Corydoras and PH

[charlieh]

Hi guys.

Are there any Corys I can keep that will be happy with a ph of 8?

[TropicalFishForums]

[vess]

If you can find fish bred in the local area you might get away with aeneus but I woukdnt personally recommend it.

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[charlieh]

Thanks vess, I'll ask at my lfs what their ph is and the history of the Corys and go from there.
I love them so much and am gutted my water isn't compatible

[DoubleDutch]

And getting the Ph down no option????

[charlieh]

I'm guessing that would mean adding stuff at every water change and I don't really want to mess around with things. Plus my other fish are used to the current ph...

[DoubleDutch]

Okay, what are your other fish Charlie??? 

[DoubleDutch]

Lee, I noticed at Planet Catfish the max. Ph for Venezuelas would be around 7,8. What are your experiences?? Cheers Aad

[Stephen]

Tetras are not ideal with pH 8.0 but you have them and they are probably as happy as larry in your tank.
Go with Sterba's Cory Cat (Corydoras sterbai) and you'll be ok.

[JumpMaster]

I've read that peat in your filter will lower Ph

[charlieh]

The tetras are indeed happy as Larry and the glowlights even spawn now and again!
Sterbai is what I really wanted...what do you think vess? If I acclimatise really slowly? I can't imagine my lfs water being too different from mine?

[DoubleDutch]

Don't believe the waterquality of most LFS's should be a refference !!

[charlieh]

I just mean the ph that they've been in.
I'll have a word with them tomorrow...
I'm not messing with my ph so if I can't give Corys a happy home then I shall pass on them.

[Stephen]

Most fish are bred in not ideal parameters, most have never been kept in their native/natural water type.
The Sterpai Cory should be ok in your tank and is more tolerant of higher pH than most cory species.

[plankton]

I've heard of aeneus (bronze/albino) and paleatus (peppers) breeding in alkaline water, but not sterbai, I didn't think they did acclimatise properly. What's your experience Stephen? Remember that they should live for 15+ years, so saying that they're ok for a couple of years isn't really the correct info.......

[Stephen]

they're ok for a couple of years

not sure what you mean with that part Ian

I've heard of aeneus (bronze/albino) and paleatus (peppers) breeding in alkaline water, but not sterbai, I didn't think they did acclimatise properly. What's your experience Stephen? Remember that they should live for 15+ years, so saying that they're ok for a couple of years isn't really the correct info.......

Obviously I am not a Corydoras expert, far from it, I am not an expert with any fish.
The sterbai corydoras is a fish that I have been considering stocking for a while.
I tend to research as much information as possible from different and many resources before adding to my tank.
pH, KH, environment, feeding and care are some of the things that I research.

Most (nearly all) fish that we buy from a shop are not wild caught but bred in tanks, very large tanks.
Conditions for these bred fish are unlikely to replicate exactly what the conditions are in the wild.

Successfully keeping fish and successfully breeding fish are two different things.
Some fish need brackish water to breed but can be keep in a non-brackish tank. The molly is one fish that is described as brackish but can be bred in a non-brackish tank. Nerite snails can also be kept in a non-brackish tank but generally won't breed. The examples can go on and on and ...

I have read that the sterbai corydoras is one of the hardiest of the corydoras family and can be kept successfully at higher pH levels.
One site (planet catfish) states that the Brochis splendens (also known as the Emerald Green Cory, Green Catfish, Emerald Brochis or Common Brochis) is tolerant of water with pH between 5.8 - 8.0; whilst other sites state a different (lower) pH tolerance. I almost recommended that one.

Some sites say that corydoras can live for up to 20 years, other sites say 4 years; so conflicting information even from established sites.

Personally I have been keeping fish on and off for about 25 years.
I have read many articles and have done lots of research in that time and listened to other's experiences. I am still reading, researching and always willing to learn.
I never claim to being an expert but always willing to share my knowledge and experiences.
My other hobby/pastime is photography, again I do not claim to being an expert but am often asked for my advice, which I am always willing to give.