Panda Corydoras Care
Short answer: Panda corydoras (Corydoras panda) are peaceful, cool-water shoaling catfish for a 20-gallon tank, kept in groups of at least six. They prefer 72-77°F — cooler than most corys — on a soft sand bottom. Across real tanks keepers run a median of 4 in a 20-gallon, but six or more is better.
Panda corydoras at a glance
- Scientific name
- Corydoras panda
- Adult size
- ~2″
- Temperature
- 68–77°F
- pH
- 6–7.4
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- Temperament
- peaceful
- Social
- schooling — keep 6+
- Reference
- Wikipedia
Panda corydoras (Corydoras panda, recently reclassified Hoplisoma panda1) are named for the black eye-mask, dorsal-fin patch and tail-base spot that give them a panda-like look. They are one of the most popular beginner corys — and the common cory that genuinely prefers cooler water.
A peaceful shoaling catfish from the upper Amazon in Peru; keep a group of at least six.2
Panda corydoras at a glance
| Attribute | Authority | Real tanks (AquaGauge) |
|---|---|---|
| Adult size | ~5 cm (2 in)2 | — |
| Temperature | 72–77 °F (22–25 °C)2 | genus median 78 °F (warm edge) |
| pH | 6.0–7.42 | genus median 7.5 |
| Minimum group | 6+2 | median 4 in a 20-gal (15 tanks) |
| IUCN status | Near Threatened1 | — |
Authority = recommended ranges for C. panda. "Real tanks" = our panda stocking data (15 tanks) + genus-level corydoras water (median 78 °F / pH 7.5; no panda-specific water claimed). Note the genus median of 78 °F sits at the warm edge of panda's range — they prefer the cooler end (see below).
How many panda corydoras, and what tank size
Keep at least six — panda corys are shoaling fish that forage and feel secure in a group. Across 15 real panda tanks in the AquaGauge dataset (July 2026 snapshot), keepers run a median of 4 in a 20-gallon (range 2-8), and the median stays around 3.5-4 even in larger tanks — on the low side. Pandas do best in a group of six or more, so treat four as a floor to build on, not a target. A 20-gallon is the comfortable minimum for a group of six; the bare footprint minimum is about a 10-gallon.2 Plan your stocking in the stocking calculator or see the full how many corydoras breakdown.
Water and temperature
Panda corydoras are the cool-water cory. They want 72-77 °F (22-25 °C) and won’t do well kept warmer than that long-term — at higher temperatures their lifespan is reduced considerably.2 That sets them apart from most of the genus: across our corydoras water-parameter data keepers run a genus median of 78 °F, already at the warm edge of a panda’s range, so aim for the cooler end. Keep pH 6.0-7.42 and soft, stable water. As bottom-dwellers that sift substrate, they need soft sand — sharp gravel wears down their barbels.
Diet
Panda corys are omnivorous scavengers, not an algae crew — they have to be fed. Use a sinking pellet or wafer as the staple, and supplement with frozen or live bloodworms, daphnia and baby brine shrimp.2 In a community tank, make sure food actually reaches the bottom before faster mid-water fish grab it.
Tankmates
Panda corydoras are peaceful and ignore other fish — the catch is temperature. Because they prefer cooler water, they pair best with other cool- or temperate-water community fish (small tetras, rasboras, white cloud minnows, danios, shrimp and other corys) and are a poor match for warm-water fish like discus or a warm-kept community. Avoid anything large or aggressive enough to bully a 5 cm catfish. Check a specific combination in the stocking calculator.
Lifespan and breeding
Panda corydoras are long-lived for small fish — with stable water and good food, keepers generally report five years or more, well beyond most community tankmates.
Breeding follows the genus pattern: a large, cooler water change triggers spawning, the female deposits sticky eggs on the glass and fine-leaved plants, and they hatch in about three to four days.2 Once their yolk sacs are absorbed, the fry take microworm and baby brine shrimp over a thin layer of sand.2 A cool change suits pandas especially well, since they already prefer the lower end of the range.
Check your exact stocking
Add your fish below to see stocking %, filtration load and compatibility for your setup — live.
Planning a Panda corydoras tank. We start with your panda corydoras and filter the list to compatible tankmates — untick to see every species (incompatible ones get flagged).
Stocking — under 85% comfortable · 85–100% full · over 100% overstocked
Show the math
Gear for this setup
As an Amazon Associate AquaGauge earns from qualifying purchases. Some links below are affiliate links, at no extra cost to you. Current price and availability are shown on Amazon. Disclosure.
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Hikari Sinking Wafers (3.88 oz) The staple sinking food for panda corys; breaks apart slowly so the whole group can graze on the bottom. Check price on Amazon → -
Aqua Natural Sugar White Sand (10 lb) Smooth, barbel-safe sand so pandas can sift naturally without grinding down their barbels. Check price on Amazon → -
AQUANEAT Bio Sponge Filter (up to 20 gal) Gentle flow that won't blast bottom-dwellers off the sand, and safe for fry. Check price on Amazon → -
API Freshwater Master Test Kit Liquid tests for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH — track a community tank's cycle far more accurately than strips. Check price on Amazon →
FAQ
- How many panda corydoras should I keep together?
- At least six. Panda corys are shoaling fish that only relax and forage in the open in a group. Across real tanks keepers run a median of 4 in a 20-gallon, but that is on the low side — treat four as a floor and aim for six or more.
- What temperature do panda corydoras need?
- Cooler than most corys: about 72-77°F (22-25°C). They do not tolerate warm water long-term, which makes them a poor match for discus or other warm-kept tanks.
- What size tank do panda corydoras need?
- A 20-gallon is the comfortable minimum for a group of six, giving them floor space to forage. The bare footprint minimum is around a 10-gallon, but a group does better with more room.
- Do panda corydoras eat algae?
- No. Panda corys are omnivorous scavengers, not an algae crew. Feed sinking pellets or wafers as a staple, plus frozen bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp.
Sources
- Hoplisoma panda (Panda Corydoras), FishBase. View source ↗
- Corydoras panda, Seriously Fish. View source ↗
Freshwater aquarist of 8+ years.
