Fish
Panda Corydoras
Corydoras panda · also called panda cory, panda catfish
Sifting through cool, clear headwater sand with bold black patches circling each eye, a panda corydoras forages alongside its group, a small armoured catfish whose markings borrow their name from a much larger, much more famous black-and-white mammal.
Overview
The panda corydoras, Corydoras panda, is a small, social bottom-dwelling catfish native to cooler headwater stream habitat within the upper Ucayali River basin of Peru. Its distinctive black eye and tail patches set against a pale body, preference for cooler water than most corydoras relatives, and strongly social group-living habits make it one of the more visually recognisable and ecologically specialised members of the corydoras family.
A catfish built for cooler water
Unlike many corydoras species adapted to warm lowland rivers, the panda corydoras hails from cooler headwater streams at higher elevation, a habitat preference that keepers must account for to give this species the temperature range it needs to thrive.
Status
Least Concern, remaining present across suitable headwater stream habitat within the upper Ucayali River basin of Peru.
Panda Corydoras: common questions
How did the panda corydoras get its name?
This species has bold black patches around each eye and across the base of the tail fin, set against a pale cream-coloured body, a pattern that closely recalls the markings of a giant panda and gives rise to the species' common name.
Why does the panda corydoras need cooler water than other corydoras?
This species originates from cooler headwater streams at higher elevation within the upper Ucayali River basin of Peru, and as a result it generally fares better in noticeably cooler aquarium water than many other popular corydoras species adapted to warmer lowland habitats.
Should panda corydoras be kept alone or in groups?
This species is a social bottom-dweller that lives and forages in groups, with individuals kept alone or in very small numbers becoming noticeably withdrawn, less active, and less likely to display natural foraging behaviour.
How does the panda corydoras breathe in poor water conditions?
This species, like other corydoras, can absorb oxygen through a modified section of the intestine after gulping air at the surface, an adaptation that lets it survive in warm or oxygen-poor water that would be difficult for many other fish to tolerate.