TankMatesTankMates
Sign in
Encyclopedia / Catfish & Plecos / Panda corydoras
★New · no ratings yet

Variations

1 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Panda corydoras

Hoplisoma panda · Corydoras panda, Panda cory, Panda catfish

A cute little catfish that sifts the sand in groups. Needs soft sand so it doesn't hurt its whiskers.

Local price coming soon
· real AED shop prices, never conversions
5 cmBody length, without tail ✓
22–25 °CTemperature ✓
6–7.5pH ✓
40 LSmallest tank ✓
Add to my tankCompare
Tank mates
Check your own mix →
Not recommended
  • Tinfoil barb eats animals up to about 5 cm. Panda corydoras only grows to 5 cm.
Not recommended
  • White cloud mountain minnow needs cool water and makes a lot of waste, while Panda corydoras is tropical.
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: exactly 22 °C.
Not recommended
  • Giant gourami eats animals up to about 10 cm. Panda corydoras only grows to 5 cm.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 24–25 °C.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 24–25 °C.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

304 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓2–12 dGH
Group size ✓6 or more
Temperament ✓Peaceful
Swims at ✓Bottom
Care level ✓Easy
Diet Omnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 2–3 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Peaceful, social.

  • sand

Food

Sinking pellets, wafers.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Seen from above, females are wider and rounder.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Egg-scatterer · Moderate

Lays sticky eggs on the glass and plants after a cool water change.

Pairing

Keep a group of 6 or more with extra males. Females are rounder and larger.

Setup

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.

What starts it

A big cool water change (rain simulation) after a few days of rich food.

Eggs

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.

Raising the fry

Feed microworms and baby brine shrimp. Remove eggs to a hatch tray. Keep water cool and clean.

Common mistakes
  • Using warm water
  • Not doing cool water changes
  • Putting eggs in dirty water
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionUpper Amazon basin – Peru
Rivers and lakesRio Pachitea and other Ucayali tributaries
HabitatClear, cool, flowing streams with sandy beds
Native rangeAbout 300 km across
See it on the world map

The story of the panda corydoras

Described by Han Nijssen and Isaäc Isbrücker in 1971 as Corydoras panda; the name refers to the large black patches around the eyes, like a giant panda. It prefers cooler water than many tropical catfish and is now placed in the genus Hoplisoma.

Dutch ichthyologists Nijssen and Isbrücker described the panda cory in 1971. It was first collected in 1968 in Peru, and its black eye mask and tail spot quickly made it popular. Most panda corys sold today are captive-bred.

First described by Han Nijssen & Isaäc J. H. Isbrücker in 1971. Named for Named for its black eye patch, like a giant panda.

  • Its black eye mask resembles a giant panda's markings.
  • It prefers slightly cooler water than many corydoras.
  • Like all corydoras it is happiest in groups on soft sand.

Sources

16 facts checked with sources