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Visit to a Tokyo store (IDs if possible)
Posted: 23 Aug 2008, 16:23
by aquaholic
I was in a Tokyo Aquarium store recently and found a couple of fish I am trying to identify. There was a language barrier, absence of scientific names, no literature and a difference in common names and so I am hoping some of these are well known here. Information I received and my personal observations posted above each photo.
The literal translation from the Japanese tank label was "Asian Glass Cat". These are a schooling midwater fish which likes to harbour under overhangs and is quite translucent. Sorry for the photo. Prominent whitish whiskers, approx 4cm here. Unsure how large they get.
Japanese Catfish. Able to handle coldwater and gets to about 100cm? according to shop assistant. Distinctive big smiling mouth gape.
Some type of loach (sorry about glass). Approx 5cm here
Agensiosus genus? Approx 10-12cm here.
This next one is a goby and not a catfish (I think) but hoping someone here might still be able to help. They were very active, bounce about vigorously but have negative buoyancy. Approx 6cm with vivid red colouring
Re: Visit to a Tokyo store (IDs if possible)
Posted: 23 Aug 2008, 16:43
by Marc van Arc
That's certainly something else, visiting a Japanese aquatic shop!
Pic 1 is
imo
Pic 2 is a
species (you may have known that already
)
Pic 4 is
, my personal favourite
I have to skip the loach and the goby
Re: Visit to a Tokyo store (IDs if possible)
Posted: 23 Aug 2008, 17:02
by Marc van Arc
Addition:
Pic 5 (Goby) could be a
Sicydium species. You could google for that.
Pic 2: perhaps
?
Re: Visit to a Tokyo store (IDs if possible)
Posted: 23 Aug 2008, 17:44
by DutchFry
pic 3 = Schistura corica i think, maybe pellegrini
pic 5 = Stiphodon atropurpureus
nice fish
Re: Visit to a Tokyo store (IDs if possible)
Posted: 23 Aug 2008, 23:32
by Silurus
The Japanese catfish is
aka Namazu.
Re: Visit to a Tokyo store (IDs if possible)
Posted: 25 Aug 2008, 08:44
by Barbie
The Goby looks more to be a Stiphodon sp., IMO. I have Stiphodon elegans which are supposed to have blue spangling. They are avid algae eaters. I was amazed to see them rasping anubias leaves when I added them to my planted tank. They're definitely neat fish.
Hyalobagrus flavus are AWESOME little fish when you can find them! I definitely agree they are the fish pictures in #1.
Barbie
Re: Visit to a Tokyo store (IDs if possible)
Posted: 26 Aug 2008, 08:58
by aquaholic
Many thanks to everyone for the prompt answers. I have also bought a Japanese text book which does have latin scientific and Japanese common names. With this I am able to match the Japanese characters and photos. There is a huge range of fish here and very reasonable so despite a shortage of living space, I am already up to 20 tanks.
Thanks once again.
Re: Visit to a Tokyo store (IDs if possible)
Posted: 26 Aug 2008, 13:17
by Mike_Noren
I don't think that
Stiphodon is possible to reliably identify to species at this time; best guess at this time seems to be that it's
Stiphodon atratus or a very similar but possibly undescribed species known as
Stiphodon sp. 'Siboglu'. The problem with identifying these fish is that there are huge amounts of undescribed species, very little reference literature, and that they're sold pretty much under random names (so that most of the photos on the web are misidentified).
Cf this thread about it:
http://www.rainbowfish.info/forum/viewt ... &sk=t&sd=a
They're wonderful, and surprisingly long-lived, fish, though; I have had a small school of four females and one male for the last three years.
As for the loach... I'm not very good with loaches, but it looks like it might be
Schistura corica. I have no personal experience with that species.
