where to buy pygmy or dwarf corys?

gerilyn · Post by **gerilyn** » 05 Feb 2007, 02:04

Where can I buy pygmy or dwarf corys? My order of preference is Corydoras hastatus, C. pygmaeus, C. habrosus. I haven't been able to find them locally (Denver, CO) or online.

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 05 Feb 2007, 10:59

Shops may not have them in stock, but they aren't unobtainable, so I should think if you talk to your favourite local shop, they should be able to get some in for you - although one of my shops had a bunch of C. habrosus, which they ordered in as C. hastatus - but if you're not too picky about which variety you get, you should be able to get some. I bought some of those C. habrosus for my wife's small tank - they are great...

--
Mats

apistomaster · Post by **apistomaster** » 05 Feb 2007, 23:04

Check out http://www.corysrus.com. Stock varies from time to time but I was able to get Corydoras hastatus from them. In the past, all the times I ordered C. hastus from others I received C. pygmeus. Many rare Corys to choose from and they only ship good fish.

gerilyn · Post by **gerilyn** » 08 Feb 2007, 05:45

Oh, man, I should've taken Larry's advice. I'm pretty sure the LFS did a bait-and-switch (is that TOO cliche for a fish forum?).

I finally found an LFS that carried dwarf corys. Silly me, I didn't download photos of the dwarf and pygmys to take to the store. I get them home and - what do you know? - the real fish don't match their species pictures.

Am I naive! I'm pretty sure they're Bronze Corys. I tried to take photos to upload for a positive ID, but neither my husband's camera nor mine could get a decent close-up. Maybe I can borrow the one from work. Unbelievable!

gerilyn · Post by **gerilyn** » 08 Feb 2007, 05:53

I'm keeping them though. They're too darn cute! It just means I'll have to upgrade my tank sooner, which bums out my budget, but it's already been blown to smithereens since I received this, my first, fishtank for Christmas.

apistomaster · Post by **apistomaster** » 08 Feb 2007, 06:15

Just look under the cat-elog under Corydoras pygmeus and Corydoras hastatus to quickly see if you got either one.
if they look like Corydoras aeneus, Green or Bronze Corydoras then you probaly do have them. They are a med-lg Corydoras. Very much larger when full grown than the dwarf Corydoras.

gerilyn · Post by **gerilyn** » 08 Feb 2007, 20:41

Larry, that's what I did. At the store, I thought they were C. hastatus because of the green, but when I got home I realized they're missing the black diamond on their tails.

I spent a long time in the Cat-eLog! I'm pretty sure they're C. aeneus. I suppose I could return them and demand my money back ...

Darn, they're cute! I will have to get a bigger tank, especially because I now I want more. No one warned me about how addictive and expensive this hobby is!

How fast do they grow? They're maybe 3/4" now.

apistomaster · Post by **apistomaster** » 08 Feb 2007, 21:19

Gerilyn,
I am sure happy with my real Corydoras hastatus. They have the diamond but also a white highlight at the spot and they swim just like Tetras in midwater. Even though I know better, I often double take on "what cool Tetras"
when I am walking by. They are tiny Corys but much prettier than I thought they would be.
Even having had a fish shop for 6 years and raising fish about forty it has taken all that time before ever seeing let alone owning them. Time after time it was always C. pygmeus. C. hastutus only cost me $2.00 but I like them as much as catfish costing 25 times as much.
The good old aeneus always earn their keep and at least they wink at you.

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 09 Feb 2007, 11:14

I love my (wifes) C. habrosus too - they are great little fish, always quite active.

I expect the C. aeneus to grow fairly quickly to around 1.25-1.5" TL, then slow down a bit as they start to mature.

I personally would take them back, not because C. aeneus isn't a nice fish (they are very nice), but because that's not what you wanted, and not what the shop said it was. It's fine if you and the shop agree that it's not certain what it is, but if you get something different from what you wanted (and in this case, a whole lot less rare), they shouldn't get the profit from you.

--
Mats

apistomaster · Post by **apistomaster** » 09 Feb 2007, 17:08

I agree with Matt if you really want the pygmys they should swap with you.
I have said already I have had too many C. pymeus I did not want but I have been collecting dwarf Corys too and fially have my hastatus and I have a school of the cool little habrosus. I also hava for the first time for me, some Aspidoras pauciradiatuus. Aspidoras are another "must have" if you are collecting tiny Corys. I plan on getting another order for more of all these when it warms up enough to ship fish. They give a lot of pleasure fo a little money. That is refreshing change from the elusive, expensive but beautiful smaller sized plecos like Hypancistrus, Peckoltia and Panaque species.
The dwarf Corys are great inhabitants in a nano community tank with tiny fish like the little rasboras and cherry shrimp. I use the Otos for my algae eaters in one of these kinds of set ups.