C-143

Timberwolf · Post by **Timberwolf** » 13 Dec 2009, 06:30

I have a single Corydoras sp C-143 that I adopted after her previous keeper tore down her tanks and dropped all of her corys off at the LFS. She really a pretty special little fish, but I'd sure like to find a couple of mates for her. Are Matien and I really the only two keepers of this fish in the entire PlanetCatfish Community?

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 13 Dec 2009, 12:54

It would somewhat surprise me if they are that rare, but I don't know. I couldn't find any on tropicalfishfinder.co.uk - but I'm not sure if that's because it's listed as something else.

--
Mats

Dave Rinaldo · Post by **Dave Rinaldo** » 13 Dec 2009, 14:20

Not saying it isn't , but could it be something different, like ?

There are also no forum topics or "keepers" for C143 at Corydoras World.

Timberwolf · Post by **Timberwolf** » 13 Dec 2009, 16:45

My original thought was delphax; in fact that's how I originally listed her when I added her to the "My Cats" section of this site, but the dark bars on her head don't quite match, so I kept looking. There are a couple of pictures on the Cat-eLog page for C-143 that are exactly my fish. I can't swear that she is a C-143, because there simply isn't enough other data on the Cat-eLog page, but the pictures there are almost exactly my fish. As soon as I can get a reasonable picture of her (she seems to understand what a camera is and turns to smoke as soon as one is around), I will post it and we will begin that discussion in earnest. I can't wait to read MatsP, Jools, or Shane's ideas about what she really is.

Timberwolf · Post by **Timberwolf** » 14 Dec 2009, 01:54

I finally have a picture of my shy mystery cory! Still not the greatest, but better than simply trying to describe her. Just one problem: how in h@## do I upload pictures?!

Timberwolf · Post by **Timberwolf** » 14 Dec 2009, 09:26

Thanks, Mats. I feel a little less stupid now.

This is my mystery corydoras. My original thought was that she was a delphax, but the markings around her head don't match. What the pictures don't show is a very faint metalic green tint around her gill covers. I went through every cory with a picture listed in tha Cat-eLog and C-143 looked the closest to me. Am I wrong?

Right or wrong, I'd say I've got the best $2.00 fish in the PlanetCatfish community!

Post by **Coryman** » 14 Dec 2009, 18:13

There are two basic characteristics that differentiates your fish with C143, the first being that C143 does not have the baring in the caudal fin that your fish shows and secondly it has relatively fine body spotting, your fish show a heavier blotching pattern.

The one factor that would tend to eliminate your fish from C. delfax or C143 is the dorsal/body blotch, which from your picture sits 50/50 on the body and dorsal fin and does not reach above half way up the fin. I would put your fish closer to C. ambiacus.

Ian

Corydoras sp. C143

Image courtesy Hans-Georg Evers & Corydorasworld.com

Timberwolf · Post by **Timberwolf** » 14 Dec 2009, 18:49

Here's a little better representation of her color and markings. The "dorsal splotch"does only go higher up her dorsal fin; in this picture you can see it as a dark line behind, and darkening of the leading edge ray. It is a little more visible on the fish "in person." I do see more of a difference in her caudal fin, relative to the picture you posted, than I did looking at the pictures on the Cat-eLog. I also see finer body spots in the picture you posted than what's on my fish, although, again, the Cat-eLog pics don't all make this so appearant.

I did look at c. ambiacus in the Cat-eLog and see more differences there than i did with C-143, or delphax. Remember that I do not have any of your experience, but what my layman's eye sees is, first, a significant size difference. My fish is over 3 inches long and the Cat-eLog list the SL of the c. ambiacus as 2.6 inches. C. ambiacus, at least in the pictures shown in the Cat-eLog, is a brighter silver, overal, and, lastly, there is none of the yellowish cast that is between the two dark bars on my fish.

Could she be a hybrid?

Merci bien, Ian; this is why I ask these questions.

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 14 Dec 2009, 19:06

I know it can be quite hard to differentiate fish from pictures, but Ian has a LOT of experreince the Corydoras, and it does look pretty darn similar to:

--
Mats

Timberwolf · Post by **Timberwolf** » 14 Dec 2009, 19:20

I can't get the picture you sent to display. Can you post a link where I can see it, please? I do agree with Ian's reasoning concerning why she's not likely C-143, or delphax, but, at least based on what I've been able to see in the Cat-eLog listings, I don't see the c.ambiacus, either.

If you go to the Cat-eLog page for the C-143 and look at the pictures there, especially the first and third, you'll see why I made my guess, such as it was.

I know that Ian (and probably everyone else here) has significantly more experience than I do and I am deeply appreciative of that. That's part of why I am so addicted to this community!

