Corydoras paleatus, lifespan

[PsYcHoTiC_MaDmAn]

what is the average lifespan for a peppered cory.

I've got 2 that are about 5 years old, and their starting to look old, and pretending their dead, (lying motionless on the floor at funny angles (including upside down)) before bustling off in another direction.

now I know them temps aren't great for them (28-29c) however I have no other tanks (except a 12" cube which is unheated, and has no open spaces suited to cory's) however they've never show any problems (other than not breeding, but I can understand that)

[MatsP]

These should live for quite some time, but 5 years in "too warm water" isn't too bad, I would say.

If you have that warm water, maybe you should consider a cory that is more suited to warm water, such as

corydoras sterbai

--
Mats

[PsYcHoTiC_MaDmAn]

I would have liked to give them a tank with more appropriate temperatures, however I'm banned from getting more tanks, and the only ones with an acceptable temperature range house Mbuna (not ideal tank mates)

I do plan to replace them with C. Sterbai. though currently debating whether to get them from trimar or not (given how I prefer to see the fish before buying it. however cost wise its expensive yo go down to trimar itself, and all the other shops are a huge amount more expensive (£7 an oto @ maidenhead aquatics. or £1.25 each from trimar.))

[PsYcHoTiC_MaDmAn]

just a thought, what are these like in hard alkaline water??

just considering them as tankmates for my Zoogoneticus quitzeoensis. I was going to leep them in with firemouths, however from what I've just read in the PFK magazine that although they can tollerate 24c(75f), they prefer 16-18c(61-65f)in which case a smaller (thinking 30" mark) unheated tank would suit them fine.

as such I was thinking it might be worth trying to breed some cory's in there. however the livebearers require hard(ish) alkaline water.

[Bas Pels]

Please do remember C paleatus is not an amazonian cory. I encountered them in Uruguay, together with cichlids close to the sea

They MIGHT cope very weell with hard water, although I think they might rather have it softer and a bit brackish - I think, I'm not knowing

Regarding the tempreatures, in summer (January) it can be fairly hot there - over 25 degrees averige of day and night in northern Uruguay, or southern Brasil, but in winter average temperatures candrop to 10 degrees or less for a few days

Last wintrer I had a few day of less than 10 degrees with no problems for my wild caught paleatus. However in summer 30 degrees had been accepted too

[Bwhiskered]

Under conditions that suit them cories can live a long time. I knew of a fellow years ago that had a small group of Aeneus that were 20 years old and still spawning. I have some such as my Rabauti and A few others that are at least 10 years old. Good food and water as well as temperatures in the low to mid 70's is the secret.

[mrmojojt]

I am a rank amateur aquarist but I have 6 Panda Cory's and 4 Melini's that are teenagers at least. ( I don't know how old the Melini's were when purchased). Cool (72-74) and hard water. Regular changes. They seem to like it. Still very active and young looking (to me).