Easy to intermediate
Chocolate Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi)
18–26°C · pH 6.5–8 · 30L
£13.99
Peaceful, social Panda Cory catfish for a mature freshwater aquarium. Keep at least six over fine sand and feed complete sinking foods; each quantity is one fish in the selected size.
Hoplisoma panda
Panda Cory Catfish are a shoaling species — they need 6+ to feel safe and show their full colour.
Peaceful, social Panda Cory catfish for a mature freshwater aquarium. Keep at least six over fine sand and feed complete sinking foods; each quantity is one fish in the selected size.
Identify the exact cory catfish before choosing care. Our starting policy for many common medium species is six compatible conspecifics, a mature 60 x 30 cm aquarium of about 60 litres, smooth fine sand and measured species-appropriate water.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Panda Cory Catfish are small, peaceful South American catfish with a cream-coloured body, a dark patch through each eye, a dark dorsal marking and a dark patch at the base of the tail. The accepted scientific name is Hoplisoma panda; the long-established aquarium-trade name Corydoras panda remains widely used and is the identity supplied for these fish.
Each quantity is one live, unsexed fish in the size selected above. The listed sizes are approximate dispatch sizes, not guaranteed adult measurements. This product groups five supplier variants of the same species: 2-2.5 cm, 2.5-3 cm, 3-3.5 cm, 4-4.5 cm and 5 cm. Availability can differ by size. Panda Corys are social fish, so plan for a same-species group of at least six rather than buying one as a solitary tank cleaner.
The four gallery images are representative illustrated views of Panda Cory appearance and habitat. They help show the characteristic pattern, but they are not photographs of the exact individual that will be dispatched. Pattern strength, body shape and size vary naturally between fish, and an image containing two fish does not change the sale unit: one quantity buys one fish.
| Accepted name | Hoplisoma panda |
|---|---|
| Familiar trade name | Corydoras panda |
| Adult size | About 4-5 cm total length; FishBase records 3.8 cm standard length |
| Social needs | Keep at least 6 Panda Corys; larger groups suit larger aquariums |
| TFC tank recommendation | At least a 45 x 30 cm footprint; around 60 litres is preferred for a group in a community aquarium |
| Temperature | 21-25°C for routine aquarium care |
| pH | 6.0-7.5 |
| General hardness | Approximately 2-12 dGH is a practical aquarium range |
| Temperament | Peaceful and social |
| Diet | Omnivorous bottom feeder; use complete sinking foods plus varied frozen or live foods |
| Aquarium region | Bottom level, with occasional normal trips to the surface for air |
| Substrate | Fine aquarium sand is preferred; any alternative must be smooth, clean and non-abrasive |
These figures are care targets rather than promises that every water source or community will work. Stability, oxygenation, filtration, floor space and compatible tank mates matter alongside the numbers. Test the aquarium before ordering and avoid trying to change hardness or pH rapidly to reach an exact value.
A Panda Cory group can suit a mature planted or naturally furnished freshwater aquarium where the other fish are peaceful and comfortable at the same temperature. They are appealing because their pattern is easy to recognise, their adult size is manageable and their group behaviour brings movement to the lower part of the tank. They forage over the substrate, rest together under cover and often become more visible when kept in an adequate group.
They are not suitable as a single decorative bottom fish, a cure for algae, a snail-control animal or a replacement for gravel cleaning. A Cory may eat edible particles that reach the bottom, but it still needs deliberately provided food. The aquarist remains responsible for water changes, filter care, substrate hygiene and removal of uneaten food.
Before choosing this species, check that the aquarium is fully cycled, has an established biological filter, provides a suitable bottom footprint and can accommodate at least six of the same species. Also confirm that existing fish will not monopolise sinking food or harass bottom dwellers. A nominally peaceful community can still fail if it is overcrowded, too warm, poorly oxygenated or dominated by fast, boisterous feeders.
