Panda Cory

About

The panda cory (Corydoras panda) takes its name from the black-and-white patterning that genuinely does call to mind a giant panda, with bold dark patches around the eyes, dorsal fin, and tail base contrasting against a pale body. Native to the upper Amazon basin in South America, this small catfish was a pricey novelty when it first reached the hobby in the late 1970s, but it is now widely bred for the trade and much more accessible. Like all corydoras, it belongs to the armoured catfish group, carrying two rows of bony plates along its flanks in place of ordinary scales. One of the more endearing things about this fish is its habit of periodically darting to the surface to gulp air. A perfectly normal behaviour made possible by a modified, highly vascularised section of intestine that lets it extract oxygen from the atmosphere. In a well-maintained tank this is just something to observe with interest rather than worry about. Panda corys are sociable fish that behave much more boldly and actively when kept in a proper group; six or more is the sweet spot. They pair well with small tetras, rasboras, dwarf cichlids, and other gentle community fish. Keep their substrate clean and offer sinking foods so they actually get their share of the feeding, and these little cats will reward you with years of entertaining, characterful behaviour.