Panda Cory - Profile | Description | Facts | Size

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Panda cory is primarily a carnivore and positively not an algae-eater. A panda cory may attempt to eat the biofilm within the algae and therefore take away it.

What do Panda corydoras eat?

Panda cory is an omnivorous fish and you will not have any hassle with feeding it. You may give it particular dry meals (pellets and flakes) in addition to reside and frozen meals (tubifex, daphnia, brine shrimp, bloodworm) as an addition to the primary weight-reduction plan.

How large do Panda corys get?

two inches

One barb is positioned below every eye, one other in the entrance of the dorsal fin, and one other on the adipose fin.

Adults can develop as much as two inches in size, however very often they continue to be smaller than that.

The panda cory, or the panda catfish, is a South American species of catfish with a black and off-white coloration sample much like an enormous panda.

Usually peaceable and social, panda corys may be a very good addition to a smaller freshwater aquarium.

What temperature do Panda corydoras like?

Water Circumstances

Temperature: Wild fish want decrease temperatures however tank-bred specimens are pleased over the vary 72 to 77°F (22 to 25°C).

It will not do properly if stored in hotter water than this long-term, with the probability its lifespan might be decreased significantly.

Are corydoras toxic?

All Corys have very sharp fin spines and a few appear to offer off a low degree poisonous chemical into the water when frightened or extremely harassed.

This toxin is believed to be solely mildly irritating to folks and provided that the individual is stressing and dealing with the Cory with their naked fingers and is stung.

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Species Overview

Widespread Names: Panda catfish, panda cory, panda corydoras

Scientific Identify: Corydoras panda

Grownup Dimension: 2 inches (5 cm)

Life Expectancy: 10 years

Origin and Distribution

This common Corydoras (cory) species originates from Peru, the place it’s discovered within the Ucayali river system, the primary headwater of the Amazon River.

First collected by H.R. Richards in 1968, the species was not given its identity till three years later when it was assigned the identify corydoras panda by Nijssen and Isbrücker.

The identity was given in honor of the large panda of China, which has a white physique with black markings over the eyes and extremities, which is mirrored on this engaging cory.

The area from which the panda cory originates is thought for its blackwater situations. The water is on the acidic facet and fairly smooth because of a scarcity of minerals.

Moreover, these waters are a bit cooler than different tropical areas, working within the mid to low 70s on common.

When initially launched to the aquarium passion, specimens have been wild-caught, inflicting them to be moderately costly to buy.

Finally, captive breeding applications vastly decreased the worth, and in consequence, the species has turn into not solely fairly cheap but in addition vastly common.

Colors and Markings

The physique of the panda cory is off-white to faint pink in shade, with three distinguished deep black markings.

The primary begins on the prime of the top and covers the eyes, very similar to the black markings across the eyes of an enormous panda.

The second black marking covers the dorsal fin, and the third is on the base of the tail, referred to as the caudal peduncle.

The dimensions of this third spot on the base of the tail vary and have given rise to the big-spot and small-spot morphs of this fish, every being named for the dimensions of the tail spot.

Like different members of the cory household, this fish has two rows of overlapping bony plates referred to as scutes, moderately than scales.

Panda corys have three units of paired barbels, in addition to a number of sharp barbs that function as a protection mechanism.

One barb is positioned below every eye, one other in the entrance of the dorsal fin, and one other on the adipose fin.

Adults can develop as much as two inches in size, however very often they continue to be smaller.

Tankmates

Panda corys are extraordinarily peaceable fish that benefit from the firm of their very own type.

They need to at all times be stored in teams, ideally of a half-dozen or extra, however, hold not less than 4 if the house is proscribed.

Panda corys are extremely social and are recognized to tag together with different bottom-dwelling species, most notably clown loaches.

Though they get alongside properly with nearly all species, it isn’t clever to maintain them with massive or overly boisterous fish which may decide on them or look threatening.

Tiger barbs, for instance, should not a very good companion because of their tendency to nip at different fish.

Small to medium-sized tetras, danios, and rasboras are good companions for panda corys. Different small catfish resembling aspidoras, in addition to any cory species, are additionally appropriate.

