FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Ok, so its been a while since I have been on and summer is here again so the pandas are getting back to thier baby making, and I thought I would share how I raise my pandas and share some pictures with you folks.


I started out close to 2 years ago with a small group of 5 Panda Corydoras. 3 females and 2 males. Last summer they went on about 20 different spawning sprees and needless to say I ended up with 11 new pandas. These "young adults" are now starting to learn how to breed and I am getting a new generation of eggs.

So the other night I observed some spawning and collected 2 eggs off the tank glass. And tonight I once again saw the little cats going at it so I collected another 5 eggs. I plan to describe how I go about my rearing of the fry. How I do this works for me, it is NOT at ALL professional in any manner as I dont want hundreds of pandas.

My current group is at 14 as of the last counting and I would hope for a group in the 20's. So I am going to raise one final group.

So, the pandas go into thier signature T position and a single egg is dropped into the females anal fins. She cups it until she finds a place to place the egg and then deposits it where she pleases.

Here is a picture of an egg after it was placed on the glass. http://i26.tinypic.com/j77094.jpg

Here is a picture of the female cupping the egg, you can see the excited male following close behind. http://i25.tinypic.com/22j7d5.jpg

And a picture of 2 males fighting over the female below. http://i32.tinypic.com/v58ioh.jpg

And one last pic of the female and a male. http://i25.tinypic.com/n47191.jpg


To continue, after the eggs are collected I place them in a breeder box and wait for them to hatch. http://i25.tinypic.com/30d9rty.jpg

That is all for now! Once the eggs hatch I will check back in. Or sooner! I may try to get pictures of the developing embryos. Anyways, enjoy!

I use a fry net, since my bronze fry were so small they could get out through the air slits in the plastic box.

Bren- I have never had a problem with that. If any have ever escaped, then it ws my fault, during cleaning.

Anyway, I kind of went crazy with collecting eggs and as of now I have 19! In the box. Haha I was searching through the java ferns and kept finding one after another. I also saw the rest of the panda herd chasing after the female, gobbling up the eggs after she placed them. Anyway, I will keep you posted.

Do you use any anti-fungal medicine for your eggs? My panda eggs almost always develop fungus but I am afraid to use medicine.

I have never had a problem with fungus and do not use any anti-fungus.

To try to prevent fungus from settling, I place the eggs near the spraybar or airstone.

You can add methyle blue, but when I did that I accidentally steralized the embryos in the eggs and nothing hatched at all.

Ok so as of today alot of the eggs werent fertilized. Im thinking it was because it was some of the younger males first go around so they havent got the hang of it yet. Anyway, I have about 8-9 fertilized eggs.

yay for panda eggs!

Yup. I'm that crazy Twilight/animal/music girl

After my tank cycles I'm going to get some cories. Probably pandas. Any tips for a novice on their selection and care?

Saint Paul, Minnesota USA 20g Freshwater Started June 10th 2008
-> Tank Info In Profile <-

mnventurer- I would say the main points in taking care of pandas are:

Big Shoals- The cories will feel much more protected and act more social. You as the keeper will be able to get the most out of them if they are in a larger shoal, by watchign all the behaviors and interactions. You may even get to see breeding.

Cooler Temps- Keep the water nice and cool and CLEAN! Most cories dont like warm water but pandas can be sensitive. Clean water keeps any fish healthy and cory whiskers nice and long.

Substrate- A finer, softer substrate will keep the whiskers long and make it easier for pandas to find food.

Hiding places- Cories like to hide during the day and play around in driftwood and plants and what not.



We have fry! Woke up this morning and we had 3 little hatchlings. And more on the way!
FRY PICS!http://i26.tinypic.com/30bg20g.jpg
http://i27.tinypic.com/21eu492.jpg

Also here are the eggs that are on their way!
http://i29.tinypic.com/70crpf.jpg

So, we are down to 3 fry and 5 more eggs. All the others were not fertile.

I will keep posting!

Very cool! How fast do they grow? Are there particular Corys that are heartier than others? I'm a beginner and I don't want to kill any fish.

Saint Paul, Minnesota USA 20g Freshwater Started June 10th 2008
-> Tank Info In Profile <-

mnventurer- They usually grow at a pretty good rate. They have little growth spurts. Once they get bigger they usually slow down though.
I am pretty sure a cory like aenus or a peppered cory would be hardier than pandas. Most cories are pretty hardy though.