Panda Cory was described in 1971 as Corydoras panda. A modern phylogenetic revision of Corydoradinae placed the species in the resurrected genus Hoplisoma, making Hoplisoma panda the accepted current combination. Many shops, keepers, care guides and search results still use Corydoras panda, so both names are shown here to bridge current taxonomy and familiar trade usage without suggesting that they are different fish.
The supplier record identifies every size option on this product as Corydoras panda and assigns the same source species record to all five variants. The listing therefore keeps the established Panda Cory identity while explaining the accepted name. This is more useful than silently changing the name or forcing the old and new names repeatedly through the page.
Panda Cory belongs to Callichthyidae, the armoured catfish family. Rather than ordinary scales, Cory relatives have rows of bony plates along the body. Their paired barbels help them investigate the substrate for food. The barbels are sensory structures, not cleaning brushes, and protecting them is one reason substrate condition and water quality deserve close attention.
The species was described from the upper Amazon drainage in Peru, around tributaries connected with the Pachitea and Ucayali systems. Contemporary taxonomic sources also record its South American distribution in Peru and Ecuador. Aquarium fish are commercially supplied, but the natural habitat still helps explain their care: flowing or seasonally changing freshwater, oxygen exposure, soft bottom material, woody debris, leaves and shaded margins are more relevant models than a hot, still, brightly lit display.
A home aquarium does not need to imitate a river literally. The practical aim is clean, stable water; a smooth feeding surface; cover; gentle circulation; and enough open floor area for a group to forage together. Driftwood, robust plants and leaf litter used carefully can create shaded boundaries, while an open patch of sand lets the keeper watch feeding and remove debris. Any botanical material should be aquarium-safe and introduced in a controlled way because decaying organic matter can affect oxygen and water chemistry.
Panda Corys are freshwater aquarium fish. They are not appropriate for an outdoor UK pond through the year and should not be exposed to uncontrolled seasonal temperatures. They are also not a brackish-water species.
FishBase reports a maximum standard length of 3.8 cm. Standard length excludes the tail fin, so an aquarium fish described by total length can measure closer to 4-5 cm. The supplier uses 5 cm as the upper product size. These figures can coexist because they use different measuring conventions and because supplier bands are approximate commercial sizes.
Selecting a larger dispatch size does not create a different species or care requirement. It changes the approximate size of the fish sent when that variant is available. Do not use the menu as a promise of an exact millimetre measurement, sex, age or final adult size. Live fish vary naturally, and transport posture can also make visual estimation difficult.
Plan the aquarium around the adult group, not the smallest available juvenile. Six 2 cm fish still need a suitable long-term footprint, clean water and adequate feeding access. If different sizes are mixed, watch meals to ensure the smallest individuals receive food. Avoid housing very small new arrivals with tank mates large enough to swallow them.
Panda Corys are gregarious. Keep at least six of their own species, and consider a larger group where floor space, filtration and stocking levels allow. A group can forage, rest and move together in ways that one or two fish cannot. Keeping a token pair alongside a collection of unrelated Cory species does not provide the same same-species social opportunity.
Different peaceful Cory relatives can usually share an aquarium when their temperature, water and feeding needs overlap. However, mixed species should not be used to justify keeping too few Panda Corys. Six is a practical minimum recommendation, not a signal that exactly six is always ideal. Eight or more can display richer group behaviour in a properly sized aquarium, while an overcrowded tank is not improved simply by adding more fish.
Normal behaviour includes searching the substrate, pausing under leaves or wood, resting close to companions and making quick trips to the surface. Cory relatives can take atmospheric air and may occasionally gulp at the surface. Repeated frantic surfacing, heavy gill movement, loss of balance or an entire group clustering near the surface should prompt an immediate check of oxygen, temperature, ammonia, nitrite and filter operation rather than being dismissed as ordinary behaviour.
Floor dimensions are more informative than litres alone for a bottom-oriented group. A footprint of at least 45 x 30 cm is a useful lower reference for a small Panda Cory group. Tropical Fish Co recommends about 60 litres or more for a group in a community aquarium because the extra water volume and floor space give more margin for stable conditions, feeding zones and compatible midwater fish.
