Flagtailed Panda Corydoras - Hoplisoma oiapoquensis

Product Details

Flagtailed Panda Corydoras – Hoplisoma oiapoquensis

The Flagtailed Panda Corydoras, Hoplisoma oiapoquensis, is a rarely seen and highly attractive cory-type catfish with a panda-like facial mask and a distinctive dark marking through the tail. Also known as the Flag-tailed Panda Cory, Oiapoque Cory or Corydoras oiapoquensis, this peaceful bottom-dweller is best suited to mature, calm community aquariums where its subtle pattern, social behaviour and constant foraging can be properly appreciated. It is a more specialist choice than the common Panda Cory, making it ideal for aquarists looking for an unusual South American catfish.

Key Identification:
Common Name: Flagtailed Panda Corydoras
Other Names: Flag-tailed Panda Cory, Oiapoque Cory, Oiapoque Panda Cory, Corydoras oiapoquensis
Scientific Name: Hoplisoma oiapoquensis
Fish Type: Cory-type Catfish
Water Type: Freshwater

Natural Range & Habitat:
Hoplisoma oiapoquensis comes from South America, where it is associated with the Oiapoque/Oyapock River drainage around the Brazil and French Guiana border region. It is a localised species found in clean freshwater habitats, including areas influenced by flowing water, sandy patches, leaf litter and submerged cover. In the aquarium, it should be treated as a soft-water, river-influenced cory-type catfish rather than a general hard-water community species.

Appearance & Adult Size:
This species has a pale cream to light beige body with a dark eye band that gives it a panda-like appearance. A darker saddle or blotch may be visible on the body, while the tail carries a distinctive dark marking that gives the fish its “flagtailed” common name. The body is compact and rounded, with short sensory barbels around the mouth for searching through sand. Adults usually reach around 5 cm, with females typically becoming deeper-bodied and broader than males when mature.

Aquarium Suitability:
Flagtailed Panda Corydoras are best kept in a mature planted or natural-style aquarium with fine sand, smooth décor, shaded areas and excellent water quality. They suit peaceful soft-water community tanks, South American biotopes and specialist cory displays. This is not a fish for sharp gravel, rough substrates or newly set-up aquariums. A quiet tank with gentle to moderate flow, good oxygenation and plenty of open foraging space will show the species at its best.

Recommended Aquarium Size:
A practical minimum aquarium size is around 70 litres for a group, with a longer tank footprint preferred. Although the fish is small, it should be kept in numbers and given enough floor space to forage naturally.

Water Conditions:
Temperature: 22–26°C
pH: 6.0–7.2
Hardness: Soft to moderately hard
Additional Notes: Stable, clean water is important. Provide good oxygenation and avoid poor circulation near the substrate. Fine sand is strongly recommended to protect the barbels and allow natural feeding behaviour. Avoid very hard, alkaline conditions where possible.

Temperament & Tank Mates:
Aquarium Category: Community Fish

Flagtailed Panda Corydoras are peaceful and social. They should be kept in groups of at least six, with larger groups giving better confidence and more natural behaviour. Suitable tank mates include small tetras, pencilfish, rasboras, peaceful dwarf cichlids, small gourami and other calm community fish that enjoy similar water conditions. Avoid large predators, aggressive cichlids, fin-nippers, boisterous barbs and very competitive bottom feeders. They are not suitable as single fish and should not be mixed into rough community tanks where they may struggle to feed.

Feeding:
This species is an omnivorous micro-forager. Offer a varied diet based around quality sinking catfish pellets, small soft granules and fine sinking foods. Supplement regularly with frozen or live foods such as bloodworm, daphnia, cyclops, brineshrimp and tubifex. They will pick through the substrate for small food items, but they should not be expected to live on leftovers. In busy aquariums, feed sinking foods after lights dim to make sure the group gets enough.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:
Flagtailed Panda Corydoras spend most of their time at the bottom, sifting sand, resting in loose groups and exploring shaded areas around wood, plants or leaf litter. They may make occasional quick trips to the surface to take air, which is normal for cory-type catfish. In a settled group, they become more visible and active, often moving together across the front of the tank. Breeding may occur in mature aquariums, with eggs placed on glass, leaves or décor after conditioning with good food and cool water changes.

Care Notes:
Keep this species in a group, use fine sand and maintain excellent water quality. Avoid sharp gravel, dirty substrate and unstable new aquariums. This is a more specialist cory-type catfish and should be housed with calm fish that will not outcompete it at feeding time. Regular water changes, stable soft to neutral conditions and a mature filter are strongly recommended.

Recommended For:
Intermediate

Availability:
Rare to occasional; usually seen as a specialist import and sometimes available as captive-bred stock depending on supply.

Image Disclaimer:
All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Natural variation in size, colour, pattern and markings can occur between individual fish.