shirui

Scientific name Corydoras panda
Descriptor Nijssen & Isbrücker
Year of description 1971
IUCN category (World) NT
Family Callichthyidae
Genus Corydoras
Corydoras panda Corydoras panda

Introduction

Corydoras panda is a tropical freshwater fish native to the Amazon basin in the Peruvian part.

Who is it?

Morphology

  • Average size
    4 cm
  • Maximum size
    6 cm
  • Longevity
    5 year
  • Average size
    4 cm
  • Maximum size
    6 cm
  • Longevity
    5 year

How to recognize the shirui ?

This fish has the particularity to possess several pairs of barbels, which allow him to search the bottom and to detect the food thus moved.

Corydoras Panda has a black band over the eyes, a black band on the caudal peduncle, and a fairly black dorsal fin. The rest of the body varies from white to brown to beige.

Sexual dimorphism

No blatant physical difference between sexes. However, males have pointed dorsal and pelvic fins while they are rounded in females. This difference is more easily observable when looking at the fish from above.

Furthermore, it is possible, through careful observation, to differentiate adult subjects as females are wider and taller than males and have a more rounded abdomen.

Behaviour & Life cycle

  • diet
    omnivorous
  • Sociability
    living in shoals
  • territorial
    No
  • Way of living
    diurnal

Corydoras panda is a schooling fish that generally resides at the bottom, often resting on the sand. They are rather lively and very active fish. In general, they are very independent and do not pay much attention to other species. Females seem to lead the group but these elements would deserve to be completed.

Like all Corydoras, the panda sometimes swim to the surface to ingest a bubble of air. This is a type of "intestinal" summer respiration that is sometimes used by many species, including in France, such as barbels or carps. These fish all have the particularity of living at the bottom. This characteristic would seem to indicate a natural ability to provide an oxygen supplement to their organism when the need arises.

Reproduction

  • Reproduction
    ovipare qui pond sur substrat découvert

Corydoras panda is an oviparous fish that spawns on exposed substrate (leaves, roots...) after seasonal rains.

Harmless species

This species does not represent any particular threats to humans when encountered in its natural environment.

Where to find it?

Conservation status of populations (IUCN)

World : NT
France : DD

Geographic distribution & Conservation

Corydoras Panda is a species living in Peru in the Rio Ucayali and other connected Rio (Rio Zungaro, Rio Sungaro, Rio Aguaytia, Río Pachitea, Rio Aguaytia). It lives in both clear and crystalline river waters and in blackwater streams.

Where to see this species?

What is its habitat?

Natural environment characteristics

  • Temperature
    20 - 25 °C
  • pH (acidity)
    6 - 7.5
  • gh (hardness)
    2 - 12

Biotope presentation

Corydoras panda naturally resides in slightly acidic water. The ground is generally made up of sand.

Species of the same biotope

Main recommendations for fishkeeping

Deontology

In order to preserve wildlife, if you acquire this animal, it must not be released into the wild. See also, the Fishipedia charter.

Fishipedia supports the practice of responsible and environmentally friendly aquarium keeping. We encourage maintenance if it is motivated by a desire to understand the biological functioning of living things and if it is done with respect for animal life.

We believe that aquaristics is an opening to the discovery of aquatic environments, especially freshwater, and that this knowledge is necessary to better protect and respect these environments. Logically, we refute the compulsive purchase of animals that would not find a sufficient and / or adapted place in the host aquarium.

Our recommendations

  • Min volume
    80 liters
  • Population min
    8
  • Temperature
    20 - 25 °C
  • pH (acidity)
    6.8 - 7.2

Characteristics

  • Difficulty breeding
    easy
  • Robustness
    tolerant
  • Behaviour
    peaceful
  • Availability
    standard

General reminders

It is strongly advised to read the complete dedicated file and to get information on the feedbacks of maintenance of the envisaged animal, this to avoid any potential conflict whose end result is generally the death of the individual (or the other inhabitants). It is important not to overload your aquarium to limit pollution. This will make maintenance easier.

