Hiya this is my first post here and yeah, I am a bit of a newbie to fish-keeping
In the 2+ years I have been keeping a 55 gallon tank (A well planted/Amazon bio-type populated with Bolivian Rams, Otos, Tetras, Grass Shrimp and Peppered Cories. The Ph is 6.8/water is soft and is changed 30% monthly. And but for a recent slight elevation in the ammonia level all other readings are nominal) In short I am not sure if I have a problem but as a newbie I do have concern for two of my Cories who recently paired off and started to behaving quite different than the other Peppered Cories that I have.
What they have been doing is swimming at all levels darting quickly in every direction and always synchronized side-by-side/ meaning they are not chasing each other. The other thing that has change is one of these two Cories has drastically changed color, from a dull spotted grey to a really intense spotted metallic green. It is my hope that all of this change is just a mating thing but then again not knowing I fear that the elevation in the ammonia level that what this really could be is something else like stress? I dont know and none of the other fish are showing signs of stress
but I am baffled.
the only other so called problem I can add is that the largest of my Rams likes to pair off and often hide in the same cave with my monster size/3+ Gold Skirt who really doesnt seem to care for his own kind save to perhaps eat. The two really get along well that I now call them the odd couple. The concern for the Gold Skirt is this a sufficient enough tank mate for him? Because everything that I have read about them is they like to school and mine would rather cannibalize his own kind and hang out with a large male Bolivian Ram.
