Panda Cory (Corydoras panda) | Live Freshwater Community Fish

Few fish are as universally loved as the Panda Cory (Corydoras panda) — a tiny, busy, irresistibly cute armored catfish from Peru, named for the dark eye patches and tail spot on its creamy-white body. Pandas spend their day shoaling along the substrate, nose-down and barbel-twitching, hoovering up uneaten food and keeping the bottom of your tank tidy. They’re peaceful, hardy, and a perfect first catfish for community freshwater aquariums.

Browse all our freshwater fish or shop the rest of our freshwater section for tank mates, food, and supplies.

Care Guide

• Tank size: 20 gallons minimum for a school of 6. Long, low tanks beat tall, narrow ones — corys live on the bottom.
• Water: 68–77°F (Pandas tolerate cooler water than most tropicals; aim for 72–75°F), pH 6.5–7.5, soft to moderately hard.
• Substrate: Smooth sand or rounded fine gravel only. Sharp or coarse substrate damages their delicate barbels (sensory whiskers) and can lead to infection. CaribSea Super Naturals sand is a great choice.
• Filtration & flow: Gentle to moderate. Corys appreciate well-oxygenated water but don’t enjoy a current-blasted tank.
• Aquascape: Open sand floor for foraging plus driftwood, broad-leaf plants (anubias, java fern), and a few caves or hides for daytime resting.
• Diet: Omnivore. Feed sinking foods at lights-out so they reach the bottom — Seachem NutriDiet sinking tabs, frozen bloodworms, daphnia, brine shrimp, and quality flake that drifts down. They’ll also clean up spillage from mid-water feeders.
• Maintenance: 25–30% weekly water changes with Seachem Prime. Keep nitrates low — corys are sensitive to dirty water.
• Lid required: Pandas occasionally dart to the surface for a gulp of air. A snug lid prevents jumps.

Specifications

Compatibility

Panda Corys are textbook peaceful community fish — they ignore everything that isn’t food on the substrate.

• Great tank mates: neon tetras, ember tetras, harlequin rasboras, zebra danios, black skirt tetras, dwarf gouramis, peaceful livebearers, otocinclus, kuhli loaches.
• Other corys: mix happily with our Orange Laser Corydoras or Mixed Cory Catfish.
• Inverts: safe with snails (nerite, ramshorn) and adult shrimp. Fry may be eaten.
• Avoid: aggressive cichlids, fin-nippers (tiger barbs, serpae tetras), large predatory fish, anything that will outcompete them at meals.

Recommended Foods & Supplies

• Seachem NutriDiet Sinking Tabs — bottom-feeder staple
• CaribSea Super Naturals Sand — barbel-friendly substrate
• Seachem Prime — water conditioner for every change
• Hikari Dark Rock Cave — resting hide
• Browse all fish food · water care & treatments · live plants

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Panda Corys should I buy?
At least 4 to 6. Corys are obligate schoolers — in groups smaller than that they get stressed, hide constantly, and stop foraging. Eight to ten is the sweet spot.

Will they clean my tank?
They’ll scavenge uneaten food off the bottom, but they’re not algae eaters and they still need their own dedicated meals. Don’t rely on leftovers alone.

Do I really need sand?
Strongly recommended. Corys forage by sifting substrate through their gills, and sharp gravel files down their barbels over time, leading to infection and reduced sense of smell. Smooth fine sand or polished pea-size gravel is fine.

Will they breed in my tank?
Possibly — Pandas will spawn after large cool water changes in mature tanks. Eggs get scattered on glass and plants. Most fry get eaten in a community tank, so a separate breeding setup is needed if you want to raise them.

Local pickup only?
Yes. Squeaky’s Aquatics livestock is sold for in-store pickup at our Georgia showroom only.