Panda cory

Corydoras panda

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–77°F (22–25°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 2 in (5 cm)
Minimum tank: 15 gal (55 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: Hard
Rarity: Common
Origin: Peru
Family: Callichthyidae

Overview

These are sociable bottom dwellers that need a group of at least six, and they're more active and confident in larger numbers. A tank around 55 liters works for a small shoal. Keep water cool, roughly 22 to 25 C, soft, and acidic to neutral, since they don't tolerate heat well. Feed sinking foods that reach the bottom, like wafers, sinking pellets, and frozen bloodworm, and never count on them to clean up after other fish.

In the wild

Panda corys come from cool, clear headwater streams in Peru, fed by runoff from the Andes. The water there is soft, slightly acidic, and runs cooler than most tropical tanks. Give them a sand or smooth fine-gravel bottom so they can feed without damaging their barbels, plus shade and some current. Keeping the tank on the cool side matters more for this species than for many corys.

Good to know

This is a small armored catfish in the family Callichthyidae, reaching about 5 cm. The name comes from its pattern: a pale body with a dark eye mask, a spot on the dorsal fin, and a band near the tail. Like other Corydoras it's an egg layer, with females sticking eggs to surfaces after a clutch is fertilized. They can live well past five years in good conditions.

Did you know

Corys can breathe air. They dart to the surface, gulp a bubble, and absorb oxygen through their gut before letting it out. With pandas this is normal, but if a whole group is racing up constantly it can be a sign the water is low on oxygen or the tank is running too warm.