A long, low aquarium can offer more usable Cory space than a tall tank of similar volume. Check the actual internal footprint after decor is installed. Large rocks, dense hardscape and equipment can make the advertised dimensions misleading if they leave only a narrow strip of substrate. Keep open foraging space while also providing shaded retreats.
Stocking cannot be calculated from litres alone. Filtration, maintenance, adult body mass, tank-mate behaviour and the amount of uneaten food all affect capacity. A 60-litre aquarium already heavily stocked with active fish may not be suitable. In a larger aquarium, make sure sinking food reaches several points; a big footprint is only useful if every Cory can feed.
Use a secure cover. A startled Cory can make a rapid dash, and gaps around cables or filters are avoidable risks. Leave an accessible air space at the surface because occasional air breathing is part of Cory physiology.
For routine Panda Cory care, aim for a stable temperature around 21-25°C. FishBase records 20-25°C, while the supplier care record gives 24-26°C. The proposed range uses the well-supported cooler profile and avoids recommending prolonged high temperatures at the edge of the supplier band. A short acclimation or treatment decision is different from a permanent target and should be made with the whole aquarium in mind.
A pH of 6.0-7.5 and approximately 2-12 dGH provide a practical, conservative range supported by the supplier and specialist care guidance. FishBase reports a broader tolerance, but a broad database range is not an instruction to swing between extremes. Fish adjust to stable water more safely than to repeated chemical corrections.
Measure the source water and aquarium with reliable tests. If the tank is outside the target range, investigate before ordering. Do not chase pH with quick-fix additives, and do not move fish directly between water with large differences in temperature or dissolved minerals. Where local water is hard, a planned mixture using remineralised reverse-osmosis water may be appropriate for experienced keepers, but the mineral content must remain stable and suitable for every tank inhabitant.
Temperature also affects oxygen demand. Warm water holds less dissolved oxygen while fish metabolism rises, so an over-warm, crowded tank can become unsafe quickly. Maintain surface movement and respond promptly to hot weather.
Use a mature biological filter sized for the whole community. Ammonia and nitrite should remain at zero, and nitrate should be controlled with sensible stocking, feeding, plant growth where applicable and regular partial water changes. A Cory group living on the bottom is exposed directly to debris accumulating there, so clear water at eye level does not prove that the substrate is clean.
Gentle to moderate circulation with good surface movement is appropriate. The group should be able to rest and feed without being pinned by a jet. Direct filter outlets along the surface or across a broad area rather than blasting one feeding patch. Sponge pre-filters can protect small fish around powerful intakes, but they also require cleaning in removed aquarium water when flow declines.
Do not add Panda Corys to an uncycled aquarium. A calendar alone does not prove cycling; test results and the filter's ability to process waste matter. If medication, a power cut or aggressive filter cleaning damages the biological filter, treat the aquarium as unstable and monitor it closely.
Perform regular partial water changes with dechlorinated, temperature-matched water. Lightly remove waste from exposed substrate without turning every maintenance session into a complete disruption. Clean different filter components on a rotation where practical, and never rinse biological media under untreated chlorinated tap water.
Fine aquarium sand is preferred because it lets Panda Corys investigate the bottom naturally. They can take small mouthfuls, find edible particles and release the sand through the gill area. Smooth, rounded fine gravel can be used cautiously if it is genuinely non-abrasive and kept clean, but it does not support the same sifting behaviour and can trap more food between pieces.
Sharpness is not the only barbel risk. Dirty substrate, persistent bacterial load, ammonia exposure and poor general condition can contribute to tissue damage. Sand does not make husbandry automatic. Choose an inert aquarium-safe material, rinse it appropriately before use and maintain it without creating anaerobic, debris-filled pockets.
Avoid rough crushed gravel, sharp decorative glass, exposed wire, jagged resin ornaments and any hardscape with narrow gaps that can trap a fast-moving fish. Check new wood and stone by touch before placing it in the aquarium. Stable hardscape should rest securely so a foraging group cannot undermine it.
