PlanetCatfish.com

A group of Aspidoras-looking fish have turned up at a local petshop; they're sold under the name Corydoras micracanthus, and I'm going to buy the entire pod.

1) Does anyone have a link to a good picture of C. micracanthus? Experience has taught me that Corydoras-ID's aren't always rock solid, and these fish really looked more like Aspidoras than Corydoras IMO. (although I certainly wouldn't mind if they were Aspidoras)

2) Assuming that the ID is correct, what are the recommended water parameters for C. micracanthus?

3) I checked Fishbase and found one record of C. micracanthus, from Saltas in Argentina, and apparently the temperature there drops to around freezing in winter and rises to a maximum of 35C in summer. This would mean it'd be a temperate species much like, say, Corydoras paleatus. Does that sound about right?

Corydoras micracanthus does resemble an Aspidoras in body shape and are closely related to C. paleatus. They are an extremely rare specie in the aquarium hobby. - Frank

This is an image of C. micracanthus. It is an extremely rare species in the hobby. It comes from Argentina and although it is a slender fish its head shape and eye size distinguishes it from Aspidoras

Picture courtesy Joachim Knaack/Corydorasworld.com

I would very much like to see pictures before I would commit myself to a positive ID.

Ian

Mike,

Is this the fish you're seeing in your LFS? We've been seeing quite a few imports from Argentina in the last year or so, so I guess it's quite possible.

Jools

They're very small, only about 10-15mm SL, so it's hard to tell, but I'm pretty sure they're misidentified. To me they look like young Aspidoras pauciradiata.
That's fine by me, as Aspidoras are almost as rare as Argentinian Corydoras here but I'll try to get a couple of photos and post them here just to make sure.

Photos of my fish. Like I said, they're very small - less than 20 mm total length - and these are just quick snaps for ID. I'll take prettier pictures for the Cat-eLog later.

http://mikes-machine.mine.nu/temp/idify ... mage_1.jpg
http://mikes-machine.mine.nu/temp/idify ... mage_2.jpg
http://mikes-machine.mine.nu/temp/idify ... mage_3.jpg
http://mikes-machine.mine.nu/temp/idify ... mage_4.jpg
http://mikes-machine.mine.nu/temp/idify ... mage_5.jpg

A. pauciradiatus. - Frank

Definitely Aspidoras pauciradiatus.

Ian

They are very nice pictures though...

*hint* *hint*

Jools

Oh, if you want these you're free to use them, but otherwise I'll try to take better pictures during the weekend and mail those to you.

Mike_Noren wrote:Oh, if you want these you're free to use them, but otherwise I'll try to take better pictures during the weekend and mail those to you.

That would be great at least becasue I much prefer working thoruhg pictures sent via email - it makes is less likely that I get who took what picture mixed up.

Cheers,

Jools