Struggling with my Panda Cories

hike13 · 10-26-2007, 12:28 PM

I need some advice. Maybe 3 months ago I set up my 10 gallon again and started adding a few panda cories. (I have a 20 gal that they are going to move to in the garage I just haven't had time to set it up) Initially it was 3 adult pandas. About a month after that one of them died. So after that I bought 3 small pandas (maybe 1" big) and an adult Sterbai cory. That was almost 2 months ago now and I have lost 1 small panda with another appearing to be on the way out. 1 of the remaining adult pandas has lost his barbels and the small ones appear to have lost them also. Sterbai looks great. Now what's confusing me is that when I test for the likely culprits I find nothing alarming. 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrites, and maybe 20ppm Nitrates. I've been doing twice weekly water changes since the last little panda died but to no avail. I know it's a small tank but I've had 5-6 adult cories in a 10 before with no ill affects. Is it possible the Sterbai is a bully and the pandas are stressed? Maybe just sickly pandas? I don't know. Any thoughts.

Daveedka · 10-26-2007, 01:03 PM

I know this isn't much help, but Panda's seem to just be a weak species. I've only tried them twice, but honestly out of a dozen I only had two make it through QT. No real explanation for their deaths, just don't make it is all.

Just based on my observations with cories, I'd say Bullying is unlikely, It's probably just a case of weak fish.

Dave

OrionGirl · 10-26-2007, 01:04 PM

Have you seen the sterbai bully the little guys? I've never had either, so don't know if their temperment is such that they would bother each other, but think that there should be some visible harassment if it's enough to stress them.

Have you asked at the LFS, to see if they've had problems with them as well? Could be a parasite, or something treatable, though that doesn't seem as likely since the sterbai is still healthy.

DaisyTattoo · 10-26-2007, 01:07 PM

I tried pandas once. They all died within 2 weeks. Someday I may try again.

hike13 · 10-26-2007, 01:08 PM

Haven't been back to the LFS since I bought them. It's a bit of a drive and not the place I just pick up and go check out for fun. Haven't seen any bullying from the Sterbai. I didn't think it was likely but he is bigger than everyone else. Too be honest he just chills under the drift wood most of the time. Maybe it's like you said Dave, just weak overall.

I've been thinking about it and I might just ask the LFS to track down more Sterbais. I know they're expensive but 1 or 2 at a time wouldn't hurt the wallet to much.

Trixie · 10-26-2007, 06:05 PM

I had the same result with the panda cories that I have tried. Bummed me out, because they are so darn cute, but they did all die on me. I haven't lost any of the other kinds that I have had though.

TwoTankAmin · 10-26-2007, 09:19 PM

For some reason a lot of the pandas in the fish trade seem to be weak. Too many folks on too many sites have the same problems for it not to be at the root of the problem. I have burned through a number of pandas over the years. i currently have 3 with a similar number of paleatus and 4 sterbais and they all get along just fine. The pandas have been in the tank for over a year now which must be approaching a record for me with them.

You might try to find an importer to get some wilds. But the odds are good you will have to Q and treat them for parasites unless you are sure this has been done.

SaraB · 10-27-2007, 03:34 AM

I'd have to agree with the parasite theory.

I originally had 3 pandas in a 65L tank with a betta and 3 danios. Everone got on fine (my betta is extremely laid back). Then 2 of the pandas died with no warning.

I waited a few weeks (just to make sure nothing else was going to keel over). I got 3 more pandas. All 3 died over a series of weeks, as did one of the danios. Then another danio got really skinny - finally, a symptom! So I've treated with 2 lots of anti-IP meds, and all seems well, the danio recovered well and my one remaining panda (one of the original trio, I think) is much more lively. I admit, I thought he was quiet because he was on his own.

I can only assume now that they all had IPs.

Sneekii · 10-27-2007, 08:07 AM

I personally would disagree with most of the above statements with Panda's and heres why. I like most of you think Panda;s are great fish. A long time ago I was told only to keep them in shoals. Since them ive never kept less than 7 8 panda's in a tank and usually I keep 10+. I NEVER loose Panda's. I garantee many of you keep your tanks cleaner than me and such. The key to this fish in my experience is keeping them together in large numbers 3,4,5 wont work in my opion its almost as if they seem stressed. I have a group of 12 now in one of my tanks with Discus and a sand bottom and they are pretty much the coolest thing in that tank.

Just another little tidbit and maybe this is just something ive seen im not sure. My clown loaches school with the Panda's. In fact a few times ive had to find a place for one clown loach and they also stress if alone in a tank I put them in with the panda's and they all hang together. I think Daveedka has seen my Panda cory school as well.

hike13 · 10-29-2007, 10:40 AM

Lost one of the small panda's this weekend.

The 3 that are in the tank look decent currently so we'll see how it goes.

10-26-2007, 12:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
hike13 So long summer..... Join Date: May 2006 Location: SF, CA Posts: 415	Struggling with my Panda Cories I need some advice. Maybe 3 months ago I set up my 10 gallon again and started adding a few panda cories. (I have a 20 gal that they are going to move to in the garage I just haven't had time to set it up) Initially it was 3 adult pandas. About a month after that one of them died. So after that I bought 3 small pandas (maybe 1" big) and an adult Sterbai cory. That was almost 2 months ago now and I have lost 1 small panda with another appearing to be on the way out. 1 of the remaining adult pandas has lost his barbels and the small ones appear to have lost them also. Sterbai looks great. Now what's confusing me is that when I test for the likely culprits I find nothing alarming. 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrites, and maybe 20ppm Nitrates. I've been doing twice weekly water changes since the last little panda died but to no avail. I know it's a small tank but I've had 5-6 adult cories in a 10 before with no ill affects. Is it possible the Sterbai is a bully and the pandas are stressed? Maybe just sickly pandas? I don't know. Any thoughts. __________________ But maybe the two of us, working together at full capacity, could do the job of one normal man.

