Panda corydoras
Corydoras panda · family Callichthyidae
The panda corydoras is a peaceful, 2.1-inch bottom-dweller from Peru and Ecuador, rated easy to care for. It does best in a group of at least 6, in a tank of 10 gallons or more with soft sand or fine gravel. The most important thing to know is that it needs clean, well-oxygenated water and a spotless substrate, and it can live 10 to 15 years if you keep both up.
Edited by Marin Hale · last reviewed November 1, 2026 · How we check facts
What can live with a panda corydoras?
Verdicts against every species in our database, from our compatibility rules. How verdicts work
| Verdict | Species | Why | Tank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good match | Bronze corydoras | No problems found: water, size, fins and temperament all check out. | 20 gal+ |
| Good match | Ember tetra | No problems found: water, size, fins and temperament all check out. | 10 gal+ |
| Good match | Guppy | No problems found: water, size, fins and temperament all check out. | 10 gal+ |
| Good match | Neon tetra | No problems found: water, size, fins and temperament all check out. | 10 gal+ |
| Good match | Another panda corydoras | No problems found: water, size, fins and temperament all check out. | 10 gal+ |
| Good match | Pygmy corydoras | No problems found: water, size, fins and temperament all check out. | 10 gal+ |
| Good match | Tiger barb | No problems found: water, size, fins and temperament all check out. | 30 gal+ |
| Maybe | Angelfish | Temperatures barely overlap (75–77°F), leaving no margin. | 30 gal+ |
| Maybe | Betta fish | Temperatures barely overlap (75–77°F), leaving no margin. | 10 gal+ |
| Maybe | Cherry shrimp | Panda corydoras eat baby shrimp and may pick off adults. Dense plants and moss help a colony survive. | 10 gal+ |
| Maybe | Common goldfish | Adult common goldfish may eat small panda corydoras. | 75 gal+ |
| Maybe | Fancy goldfish | Adult fancy goldfish may eat small panda corydoras. | 20 gal+ |
| Maybe | Platy | Panda corydoras prefer softer water (2–12 dGH) than platies (10–20 dGH). | 20 gal+ |
| Maybe | Zebra nerite snail | Panda corydoras prefer softer water (2–12 dGH) than nerite snails (10–18 dGH). | 10 gal+ |
Setup and care
| Heater | Usually no heater needed: panda corydoras are fine from 68°F to 77°F, so most homes work. Add one if your room drops below 68°F. |
|---|---|
| Feeding | Varied high-quality diet with live foods at least intermittently (bloodworms, daphnia, brine shrimp); quality flake |
| Substrate | Soft sand or fine gravel, kept scrupulously clean |
| Males vs females | Females grow larger and have more rounded bodies |
| Male:female ratio | 2 males per female (for breeding) |
| Breeding | Adults will eat the eggs; eggs hatch in 3-5 days |
- Needs scrupulous water quality and clean substrate; stresses and gets diseased quickly in poorly maintained tanks
- Not suited to the 'scavenger' role
- Fry die above 26 °C
- Sensitive to deteriorating water conditions; dirty substrate can cause loss of barbels
- Does not do well in warmer water long-term; lifespan reduced
- Sharp pectoral spines catch in nets
Care tips
- Keep at least 6 together in a tank of 10 gallons or more.
- Use soft sand or fine gravel and keep it scrupulously clean, because coarse gravel can cause abrasions and bacterial infections, and a dirty substrate can cost them their barbels.
- Run vigorous filtration and keep the water well oxygenated, and stay on top of water changes, since they stress and get sick quickly in poorly maintained tanks.
- Aim for 72–77°F (they tolerate 68–77°F), because long-term warmer water shortens their lives.
Questions
Do panda corydoras need a heater?
They tolerate 68–77°F, and 72–77°F is ideal. If your room stays within that range, you may not need one, but a heater helps if your home runs cooler. Don't let the tank run warmer than that range long-term, because it reduces their lifespan.
What do panda corydoras eat?
They are omnivores and do best on a varied, high-quality diet. Offer live foods at least now and then, such as bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp, along with quality flake. They aren't suited to the 'scavenger' role, so don't count on them to clean up leftovers.
What fish can live with panda corydoras?
Our rules found no problems with bronze corydoras, pygmy corydoras, ember tetras, neon tetras, guppies, tiger barbs, or other panda corydoras. Angelfish and bettas get a caution because their temperatures overlap with the pandas' only at 75–77°F, which leaves no margin. Adult common and fancy goldfish may eat small panda corydoras.
Can panda corydoras live with shrimp, snails or platies?
Be careful with all three. Panda corydoras eat baby cherry shrimp and may pick off adults, though dense plants and moss help a colony survive. Nerite snails (10–18 dGH) and platies (10–20 dGH) prefer harder water than the pandas' 2–12 dGH.
How big do panda corydoras get, and how do you tell males from females?
