water depth for Cories?

[T/A]

I remember reading somewhere that a 10 gallon is a perfect size for Cories. It said they like shallow water. A 10 gallon is only about 10 inches of water(after gravel and air space at the top). What I was wondering was how deep can the water be(how tall of a tank can they be kept in)?

 

[FroggyFox]

that is an interesting question...I'm guessing that they'd be fine in any depth, I've never heard that they specifically like shallow water. I know mine like to swim to the top real fast and then go back down (dunno why they do that...but I think everyone's do that dont they?) but they seem fine in my 15 hex (not sure how tall it is, like 18 inches or so?).

 

[catfisharecool]

It's perfectly normal for cories to swim to the top and get a gulp of air. Then a bubble will come out of their gills on their way down. I guess that they can absorb it through their intestines and turn it into something. I have 3 cories in a 37 gallon tank which is more than 20 inches tall and they seem to be doing fine. It doesnt really matter how tall the tank is in my opinion.

just my opinion though

-Jordan

 

[catfishmike]

corys can be kept in a wide range of depths.they are often found in water that is much deeper than what we generaly keep at home but that doesn't mean that the water they live in isn't shallow just not compared to out tanks.at any rate a ten is fine for a small shoal of corys perhaps a top swimmer or two.

 

[T/A]

OK thanks for the info. The reason why I really wanted to know was for when I build a larger tank. I want to build a 36''x 24"x 24" tank for about 5 schools of smaller fish. I am glad to know I can include Cories in that tank.

 

[itchy armpits]

should be okay. i've heard of people keeping swarms of corys in big tanks.

i believe the reason they sometimes dart to the surface is to get some air in their intestines where they can absorb some of the oxygen.