Panda Corydoras

Panda Corydoras (Corydoras panda; also classified as Hoplisoma panda)

Appearance & Behavior

Bring playful contrast and gentle bottom-level activity to your freshwater aquarium with Panda Corydoras. Their creamy bodies feature a dark eye mask, dorsal-fin patch, and marking at the base of the tail, giving them their familiar panda appearance. A settled group explores the substrate together, using sensitive barbels to search for food before resting among plants and shaded retreats. These small, peaceful catfish feel most secure with their own species. Occasional trips to the surface for air are normal, but frequent surface visits or labored breathing warrant a water-quality and oxygenation check.

Quick Care Guide

• Care Level: Moderate; best in a mature, established aquarium

• Temperament: Peaceful and social

• Adult Size: Approximately 1.5–2 inches; females usually larger

• Minimum Aquarium Size: 20 gallons long for a group, with generous open floor space

• Temperature: 68–77°F

• pH: 6.0–7.5

• Water Hardness: Soft to moderately hard water, approximately 2–12 dGH

• Diet: Omnivore; requires dedicated small sinking foods

• Swimming Area: Bottom, with occasional trips to the surface

• Recommended Quantity: At least 6 of the same species; larger groups are welcome when space and stocking allow

Aquarium Setup & Compatibility

Provide fine sand or smooth, rounded substrate, open foraging areas, and shaded retreats among plants and driftwood. Panda Corydoras do best in a mature, fully cycled aquarium with stable water conditions, clean substrate, and good oxygenation. Favor cooler community conditions rather than prolonged high temperatures, and maintain surface agitation with a gentle to moderate current. Avoid sharp gravel, keep access to the surface unobstructed, and use a secure lid. These fish do not replace substrate cleaning or water changes.

Good companions include peaceful small tetras, rasboras, and other gentle fish that share their cooler-water requirements. Plant-safe snails and adult dwarf shrimp may coexist, though tiny shrimplets can be eaten opportunistically. Avoid aggressive fish, larger predators, and territorial bottom dwellers that may prevent them from feeding or resting. Provide enough floor space for every bottom-dwelling species, and keep a group of Panda Corydoras rather than relying on unrelated cory species to meet their social needs.

Feeding

Offer a quality small sinking catfish pellet or broken wafer as a staple, supplemented with Hatchery Diet 1.2 mm when it reaches the bottom and is crushed as needed for smaller fish, Daphnia, and appropriately sized or chopped Bloodworms. Feed small portions in open areas and confirm that each fish gets food; feeding near lights-out can help in busy community aquariums. Panda Corydoras are not algae eaters and should never be expected to survive on scraps or fish waste.