Corydoras panda
The cory that looks painted: cream body with black eye-patches, dorsal saddle, and tail base. Prefers cooler water than most tropicals, a perfect match for white clouds, Hillstream loaches, and Bolivian rams. Soft, smooth substrate is non-negotiable; sharp gravel shreds their barbels.
Panda Corydoras (Corydoras panda) reaches 4–5 cm as an adult and needs a minimum tank of 75 L. Native to Rio Pachitea, Peru, it lives in the bottom water column with a peaceful temperament. Aim for 20–25 °C, pH 6.0–7.5, and 2–12 dGH hardness. Lifespan is 5–10 years with good care. Keep panda corydoras in groups of 6+, yes schoolers need numbers to display natural behaviour. Diet: omnivore, Sinking pellets, catfish wafers, frozen bloodworms, blanched veg scraps. Feed at lights-off to bypass faster tankmates. Plant-safe: Yes. Shrimp-safe: Yes.
Care at a glance
The cory that looks painted: cream body with black eye-patches, dorsal saddle, and tail base. Prefers cooler water than most tropicals, a perfect match for white clouds, Hillstream loaches, and Bolivian rams. Soft, smooth substrate is non-negotiable; sharp gravel shreds their barbels.
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The parameters that decide whether panda corydoras fits in your tank.
Bottom
Yes
Group of 6+
Callichthyidae
Omnivore
Sinking pellets, catfish wafers, frozen bloodworms, blanched veg scraps. Feed at lights-off to bypass faster tankmates.
5–10 yrs
Medium
Rio Pachitea, Peru
Rio Pachitea, Peru
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Weighing it against something similar? Compare Panda Corydoras head to head:
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
Panda Corydoras (Corydoras panda) needs a minimum tank of 75 L. They live in the bottom water column and should be kept in groups of 6+, so a longer footprint matters more than depth.
Target 20–25 °C, pH 6.0–7.5, and 2–12 dGH hardness. Acclimate slowly when moving them between water sources.
Shrimp safety: Yes. Plant safety: Yes.
Panda Corydoras are omnivore. Sinking pellets, catfish wafers, frozen bloodworms, blanched veg scraps. Feed at lights-off to bypass faster tankmates.
On Fin & Stem's 1–5 difficulty scale this species rates 2/5. Forgiving, beginner-friendly once the tank is cycled. Breeding difficulty: medium.
Typical lifespan in a well-maintained tank is 5–10 years.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this fish with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
