FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Is the cory commonly known as "Panda Cory" the same as ones I've seen at the LFS recently labeled Corydoras punctatus? The photos from the profiles section certainly seem to match what I've seen in the store. Can anyone who has experience with them share some tips? I'm thinking about possibly adding a small school of them to a 20 gallon long with some red swordtails and a school of tetras. Thanks!

Well, after consulting 3 of my reference books I'm even more confused than before. All of the markings and the colorings look like what is typically known as a Panda but the ones I saw today had speckles and almost stripes in places.

Did it look like this?


I've never heard them called punctatus. Well I've really not heard of a corydoras punctatus at all. So its new to me.


*Kristin*

Yes, it looked like that BUT with the addition of ounced speckling on it's side, almost coming together to form lines in places...similar to a trilineatus or a julii. Could it possibly be a "Bandit" Cory? It has characteristics or 2 or 3 species...

Bandit cories don't have speckling. They have a black line down their backs. If it was trilineatus it would have spots all over and lines down its side.

*Kristin*

Mystery fish, or perhaps some weird cross...

It has the black blotch over it's eye, near it's tail on on it's dorsal fin. In addition to that it has speckles, almost lines, on it's sides. I can find any photo in any of my reference books or online that seems to fit.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.................

Corydoras punctatus is actually the type-species of the Genus Corydoras, and was described way back in 1794 by Bloch as Cataphractus punctatus, before Lacepede in 1803 created the Genus Corydoras into which the fish weas moved. Corydoras punctatus is a black and white spotted fish with no eye patches or dorsal blotch.

The only time I have ever seen any spotted markings on a Corydoras panda is during the development of the fry, when they acquire a dusting of very fine black pepper dots over those parts of the body that will later be a broad expanse of unmarked pinkish-orange. I have NEVER seen ANY spots on an adult Panda Cory.

This Planet Catfish page has LOTS of illustrations of Panda Corys for you to look at, including assorted fry development stages.

It might be worth looking at some of the C-numbers closely. This page has thumbnails of all known aquarium Corydoras species, so if you can't find it here, you might be advised to get in touch with some experts to find out if you've somehow, by some serendipitous accident, obtained a completely new C-number!


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Thanks for the links...lots of good photos. I'll continue to research it.

The LFS in question had these fish in two locations:

1) A community tank with the sign "Assorted Cory Catfish" (a really helpful bit of info...not)

2) A smaller, individual species tank with the label "Corydoras punctatus" (which you clarified)

Whatever they were, it was a very attractive fish. I'd like to purchase some but I'd really prefer to know exactly what I was buying. In my new 20G Long, the difference between a 2" species and a 3" species could mean a great deal in the long run.