Panda corydoras
Corydoras panda
intermediate careOverview
The panda corydoras (Corydoras panda) is a small, endearing catfish named for the black patches over its eyes and at the base of its tail. It stays under 5 cm, making it ideal for smaller community tanks, and shares all the busy, peaceful charm of its larger cousins. It is a touch more demanding than the bronze cory, preferring cooler, cleaner water, so it is best for keepers with an established tank.
Tank & water
A group of six suits a 60-litre (15-gallon) tank or larger, prioritising floor space. Pandas like it cooler — 20–25 °C — and value pristine water.
- Smooth substrate: fine sand or rounded gravel protects their barbels. See best aquarium sand and gravel and our substrate hub.
- Gentle flow and hides: a soft filter, plants and driftwood keep them comfortable.
- Stable water: stay on top of maintenance — pandas react quickly to nitrate build-up.
Feeding
As omnivores, panda corys forage on the bottom for sinking foods. Offer sinking pellets, micro-wafers and granules, with frozen bloodworm or daphnia as treats. A quality sinking food that reaches them is essential — browse our best fish food picks. Feed small amounts they can clear, as uneaten food quickly fouls their water. Because pandas are more sensitive to nitrate than the hardier bronze cory, a modest, well-managed feeding routine matters even more here — feed in the evening, watch that everyone gets a share, and remove anything left over.
Tankmates
Panda corys are gentle and social, ideal for peaceful, cooler-leaning communities — small tetras, rasboras, cherry shrimp and other corydoras like the pygmy or bronze. Each cory species shoals best with its own kind, so keep six of the pandas specifically. Avoid boisterous or warm-water tankmates.
Frequently asked questions
The panda corydoras rewards a patient keeper with a stable tank: peaceful, playful and full of personality once it feels secure in a proper group.
Panda corydoras — frequently asked questions
Are panda corydoras harder to keep than bronze corys?
A little. Pandas prefer slightly cooler, cleaner water and are more sensitive to poor conditions, so they suit a stable, well-cycled tank rather than a brand-new one. Keep water quality high and they are still a rewarding, peaceful fish.
What temperature do panda corydoras like?
Cooler than most tropical fish — around 20–25 °C. They come from cooler mountain streams and dislike sustained high temperatures, so they are a poor match for warm-water fish like discus.
Do panda corydoras need to be in a group?
Yes. Keep at least six of them. Pandas are shoaling fish that feel secure and behave naturally only in a group, becoming shy and stressed when kept alone or in small numbers.
Found your model? Buy it at the right price.
UniverTrack tracks the real price of your aquarium gear across several retailers, spots fake discounts and warns you when it's genuinely the right moment to buy — with an AI assistant to guide you.