Hi tropicalgirl2007,
Yes, it is sometime tough to find the Pandas that are healthy. The thing about Pandas from the stores, they are not always healthy. The reason is they are popular and they usually sell pretty quick. And they haven't had time to recover from the long trip(from breeder/supplyer to the local store) they took and now they are about to take another short trip from store to the home. I hear some main supplyer is China and Florida. And unfortunately, I don't hear much good thing about the mass produced Pandas from China.
And they are also often kept in not so perfect condition(like not so great tankmates or wrong water parameter.,etc) at the local store. I know here in U.S, one of the fish mega chain store decide to quite carrying because they have more mortality rate than make some profit.
Fortunately, I have a breeding group of them but I am also always looking for some healthy Pandas to add to my group instead of grow the young to increase the size of my breeding group(I don't like the inbreeding).
The first place I look for them is another hobbist/breeders. If there are some Aquarium Clubs or Societies in your area, that would be a good place to start. They usually have some monthly meeting or/and web page where you can ask if anyone have any to sell or trade.
My next choice would be either look around as many stores as possible. Or ask your local store to order for you. But either case, I would highly recommend to buy only if they are in store for a while. Few weeks would be ideal but at least a week, so either the fish is strong enough to survived the long trip and hopefully recovering from the trip or the weaker fish is died or show the symptom of ill instead of this would happen at your home. And it would be always good to ask where they came from.(it is always better to be nearer than out of Country since that means longer trip)
There is another way you can obtained these fish. You can get them from the mail order. Although this has few things you need to consider like cost of shipping, lack or poor visual information, lack or poor guarantee.,etc. But if you know or find the reputable seller/breeder or store who know how to ship the fish, you might get the healthier fish than you can find in the local store.
Anyway, good luck with your search for the Pandas. They are cute fish who do well in bigger group(4+preferably6 or more) as many of other Corys. And I found them do well in cooler water with high oxygenated water with some current. Although you need to check the condition they are born and raised as they need time to acclimate if you make any change in water parameter(ph, temp, hardness.,etc.)