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 14 Dec 2009, 20:08

Sorry, I got the wrong link.

And the picture is the first one in .

--
Mats

Timberwolf · Post by **Timberwolf** » 14 Dec 2009, 20:41

Thanks, Mats.

That's actually the one that conviced me (mostly) that she's probably not c. ambiacus. There are other pictures on the c. ambiacus page that do come closer, but still not cigar. I'm trying to get a better picture of her that shows that the dark coloration at the base of her dorsal fin does, indeed, go all the way to the tip. It is only on the first 2 spines, though. I am starting to think I may have a hybrid.

What I have been unable to show in my pictures are the coloration of her dorsal fin and the metalic green tint on her gill covers. She is a little shy and does NOT like to be startled, so any picture is a challenge. My camera is a point-and-shoot Fuji Finepix E-550, which I love, but it severely limits my photgraphic abilities, as well.

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 14 Dec 2009, 21:22

Timberwolf wrote:I am starting to think I may have a hybrid.

Timberwolf,

There is an incredible diversity of Corydoras in South America.

I would not assume a hybrid unless you have pretty firm proof.

The lack of consistency is more likely to be due to individual/regional variation within a species.

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 14 Dec 2009, 21:39

If you look at the picture by Johnny Jensen (the one I posted), you will see that it also has a darker section in the dorsal fin, for the two first rays. It is not completely BLACK, but it's darker than the rest of the nearly transparent dorsal fin.

I agree with Racoll that it is extremely unlikely that it is a hybrid, and very likely that it is a regional variation.

And to clarify Ian's (Coryman's) credentials when it comes to identifying Corys:
Amazon page for "Identifying Corydoradinae Catfish". The author of that book is the poster a couple of posts back in this thread.

--
Mats

Dave Rinaldo · Post by **Dave Rinaldo** » 14 Dec 2009, 22:00

Coryman wrote: I would put your fish closer to C. ambiacus.

Ian

Timberwolf · Post by **Timberwolf** » 15 Dec 2009, 00:30

I am humbled.

I wish that there was a way to show you this fish as I am able to see her. I am sure at this point that it would confirm your opinion. I can no longer argue that she is not c. ambiacus. I am convinced that she most likely is.

Thank you, Gentleman. I have enjoyed the discussion and the reinforcement of how much I have yet to learn (which is more than half the fun).

Sam

Timberwolf · Post by **Timberwolf** » 20 Dec 2009, 21:45

I wanted to say thanks to Dave Rinaldo, Ian, and everyone at his website for helping me narrow down the identity on my favorite cory in my tank. I originally guessed her to be a corydoras delphax and listed her as one on my "My Cats" page. Then I decided after looking at several pictures that I had been wrong (as if that's a surprise

) and, after going through every thumbnail I could find decided that C-143 was likelier. Missed again! Much discussion here (and thick-headedness on my part) brought me to the conclusion that she was probably c. ambiacus, until Dave took my pics to Ian's (Coryman) site, which focuses on corys where, I would assume, the level of specialization would help with accuracy. Thank you Dave. Their guesses (including Ian's) brought me full circle, back to the c. delphax.

Thank you again, everyone.

This brings me to a new question:

My beautiful little cory does not seem to have much interest in the albino c. aeneas with whom she shares her tank, generally just sitting in one spot, almost as if playing dead (until I try to take her out, which probably won't happen without destroying the tank). Would she be happier with a small group of her own kind and where would I find them?

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 20 Dec 2009, 22:11

Certainly, most corys do see their own kind as "friends". Other species will not be treated as "part of the gang" to the same extent. I have three Corydoradinae in my big tank - C. sterbai, C. similis and Brochis splendens. They all keep in their own groups - occasionally they will get join each other for a bit of a mingling, but they generally keep to their own kind - of course, sometimes the one group will split up and there will be a few of them at one end, and a few at the other end of the tank, etc, etc.

--
Mats

Timberwolf · Post by **Timberwolf** » 20 Dec 2009, 22:22

That was kind of my guess. She seems more inclined to spend time with my two pitbull plecos (closer coloration, maybe?) than the aeneas. She's abeautiful little fish and I'd really like to see her happy, which she doesn't seem to be, by herself.

Any suggestions about where I might find a couple more to keep her company?

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 21 Dec 2009, 00:34

Well, finding a decent fish-shop in the local area would be one possibility. I don't think C. delphax is VERY unusual, so it should be possible to find in a medium-well assorted shop.

Or try http://www.corysrus.com or http://www.frybabies.com - neither place list C. delphax at this precise moment in time, but I would expect that they know how hard they are to get, and come with recommendations from other forum members.

--
Mats

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