Breeding the panda corydoras
Lays sticky eggs on the glass and plants after a cool water change.
Step by step
Keep a group of 6 or more with extra males. Females are rounder and larger.
A 10-20 gallon (40-75 L) tank with fine sand, plants and a sponge filter. Add a spawning mop or plants. 22-26 C.
A big cool water change (rain simulation) after a few days of rich food.
Females place 1-4 eggs at a time over a spawning of several hours, up to about 25 eggs in total; eggs hatch in 3-5 days.
Feed microworms and baby brine shrimp. Remove eggs to a hatch tray. Keep water cool and clean.
- Using warm water
- Not doing cool water changes
- Putting eggs in dirty water
Male or female
Seen from above, females are wider and rounder.
Can I breed it in my tank?
- Use a separate small tank with a sponge filter and spawning mops, so the eggs aren't eaten.
- Good for a first breeding project.
Day-by-day plan
Typical for egg scatterers
- 14 days beforeCondition the parents
Feed live or frozen food twice a day. Keep males and females apart if you can.
- Day 0Spawning
Eggs are scattered over mops or fine plants, often at first light. Remove the parents straight after.
- Day 1Eggs hatch
Most eggs hatch in 1–2 days. Keep the tank dim and remove white (fungused) eggs.
- Day 4Free swimming, first food
Fry use up the yolk and start swimming. Feed infusoria or liquid fry food several times a day.
- Day 8Baby brine shrimp
Switch to newly hatched brine shrimp or microworms. Start small, daily water changes.
- Day 21Crushed flake
Add finely crushed flake. Sort fry by size so the big ones don't eat the small ones.
- Day 60Ready to move
Most small fish reach about 2 cm in 2–3 months and can join the main tank.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Simulator: guided
Feed live or frozen food twice a day. Keep males and females apart if you can.
Simulator: try it yourself
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
- Without live or frozen food the parents aren't in breeding condition.
- Corydoras usually need a big, cooler water change (like rain) to start spawning.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.