Panda Corydoras
Corydoras panda
Callichthyidae
FishDifficulty: ●●○○○Data: well-established
About
The panda corydoras is an endearing dwarf catfish named for its pale body marked with black patches over the eyes, dorsal fin, and caudal peduncle, resembling a giant panda. Endemic to cool, clear headwaters of the Peruvian Amazon, it prefers noticeably cooler temperatures than most tropical fish. Active and sociable, it forms tight foraging shoals and darts across the substrate in playful bursts.
Care
Keep 6+ over soft sand in cooler, well-oxygenated water (ideally below 25°C). Sensitive to warmth and poor water quality; excellent for a temperate community.
Diet
Omnivore; feed small sinking foods, frozen daphnia and bloodworms. Ensure food reaches the bottom before faster tankmates take it.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (34)
Black Ruby BarbBlack Skirt TetraBlackline RasboraBloodfin TetraBlue Tiger ShrimpBorneo SuckerCelestial Pearl DanioClown KillifishCochu's Blue TetraCongo Dwarf CichlidDenison BarbDoctor FishDojo (Weather) LoachFlame TetraGlass CatfishGlowlight DanioGold BarbGolden Dwarf CichlidJulii CoryLeopard DanioLittle CorydorasOtocinclusParaguay EartheaterPearl DanioPeppered CorydorasPictus CatfishPygmy CorydorasReticulated Hillstream LoachSalt and Pepper CoryScarlet BadisScissortail RasboraSiamese Algae EaterUmbrella Dwarf CichlidZebra Danio
Possible with care (144)
African Butterfly CichlidAfrican ButterflyfishAgassiz's CoryAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidAmano ShrimpAssassin SnailBamboo ShrimpBanjo CatfishBetta (Siamese Fighting Fish)Black Moor GoldfishBlack Neon TetraBlack Phantom TetraBladder SnailBleeding Heart TetraBlood Parrot CichlidBlue AcaraBlue Dolphin CichlidBlue Velvet ShrimpBoesemani RainbowfishBolivian RamBrichard's TeleogrammaBristlenose PlecoBronze CorydorasBuenos Aires TetraBuffalohead CichlidBumblebee GobyButterfly Hillstream LoachCardinal TetraCelebes RainbowfishCheckerboard CichlidCheckered BarbCherry BarbCherry ShrimpChili RasboraChinese Algae EaterChocolate GouramiClown PlecoCockatoo Dwarf CichlidColombian Ramshorn SnailComet GoldfishCommon GoldfishCongo TetraConvict CichlidCrystal Red ShrimpDiamond TetraDwarf Chain LoachDwarf Flag CichlidDwarf GouramiDwarf Neon RainbowfishDwarf Orange CrayfishDwarf Pea PufferDwarf RasboraElephantnose FishEllioti CichlidEmber TetraEmerald CoryEmperor TetraEndler's LivebearerFantail GoldfishFestivum (Flag Cichlid)Figure-8 PufferFiremouth CichlidForktail RainbowfishFreshwater ClamGhost ShrimpGlowlight TetraGolden PencilfishGolden TetraGolden Wonder KillifishGreen Neon TetraGuppyHarlequin RasboraHead-and-Tail-Light TetraHoney GouramiJapanese Trapdoor SnailJewel CichlidKeyhole CichlidKissing GouramiKribensisKuhli LoachLambchop RasboraLeast KillifishLemon TetraMacmasteri Dwarf CichlidMalaysian Trumpet SnailMarble HatchetfishMedaka RicefishMoonlight GouramiMystery SnailNeon TetraNerite SnailOdessa BarbOranda GoldfishParadise FishPeaceful BettaPearl GouramiPenguin TetraPlatyPolka Dot LoachPort CichlidPurple Emperor TetraRabbit SnailRainbow CichlidRainbow SharkRamshorn SnailRanchu GoldfishRed RainbowfishRed Whiptail CatfishRed-Tail SharkRedhead CichlidRosy BarbRosy Red MinnowRosy TetraRubber Lip PlecoRummynose TetraRyukin GoldfishSerpae TetraSeverumShubunkin GoldfishSilver Tip TetraSkunk CorySparkling GouramiSpotted HoploSterbai CorydorasStrawberry RasboraStriped KribensisSunshine PeacockSveni EartheaterT-Bar CichlidTelescope GoldfishThai Micro CrabThick-lipped GouramiThreadfin AcaraThreadfin RainbowfishThree-spot GouramiTiger BarbTurquoise RainbowfishUpside-down CatfishVampire ShrimpVenezuelan CoryWhite Cloud Mountain MinnowWrestling HalfbeakX-ray TetraYoyo Loach
