Fish comparison
Panda Corydoras vs Sterbai Corydoras
How the Panda Corydoras and Sterbai Corydoras compare on care, size, water and temperament, and which fish suits your tank.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated
TL;DR, Panda Corydoras vs Sterbai Corydoras
The Panda Corydoras and the Sterbai Corydoras are close cousins, both in the Corydoras group, so at a glance they ask for a lot of the same things. Both are happy somewhere around 24 to 25 °C and pH 6 to 7.5, so a single tank can suit either one. Neither is harder than the other to keep, so the choice comes down to look and stocking rather than skill. Read the full care notes on each below and pick the one whose look and pace fit the tank you're building.
Group compatibility overview
Good fit
Workable as-is, only minor advisories to plan around.
1 warning · 2 notes
Temperature
- Panda Corydoras20–25 °C
- Sterbai Corydoras24–30 °C
pH
- Panda Corydoras6–7.5
- Sterbai Corydoras6–7.5
Hardness
- Panda Corydoras2–12 dGH
- Sterbai Corydoras3–15 dGH
What to plan for
- Panda Corydoras schools, stock at least 6You've planned for 1 panda corydoras. Panda Corydoras need a group of at least 6 to feel safe and shoal naturally, below that they're stressed and lose colour. Dial up the count, or remove the species.
- Sterbai Corydoras schools, stock at least 6You've planned for 1 sterbai corydoras. Sterbai Corydoras need a group of at least 6 to feel safe and shoal naturally, below that they're stressed and lose colour. Dial up the count, or remove the species.
- All fish are bottom-dwellersTop and middle of the tank will look empty, and surface food drops uneaten. Add a mid or top species (rasboras, danios, hatchetfish) to use the whole water column.
Full attributes
Every parameter, side by side| Parameter |  FishPanda CorydorasCorydoras panda |  FishSterbai CorydorasCorydoras sterbai |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Fish | Fish |
| Origin | Rio Pachitea, Peru | Rio Guaporé basin, Brazil & Bolivia |
| Family | Callichthyidae | Callichthyidae |
| Temperature | 20–25 °C | 24–30 °C |
| pH | 6.0–7.5 | 6.0–7.5 |
| Hardness (dGH) | 2–12 | 3–15 |
| Flow rate | Low to Medium | Low to Medium |
| Min tank | 75 L | 75 L |
| Adult size | 4–5 cm | 6–7 cm |
| Difficulty | 2 / 5 | 2 / 5 |
| Lifespan | 5–10 yrs | 5–10 yrs |
| Diet | Omnivore | Omnivore (sinking) |
| Water column | Bottom | Bottom |
| Schooling | Yes | Yes |
| Plant safe | Yes | Yes |
| Shrimp safe | Yes | Yes (adult shrimp) |
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
Can you keep Panda Corydoras and Sterbai Corydoras together?
Yes. Their temperature and pH ranges overlap around 24 to 25 °C and pH 6 to 7.5, so one set of water conditions keeps both comfortable. Match group sizes and cover the usual planted-tank basics and they share a tank fine.
Which is easier to keep, the Panda Corydoras or the Sterbai Corydoras?
They sit at the same care level, both beginner-friendly, so neither is the obvious beginner pick. The decision is really about the look you're after.
Do Panda Corydoras and Sterbai Corydoras need the same water?
Close to it. Aim for 24 to 25 °C and pH 6 to 7.5 and you're in the shared sweet spot for both. Full ranges are in the table above.
What's the main difference between the Panda Corydoras and the Sterbai Corydoras?
It comes down to look, size and pace rather than one being flatly better. The table above lays the numbers out row by row.