Panda Corydoras (Corydoras panda): Complete Guide to Breeding, Feeding, and Aquarium Setup

Basic Requirements, Tank Setup, and Ideal Conditions for Panda Corys

Panda Corys are small, peaceful fish from the Rio Pachitea in Peru. They thrive in well-planted tanks with fine substrate. For optimal conditions, they should be housed in a biotope aquarium with a temperature range of 22 - 28°C (71.6 - 82.4°F), a general water hardness (dGH) of 4 - 18 °N, and a pH of 5.8 - 7.8. Stability is key, as these Corys are sensitive to sudden changes in water chemistry and poor conditions can lead to disease. Despite their small size, reaching only 3 – 4 cm (1.2 – 1.6 inches) in length, they prefer to be in groups. A minimum of 6, ideally 10 to 15, should be kept together in a tank. A group of 10 Panda Corys can comfortably live in a 10-gallon (37 liters, 8.3 Imperial gallons) tank. They should never be kept alone, as solitude can cause stress and harm their well-being.

Panda Corys feed from the bottom of the tank, so it's essential to use a sandy substrate or fine gravel to prevent injury to their barbels. Sharp objects or rocks can damage their sensitive barbels. Include plenty of small plants for them to hide in, and provide a good number of caves, as these fish often seek out shaded, secure spots. For the substrate, choose sand or fine gravel with a maximum diameter of 3-4 mm (0.11 – 0.15 inches) to ensure their safety and comfort.

A tank for Panda Corys needs to be well aerated. Without proper aeration, these fish will swim to the surface to breathe atmospheric air, which signals that the oxygen levels in the tank are insufficient.

Suitable plants for a tank with Panda cory’s are as follows: Echinodorus angustifolius, Echinodorus amazonicus, Cabomba furcata, Echinodorus bleheri, Mayaca fluviatilis, Anubias nana, Anubias sp., Ludwigia inclinata.

Proper Diet for Corydoras Panda

Providing high-quality food is essential for Panda Corys. They enjoy a varied diet that includes brine shrimp, tubifex worms, black and white mosquito larvae, tablet food, pellets, granules, microworms, and even flakes that have settled on the substrate. Panda Corys are excellent at cleaning up leftover food, as they spend their days and nights sifting through the substrate. However, they do not consume fish feces or other waste, contrary to some beliefs. They will not eat plants, making them ideal for planted tanks. During breeding, offering frozen bloodworms and white worms is particularly beneficial.

Panda Corys can gain weight quickly, so it's important to feed them portions that can be consumed within 1-2 minutes, twice a day, to avoid overfeeding and potential health issues. Maintaining a group of 10 Panda Corys is quite affordable, costing only a few dollars or euros per month. They tend to be more active and engage in foraging when fed smaller amounts twice daily, as they will continuously search for food in the substrate.

These fish are most active in the evening, making it an ideal time to add food to their tank.

Body Characteristics and Sexing

Panda Corys have a sandy-colored body adorned with black spots and patches. They feature a black band across their eyes, reminiscent of panda bears, and a black stripe on their tail, along with a black dorsal fin; the rest of their fins are clear. Distinguishing between males and females is relatively straightforward: females are more rounded and fuller, especially noticeable if they haven’t laid eggs for a while, making them appear almost ready to burst. Males are often seen chasing and following females closely.

Breeding Your Panda Corys

Breeding Panda Corys is similar to breeding other Corydoras species and is often unnoticed because they lay about 10-15 eggs on glass surfaces or beneath large aquatic plant leaves. To encourage breeding, consider the following tips:

• Feed your Panda Corys live worms or small pieces of larvae.
• Perform regular water changes every other day to mimic rainy season conditions.
• Reduce the water temperature to 22°C (71°F) after maintaining it at 26°C (78°F) for 2-3 weeks.
• Avoid keeping other fish with your Panda Corys as they may eat the eggs and fry.
• Add driftwood to the breeding tank.
• Minimize tank relocations for your Corydoras panda; instead, move their tank mates if necessary, as relocation can disrupt their breeding behavior.
• While a 1:1 male-to-female ratio is ideal, a ratio of 2:1 (male to female) is also acceptable.

Eggs are typically laid early in the morning but are often eaten by the parents or other fish. To protect the eggs, use a razor blade or credit card to carefully remove them from the tank once you spot them. Alternatively, you can transfer the eggs to a plastic container and place it back in the tank to avoid any changes in water chemistry. If the eggs are laid on a plant, simply cut the leaf and keep it away from the parents to prevent them from consuming the eggs.

The Fry

After hatching, the fry do not need to be fed immediately as they are still using their yolk sac. This sac will be consumed in about 2-3 days, though it may sometimes take 4-5 days. Ideal foods for the fry include microworms, daphnia, and newly hatched brine shrimp. Unlike adults, the young Panda Corys do not swim in groups; they are more solitary. In about a month, the fry will grow to around 1 cm (0.39 inch) in length. By the age of 3 weeks, you can start feeding them the same diet as the adult Pandas. Additionally, Panda Corys will graze on algae that grows on rocks, substrate, and glass in the tank.

Tank Mates for Panda Corys

Suitable tank mates for Panda Corys include peaceful tetras like Neon Tetras and other small, non-aggressive fish. If you want to add other catfish to the tank, Ancistrus species are excellent companions. Additionally, other Corydoras species or Aspidoras make great tank mates for your Panda Corys.

Panda Corys also coexist well with Angelfish, Discus, Blue Rams, Bettas, Dwarf Gouramis, peaceful Plecos, and most Loaches. If you're uncertain about the compatibility of your fish with Panda Corys, feel free to ask us at the bottom of this page.

Corydoras Panda