keeping sterbai corys with lake malawi cichlids?

[olixo]

Has anyone kept Sterbai Cory's with african cichlids?

I've got 6 of them in my tank at the moment, but I'm planning on making the switch to a cichlid tank. Don't mind re-homing the angels and tetras, but I'm really attached to the little Cory's. Will they be okay with the cichlids or am I looking at a recipe for disaster - will they get bullied or attacked?

[fin_tank]

Honestly, I'd advise against it, Sterbai Corys might not be the best fit for a cichlid tank. From my experience, Synos and possibly bristlenose catfish are more suitable - I've got a malawi tank with Synodontis multipunctatus, which coexist with cichlids in the wild, so I'd recommend one of those if you're looking for a compatible option.

[coltin]

Corydoras thrive in water with a pH around 7.0 or lower and a GH below 100ppm. In contrast, Lake Malawi cichlids originate from hard alkaline water, with pH levels ranging from 7.6-8.0 and a GH of 300ppm.

Considering their temperament, while some Lake Malawi cichlids can be reasonably peaceful, many are quite aggressive and territorial. I'd advise keeping the Cories separate from the cichlids. Give the Lake Malawi cichlids their own tank, and the Corydoras will likely appreciate having their own space as well.

[sidthy]

Different water requirements are a major red flag. The likely attacks from the cichlids would be a secondary concern, but still a valid one.

[mcdoug]

I wouldn't recommend mixing them. The water requirements are just too different. For a catfish that can handle the same conditions as the Malawis, consider a Synodontis species - there are some really interesting ones to choose from.

[velvet8]

No way, it's not a good idea at all.

[detroit]

I'm in agreement with what's already been said. Lake Malawi Cichlids have a nasty streak, they're very aggressive and won't hesitate to attack other fish. I learned this the hard way when I gave my Corydoras to a friend who insisted on keeping them with his Malawi Cichlids. Needless to say, it ended badly - the Malawi Cichlids killed the Corydoras. What's even more surprising is that my friend has years of experience with aquariums, but still managed to make such a rookie mistake. It just goes to show that you can't assume everyone knows what they're doing, even if they've been keeping fish for a long time.