Leave at least one open feeding area where the keeper can see every fish. This makes it easier to notice weight loss, damaged barbels, unequal feeding or an individual that is hiding unusually.
Panda Corys can live in planted aquariums, but plants are not compulsory if the tank provides clean water, cover and a suitable substrate. Attach hardy plants such as Anubias or Java fern to wood or rock, use rooted plants around the edges and preserve open sand in front. Floating plants can soften bright lighting, provided they do not block all gas exchange.
Use driftwood, smooth stone and broad plant leaves to create several shaded resting places. Avoid one cave with a single entrance becoming a contested bottleneck. Corys are not territorial cave fish, but distributing cover helps timid individuals avoid dominant or overly active tank mates.
Lighting should support the plants without leaving the bottom intensely exposed all day. A gradual room-light period before the aquarium lights switch on can reduce startling. Keep a regular day-night cycle and provide darkness for rest.
Panda Corys are omnivorous bottom feeders. In an aquarium, their staple should be a nutritionally complete sinking pellet, granule or tablet sized for the fish. Add variety with suitable frozen or live foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp, bloodworm or other safe small invertebrate foods. The aim is balanced nutrition, not constant high-protein conditioning.
They are not sustained by fish waste, visible debris or whatever other fish fail to eat. They may browse edible particles and biofilm, but they are not dependable algae eaters and should not be bought to solve an algae problem. They do not reliably eradicate pest snails. Calling them a cleaning crew can conceal their real dietary needs and encourage underfeeding.
Feed in portions the group can consume without leaving food to decay. One or two modest feeding opportunities can work, depending on the community and food. The important point is that food reaches the bottom while still nutritious and that every Cory can access it. Fast tetras, barbs or livebearers may intercept sinking foods before timid new fish find them.
Distribute food over two or more areas for a larger group. Observe from above and from the side. A healthy individual should not develop a pinched belly while its companions become rounded. Remove persistent leftovers and adjust the next portion rather than relying on Corys to clear excess.
New fish may be quieter after transport. Dim lighting, stable water and nearby cover can help them settle. Offer a small amount of familiar sinking food once they have had time to acclimate, but avoid repeatedly adding food because they did not eat immediately. Remove uneaten material and try again later.
Watch the whole group at feeding time for the first week. Confirm that each fish finds food, moves normally and maintains body condition. If one does not eat, test water first and inspect for rapid breathing, injury, sunken flanks, white spots, redness or abnormal waste. Do not treat blindly based on a single missed meal.
Frozen food must be stored and handled safely. Thaw an appropriate portion and avoid repeatedly freezing and thawing it. Live food should come from a trusted clean source; food collected from unknown outdoor water can introduce contaminants or parasites.
Suitable companions are calm freshwater fish that share the same temperature and water requirements and are not large enough to eat a Panda Cory. Small tetras, rasboras, pencilfish and other peaceful community species can work. Compatibility is a combination of temperament, size, water, swimming space and feeding access, not a guarantee attached to a species name.
Avoid large predatory fish, aggressive cichlids, persistent fin nippers and highly territorial bottom dwellers. Also be cautious with extremely active feeders that leave no food for the Cory group. A fish can be non-predatory yet still make the environment unsuitable through constant chasing or competition.
Other Cory species are usually peaceful, but Panda Corys still need their own group. Choose species with overlapping temperature needs. Sterbai Corys, for example, are often selected for warmer aquariums, while Panda Corys are better known for a cooler routine range. Do not average incompatible care targets simply to keep a preferred combination.
Goldfish are not recommended companions. Their temperature profile, body size, waste production and feeding behaviour make a typical goldfish setup a poor match. Very large plecos or other bottom fish can also compete for space and food even when they are not openly aggressive.
A calm Betta may coexist with Panda Corys in a suitably sized, well-structured aquarium, but individual Betta behaviour varies. The tank must satisfy the Cory group requirement, and the Betta must not attack them or block access to food. Have a separation plan rather than assuming the combination is guaranteed.
