C. rabauti

[mummymonkey]

The last 2 images look more like zygatus to me.

[Jools]

Corydoras rabauti

- any one else? These are owner ID'ed and I've not checked with anyone else, so if someone else wants to comment (or if I can have more detail on why - I'm not much of an expert on these two - but I will go and check some books) that would help.

Jools

[mummymonkey]

The following is my opinion only. I currently keep and have spawned both species.

This is

Corydoras rabauti

.


It is quite a chunky fish and in good condition is a deep rust colour with well coloured fins and spines.
The broad dark line can have a slight shine in good light but never as much as on zygatus. The line bends downwards at the caudal peduncle and there is a faint hint of it extending onto the caudal fin. It is active during the day and, for a cory, not shy.

This is

Corydoras zygatus

.


Slightly more elongated than rabauti and the background colour is pinky-gray. Fins are colourless or slightly sooty.
The dark line always has a green shine to it and ends on the caudal peduncle without the obvious downward twist. Never extends onto the caudal fin.
Adults have a copper "eyebrow" which is most obvious on the rear fish. I've never seen this on rabauti which has a more general orange splash in this area.
Zygatus show a number of vertical gray bars on the forward most ventral scutes. Rabauti can have this too but it usually shows as a dark smudge without the distinct bars. (Not always though)

Here is a young zygatus.

At this age it's quite a handsome fish. Adult zygatus however are a bit scruffy looking. Rabauti is a much neater and more beautiful animal altogether.

[mummymonkey]

Got quite hard to compose the previous post so starting another:

Zygatus often have a vertical line through the dark stripe just at the base of the dorsal spine. This manifests itself as a break in the stripe. Zygatus is rarely active during the day and is very shy.

When spawning my zygatus laid small eggs scattered singly all over the tank. Rabauti spawns in clumps near the water line usually on the glass or on floating plants. Some eggs are even above the water.

The fry are differently patterned as per Ian Fuller's books.

Hopefully others can pitch in and help to clear up these two often confused species.

By the way, zygatus is much the more commonly seen species in shops that I have seen. It's often sold as rabauti.

[Jools]

I think that's an authoritative enough reply for sure! I'll move the pics. BTW, if anyone wishes to edit some of this excellent info into the species pages, then please do!

Jools

(PS Your C. metae are doing really well - they have a very nice colour and are growing well.)