Can honey gouramis and corydoras thrive in a natural environment?

[Giggletons]

Setting up my pond and I'm thinking about these guys - guppies, platies, and cories. They're going in the wilderness, so I'm wondering if they need anything special to survive. I know guppies and platies can make it because they eat those little flying gnats, and sometimes I give them aphids too.

Is that enough for them, especially cories? I'm not sure what they can eat that sinks...

[boomer]

Cories will likely be the challenge in this setup, their diet consisting mainly of crustaceans and insect larvae on the substrate. You'll probably need to find ways to increase these food sources, as they're what cories would naturally feed on. Adding some worms for variety might be a good idea, but in moderation, since they're high in protein and fat and aren't a staple in a cory's natural diet.

[Giggletons]

Cories will likely be the challenge in this setup, their diet consisting mainly of crustaceans and insect larvae on the substrate. You'll probably need to find ways to increase these food sources, as they're what cories would naturally feed on. Adding some worms for variety might be a good idea, but in moderation, since they're high in protein and fat and aren't a staple in a cory's natural diet.

I've got a variety of bottom feeder food covered, so starvation isn't a concern for me. My main question is, how can I increase the crustacean population? Ghost shrimp - would they be a viable option? Unfortunately, I don't have access to other continuously cultured live foods.

[WildFins]

When I think of ponds, I picture colder water fish. Honey gouramis aren't exactly cold water fish, they just don't require super warm water, their minimum is 72 degrees.

[Giggletons]

When I think of ponds, I picture colder water fish. Honey gouramis aren't exactly cold water fish, they just don't require super warm water, their minimum is 72 degrees.

I'm actually setting up a tropical pond, and I've got a backup plan for the fish when the weather gets rough. There's a tank indoors, just in case it rains. The temperature in the pond can fluctuate quite a bit - on hot days, it can get up to 90 degrees, but under the shade of a tree, it stays relatively cooler. In the summer, it's usually between 70 and 90 degrees. During fall and spring, it's pretty consistent around 70 degrees. Winters get pretty cold and rainy, which is when I move the fish indoors to a safe environment.

Honestly, it's too hot here for cold-water fish, and our winters just aren't cold enough to support them. But tropical fish are perfect for this climate, except for those short and wet winters. The good thing is, when winter hits, most of the native perennials in the water die back, making it super easy to scoop up the fish and move them to safety.

[coltin]

I'd suggest adding some beneficial micro-crustaceans like rotifers and Moina to your pond setup about a month prior to introducing the fish.

[Giggletons]

I'd suggest adding some beneficial micro-crustaceans like rotifers and Moina to your pond setup about a month prior to introducing the fish.

Thanks for the tip, I'm still trying to figure out how to get these rotifers and Moina. Is there a way to culture them in-house, or do I need to find a supplier?

[coltin]

You can get starter cultures for rotifers and Moina online, just search and buy. Then you can grow them in a green water culture. Here's a good link that explains how to culture them, it's pretty straightforward. Moina and Daphnia are cultured the same way, but Moina can handle warmer water.