Adult freshwater shrimp may coexist in a peaceful setup, but no small fish community is completely risk-free for newborn shrimplets. Panda Corys are not specialised shrimp hunters, yet they can consume tiny animals encountered while feeding. Avoid promising shrimp-breeding survival in a mixed aquarium.
Most common aquarium snails are ignored. Corys do not replace manual snail management, controlled feeding or a review of why snail numbers increased. Medication chosen for fish can be unsafe for shrimp or snails, so treat the actual diagnosis and consider the whole aquarium.
Prepare the aquarium before the delivery date. Check temperature, ammonia, nitrite, pH and filter operation; make sure a suitable group and quarantine plan are ready. Read the current live fish delivery and Live Arrival Guarantee terms before the parcel arrives because evidence and reporting windows matter if there is a delivery problem.
On arrival, inspect the unopened bag and follow the acclimation guidance supplied with the order. Keep the lights low and avoid exposing the bag to sudden heat or cold. The goal is to limit abrupt differences without leaving fish for an unnecessarily long time in opened transport water. Do not pour supplier transport water into the display aquarium.
Quarantine is the safest way to observe new fish before introducing them to an established community. A quarantine tank should itself be cycled, covered, oxygenated and furnished with safe cover. It is not a bare container with unstable water. Use separate equipment where possible and observe appetite, breathing, skin, fins, barbels and waste.
After introduction, temporary hiding or paler colour can reflect transport stress. Provide calm conditions and watch for improvement. Persistent gasping, rolling, inability to remain upright, severe redness or complete failure to settle requires immediate investigation.
Healthy Panda Corys are alert when disturbed, forage with the group, balance normally, breathe without obvious strain and maintain intact fins and barbels. Their abdomen should not appear sharply hollow. Colour can vary with light, background, stress and age, so behaviour and body condition are more informative than one photograph.
Warning signs include repeated flashing, clamped fins, rapid breathing, red sores, white spots, fuzzy growth, eroded barbels, loss of balance, isolation accompanied by poor appetite, or an entire group surfacing excessively. Test water immediately because environmental problems can affect every fish and can make infection more likely.
Cory relatives may be sensitive to inappropriate medication or dosing. Never choose a treatment from a search phrase alone. Identify the likely condition, check the active ingredient for catfish and other inhabitants, calculate the true water volume and increase aeration where the treatment requires it. Copper-containing treatments are especially important to assess in aquariums with invertebrates.
Prevention centres on quarantine, clean stable water, a mature filter, non-abrasive substrate, good nutrition and low stress. Routine water changes and observation are more valuable than adding tonic medication to healthy fish.
Panda Corys are egg layers. Condition healthy mature fish with a varied diet and very clean water. Spawning may follow a cooler water change and increased oxygenation, with males pursuing females and the pair adopting the characteristic Cory T-position. Eggs can be placed on glass, plant leaves or other surfaces.
Adults may eat eggs, and eggs or fry are unlikely to survive reliably in a busy community aquarium. A dedicated breeding setup with mature sponge filtration gives the keeper more control. Fertile eggs usually hatch in about 4-5 days, with the exact timing affected by temperature. Remove clearly fungused eggs carefully if using a separate incubation container.
Newly hatched larvae first use their yolk reserve. Once free swimming, offer finely powdered first food, followed by newly hatched brine shrimp when the fry are large enough. They also need clean water and gentle filtration that cannot trap them. Frequent small meals create waste quickly, so raising fry is as much a water-quality task as a feeding task. Do not attempt breeding unless homes and long-term aquarium capacity are available for the offspring.