Panda Cory Habitat and Care

Like different corys, the panda cory wants good water of high quality. Common water adjustments are vital, as is an effective filtration system.

Err on the facet of over filtering with this species. Water temperature for this species is barely decreasing than is typical of different warm-water species because it originates from an area with barely colder water than different tropical zones.

Since nearly all panda corys offered now are captive bred, most can tolerate hotter temperatures.

The substrate needs to be smooth and superb; use both superb gravel or sand. Reside crops are excellent, however not required so long as there are loads of ornament that give shade and hiding locations.

Caves, rocks, and driftwood are wonderful methods to make this catfish really feel snug and at the house. Floating crops, both actual or synthetic, are useful to supply shade.

Panda Cory Weight loss plan and Feeding

Panda corys are nice scavengers that snap up any meals that fall to the underside. Nonetheless, if housed in a neighborhood tank with different fish, care needs to be taken to make sure that adequate meals reach the underside of the tank for the corys. Sinking meals tablets or pellets are an important choice, as is lodging meals below decor with tongs.

A diversified weight-reduction plan is vital for optimum well-being. Embody meaty meals when attainable, both reside or frozen.

Shrimp, worms, bugs, and any crustaceans are good decisions. They appear to be significantly keen on bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia.

A number of ready meal tablets are formulated particularly for corys and are an important meal selection for panda corys.

Take into account that this species is energetic in the evening, so take into account dropping a number of meals tablets within the tank simply earlier than turning off the lights for the evening.

Gender Variations

The feminine panda cory is bigger and has an extra rounded underbelly; females are a lot wider than the male when considered from above.

Typically the rounded stomach of the feminine causes their head to take a seat a bit off the underside of the tank. Males are sleeker and shorter in size than females.

Breeding the Panda Cory

Corydoras panda follows, with a number of minor deviations, the usual mannequin for breeding for the genus.

Stimulus for breeding consists of the inflow of cooler, oxygenated waters into their habitat, normally corresponding within the wild with the onset of the wet season.

Nonetheless, whereas some Corydoras species require a temperature drop within the aquarium for spawning to be stimulated, within the case of Corydoras panda, the temperature drop seems to matter a lot much less, as specimens have spawned within the aquarium without a temperature drop.

The addition of the latest, clear, oxygenated water seems to be the first stimulus for this species. Within the wild, the looks of the latest water courtesy of the rains are adopted by a rise within the populations of various meal organisms, and feeding upon these situations the fishes for breeding.

As soon as conditioned fish are stimulated into spawning, males start chasing females energetically. Females start growing eggs inside their reproductive tracts, and when ‘ripe’ (laden with eggs), turn into receptive to the attention of the males.

Finally, one male will reach courting a feminine, utilizing his barbels to supply stimulation to the feminine, normally starting with caresses of the feminine’s caudal peduncle, adopted by caresses of the fontanel and the entrance of the top.

If the feminine is receptive, then the male positions himself earlier than the feminine, in order that the feminine’s mouth is in shut proximity with one of many male’s pectoral fins.

The male then clasps the feminine’s barbels between the pectoral fin and the physique, and this stimulates the feminine to press towards the male’s facet.

When seen from above, the fish type a ‘T’ form when conjoined thus, therefore the time period ‘T place’ has to turn into typical in aquarium circles when describing the breeding of Corydoras catfishes.

As soon as the female and male are within the ‘T place’, the urge of the feminine towards the male’s body stimulates his launch of sperm.

Although the precise mechanism of fertilization has but to be scientifically documented, from the observations of aquarists who’ve been profitable in breeding Corydoras catfishes, it appears seemingly that the feminine takes the male’s sperm by her mouthparts, and directs them by the gills, in a present that carries the sperm to her pelvic fins.

At this level, the feminine releases a single egg (sometimes two) and purses her pelvic fins so as to present a receptacle for the freshly extruded egg, which is then fertilized.

One distinction noticed between the adoption of the ‘T place’ in Corydoras panda when in comparison with different Corydoras species, is that the train is ceaselessly extra acrobatic in look, with the ‘T place’ being adopted in mid-water, a long way above the substrate, moderately than resting upon the substrate as is the case with nearly all of the different Corydoras.

