🐟 AquaticCare difficulty: BeginnerLegal complexity: Low
Panda Cory
Corydoras panda · also called Panda Corydoras, Panda Catfish, Panda Cory Cat
A small, endearing armored catfish named for the panda-like black markings over its eyes, dorsal fin, and tail. A peaceful, social bottom-dweller that shoals in groups and makes one of the most popular corydoras for planted community tanks.
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Quick facts
| Size | Tiny pale cory with black eye, dorsal, and tail patches reaching about 4-5 cm (1.6-2 in). |
| Lifespan | 5–10 years |
| Social needs | group |
| Native region | South America (Ucayali River system, Peru) |
| Origin | New World |
| Climate | 🌴 Tropical |
| Water type | 💧 Freshwater |
| Family | Callichthyidae |
| Genus | Corydoras |
Part of the Catfish
Catfish are a diverse order of mostly bottom-dwelling fish, including peaceful shoaling corydoras, armored loricariids, and scavengers prized for keeping the lower levels of an aquarium active and clean.
Habitat & space requirements
From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Habitat & enclosure
A shoal needs a tank of at least 75 litres (20 US gal) with ample floor space, as they are social bottom-dwellers best kept in groups of six or more. Provide a soft sand substrate, gentle current, plants, driftwood, and shaded hiding spots; they forage constantly along the bottom and appreciate cover.
They prefer slightly cooler water than many tropicals: keep at 20-25 C (68-77 F), pH 6.0-7.5, soft to moderately hard. They are sensitive to poor water quality, especially nitrate and dissolved waste, so good filtration and regular water changes are important.
Substrate
Use a soft, fine sand substrate, which is strongly preferred; sharp or coarse gravel wears down and infects their delicate sensory barbels. Smooth, rounded grains let them sift and forage naturally.
Equipment & setup
Provide gentle, efficient filtration that keeps water clean without excessive current, plus a heater set toward the cooler end of the tropical range. Live plants and driftwood add useful cover, and a sponge filter pre-filter protects fry in breeding setups.
Diet
Omnivorous bottom-foragers: offer sinking pellets, cory wafers, frozen and live bloodworms, daphnia, brine shrimp, and crushed flake that reaches the substrate. They sift sand and graze the bottom with their barbels in search of food.
Feed sinking foods in the evening and ensure enough reaches them, as faster mid-water fish may snatch food first. A varied diet keeps them healthy; do not assume they will survive on tankmates' leftovers alone, and avoid sharp substrate that damages the barbels they feed with.
Behavior & temperament
Peaceful, active, and highly social; they must be kept in groups, becoming stressed and inactive when alone. They shoal and forage together along the bottom and mix beautifully with small peaceful community fish such as tetras, rasboras, dwarf gouramis, and other corydoras.
They are busy little fish, scooting across the substrate and occasionally darting to the surface to gulp air, which is normal. Never house them with aggressive or large predatory fish. They are most confident and entertaining when kept in a generous group on open sand.
Health
Barbel erosion from sharp or dirty substrate is the classic corydoras problem; use fine sand and keep the bottom clean. They are also prone to ich and, being delicate, are sensitive to salt and copper medications, which should be reduced.
They are intolerant of high nitrates and ammonia, so a mature, well-filtered tank is essential. Quarantine new fish, avoid overcrowding, and watch for red or worn barbels and rapid surface gulping beyond normal, which can indicate poor water quality.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Keep at least six and offer cooler water than many tropicals, as they dislike high heat. They are readily bred at home: a cool water change and high-protein feeding often triggers spawning, and eggs are laid on glass and plants.
Sources
- Corydoras panda - Wikipedia (wiki)
- Panda Cory (Corydoras panda) - Seriously Fish (care guide)
- Wikipedia: Panda Cory (wiki)