Update on corys

Question
QUESTION: Hi Lynda,
They wouldn't let me do a follow up to your post, so I needed to start a new one. Unfortunately, ALL of his corys died. That was the hardest thing I have ever witnessed!! I felt so helpless watching them struggle to breathe. I will follow all of your advice and hopefully we can start fresh in a couple of weeks. Since we bought all of the stuff for cichlids (salt, buffer, food, etc.) how hard would it be to raise the South American cichlids in his 20 gallon tank? If so, how many? What kind do you suggest? And should we get some sort of catfish to clean the bottom of the tank? Thanks again!!

ANSWER: Hi Michele,
I'm so sorry you lost your little fish.  South american cichlids are also aggressive, but much less than the African Cichlids.  They do make territories, and defend them.  The only south american cichlids you can put in your tank are the drawf cichlids, such as the German Blue Ram.  The German Blue Ram, is more peaceful, and shy.  If you get a male with a female, they will spawn, and guard their eggs, once they are well acclimated.  They may eat their first, and second spawn, but usually, they care for their fry.  If you get only females, you will have less problems, but they will be less colourful.  You could then mix them with cory catfish, honey gouramis (same sex) a school of neons, or cardinals.  Your water must be acidic, meaning 6.5 - 7.0PH  and you would need a floating plant for the gouramis.   Driftwood helps keep the water acidic, and German Rams love driftwood, as well as plecos.  Wash the driftwood well by leaving it in a pail of water, until the colour from the driftwood comes out clear.  Never use chemicals to bring the PH down.  These products cause fluctuating PH, and this is very bad for fish.  I wouldn't want your son to see anymore fish die, so it is very important that your water be acidic for the dwarf rams.  They are very sensitive to water conditions.   When bringing home rams, you must take more time to acclimate them to your water by leaving them float on the surface for 15 minutes, then adding a little water from your tank, and waiting 10 minutes, adding more water from your tank, waiting again, until you feel they are ready to put into your tank.  If you decide to buy a pleco, buy a dwarf pleco such as the clown pleco which grows to 4 inches.  The common pleco will grow to 12 inches, so it is best to avoid him.  You will also have to feed your pleco, like you do corys with  veggie wafers, and sinking shrimp pellets.  Dwarf Cichlids may refuse to eat at first, and you will have to feed them frozen foods, such as bloodworms, and brine shrimp.  The dwarfs must feel comfortable, and you must provide overturned clay pots for them, as well as real, or silk plants.  Other Cichlids need big tanks, as they grow too big for a 20 gallon tank.  As mentioned in my last letter, never add all of these fish at once.  Buy two, and wait one week, do a 25% water change, test your water, and if your water chemistry is fine, add two more, and so on.  Your son seems to like the Cichlids, but he is limited since Cichlids must have big tanks.  The only ones he can add are the dwarfs cichlids, and if he likes angels, he could have 2 drawfs, 4 corys, and 2 angel fish.   Never overstock your tank.  Overstocked tanks bring disease, and stress to fish.  If you do buy angels, sometimes they do not get along, so make sure they are the same size.  It's better to buy them small.  There is no guarantee that Angels will get along as they get bigger.  Sometimes I think they should call them "Devils"  I breed these beautiful fish, so be prepared, once they are older they may try to form a couple.  If they are of equal force, you will have to house them in another tank.  If they are not of equal force, the stronger one, will try to kill the weaker one.  This would be tragic for your son.  Maybe you could talk him into going for other fish, besides Cichlids.  If you had a bigger tank, it would not be so difficult.  Rams, when well kept for, in good water chemistry, will live for 4 years.  If your water chemistry is off, and the water is not soft, and acidic, they will die.     
There is also the Bolivian Dwarf Ram.  You may read up on dwarfs on the web.  There are many different kinds, but most of them are sensitive to water conditions.
I hope this helps.
Lynda

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Lynda, thank you so much for your sympathy. We have actually had 3 days of mourning here. I like the idea of the cichlids, but they do sound pretty difficult to deal with, especially since we are beginners. Can you suggest a better alternative? Which fish get along well, are VERY hardy, and relatively easy to take care of? Thank you again. You have been so wonderful!!!  Michele

Answer
Hi Michele,
Platys are hardy fish, and come in many colours.  They are peaceful, and pretty to watch.  However, thinking of your son...The rule is 2 - 3 females to one male, and then they will have babies.  They are livebearers.  Your tank should have many plants for the babies to hide.  Platys do eat their young, but some will survive.  This is normal, it is nature.  I just hope your son will understand this.  The fry know to stay away from their parents, and other fish, but some will be eaten.  You could put in 6 platys, ( I would buy one male, and 5 females, or all females)  5  coryfish, and 2 dwarf gouramis and 5 flame tetras, with a floating plant.  You must get the gouramis the same sex, so they do not spawn.  These fish are hardy, and should get along.  
You could also go with guppies, and swordfish.  That would make a colourful tank.  The same rule applies since they are all live bearers.  (One male to 2-3 females)  Then you could put in 5 cory catfish, 4 platys, 6 guppies, and 4 swordfish.  The main thing here is that your son understands that some of the fry will be eaten.  This is what worries me because he is so sensitive.
You could go with tetras.  There are many to choose from, and they all should be in schools of 6.  All small tetras are very nice.  The Serpae tetra is hardy, and make a nice addition to your tank.  I wouldn't recommend the neons, since they are very sensitive to water conditions.  If you do buy neons, make sure your water chemistry is always perfect.  
You can also add a dwarf pleco to any mix.
Cory catfish, and tetras are sensitive to salt, so it is best not to add aquarium salt with these fish.
Another favourite is the Botia Clown Fish.  Instead of corys you could go with the Botias.  They are also schooling fish, but since they grow to 6 inches, you could put 2.  They are also sensitive, and prone to ich.  If they should ever get sick, half doses of medication should be used.  This applies to corys, and tetras also.
I hope this will help.  Do not hesitate to write me anytime.
Lynda