10-26-2007, 01:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
Daveedka in memory of Rusty Join Date: May 2006 Location: Hilliard, Ohio Posts: 1,974	I know this isn't much help, but Panda's seem to just be a weak species. I've only tried them twice, but honestly out of a dozen I only had two make it through QT. No real explanation for their deaths, just don't make it is all. Just based on my observations with cories, I'd say Bullying is unlikely, It's probably just a case of weak fish. Dave __________________ I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant!

10-26-2007, 01:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
OrionGirl Miss you, Old Man Join Date: May 2006 Location: California coastline Posts: 6,723	Have you seen the sterbai bully the little guys? I've never had either, so don't know if their temperment is such that they would bother each other, but think that there should be some visible harassment if it's enough to stress them. Have you asked at the LFS, to see if they've had problems with them as well? Could be a parasite, or something treatable, though that doesn't seem as likely since the sterbai is still healthy. __________________ ~Sheila tempus edax rerum Ideas do not have to be correct in order to be good; its only necessary that, if they do fail, they do so in an interesting way. ~Robert Rosen

10-26-2007, 01:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
DaisyTattoo It's a girl Join Date: May 2006 Location: Peoria, Illinois Posts: 3,088	I tried pandas once. They all died within 2 weeks. Someday I may try again. __________________ It's not easy being a mother. If it were, fathers would do it.

10-26-2007, 01:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
hike13 So long summer..... Join Date: May 2006 Location: SF, CA Posts: 415	Haven't been back to the LFS since I bought them. It's a bit of a drive and not the place I just pick up and go check out for fun. Haven't seen any bullying from the Sterbai. I didn't think it was likely but he is bigger than everyone else. Too be honest he just chills under the drift wood most of the time. Maybe it's like you said Dave, just weak overall. I've been thinking about it and I might just ask the LFS to track down more Sterbais. I know they're expensive but 1 or 2 at a time wouldn't hurt the wallet to much. __________________ But maybe the two of us, working together at full capacity, could do the job of one normal man.

10-26-2007, 06:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
Trixie Fauna is my EVIL TWIN. Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northern VA Posts: 1,575	I had the same result with the panda cories that I have tried. Bummed me out, because they are so darn cute, but they did all die on me. I haven't lost any of the other kinds that I have had though. __________________

10-26-2007, 09:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
TwoTankAmin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Westchester Co., NY Posts: 724	For some reason a lot of the pandas in the fish trade seem to be weak. Too many folks on too many sites have the same problems for it not to be at the root of the problem. I have burned through a number of pandas over the years. i currently have 3 with a similar number of paleatus and 4 sterbais and they all get along just fine. The pandas have been in the tank for over a year now which must be approaching a record for me with them. You might try to find an importer to get some wilds. But the odds are good you will have to Q and treat them for parasites unless you are sure this has been done. __________________ Te audire non possum. Musa sapientum fixa est in aure.

10-27-2007, 03:34 AM	#8 (permalink)
SaraB Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 172	I'd have to agree with the parasite theory. I originally had 3 pandas in a 65L tank with a betta and 3 danios. Everone got on fine (my betta is extremely laid back). Then 2 of the pandas died with no warning. I waited a few weeks (just to make sure nothing else was going to keel over). I got 3 more pandas. All 3 died over a series of weeks, as did one of the danios. Then another danio got really skinny - finally, a symptom! So I've treated with 2 lots of anti-IP meds, and all seems well, the danio recovered well and my one remaining panda (one of the original trio, I think) is much more lively. I admit, I thought he was quiet because he was on his own. I can only assume now that they all had IPs.

10-27-2007, 08:07 AM	#9 (permalink)
Sneekii Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 23	I personally would disagree with most of the above statements with Panda's and heres why. I like most of you think Panda;s are great fish. A long time ago I was told only to keep them in shoals. Since them ive never kept less than 7 8 panda's in a tank and usually I keep 10+. I NEVER loose Panda's. I garantee many of you keep your tanks cleaner than me and such. The key to this fish in my experience is keeping them together in large numbers 3,4,5 wont work in my opion its almost as if they seem stressed. I have a group of 12 now in one of my tanks with Discus and a sand bottom and they are pretty much the coolest thing in that tank. Just another little tidbit and maybe this is just something ive seen im not sure. My clown loaches school with the Panda's. In fact a few times ive had to find a place for one clown loach and they also stress if alone in a tank I put them in with the panda's and they all hang together. I think Daveedka has seen my Panda cory school as well.

10-29-2007, 10:40 AM	#10 (permalink)
hike13 So long summer..... Join Date: May 2006 Location: SF, CA Posts: 415	Lost one of the small panda's this weekend. The 3 that are in the tank look decent currently so we'll see how it goes. __________________ But maybe the two of us, working together at full capacity, could do the job of one normal man.

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