THE CAUSE,
INC
INC
BREEDING the PANDA CORYDORUS
by: WILMA DUNCAN
by: WILMA DUNCAN
Four years ago, seeing these little beauties in a pet store was a rare find. The prices
were high in the beginning. Today, the price is much lower, but the beauty of these
Corys will never change. I remember staring into the store display tank at the Panda
Corys, knowing that I must somehow have at least four. As I watched them go about
the tank,
the storeowner approached and asked how many I wanted. The whole tank, I said. I
don't think you want to spend two hundred dollars on them, he said. Tempting, but
thank goodness my good senses prevailed.
In the past, he had purchased several bettas from my many spawns and many of my
tank raised barbs. He knew I wanted to try working with these Corys and offered a
deal. Would I bring him enough bettas to meet the price of four Panda Corys, a total
of forty dollars. I explained it would be another month before the bettas would be
ready. The deal was made and I returned home to what seemed like a long wait.
A month passed and, with the bettas in tow, I returned to get my precious Pandas.
They were there, in the same dim-lit tank. The numbers were about the same. I
wondered if the ten dollar a piece price was keeping him from selling them. Soon, my
pandas were in my possession and I returned home, trying to not feel guilty for letting
my fish to to any pet shop.
Their tank had been prepared several weeks before their arrival home. They were
placed in the tank after spending a few hours getting acclimated to my water
parameters. I had used smooth, natural rocks for the substrate and for the plants. I
addeded a large clump of Java Moss, a bunch of Anacharis, floating Water Sprite,
and a few Apontogen Vulvaceaus plants. A small cave was made from flat flagstone to
use for cover when needed. My pH was 7.4 and slightly alkaline. I fed them a
breeder's choice flake food and live brine shrimp on a daily basis. The temperature
was kept at 78 degrees. They soon settled in and became less fearful when I
approached the tank.
Several weeks passed before I felt they were ready to try for a spawn.
were high in the beginning. Today, the price is much lower, but the beauty of these
Corys will never change. I remember staring into the store display tank at the Panda
Corys, knowing that I must somehow have at least four. As I watched them go about
the tank,
the storeowner approached and asked how many I wanted. The whole tank, I said. I
don't think you want to spend two hundred dollars on them, he said. Tempting, but
thank goodness my good senses prevailed.
In the past, he had purchased several bettas from my many spawns and many of my
tank raised barbs. He knew I wanted to try working with these Corys and offered a
deal. Would I bring him enough bettas to meet the price of four Panda Corys, a total
of forty dollars. I explained it would be another month before the bettas would be
ready. The deal was made and I returned home to what seemed like a long wait.
A month passed and, with the bettas in tow, I returned to get my precious Pandas.
They were there, in the same dim-lit tank. The numbers were about the same. I
wondered if the ten dollar a piece price was keeping him from selling them. Soon, my
pandas were in my possession and I returned home, trying to not feel guilty for letting
my fish to to any pet shop.
Their tank had been prepared several weeks before their arrival home. They were
placed in the tank after spending a few hours getting acclimated to my water
parameters. I had used smooth, natural rocks for the substrate and for the plants. I
addeded a large clump of Java Moss, a bunch of Anacharis, floating Water Sprite,
and a few Apontogen Vulvaceaus plants. A small cave was made from flat flagstone to
use for cover when needed. My pH was 7.4 and slightly alkaline. I fed them a
breeder's choice flake food and live brine shrimp on a daily basis. The temperature
was kept at 78 degrees. They soon settled in and became less fearful when I
approached the tank.
Several weeks passed before I felt they were ready to try for a spawn.
EDUCATIONAL WARNING: Non-native specie are NOTto be released into our
native streams and waterways. Please keep your fish from becoming bad fish by
not releasing them into the wild.
native streams and waterways. Please keep your fish from becoming bad fish by
not releasing them into the wild.
EMAIL: thecause.cause@yahoo.com
Copyright @ 2007 WD
