that cory would swim with the rosy like buddies when they were in my q-tank lol

 

[WonderFish]

You're right that the sharp edges of the slate probably wont hurt the fish.  It's not like they'll try to dig into it, but more likely the gravel.  I didn't even think about that.  But if the edges were in the gravel and they were tring to dig in the gavel and they ran into the slate, then they might hurt themselves.