Gender Differences
The female panda cory is larger and has a more rounded underbelly; females are much wider than the male when viewed from above. Often the rounded belly of the female causes their head to sit a bit off the bottom of the tank. Males are sleeker and shorter in length than females.
Breeding the Panda Cory
Breeding of this species was initially thought to be quite difficult, but time has proven that breeding is possible in the home aquarium. The breeding tank should be furnished with Java moss or other fine-leaved plants for the eggs to be deposited upon. The breeders should be well conditioned with live foods, such as bloodworms, brine shrimp or daphnia. Spawning can be triggered by a partial water change with cooler water to mimic the breeding conditions in nature that occur during the rainy season.
When the female is ripe with eggs, she will accept the advances of the male, and they will assume the classic "T" position seen in many Corydoras species. The female will cup her pelvic fins together and drop one or two eggs, which are subsequently fertilized. She then seeks a place to hide the sticky egg, generally on vegetation. This process will continue for several hours until as many as 100 eggs are laid and fertilized. These eggs are adhesive and light yellow in color.
In approximately four days, the eggs will hatch. They are quite sensitive to water temperatures, which should be no higher than 72 F. Fry do best with infusoria, but may also be fed commercially prepared fry foods if necessary. Water quality is critical, and water changes should be performed only with water that exactly matches the water parameters of the fry tank. It will take up to three months before the fry achieves the panda coloration of the adults.
18 сен 2024
