Panda and Sterbai cories hybridising?

[Ktran]

Just wondering if Panda and Sterbai cories will hybridise if I have both species in a tank together? I only have 1 spare tank at the moment and want to breed both species. Can I put them both in a single breeding tank? thanks.

[andywoolloo]

I do not think they will. I have read even if multiple diff types of cories are in one tank they will still know which ones are their same type.

Is it called conspecific?

[Ktran]

I do not think they will. I have read even if multiple diff types of cories are in one tank they will still know which ones are their same type.

Is it called conspecific?

I think conspecific just refers to animals that belong to the same species. The context it is often used in is "conspecific aggression" which means that the animal/fish is aggressive to other members of the same species.


I have done a bit more searching of older threads on this forum and have come to the following conclusions:

1. It is unlikely that Panda corys and Sterbai corys will interbreed - from this thread.

1. Since I will be adding a group of 6 Sterbai to my current group of 11 breeding Pandas, the numbers of each of species should be sufficient to prevent hybridisation and there are both males and females from each species - from this thread.

1. Further more, if they do interbreed, then the resulting hybrid offspring will be quite easily to spot (i think ) and I won't let it leave my tank

Therefore I shall go ahead and introduce the Sterbai to the tank. I know that the Sterbai prefer a higher temp to the Panda cories but I think these are tank bred specimens which were kept at around 26 C at the pet store where I purchased them so I'll assume that they have been acclimatised to 'tank conditions'. Anyway, I'll give it ago and see what results I get.

[Richard B]

Cory's have been known to hybridise but it is, for want of a better description, a one-in-a-million occurance.

I'd have no worries about mixing 2 species in the same tank

[Karsten S.]

Hi,

I have already seen pictures of Panda x Sterbai hybrids (they look somewhat like Sterbais with the black precaudal blotch).
So I think one-in-a-million is a bit exaggerated. Especially Panda males are quite obtrusive.

With other combinations (without Pandas) I would estimate the risk to get unwanted hybrids lower.

Best regards,
Karsten

[Bas Pels]

Oh dear,

I was about to combine my 3 panda with 6 similis

[apistomaster]

Corydoras sterbai have no qualms about eating their own eggs or fry. I don't see how you can hope to breed them in a community tank of Corydoras unless you make provisions to remove their eggs to a separate hatching container soon after they finish spawning. That is feasible. All you need to do is slide the eggs off the glass onto a single edge razor blade and shake them off into the hatching container.

Worrying about hybridization is like setting up a strawman. There is really very little probability that this would occur.

[Ktran]

hi apistomaster,

I plan to have both the pandas and the sterbais in their own breeding tank with breeding mops and java moss and will remove the eggs as they are laid and place them into small floating containers. I have this system running with the pandas at the moment and have about 50 free swimming fry now. I will now add the Sterbais into the breeding tank and fingers crossed I will get some sterbai fry soon!

[Carp37]

From your group numbers I'd say hybridisation is very unlikely- if it was a singleton of one species going in I'd think it a possibility, or if they were very similar species, but with 6 of one species and 11 of the other I think you'll be fine.

[apistomaster]

I think you will find Corydoras sterbai are very easy to breed and much more prolific than your C. panda. A large group can produce a thousand fry with just a handful of spawns.