In nature, animals are subject to weather conditions and live in waters with variable characteristics. The recommendations offered by our team for aquarium maintenance are a guidance and cannot be assimilated to scientific datas.

General reminder on maintenance datas

Le démarrage d'un aquarium est une partie primordiale pour l'équilibre et le bien-être des poissons. Lorsque l'on met en eau un aquarium, l'eau passe naturellement par un cycle biologique : le cycle de l'azote. Celui-ci dure environ trois semaines. Tous les 2 jours, nous vous conseillons de tester votre eau jusqu'à ce que le taux de nitrite soit à zéro pendant plusieurs jours d'affilée.

Pour accélérer ce cycle, vous pouvez utiliser un activateur de bactéries comme JBL Denitrol. Cette solution riche en bactéries vivantes et enzymes permet une mise en place rapide du cycle de l'azote. Les poissons peuvent alors être introduits plus rapidement.

Il est important de tester l'eau de son aquarium régulièrement pour maintenir un environnement sain pour les poissons et les autres habitants. Les tests d'eau permettent de mesurer les niveaux de différents paramètres tels que le pH, la dureté totale, ainsi que les taux de nitrates, de nitrites et d'ammoniaque.

Pour réaliser ces tests, vous pouvez utiliser des produits d'analyse spécialisés tels que JBL ProScan qui permet de réaliser un diagnostic de l'eau directement via un smartphone. Il existe également des coffrets de tests plus classiques de bandelettes, comme JBL PROAQUATEST.

En cas d’usage de l’eau du robinet, vous pouvez utiliser un conditionneur d’eau de type Biotopol de JBL pour éliminer les substances nocives comme le chlore, le cuivre, le plomb et le zinc. Les conditionneurs d'eau garantissent une meilleure santé aux poissons et une meilleure croissance des plantes.

Chlorine and chloramine are dangerous for the health of animals. Used to disinfect water, these agents are present in significant quantities in tap water. We recommend using an anti-chlorine agent every time you change the water. In addition to chlorine, treatments and medicines sold for aquarium use sometimes contain dangerous heavy metals in high doses.

Specific needs for the shirui

The shirui is a species which lives naturally at a temperature between 20 °C and 25 °C. For proper maintenance, the temperature should never exceed the 28°C for long periods. Nitrate levels should remain below 50mg/L. To keep the water clean and unpolluted, plan on changing 20% to 30% of the water volume each month.

Breeding this species is accessible to any hobbyist. It is recommended to follow some basic rules and to be rigorous to achieve a good maintenance.

This species is particularly common in the aquarium trade. Animals from long-term breeding are usually acclimatized at a temperature of about 26 °C in neutral water.

Barbel fish

Cohabitation & Environment

Being a living in shoals fish, it is advisable to install at least 8 individuals in an aquarium of 80 liters minimum (for 50 cm of frontage). Group maintenance is a prerequisite to ensure their well-being. Lonely individuals tend to quickly become stressed and become especially susceptible to disease. Although sometimes certain groups can "merge", mixing several gregarious species living in the same zone of life is not recommended if the volume is not consequent.

The shirui is a peaceful species that generally does not exhibit behavioral problems in a community aquarium.

Tips for feeding

The shirui is omnivorous.

You should not overfeed your residents to avoid polluting the water. For most species, it is better to feed a few small portions each day rather than one large meal.

Food recommendations from our partner JBL - Products PRONOVO

Reproduction protocol

  • Maintenance difficulty
    moderate
  • egg-laying protection
    Yes

Hybridization risks

In general, it is advised not to mix several species of the same genus or different varieties of the same species, to avoid the risks of hybridization.

These animals might interest you

To go further

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To read on the web

Sources & Contributions

Participation & Validation

The Fishipedia team and specialist contributors are committed to providing high-quality content. However, although the information comes from scientific sources or testimonials from specialists, the cards may contain inaccuracies.

Benoit Chartrer

Benoit Chartrer

Translation

Translation done with the valuable contribution of our translators, who make this information available to a wider audience. We sincerely thank them for their commitment.

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Where to see this species?

Scientific partners

Species of the same family

Same genus

Species of the same biotope

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