Panda Cory: A Small Fish With a Familiar Face

In this guide

Overview

The panda cory gets its name from the distinctive black patches around its eyes and at the base of its tail, set against a pale pinkish white body, giving it a genuine resemblance to its namesake. It comes from Peru and reaches around five centimetres, making it one of the smaller commonly kept corys.

It is somewhat less heat-tolerant than many other corys, doing best in cooler tropical temperatures rather than the warmer end of the range some other community fish prefer.

Tank and water requirements

A group of six or more does well in a tank of fifty litres or more, with a soft substrate to protect its barbels. It prefers slightly cooler, well-oxygenated water compared to some other corys, and benefits from good filtration and flow.

It adapts reasonably well to typical Indian tap water, though keeping the tank on the cooler side of the tropical range, particularly in warmer parts of India, helps it do its best.

Diet and behaviour

Sinking pellets or wafers, supplemented with occasional live or frozen food, suit it well. It is peaceful, active and shoals readily with its own kind, spending much of its time foraging along the substrate.

Its small size and gentle nature make it a good fit for a smaller peaceful community tank rather than a boisterous, crowded one.

Buying tips

• Priced around forty to ninety rupees per fish in most Indian shops that stock a range of corys
• Keep the tank on the cooler side of tropical for the best long-term health given this species' particular temperature preference
• A visually distinctive, popular choice for a keeper who has already kept the standard bronze cory

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