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Well I thought I had the perfect setup and stock list in my 29 gal hexagon. Everything has been great, Angels are growing like weeds, Rasboras are schooling great, Ottos are eating algae like crazy, water had been crystal clear and then theres the Pandas. They are great little corys and have been doing a great job keeping the tank clean but i'm starting to think they might be a bit sensitive for my setup. I started with 6 and have had 2 die in the past 2 weeks. I've been noticing the Angels are actually starting to harass the Pandas, nipping at fins and all. Above all that the Pandas never really schooled like I thought they would. They are scattered all about the tank. So I guess what i'm getting to is, are their a different kind of cory, maybe a little hardier, that I could go with in this tank? I'd like the overall color to be light, because of the contrasting qualities they would have on our black gravel. Any suggestions? Thanks everyone!

I'd persevere with the Pandas. I'm surprise that the Angels nip them though.

Time for my link again ...

Panda Catfish Article ...

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

You know after reading that, i'm not sure I have the most ideal situation for Pandas. As a matter of fact, if they are as playful as you make them sound,then mine are suffering from depression.




Last edited by Jessnick at 04-Mar-2005 13:25

Odd. Very odd. Unless the fact that your tank is a tall one has a bearing on the matter. Although I can 't imagine this being a contributory factor at this stage of the game.

I take it you have nice caves for them to occupy? They like their caves. And other toys too. A pic of your setup would be nice, especially if you've already linked to it or posted it in Photo Booth. I could give it the once over and see if I can spot anything.

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

I have had problems with corys back and forth time and time again...so ill suggust 3 things...

you need to have certian places in which the cories can hide and "chill" and in your case with the angels its deffinatley a must!

I hope you hve been feeding the some sinking pellets too...

And lastley you really need to constantaly be checking for Ph levels and Nitrates, as corys are extremely sensitive to both of these...


Anyways iwould take them out and maybe hospitalize them for a while if you have an extra tank..


Good Luck



20 GALLON LONG CURRENTLY EMPTY ~~~~ 10 GALLON W/ STRIPPED CONVICT

Hey,
My pandas dont really school either and i have 10..... Don't know if this is a big deal, and mine dont really "play" as much as the article says, maybe mine are unhappy too They have plenty of hiding spaces and the water is good condition Just thought you mite like to know your not the only one!

Sam

http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Photo%20Booth/54984.html <~~~~~~there's a link for a pic of my tank. I don't have a whole lot of caves and hideaways, alot of plants but that's about it. I know the water parameters are not an issue, the water is nearly perfect.




Last edited by Jessnick at 04-Mar-2005 17:03

I've personally never had panda dieoffs, though they are apparently reputed to be sensitive. As far as activity levels are concerned, I would not be alarmed. Only my fry of the year tend to really explore to any large extent. The rest just hang out atop othe driftwood, basking in the current. In fact, out of my 3 species of cories, the pandas are the least active. That is not to say they aren't happy fish, as I've been fully reimbersed for my corydoras purchase based on fry alone (I'm down to about 7 now, split up amongst three or so tanks).

That looks pretty tall Jessnick, I suspect one problem you have is that the Pandas have to work hard to reach the surface ...

Also, the caves issue: they definitely need more caves. Ideally, nice intricate ones. Even if you have to get a plastic shipwreck or something for them because you can't find the right shape bogwood ...

Alternatively, use some aquarium sealant and glue together some nicely shaped rounded rocks to make a cave maze for them.

Even then, the height of that aquarium is causing my antennae to twitch. How tall is that? 24 inches? More?

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

To be honest I really don't want to add anything to the tank as far as decorations go. I guess i'll look to see what my LFS has in fake caves. If I can find something that I can hide in the back of the tank, I will. As far as the height of the tank, it is 24". Does this pose even more of a problem? Maybe a change of cory might be the answer here??

The thought just occurred to me that a small Cory such as a habrosus or a Panda might find 24 inches a bit of a struggle without a set of ledges to help make the journey in stages ...

The Panda Fun Palace™ is only 12 inches deep, and that has bogwood decorations that the Pandas can use as taekoff ledges if they want. Which I've noticed they sometimes use to make the journey to the surface a little easier.

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

I'd be willing to bet none os my LFS's will carry the Panda palace. Can you direct me to a mail order website where I might find one. thanks.

Instructions for building your own Panda Palace:

[1] Get any aqauarium whose depth is 12 or 15 inches. The bigger, the better, but you can happily get away with the standard 24"x12"x12" aquarium (well, standard in the UK: don't know if it's also standard in Australia). If you can give them a 48"x12"x12" aquarium, brilliant - they will LOVE you for it!

[2] Fit with undergravel filter driven by good quality powerhead. Pandas like currents. If you wish to fit a second internal power filter such as a Fluval 2, even better.

[3] Decorate with rounded gravel substrate, and carefully shaped pieces of bogwood over which Java Moss and Java Ferns are draped. Add centrepiece Amazon Swordplant that will grow like stink under decent lighting, adn some floating plants to provide shadeed areas for the Pandas to play under. Ensure that bogwood decorations can be conveniently moved during gravel vac operations, while still providing Pandas with adventure playground (see [5])

[4] Add Pandas. Playmates for the Pandas in my aquarium include Cardinals, Lemons, Beckford's Pencils and Otocinclus. If you wish to add playmates, then species that will integrate well and produce a stunning display include Rosy Tetras and Rasbora vaterifloris, the Sri Lank Fire Barb (if you can get them - they're rare here in the UK).

[5] Perform regular deep gravel vacs and water changes. 50% changes twice per week is not too much. Indeed, if this régime is followed, Pandas will love you for it.

[6] Feed Pandas with varied diet, including regular live foods.

[7] Sit back and enjoy the madcap frolics!


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

I'm not sure I want to do this, I mean I set this tank up for the Angels, not the Pandas. I do like them, but it's apparent they're just not going to work. How about some suggestions on other corys that would work in this setup.

Hmm. Corys that will be happy in a deep tank? You certainly know how to give me a puzzle, don't you?

If there is enough space, you could try the old domesticated favourites, Peppered and Bronze. Even so, be on the lookout for them struggling to reach the top, particularly if they're small juveniles.

It might be worth a look at this to see if the species covered here are more suitable.

But then, I've never known anyone try to keep Corys in an aquarium that's such an unusual shape before. It's just possible that you're in an experimental realm here!


Last edited by Calilasseia at 06-Mar-2005 13:03

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002