They reach about 2.1 inches as adults. Females grow larger and have more rounded bodies than males. For breeding, aim for 2 males per female. They lay eggs on fine-leaved plants such as Java moss, and the eggs hatch in 3–5 days. The adults will eat the eggs.
Sources
Each value is cross-checked across the references below. Where they disagreed, an editor chose a value and recorded why.
- Hoplisoma panda (en.wikipedia.org)
- Corydoras panda (Seriously Fish) (www.seriouslyfish.com)
- Cory Catfish: Care, Diet, Size, Tankmates & Lifespan - Video (www.aquariumcarebasics.com)
- Longfin - Corydoras Panda Fish Profile & Care Guide (aquadiction.world)
- GBIF taxonomy record
- Wikidata entry
Where each value comes from (20 facts)
| Fact | What each source says |
|---|---|
| Temperature | en.wikipedia.org: “tankmates that share its preference for cooler temperatures of around 20 °C (68 °F) to 25 °C (77 °F)” seriouslyfish.com: “tank-bred specimens are happy over the range 72 to 77°F (22 to 25°C)” aquadiction.world: “℉ 68 - 77” |
| Adult size | en.wikipedia.org: “attains a standard length of 55 millimetres (2.1 inches)” seriouslyfish.com: “Max size 50mm SL2.0in SL” aquadiction.world: “Approx Max Size 7 cm” |
| Lifespan | en.wikipedia.org: “well-cared for specimens will enjoy a lifespan in excess of ten years, and frequently in excess of 15 years” |
| Group size | en.wikipedia.org: “A minimum of eight individuals should be housed in the same aquarium” seriouslyfish.com: “A group of at least six is best.” aquadiction.world: “Best kept as Groups 6+” |
| Breeding type | en.wikipedia.org: “The choice of such a site is frequently, though not always, a mass of fine leaved aquatic vegetation.” seriouslyfish.com: “they will usually lay their eggs on the tank glass, often in an area where water flow is quite high” aquadiction.world: “Reproduction Egg Depositor” |
| Native to | en.wikipedia.org: “It is found in Peru and Ecuador, most notably in the Huánuco region” seriouslyfish.com: “an armoured catfish from the upper Amazon in Peru” aquadiction.world: “predominantly in countries such as Ecuador and Peru” |
| Telling males from females | en.wikipedia.org: “mature females, which grow larger than mature males, and also possess more rounded body outlines” seriouslyfish.com: “Best sexed from above female will have more rounded belly and is likely to be slightly larger.” aquadiction.world: “females showcase a broader body silhouette and may outsize the males marginally” |
| Substrate | en.wikipedia.org: “scrupulous attention to aquarium substrate cleanliness is a must” seriouslyfish.com: “Use a substrate of river sand” aquadiction.world: “the provision of a soft sand substrate is recommended” |
| Feeding | en.wikipedia.org: “it requires high quality foods for long-term maintenance, and a varied diet.” seriouslyfish.com: “Use a good quality sinking pellet or tablet as the staple diet.” aquadiction.world: “a well-rounded diet primarily made up of high-grade sinking pellets or tablets” |
| pH | seriouslyfish.com: “pH: 6.0 to 7.4” aquadiction.world: “pH 6.0 - 8.0” |
| Smallest tank editor decision | seriouslyfish.com: “A tank measuring 45 ∗ 30 ∗ 30 cm18 ∗ 12 ∗ 12 in - ~41 litres~11 US gal is adequate for a small group of these.” |
| Temperament | seriouslyfish.com: “Very peaceful and suitable for many community tanks.” aquadiction.world: “Temperament Peaceful” |
| Care level | seriouslyfish.com: “It ranks among the very best choices for the newcomer to catfish being peaceful, hardy and easily bred.” aquadiction.world: “Difficulty Beginner” |
| Diet | seriouslyfish.com: “Omnivorous and easy to feed.” aquadiction.world: “Diet & Feeding Omnivore” |
| Hardness (GH) editor decision | seriouslyfish.com: “Hardness: 1 to 12°H” aquadiction.world: “GH 2 - 20” |
| Male:female ratio | seriouslyfish.com: “2 males per female is recommended” aquadiction.world: “optimally two males for every female” |
| Breeding | seriouslyfish.com: “The adults will eat the eggs given the opportunity” aquadiction.world: “the parents show no parental care and may even consume the eggs” |
| Long fins editor decision | aquadiction.world: “The Longfin Panda Corydoras (Corydoras Panda)” |
| Swims | aquadiction.world: “Aquarium Level Bottom” |
| Water type | aquadiction.world: “Water Type Freshwater” |
Editor decisions (3)
- Seriously Fish: about 41 L (11 gal) is adequate for a small group; a 10-gallon is the nearest standard tank.
- Seriously Fish 1–12°H, Aquadiction 2–20: panda corydoras prefer soft to moderately hard water.
- Aquadiction's quote refers to the longfin variety; standard panda corydoras are short-finned.