Panda cory catfish are a popular bottom-dweller in the freshwater-aquarium industry. They’re easy to care for, making them perfect for beginners. They are also active little fish with interesting body patterns.
What Is The Panda Cory?
The panda cory has black and white stripes, making it resemble a panda. Their white skin is so pale that it’s almost translucent. The black markings are most often found around the eyes, the dorsal fin, at the base of the tail, and on the body near the caudal fin.
D. Tri Sulistyowati et. al. say “This fish has simple body ornament but unique that has black line in its eye and black spot at caudal.”
According to Qiaolin Liu, et. al. “Corydoras, is usually named ‘panda mouse’ in Chinese ornamental fish market because of the external morphological feature of a light colored body with black blob covering their eyes (like the panda), a black spot the dorsal fin, and a spot on or near the base of the caudal fin.”
They don’t have scales but have two rows of bony plates called scutes.
Like all catfish, the panda cory has three sets of barbels that it uses to sense the world around it. They are useful for navigating the murky waters of their natural habitat.
They have sharp spines on their adipose and dorsal fin that they use for defense. If a larger fish tries to eat them, the spines get lodged into their mouth and they will choke. Panda cories also have small spines under each of their eyes.
Other Corydoras
There is also the longfin panda cory that, as the name suggests, has longer fins than the typical panda cory.
Panda cories are just a specific coloration of cory catfish, though. There are other corydoras including bronze, Sterba’s, dwarf, and emerald corydoras.
Lifespan
When they receive proper care, they can live for over five years. Many fish keepers have reported them living past 10 years of age.
- Common Names: Panda Cory, Corydoras, Cories
- Scientific Name: Corydoras panda
- Origin: Peru — Ucayali river system
- Panda Cory Size (Length): 1-2.5 In (2.54-6.4cm)
- Aquarium Size: 20+ gallons
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Ease of Care: Easy
- Panda Cory Lifespan: 5+ years
Habitat
Panda corydoras are native to Peru. They live in the Ucayali blackwater river system. The Ucayali is the main headwater of the Amazon River. It has a low mineral content and is slightly acidic. The waters are fast-moving with plenty of oxygenation.
The river system has lots of vegetation for the cories to hide in. The substrate is soft, but it has layers of rocks.
But, it’s rare to see panda cories in the wild because they were once endangered. They no longer have that classification thanks to captive breeding. But, they’re still rare in the wild.
Behavior & Temperament
The panda corydora is an active fish. You’re more likely to see it swimming about the tank than other catfish species.
They are nocturnal, so they are more active at night, but they move about a lot during the day as well.
They are also social fish that enjoy interacting with other cories. If you keep them alone, they will get stressed out and may become sick. You should keep them in groups of at least six individuals.
Panda Cory Care?
Corydoras’ care is not difficult. They are hardy fish who are not overly picky about their water parameters. For this reason, they are one of the best bottom-dwellers for beginners.
Watch your panda corydoras’ water temperature because they like warmer water. Water temperatures should be between 68 to 77° F (20-25°C).
To keep a happy panda cory, the pH levels should be between 6.0-7.0. The water hardness should be between 2-12 dGH.
Panda Corydoras Tank Size & Decorations
Panda cories are small fish, but they need to live in schools. So, you should have at least 20 gallons. If you plan to set up a community tank with other species, you’ll need to go with at least 30-40 gallons.
Panda cories are soft-bodied and do not have scales. So, their bellies can become damaged easily. They also love poking around and digging their faces into the substrate. So, you should choose a soft substrate like sand that’s gentle on their bodies.
They enjoy having places to hide as it makes them feel secure. Place many rocks, caves, and driftwood around the tank for them to take cover.
Still, they are active fish that enjoy swimming around in the open water. So, don’t fill the tank so full of decorations that it’s difficult for them to move.
In their native habitat, they have a lot of vegetation to hide in. Providing thick, live plants will make them feel at peace. Some good options include hornwort and anacharis.
Water Flow
The panda cory cat is native to a river system with fast-moving water. So, you should replicate this in your aquarium. You can buy an adjustable powerhead that will create a quick current for your cories. Place the powerhead at the bottom of the tank. The current will flow over the substrate where the catfish most often swim.
Fast-flowing water also provides oxygen to keep your corydoras happy and healthy. Catfish tend to need higher levels of oxygen than some other fish species.
Panda Cory Food
Panda cats are bottom-dwelling scavengers who enjoy digging around the substrate for food. They help to clean up leftover food and decaying plant matter left in the tank.
Still, you need to feed them proper food to ensure they’re getting the right nutrition. Their staple diet should consist of nutritional bottom-feeder pellets. These sink to the bottom and are easy for them to access.
You can supplement them a few times a week with meaty or vegetable snacks. They enjoy bloodworms, blackworms, insects, brine shrimp, daphnia, and other small crustaceans. You can give them small pieces of lettuce or other vegetables, too. Just be sure to remove the uneaten food after a few hours so it doesn’t rot in the tank.
Panda Cory Tank Mates
Panda cory cats are peaceful, active, and social. So, they are ideal tank mates for most freshwater species.
Avoid keeping them with large, aggressive fish who might try to eat them.
Good tank mates to place with your cory catfish include:
- Shrimp
- Other kinds of cories
- Danios
- Tetras
- Rasboras
- Platies
- Mollies
- Swordtails
- Gouramis
- Loaches
How Does the Panda Cory Compare To Other Catfish?
Are you not sure if a panda cory catfish is right for your aquarium? See how they compare to other common freshwater species.
| Cory Catfish | Upside Down Catfish | Asian Stone Catfish | Glass Catfish | Pictus Catfish | Bumblebee Catfish | |
| Temperament | Shy & Peaceful | Shy & Peaceful | Shy & Peaceful | Peaceful | Semi-Aggressive | Shy & Peaceful |
| Preferred Habitat | Rocks & Live Plants | Rocks & Live Plants | Sandy Substrate | Mid-Water Dwellers | Rocks & Live Plants | Rocky Substrate |
| Lifespan | 5+ Years | 5 Years | 5 Years | 8 Years | 8-10 Years | 4-5 Years |
| Size | 1-2.5 Inches | 3-4 Inches | 1.3 Inches | 4-6 Inches | 5 Inches | 3 Inches |
Conclusion
Panda catfish are peaceful, active fish that are good for most freshwater tanks. They are social and like to flit about the tank with individuals of their same kind.
Panda cories are easy to care for. So, they are one of the best bottom-dwelling fish for beginners to start with.
Most people enjoy the unique coloration that makes them resemble the giant panda. But, if you prefer a different color or pattern, there are plenty of other kinds of cory cats to choose from.
FAQs
Panda cories are nocturnal and will be most active at night. Still, they often come out during the day, especially at feeding time.
Corydoras are bottom-feeding scavengers that eat just about anything they come across. Most fish keepers love them because they are adept at keeping the tank clean. They will eat leftover fish food and plant matter.
Still, they are not known for being good algae eaters.
Panda cories are one of the best bottom-feeders for beginners. They are hardy and fun to watch.
