Panda Corydoras

The panda corydoras is a small armored catfish of the family Callichthyidae, native to the upper Amazon drainage in Peru, particularly cooler headwater streams. It is named for its white to pinkish body marked with black patches over the eyes, the dorsal fin, and the tail base, recalling a panda's markings. It is a peaceful, gregarious bottom-dweller that must be kept in a group of at least six, where it forages actively and shows more natural behavior. It spends its time sifting the substrate for food. A soft sand substrate is important to protect its delicate barbels, alongside gentle filtration and cooler, well-oxygenated water than many tropicals prefer. It is an omnivore that takes sinking pellets, frozen foods and small live foods. It breeds readily, scattering adhesive eggs on plants and glass after cooler water changes trigger spawning.