Sexing is easiest in mature, well-conditioned fish viewed from above: females are generally larger and broader through the body, while males tend to be slimmer. Dispatch size options do not guarantee sex or breeding maturity.
| Fish | Typical distinction | Planning point |
|---|---|---|
| Panda Cory | Bold eye, dorsal and tail patches; about 4-5 cm total length | Cooler 21-25°C routine range; group of 6+ |
| Bronze Cory | Larger, bronze-grey body with several colour forms | Allow more adult body space and check the selected form's care |
| Sterbai Cory | Fine pale spotting and orange-toned pectoral fins | Often chosen for warmer community aquariums |
| Pygmy Cory | Much smaller and more inclined to use midwater | Not interchangeable with Panda Cory despite similar social needs |
Choose according to the aquarium you can provide rather than pattern alone. The Panda Cory's manageable size does not make it appropriate for an uncycled nano aquarium, and the existence of smaller pygmy species does not reduce its need for floor space. Review the wider Corydoras and related catfish collection only after fixing the tank's water and temperature targets.
For broader husbandry, see the Corydoras care guide and the aquarium water chemistry guide. These links support the decision without pretending that one product page can diagnose every aquarium.
Work backwards from the adult group rather than ordering one fish and deciding later. Measure the aquarium footprint, list every existing inhabitant, record the normal temperature and test the actual pH and hardness. Then consider how six or more Panda Corys will affect feeding space and biological load. The smallest dispatch option may look tiny on arrival, but juveniles grow and still need companions from the start.
Check that the filter has been processing the aquarium's existing waste reliably and that ammonia and nitrite remain at zero. A mature-looking tank is not necessarily cycled, while a recently cleaned or medicated filter may have lost capacity. Arrange a safe quarantine space before dispatch. Moving fish between unsuitable temporary containers because no plan was made adds avoidable stress.
Think through meals as well as stocking. Identify where sinking food will land, whether midwater fish will intercept it and how you will confirm that each Cory has eaten. In a long tank, use more than one feeding point. In a heavily planted tank, retain a visible area where food and fish can be inspected. Buy the foods before the fish arrive rather than assuming household scraps or algae will be enough.
Plan for warm weather, power interruptions and maintenance. A battery air pump or another emergency aeration option can be valuable in a stocked aquarium. Know how to keep filter media wet during a short interruption and how to contact an aquatic vet or experienced fish-health professional when symptoms cannot be identified safely. Preparation is part of responsible buying and cannot be replaced by a long product description.
Finally, confirm that every household member understands the order, delivery day and acclimation plan. Live fish should not remain unattended in a parcel or be opened without the person responsible for the aquarium. If the setup, group size or delivery timing is not ready, wait. Panda Corys are widely available aquarium fish, and postponing an order is better than trying to correct preventable welfare problems after arrival.
One quantity buys one live Panda Cory in the selected approximate size band. Fish are unsexed unless a variant explicitly says otherwise; these variants do not. Natural differences in pattern, body depth and exact measurement are expected. The fish supplied may not be the individual shown in a representative gallery image.
Live stock, size availability and dispatch timing can change. Use the live variant selector for current availability rather than a price or stock statement embedded permanently in this care page. Orders are subject to the published delivery coverage and Live Arrival Guarantee conditions.
The accepted name and original combination were checked against the Catalog of Fishes. Adult-size and database temperature records were checked against FishBase, while practical breeding timing and first-food guidance were checked against Fishkeeper. These sources describe species biology, not the exact fish dispatched. Live size and availability come from the current variant selector, and care ranges are planning guidance rather than veterinary diagnosis.
Hoplisoma panda is the accepted current combination following a modern revision of Corydoradinae. Corydoras panda is the original and still widely used aquarium-trade name. Both refer to the Panda Cory on this listing.
One quantity includes one live, unsexed fish in the size selected. The gallery may show more than one fish to illustrate social behaviour, but it does not indicate a multipack.
Keep at least six of the same species. A larger group can suit a larger, appropriately filtered aquarium, but do not overcrowd the tank simply to increase group size.
No. They forage on the bottom and may browse some biofilm, but they need complete sinking food and do not replace algae control, snail management, substrate cleaning or water changes.
No. They are representative illustrated views of the species and aquarium setting. The dispatched fish will vary naturally, and its approximate size is determined by the selected available variant.
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