Panda cory

Identity and search names

Single-species profile for Hoplisoma panda. Corydoras panda is retained as the former combination.

Search names: Panda corydoras, Corydoras panda

Environment and housing

Smooth sand or fine rounded substrate, oxygenated water and shaded resting areas.

Water stability: Maintain 20–25 °C; pH 6.0–7.6; minerals: Soft to moderately hard; salinity: Freshwater. Stability, dissolved oxygen and nitrogen-cycle control matter more than chasing one exact reading.

Feeding and nutrition

Feeding ecology: Omnivore; must receive sinking food

Feeding routine: Feed complete sinking omnivore food and small frozen invertebrates in more than one location. Confirm every fish eats before upper-water species take the food.

Social structure and compatibility

6+ of the same or closely compatible species

Good with peaceful community fish that do not monopolise the substrate. Retain a cycled separation option for aggression, feeding exclusion, predation, injury or disease.

Adult load and life support

Projected adult load: Moderate for a shoal of six to ten bottom fish, with waste concentrated around feeding and resting areas.

Filtration: Use mature gentle-to-moderate filtration with protected intakes and no detritus traps under hardscape.

Aeration: Maintain strong dissolved oxygen, especially at the warm end of the range, and preserve unobstructed surface access.

Maintenance: Siphon open sand, inspect barbels and bellies, and avoid prolonged temperatures above the species’ normal range.

Breeding and reproduction

Adhesive egg layer. Do not compromise adult welfare, genetic identity, quarantine capacity or lawful rehoming to attempt breeding.

Quarantine, welfare and risk

Quarantine: Quarantine new fish in a separate fully cycled system for at least 30 days at the intended temperature and mineral chemistry. Use dedicated equipment; observe appetite, respiration, faeces, skin, fins, gills and behaviour; never add transport water to the display.

Welfare checks: Maintain a real shoal, smooth clean substrate, direct feeding and cooler oxygen-rich water. Track individual body condition, feeding access, respiration, injury, abnormal hiding or aggression and use of the intended swimming zone.

Main risk: Chronic overheating, barbel damage and food exclusion.

Australian biosecurity and release

Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants, live food or wet equipment into drains, dams or natural waterways. Australian import eligibility is species-specific: check the current permitted ornamental-fish list and BICON conditions by accepted scientific name. Import requires a permit, an approved source country and approved-arrangement isolation. Check current South Australian noxious-fish and movement rules before purchase, sale, transport or disposal.

Current check: Current lawful import, possession or movement must be checked by accepted scientific name. Absence from one state list is not import approval.

Detailed husbandry

Identity Scope

Single-species profile for Hoplisoma panda. Corydoras panda is retained as the former combination.

Adult Size And Space

Expected adult size: 4–5 cm. Minimum permanent housing: 90 L or larger with smooth sand. Adult dimensions, group or territory needs, swimming footprint, oxygen demand and waste production matter more than juvenile sale size.

Social Structure

6+ of the same or closely compatible species

Swimming Zone

Primary zone: Bottom. Keep that zone open enough for normal movement, feeding, refuge and escape.

Feeding Ecology

Omnivore; must receive sinking food

Feeding Plan

Feed complete sinking omnivore food and small frozen invertebrates in more than one location. Confirm every fish eats before upper-water species take the food.

Water Stability

Maintain 20–25 °C; pH 6.0–7.6; minerals: Soft to moderately hard; salinity: Freshwater. Stability, dissolved oxygen and nitrogen-cycle control matter more than chasing one exact reading.

Adult Projected Load

Moderate for a shoal of six to ten bottom fish, with waste concentrated around feeding and resting areas.

Filtration

Use mature gentle-to-moderate filtration with protected intakes and no detritus traps under hardscape.

Aeration

Maintain strong dissolved oxygen, especially at the warm end of the range, and preserve unobstructed surface access.

Maintenance

Siphon open sand, inspect barbels and bellies, and avoid prolonged temperatures above the species’ normal range.

Habitat Structure

Smooth sand or fine rounded substrate, oxygenated water and shaded resting areas.

Compatibility Plan

Good with peaceful community fish that do not monopolise the substrate. Retain a cycled separation option for aggression, feeding exclusion, predation, injury or disease.

Breeding Plan

Adhesive egg layer. Do not compromise adult welfare, genetic identity, quarantine capacity or lawful rehoming to attempt breeding.

Quarantine

Quarantine new fish in a separate fully cycled system for at least 30 days at the intended temperature and mineral chemistry. Use dedicated equipment; observe appetite, respiration, faeces, skin, fins, gills and behaviour; never add transport water to the display.

Welfare Checks

Maintain a real shoal, smooth clean substrate, direct feeding and cooler oxygen-rich water. Track individual body condition, feeding access, respiration, injury, abnormal hiding or aggression and use of the intended swimming zone.

Biosecurity And Release

Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants, live food or wet equipment into drains, dams or natural waterways. Australian import eligibility is species-specific: check the current permitted ornamental-fish list and BICON conditions by accepted scientific name. Import requires a permit, an approved source country and approved-arrangement isolation. Check current South Australian noxious-fish and movement rules before purchase, sale, transport or disposal.

Main Risk

Chronic overheating, barbel damage and food exclusion.

Overridable Warnings

Avoid long-term high temperatures. Warm community settings that suit many tropical fish can reduce oxygen and welfare for panda corys.

Sources

Current accepted identity or qualified trade identity, former names, adult scale, social structure, feeding ecology, adult projected load, filtration, aeration, maintenance, quarantine, welfare, Australian import controls and South Australian movement or no-release obligations were rechecked. AquaNexus wording is original.

• Catalog of Fishes search for Hoplisoma panda — Taxonomy and accepted-name or trade-scope check
• Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes — Hoplisoma — Current genus, synonym and distribution cross-check
• Dias et al. — Corydoradinae generic revision — Current Hoplisoma combination and Corydoradinae classification
• DAFF — importing live ornamental fish to Australia — Australian live-fish import pathway and permit requirements
• DAFF — permitted live freshwater and marine ornamental fish — Permitted-species pathway; exact eligibility must be checked by accepted scientific name
• Australian Biosecurity Import Conditions system — Current species and commodity import conditions
• PIRSA — Noxious fish list — Current South Australian noxious-fish restrictions
• PIRSA — Moving aquatic animals — South Australian movement, pest, disease and no-release context
• RSPCA Australia — Tropical fish care and water quality — General fish-welfare evidence for mature filtration, water quality, space and maintenance