Avoid (93)
Acei CichlidAdonis PlecoAltum AngelfishAngelfishAuratus CichlidBala SharkBorleyi (Redfin Hap)Brevis Shell DwellerBrichardi (Fairy Cichlid)Bumblebee CichlidCalvus CichlidChocolate CichlidClown LoachCobalt Blue ZebraCommon PlecoCompressiceps CichlidCuckoo CatfishCylindricus CichlidCyprichromisDemasoni CichlidDemon EartheaterDiscusDogtooth CichlidDuboisi TropheusDwarf Petricola CatfishElectric Blue AhliElectric Yellow LabElongate MbunaEndlicheri BichirEven-spotted SynodontisFeatherfin SqueakerFive-bar CichlidFrontosaGerman Blue RamGoby CichlidGolden JulieGreen DiscusGreen Spotted PufferfishGreen TerrorHeckel DiscusHongi CichlidIridescent SharkJack DempseyJaguar CichlidJohanni CichlidKenyi CichlidKoiLemon CichlidLivingstoniMaingano CichlidMalawi EyebiterMalawi HawkMarlieri CichlidMasked JulieMollyMultifasciatus Shell DwellerOcellatus Shell DwellerOrnate BichirOscarPeacock BassPeacock CichlidPike CichlidPowder Blue CichlidRed DevilRed EmpressRed TerrorRed Zebra CichlidRegan's JulieReticulated Flying FoxRostratusRoyal PlecoRusty CichlidSailfin MollySailfin PlecoSalvini CichlidSand-sifting XenotilapiaSaulosi CichlidSilver ArowanaSilver MoonySimilis Shell DwellerStar SapphireStriped Raphael CatfishSulawesi Cardinal ShrimpSwordtailTaiwan Reef CichlidTexas CichlidThreadfin PetrochromisTropheusUaru (Triangle Cichlid)Venustus (Giraffe Cichlid)Wolf CichlidZebra MbunaZebra Pleco
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Full tank-mates guide with reasons →Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Width from aboveStrong · from about 8 months, once they are adult-sized
Corydoras are sexed from directly above, never from the side. Look down at the group while they rest on the sand.
- Bristles and cheek spinesA hint only · from about a year
Male plecos grow odontodes — spiny growths on the cheeks and along the leading pectoral rays. Bristlenose males additionally grow branching tentacles across the snout and over the top of the head.
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Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Panda Corydoras need?
- A Panda Corydoras needs an aquarium of at least 60 litres (15.9 US gallons) with a footprint at least 60 cm (23.6 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Panda Corydoras need?
- Panda Corydoras does best at 20–25 °C (68–77 °F), pH 6–7.4 and a general hardness of 2–12 °dGH.
- What group size does a Panda Corydoras need?
- Panda Corydoras is a social species — keep a group of at least 6 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Panda Corydoras suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Panda Corydoras is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.
Sources
Water & tank
Temperature20–25°C
Optimal temp.21–24°C
pH6–7.4
Hardness (GH)2–12°d
Carbonate (KH)1–8°d
Adult size5 cm
Min. volume≥ 60 L
Min. tank length≥ 60 cm
Group size≥ 6
Swimming zoneBottom
TemperamentPeaceful
Water typeFreshwater
FlowModerate
Lifespan~10 yrs
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