Panda Corydoras (Corydoras panda)

Corydoras catfish are a favorite throughout the aquarium hobby, primarily due to their peaceful nature, unique appearance, and ease of care. A prominent species of corydoras that has become one of the most beloved throughout the hobby is the panda corydoras. Panda corydoras care and breeding is known to be fairly easy, and their distinct color pattern has led to them becoming an extremely popular aquarium fish.

You’ll find panda corydoras being sold in many local fish stores and with many breeders. Hailing from the freshwater rivers of South America, the panda corydoras can be distinguished from other corydoras with its black and white coloration, which resembles a panda bear. The body is primarily white, and there are distinct black patches or spots on the head and body.

Panda corydoras are a peaceful species that can live in harmony with other fish species of comparable size in a community tank. They thrive in well planted aquariums and will remain in the bottom third of the tank most of the time, allowing them to pair well with species that mostly stay in the upper portion of the tank.

Panda Corydoras Species Overview

Panda Corydoras Care

Panda corydoras make a fantastic beginner aquarium fish, as they really do not have complicated care or feeding requirements. Additionally, they are about as peaceful as it gets and are compatible with a lot of other aquarium fish. In order to make corydoras feel comfortable and reduce their stress, you must keep these fish in groups of 6 or more, the bigger the better.

Despite there being a large variety of corydoras available for freshwater aquariums, the panda corydoras has become one of the most popular due to their ease of care, hardy nature, and willingness to breed in an aquarium setting. Other common corydoras include bronze corydoras, pygmy corydoras, albino corydoras, and many more.

Feeding

Panda corys are voracious eaters and should be fed a varied diet to help account for their omnivorous diet in nature. Offer panda corydoras a staple diet of high-quality sinking pellets or granules specially formulated for bottom-dwelling catfish, and ensure that the pellets are small enough for them to consume comfortably.

You can look to supplement their diets with live or frozen foods, suitable options include brine shrimp, bloodworms, daphnia, and tubifex worms. These foods add variety to their diet and essential nutrients that they may not receive from a standalone pellet diet.

Occasionally include vegetable-based foods in their diet. Corydoras appreciate vegetable matter, and blanched vegetables like zucchini or spinach can be offered. You can also provide sinking algae wafers as an alternative.

Look to feed panda corydoras small amounts of food multiple times a day rather than a large quantity all at once. This accommodates their natural feeding behavior and prevents overfeeding, which can lead to water quality issues.

Water Conditions

Panda corys will do best in water conditions that emulate their natural habitat in the rivers of Peru and Ecuador. The waters that they hail from tend to be both soft and acidic. When keeping them in an aquarium, seek to keep the pH between 5.8-7.2, and the water hardness level (GH) between 2 to 15 dGH (degrees of General Hardness). Panda corydoras prefer water temperature between 68-78°F (20-25°C).

It’s important to keep the tank water clean and to ensure that the tank is fully cycled, resulting in no ammonia, nitrates, or nitrites. As panda corydoras spend the majority of their time hanging out on the bottom of the tank, it’s important to regularly vacuum debris and keep the tank floor as clean as possible.

Breeding

Create a separate breeding tank or section within the main tank for breeding panda corydoras. Provide hiding spots such as caves, PVC pipes, or broad-leaved plants where the female can deposit eggs. Aim to keep the water cool, soft, and acidic, using leaf litter such as almond leaves to help emulate their breeding environment.

Look to pair two healthy, full-grown corydoras in your breeding area. You should condition this pair with lots of live and frozen foods to help prepare them for breeding. Female panda corydoras typically lay adhesive eggs on surfaces such as the tank glass, plants, or decorations. The male will fertilize the eggs, and both parents may actively participate in guarding the eggs. If breeding in a community tank, consider using a breeding cone or mesh to protect the eggs from being consumed by other tank inhabitants. In a separate breeding tank, monitoring the breeding process is easier.

The incubation period for panda corydoras eggs is generally around 4 to 7 days. Keep the breeding tank darkened during this period to reduce stress on the eggs. Once the eggs hatch, the fry will stay close to the substrate. Feed them with appropriately sized live or powdered foods such as baby brine shrimp, micro worms, or commercial fry foods such as infusoria. Conduct small and regular water changes to maintain good water quality for the developing fry. Be cautious not to disturb the fry during water changes.

If breeding in a community tank, consider separating the fry into a dedicated fry tank as they grow. This prevents larger tankmates from preying on the smaller fry. Breeding panda corydoras may require patience, and it may take several attempts before you find success. Ensure that the breeding environment is conducive, and give the pair opportunities to form a bond.

Tank Setup for Panda Corydoras

When setting up our panda corydoras tank, you’ll want to mimc their natural environment as much as possible for the best results. I’d recommend using lots of aquatic plants and leaf litter. These elements will help your corydoras feel safe and have plenty of areas to hide. You’ll also want to utilize a soft substrate such as sand, as corydoras spend most of their time on the floor of the tank.

In terms of space, you’ll want at least a 15 gallon aquarium for a small group of panda corydoras. If looking to keep a large group, a 29 or 40 gallon tank would be more suitable.

Panda Corydoras Tankmates

Panda corydoras are gentle, peaceful creatures. They do well with other non-aggressive community fish, avoid keeping them with larger or aggressive species that may intimidate them. As corydoras primarily inhabit the bottom of the tank, you can look to pair them with fish that stay in the upper portions of the tank.

Some fish that do well in a community tank with panda corydoras include:

• Harlequin Rasbora
• Neon tetra
• Clown Killifish
• Other corydoras (such as Bronze or Albino Corydoras)

Be sure not to overstock your aquarium, we’d recommend checking out an aquarium stocking calculator such as aqadvisor.com to help gauge the stocking level of your tank.

Panda Corydoras Care Summary

Panda corydoras stand out as an exceptional aquarium fish, characterized by their peaceful demeanor, distinctive appearance, and ease of care. Their striking black and white coloration, reminiscent of a panda bear, has earned them a lot of popularity among hobbyists. Their ease of care, coupled with their hardy nature and willingness to breed in captivity, makes panda corys an ideal choice for both beginners and experienced aquarists.