Id Needed - Updated With Pics!

[KathyM]

I can't ask you for an ID because I don't have a pic yet (my camera's broken, so I'll have to borrow someone's).

Picked up two cories today, and if I describe them it'll sound like they're bronze cories, but they're not (fish shop had bronzes in too and these are definitely different, and were higher priced). I couldn't read the shop's label, although I could make out it was a short name (not bronze). The lady running the shop didn't have a clue what they were and her hubby wasn't in to ID them.

Basically they're similar to bronze, but not as reflective, and much longer with a shallower head. They have a peach V coming down from the top of their heads, and their gill plates reflect gold/green. They have a soft grey/brown head, looks like suede. They have a darker patch down their sides (darker but "softer" than a bronze cory) with very similar positioning to bronzes. In the front of this dark patch, they each have a small pale spot, behind the head on their side just behind where the peach V comes down. Their underbelly is peach, reflecting gold with a tiny hint of green. Above their dark patch is peach fawn.

See? I told you it'd sound like I was describing bronze cories, but they're honestly not. I've had a look at I Love Cories and PC, and the nearest I can find are:

Corydoras eques (which looks a little darker down the sides, but not drastically)

and

Corydoras melanotaenia (which doesn't have a distinct amber V on the pics I've seen).

Any tips on going about getting a realiable ID without a photo to show you lot?

 

[KathyM]

OK nicked the sister's camera to take these:

 

[Captain Retardo]

Ugh, If I had my book with me...I remember a cory that looked something like that, I think it was a Corydoras Zygatus...

Edit- When I looked up Corydoras Zygatus on google image search it kind of looked like your fish except it had a really dark band down its back I dont think it is C. Zygatus

 

[KathyM]

Well that's it Cap'n - there are loads that look *nearly* the same. It's hard to work out which they are *lol*. If the dark patch was highers, I'd say Rsut Cory (Rabauti) but it's not. If the dark patch were greyer and smaller, I'd say concolor (but then they haven't got the high dorsal). They have amber dorsal fins. Hmmm.

It would help if I could 1) type and 2) spellcheck, wouldn't it? LOL

 

[furryrabbit]

i think its c. aenus - despite this , i have three and they look quite like this

 

[KathyM]

I've had bronzes in the past and my sister keeps them and these two just aren't them. They were in a separate tank in the LFS and were marked up as different (and very different prices too). They're much longer and not as deep bodied as bronzes. Their colours are more muted, and almost suedy/velvet looking, much softer than bronzes.

Edited to add: The angle the pics were taken at doesn't do their length and slimness justice.

 

[§tudz]

it could be an emerald Cory, they are simialr to bronze, but with a green flex to there scales.

 

[KathyM]

No, they're not brochis either. But thanks!

 

[furryrabbit]

No, they're not brochis either. But thanks!

thinking back im not so sure mine are bronze corys then - i can't remember what the guy at the lfs called them - and you prompted me two look it up . mine are roughly 3 1/2"

 

[KathyM]

Sounds like yours are brochis splendens (often called Emerald Green Cories, or Emerald Catfish) then. They have similar colouring to these, with a green hue, but are much deeper/fatter in adulthood. A good way to find out is to count the dorsal rays - cories have fewer dorsal rays and brochis have a longer dorsal fin.

I'm off to compare the number of rays on these ones to my other cories *lol*.

Right, they're not Brochis. LOL.

 

[§tudz]

lol, we are getting there, we might have to suggest every cory there is but we will get there

there is another copry that is very similiar to the bronze, but for the life of meI can't remember its name,

 

[KathyM]

Is it this one? http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/calli...ydora/111_F.PHP

Because I'm beginning to think they're thems.

 

[§tudz]

yeah looks promising, but the top picture doesn't look like it, its deeper bodied and shorter, or have you edited the image?

looking at those pics has made me doubt if my bronze's are bronze and not elongated bronze lol.... no look what you did

 

[Rez]

I can't ask you for an ID because I don't have a pic yet (my camera's broken, so I'll have to borrow someone's).

Picked up two cories today, and if I describe them it'll sound like they're bronze cories, but they're not (fish shop had bronzes in too and these are definitely different, and were higher priced). I couldn't read the shop's label, although I could make out it was a short name (not bronze). The lady running the shop didn't have a clue what they were and her hubby wasn't in to ID them.

Basically they're similar to bronze, but not as reflective, and much longer with a shallower head. They have a peach V coming down from the top of their heads, and their gill plates reflect gold/green. They have a soft grey/brown head, looks like suede. They have a darker patch down their sides (darker but "softer" than a bronze cory) with very similar positioning to bronzes. In the front of this dark patch, they each have a small pale spot, behind the head on their side just behind where the peach V comes down. Their underbelly is peach, reflecting gold with a tiny hint of green. Above their dark patch is peach fawn.

See? I told you it'd sound like I was describing bronze cories, but they're honestly not. I've had a look at I Love Cories and PC, and the nearest I can find are:

Corydoras eques (which looks a little darker down the sides, but not drastically)

and

Corydoras melanotaenia (which doesn't have a distinct amber V on the pics I've seen).

Any tips on going about getting a realiable ID without a photo to show you lot?

I believe it to be Corydoras Melanotaenia. They are very often confused for Aeneus, it is definately not C. Eques. Melanotaenia show a wide range of color variation and scientists now feel that the "lazer stripe aeneus" are actually a type of Melanotaenia. I have seen Melanotaenia with the orange v on the head seen in your pictures.



Rez B)

 

[KathyM]

Thanks Rez! you know when you just *know* something is different but when you describe it it sounds like what you know it's not? It's been a bizarre day!