Cory catfish are the most common fish aquarists prefer to add to their tank because of their peaceful nature. They are hardy fish and can live in a wide range of water conditions and parameters, but can we keep them in a bowl? So, Can cory catfish live in a bowl? Let us find out.
Cory catfish cannot live in a bowl as they are schooling fish and prefer to live in a large group of at least 5-6 of their species. You will need a minimum of a 20-gallon tank to fulfill their living conditions and form a good school for them. Ensure clean water conditions to make them thrive.
This article will discuss whether cory catfish can live in a bowl and the ideal living conditions for a cory catfish. So, let us get into it.
Contents
Can I keep corydoras in a bowl?
You cannot keep corydoras in a bowl as they are schooling fish and prefer to live in a large group.
Keeping them in a bowl will make your bowl overcrowded, and they will become uncomfortable.
Bowl will not be able to provide enough space for your cory catfish to live and swim as they prefer to live in a group of at least 5-6 of their species.
Cory catfish in a bowl will be stressed because of poor water conditions, lack of hiding space, no filtration, and improper school.
We recommend keeping your cory catfish in a large-size tank rather than a bowl.
Why can’t we keep cory catfish in a bowl?
All these reasons make it a bad idea to keep cory catfish in a bowl:
- lack of space.
- Poor water condition
- Lack of hiding spots
- No filtration
Lack of space
Bowl doesn’t provide enough space for your cory catfish to live and swim comfortably.
Also, living in a small bowl will affect their growth and development.
Cory catfish are schooling fish and prefer to live in a group of at least 5-6 of their species.
Keeping 5-6 cory catfish in a bowl is not possible.
Eventually, you will end up overcrowding your bowl, resulting in poor water conditions and the risk of an ammonia spike.
Also, cory catfish are bottom-dweller fish and require at least a 2-inch substrate to thrive.
You will not be able to provide all these requirements for your fish, and they will come under stress.
Poor water conditions
Corydoras are schooling fish that prefer to live in a large group.
Keeping more fish in a bowl will result in overcrowding and poor water conditions.
A major water change will not help, as the bowl will get polluted anyway.
Living in a poor water conditions will weaken your cory catfish’s immune system, and they will become prone to various diseases and parasites.
Lack of hiding spots
Cory catfish require hiding spots in their tank to feel comfortable and secure.
Not providing a good hiding spot can make them come under stress.
You will not be able to create good hiding spots in a bowl.
No filtration
You will not be able to add a filter to a bowl.
Filter helps in protecting your cory catfish water from harmful toxins like ammonia and nitrite.
Also, the filter helps keep the water well oxygenated by creating a movement at the water’s surface.
So, all these factors make it a bad idea to keep your cory catfish in a bowl.
We recommend keeping your cory catfish in a large tank rather than in a bowl.
Can we keep baby cory catfish in a bowl?
We don’t recommend keeping baby corydoras in a bowl.
Cory catfish require a big-size tank and clean water conditions to thrive.
Also, they are bottom-dweller fish and require at least a 2-inch substrate.
You will not be able to add a filter to a bowl, resulting in poor water conditions.
Also, it is challenging to maintain stable water parameters in a bowl.
An unstable water temperature can make your baby corydoras prone to disease and parasites.
Keeping your corydoras in a bowl is not a good idea.
What is the ideal tank size requirement of a cory catfish?
When we talk about the ideal tank size requirement of a fish, the size of the fish is all that matter.
Cory catfish can be as long as 4 inches in size, with an average of 2-2.5 inches.
Also, they are schooling fish and prefer to live and swim in a large group of their species.
You should at least keep 5-6 cory catfish together to form an ideal school for them.
Now following the one-inch one-gallon rule will help you decide on the ideal tank size requirement.
Keeping at least 5-6 cory catfish together and one cory catfish being about 2-2.5 inches, the 20-gallon tank is the ideal tank size requirement for your catfish.
The substrate, decors, and plants will take up some of the space.
So, consider providing at least a 20-gallon tank size to your cory catfish to live comfortably and avoid making your tank overcrowded.
Also read: How Many Cory Catfish In A 10-Gallon Tank?
Cory catfish tank requirements.
Ensure all these things to provide ideal tank requirements to your cory catfish:
- Make sure to provide your cory catfish with good water conditions.
- Ensure adequate and stable water parameters
- Create plenty of hiding spots in your cory catfish tank.
- Add an air pump to your cory catfish tank.
- Add a 2-inch substrate at least.
Good water conditions
Cory catfish are freshwater fish and prefer to live in clean water conditions.
To provide clean water conditions to your cory catfish, ensure 35% water change weekly.
Make sure to treat the water with a water conditioner while performing a water change to eliminate chlorine.
We recommend using the API water conditioner as it helps eliminate chlorine, chloramine, ammonia, nitrite, and heavy metals from the water.
Also, consider adding a good filtration system with biofilter media to protect the water from ammonia and nitrites.
Consider keeping a regular check on ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate level and ensure to maintain ammonia and nitrite at 0ppm, whereas nitrate below 20ppm.
We recommend using the API master test kit to keep a check on the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH level of your corydoras tank.
Adequate and stable water parameters
Maintaining adequate and stable water parameters will help your cory catfish thrive.
You cannot keep the water temperature adequate and stable in a bowl because it is harder to maintain the temperature in a low volume of water.
Provide your cory catfish with a water temperature between 70-82 °F.
Maintain the pH level between 7 and 8.
The water TDS level of your cory catfish tank should be between 400-600ppm.
They will thrive on a water hardness between 5 and 19 dGH.
Also, make sure to add a heater to your cory catfish tank to keep the water temperature stable.
Create plenty of hiding spots
Cory catfish require hiding spots in their tank to feel comfortable and secure.
You can create plenty of hiding spots for your cory catfish tank.
Adding driftwood, caves, live aquatic plants, and other hiding decors will help you create plenty of hiding spots.
Also read: Why Are My Cory Catfish Hiding?
Add an air pump
Adding an air pump to your tank is essential to ensure enough oxygen in the water.
An air pump usually creates a movement on the water surface, helping exchange gases from the air.
Lack of oxygen in the water will result in your cory catfish gasping for air at the water’s surface most of the time.
Also read: Do Cory Catfish Need Oxygen?
Substrate
Cory catfish are bottom-dweller fish and spend most of their time in the tank scavenging on the bottom in search of food.
They require at least 2 inches of a substrate to provide them with ideal living conditions.
They will spend most of their time at the bottom of the tank, dwelling on the substrate.
Consider adding a substrate that is not too hard or sharp, as your cory catfish can harm themselves digging on them.
Add good quality sand, as it is the best substrate for your cory catfish.
Also read: Best Substrate For Corydoras?
Conclusion:
Cory catfish cannot live in a bowl as they are schooling fish and prefer to live in a large group of their species in a large tank.
Keeping them in a bowl will not fulfill their ideal requirements, and they will eventually come under stress.
They are bottom-dweller fish and require at least a 2-inch substrate to thrive.
You will not be able to add a filter to a bowl, disturbing the water chemistry.
Cory catfish require clean water conditions and stable water parameters to thrive, which will not be possible to provide them in a bowl.
So, we recommend keeping your cory catfish in at least a 20-gallon tank to form their good school and ensure their ideal living conditions.
Reference: Wikipedia, Britannica