As soon as the feminine is carrying a fertilized egg inside her pelvic fins, she then seeks an egg deposition site.

The selection of such a site is ceaseless, although not at all times, a mass of superb leaved aquatic vegetation.

Within the aquarium, the plant referred to as Java moss, Vesicularia dubayana, is of appreciable utility as an egg repository for Corydoras catfishes, despite the fact that the plant isn’t a South American native, and panda catfish females will select massive clumps of this plant readily as secure deposition websites for fertilized eggs.

The feminine is ceaselessly pursued by a number of males as she seeks the deposition site, every male presumably looking to be the chosen mate to fertilize the subsequent egg.

As much as 25 eggs could also be produced by a single feminine throughout a single spawning, which can happen over 4 to 5 hours.

Do corydoras clear tanks?

Clear. As a small backside feeder, the cory catfish is a particularly environment-friendly cleaner. It should scavenge the leftovers which have sunk to the underside, cleansing up after messier fish that feed on the floor and midlevel of the tank. This makes it simpler for the catfish to dig for stray bits of meals on the backside.

Aquarium upkeep

Corydoras panda has a choice for cooler than regular waters when in comparison with many different common tropical fish species.

Due to this, those that hold C. panda in neighborhood aquarium setting should select tankmates that share its choice for cooler temperatures of around 20 °C (68 °F) to 25 °C (77 °F).

Given the cleanliness of the fish’s native waters, scrupulous consideration to water high quality within the aquarium is significantly extra vital for this fish than for the extra domesticated Corydoras species resembling C. paleatus or C. aeneus.

Moreover, scrupulous consideration to aquarium substrate cleanliness is a should, because the fish are illiberal of poor aquarium upkeep on this space, and succumb to emphasize and illness quickly if their aquaria should not store to an excessive commonplace.

Regardless of this, the species stays extremely common with aquarists, upon account of the looks of the fish, and its energetic, vivacious behavior in a well-planned aquarium setting.

Like many different Corydoras species, the panda catfish is an extremely gregarious fish, and infrequent with a number of different smaller Corydoras species resembling C. habrosus and C. pygmaeus, manifests a definite want for quite a few companions of its personal species so as to thrive, and may thus be described as being extra avowedly social than a few of the bigger members of the genus.

A minimal of eight people need to be housed in the identical aquarium, and if house permits, this quantity needs to be revised upwards, because the fish reveals a really particular choice for grouping along with others of its species.

Additionally, they affiliate themselves simply with the clown loach and faculty collectively in currents the place adequate numbers of their very own species are missing.

An aquarium for this species needs to be properly furnished, ideally with a mix of residing aquatic crops, and strong furnishings offering caves, sheltered areas, and hiding locations to offer the fish safety. Floating crops to supply extra areas of shade are additionally welcomed by the fish.

Like all Corydoras species, the fish feeds primarily upon the animal matter. The aquarist is suggested, nevertheless, that the standard use of Corydoras catfishes as putative ‘scavengers’ in an aquarium setting might be detrimental to the well-being of this species—it requires prime quality meals for long-term upkeep, and a diversified weight-reduction plan.

Ideally, the fish needs to be given reside meals not less than intermittently and can dine enthusiastically upon such gadgets as Bloodworms (larvae of Chironomus midges), Daphnia, cultivated Brine Shrimp (Atermia salina), and Tubifex worms.

The final, nevertheless, needs to be cultivated so as to minimize the danger of introducing pathogenic organisms to the aquarium, as Tubifex resides in unsanitary situations within the wild. Freeze-dried Tubifex could also be preferable, as the danger of the introduction of illness is eradicated.

Top-quality flake meals are additionally appreciated, significantly these containing shrimp or a different comparable matter.

The lifespan of Corydoras panda within the aquarium has not been systematically decided, however, given the longevity of different Corydoras species within the aquarium, it’s cheap to imagine that well-cared-for specimens will take pleasure in a lifespan in extra of ten years, and ceaselessly in extra of 15 years.

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