Panda Cory Babies!

[eaglesaquarium]

Hi everyone. Its been quite some time since I checked in, but today's discovery forced me to!

I am a proud fishkeeper today. As I was refilling my tank after a routine water change, I saw something small moving in the plants. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was a baby panda cory. Then, I saw a second. There could be as many as 3, but I'm not certain. They are about 1/2 long (or almost), and seem to be fairly bold around the other fish at this point. They have survived the gaunlet in my tank for this long, so I am obviously going to leave them be, but I am proud as punch about this! (puffs out chest)



I didn't expect any breeding. I have all egg layers (and a lot of them) and a few male guppies, so I didn't expect the eggs would last long enough to hatch, let alone the fry to survive long enough to be viable fish. I was wrong. I noticed a single egg on the glass about 4 weeks ago, but I didn't think anything of it. I figured it would get gobbled up. I was happy to see the egg, because it gave me a quick indicator that the fish are "happy". But, I didn't think anything more about it. Now I am extremely happy. I am going to have to be EXTRA careful in the coming water changes to make sure that I am only sucking up gunk, and not fry! I guess that's a good problem to have.


No pics, sorry. I'm not a good photographer, and the wife's camera isn't really that good anyway! Just wanted to report success with panda cories!

Ironically, I only had 3 before this - survivors of 10 I had had before - and I thought that I was just not going to be successful with pandas. I basically gave up and figured these would be my last three. I guess I was VERY wrong about that. Now I have 5, but who knows how many could be lurking under the driftwood that I haven't noticed until now.


EDIT:
Confirmed 3 babies, so probably more. The most recent one is even smaller than the other two. Very exciting times here!!!

 

[Akasha72]

Just wanted to say congratulations

 

[coldcazzie]

congrats! I remember all the troubles you had with the pandas when you got them - well done on through fry!

Also, good to see you again! I was wondering only a couple of days ago where you'd gone and whether you were ok

 

[Harlequins]

Fantastic news

Panda babes are soo cute...

 

[eaglesaquarium]

congrats! I remember all the troubles you had with the pandas when you got them - well done on through fry!

Also, good to see you again! I was wondering only a couple of days ago where you'd gone and whether you were ok

Thanks all.

Life has gotten busy! My son is in kindergarden now, and he's playing t-ball, and .... It never ends!


But, the fish have gotten on fantastically well! I haven't updated, but things are going swimmingly (sorry for the bad pun) with the fish. I redecorated the tank, and put my largest driftwood flat on the bottom. The cories (and maybe the BN Plec) have hollowed out the area underneath it a bit, and it seems that that along with all the live plants I have, provided sufficient cover for them.

I had thought about breeding cories at one point, but that quickly faded when I couldn't keep them alive for an extended period. These last 3 survivors have been here for almost a year now, and have successfully bred. I guess they are going to be fine! And now that I have some young, I don't have to worry about their numbers. They will have a larger shoal and be even more comfortable!

 

[Inchworm]

Hi eaglesaquarium,
Good to see you at the forum again. I'm glad to learn that your pandas have been spawning. All things considered, C. pandas are not difficult to raise; the hard part is finding and saving their eggs.

Since C. pandas tend to be egg eaters, the female hides the eggs underneath leaves and in other out-of-the-way spots. Unless you have a very well planted tank, you can provide a good hiding spot by hanging a few of the metal thermometers on the side of the tank, near the filter outlet. Once they have been deposited, simply remove them and hatch them in a small container.

These eggs are the color that panda eggs become shortly before they hatch.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Thanks for the tip Inchworm. I'm not really in a place where I can devote the amount of time necessary to raise fry, but I am stoked to see that some have survived. I hadn't noticed much breeding behavior before. Last night, they were in full breeding mode for about 6 straight hours! I have only 1 female and 2 males adult. She was busy carrying the eggs around one at a time and placing them. I saw where she put one, but it was gone a few minutes later.


Ultimately, I'm not sad about losing the eggs. Like I said, I don't have the time to raise the fry, but I am very pleased with how well they are doing now. I was worried about them, but I think I can stop worrying now. I don't have to shell out $7 a piece to add to their numbers and they will be even more comfortable when these newest guys grow up to full size. I figure 6 pandas cories will be very happy. I hope they won't inbreed too much, but at the same time, most won't survive anyway. Maybe some day I'll consider breeding them in earnest. But that won't be for quite a few years. I still have my son to raise and that takes up a lot of time and space in the home. Maybe when he's off to college I can convert his room to a breeding/rearing set-up.

 

[FishFanatic04]

Babies of all varieties are exciting!

 

[Inchworm]

Hi eaglesaquarium

Thanks for sharing your experience with us. I hope it will inspire some of the other members to watch their C. pandas and perhaps, raise some of their fry.