Panda Cory

Origin and Morphology:

Originally discovered in the Rio Ucayali and Rio Pachitea river systems in Peru, these rivers collect meltwater and rain from the Andes, which explains their preference for cool, flowing water.

Behavior:

Highly gregarious. It is cruel to keep a *C. panda* solitary or in pairs: a school of at least 6 individuals (better 10) will show true social exploratory behavior, sleeping piled on top of each other under a leaf.

Tank Setup:

As an absolute rule for the health of Corydoras, the bottom must strictly be fine, smooth, inert sand. They are constantly burying their snout in the sand to look for food; a gravel bottom will destroy their tactile sensory barbels causing severe bacterial infections. A 60 cm (24-inch) long tank is perfect. Provide tangled bogwood and abundant vegetation under which the school will rest.

Diet:

Dispel the myth of the "scavenger fish". Pandas are omnivorous predators and literally starve to death if left to eat only the scraps of other fish. They need sinking pellets rich in protein and, to thrive, frequent portions of frozen bloodworms and tubifex, which they love to unearth from the sand.

Water Quality:

The most deadly mistake is keeping them at temperatures that are too high. Being fish from foothill rivers (they live near the Andes in Peru), cool (20-24°C / 68-75°F) and highly oxygenated water is their element. At 28-30°C (82-86°F) they will get sick and die quickly.