Long Finned Panda Corys Or Sterbais?

[BladeDogg]

What say you? I have the opportunity to get both at the same price. What would you choose? The sterbai are about 1 inch long and the pandas are about 3/4 inch long.?

 

[NEONCORY]

I have Pandas and Sterbais both. I have regular Panda and not long-finned. And I would not get long-finned Panda since I am not crazy about the look of them. Anyway, that is always the heated discussion.
If you go for the Pandas, I would highly suggest you to have the tank with lower temperature(low 70'sF). I find that they are much happier with cooler water with pretty good water movement. They swim against the current from the outlet of the powerhead all the time. I have the proof of tank full of offsprings. I read that they are originally near the base of the river at higher ground. It would be nice if you can keep them in their own tank but some peaceful low temperature loving small tankmate should be ok. If there is nothing threatening them, they would go everywhere. From top to the bottom of tank, especially in the evening. So you really don't need top or middle fish. They would give you plenty of entertainment.
On the other hand if you go with the Sterbais, they would prefer the warmer water as well as tolerent of higher temperature. I would keep them 75F or higher to 80 or so. That is one of the reason, they are mentioned to the Discus or Angels tankmate. I have mine with Diamond Tetras and Marble Hatchet at the moment. However, they seems they must be one of the slowest growing corys. I got mine last November about 1" and they still only about 1 1/2" now. Finally, I see the difference of sex. Again, they are pretty active around the evening also. But they tend to hide at day time.
I like them both but I like Pandas better. I think they are more active. They give me many offsprings.(hopefully, I can get some from Sterbai near future) And I think Pandas wink more.

Anyway, whichever you choose, please have the tank with right water parameter and tank size and get a group of at least 4 more is better, 6,8,10 whatever and consider the right tankmates(they probably prefer no tankmate but...). I also worry how the long finned would do in the tank with stronger water movement. I know some of the fish with selected bred long-finned sometime have tougher time swimming. That is another reason I don't like unnatural strain. If they take it to extreme, it may well be the deterimental for the well being of the fish.

 

[BladeDogg]

Thanks NeonCory. I learned a lot from your post. I was driving home and got the long finned pandas and I think the same as you about the vulnerableness of them, but I couldn't resist how cool looking the long fins were...

 

[jollysue]

I have 6 long finned pandas coming in 2 weeks. I have long finned albino peppers (w/ more coming), and they do work harder to navigated strong currents. But they seem to do fine. They have plenty of places to get away from the current, and I hang artificial plants in front of the water outlets. Sometimes they will catch a strong current and blow sideways a little, but it doesn't seem to bother them. They are in a 20 usg long and spawn regularly.

 

[§tudz]

I have 6 long finned pandas coming in 2 weeks. I have long finned albino peppers (w/ more coming), and they do work harder to navigated strong currents. But they seem to do fine. They have plenty of places to get away from the current, and I hang artificial plants in front of the water outlets. Sometimes they will catch a strong current and blow sideways a little, but it doesn't seem to bother them. They are in a 20 usg long and spawn regularly.

Hrm Long finned Sterbai and Pandas??

Get me some pics plz lol, as I've never heard of Long finned in these species, tbh I've only seen Long finned peppered

 

[jollysue]

A week from Thursday I am recieving 6 x hi fin pandas, 6 x hi fin albino peppers, 6 x hi fin peppers, and 6 x hi fin aeneus. The pandas were bred overseas, but the peppers and aeneus were developed and bred by a friend of Inchworm, the long missed lady. I am recieving all of them from him. I got some hi fin albino plecs, but they were so young, I don't know if they have all made it. At least a couple have lived, I know. When the new fish come, I will have two varieties of hi fin albino peppers.

I don't think the sterbai refered to by BladeDogg are hi fin.

 

[BladeDogg]

The Sterbai were dying off like the plague in the pet store this past week and last. I am waiting for the few strong ones to make it through all of the stress and I am going to get a few fo those. NON long finned.

The long finned Pandas are doing JUST fine and enjoying swimming together with the albino and peppered I already have. Thanks for the tips...