ID the Cory

[ravekiss]

Help me identify these guys?

 

[keane]

First one is (pretty sure) a Panda Cory.....

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/calli...ydora/267_3.php

Second one....take look through these (too many for me to look at the moment!!)....

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/calli...ra/g_thumbs.php

steve

 

[ravekiss]

I'm adding a few more pics of them.

 

[ravekiss]

Here's a few more

 

[SirMinion]

First is almost definately a panda, (looking thin and with eroded barbles? I blame the substrate)
The second is a peppered I think, but this is a job for Inchworm!

 

[keane]

from second lot of pics the first one could be Adolfo's Cory rather than Panda....

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/calli...orydora/1_1.php

Inchworm is looking at your post now so I am sure she will sort you out shortly.

steve

 

[ravekiss]

The 2nd one does look like a Peppered Cory. On a Panda Cory, does the black color run along the back of the cory from the beginning of the fin to the end of the tail fin? His color runs like that with no skips.

 

[keane]

just to confuse me even more, could it be a false bandit cory???...

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/calli...ydora/118_4.php

Why do so many breeds of corys look near identical ???

steve

 

[ravekiss]

I dont think its a False Bandit Cory, his stripe doesnt run like that, unless they're different colorations.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi ravekiss

The first one is not a panda, but a C. metae or bandit cory. It's called that because of the little mask over its eyes. The second is a C. paleatus a.k.a. peppered cory.

Unfortunately, the bandit is, or recently was, a sick little fish. Look at the condition of its barbels compared to the one in this picture. That is always a sure tip off that it has been through a lot.

http/www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/1997_01.php

Its tail is not in good condition either.

Many corys are still wild caught and it is not at all unusual for a batch to arrive at the lfs in this shape. I would think that some of them were worse then he was or perhaps DOA. It has a serious case of bacterial infection.

Given the condition of its barbels, you might want to consider returning it to your lfs. (If he cannot eat, take him back for sure) If you want to keep him and try to cure him, try Kanamycin (KanaPlex by Seachem is good) and give him several salt dips a day for the first few days. I've had good luck treating newly arrived sick corys this way.

Did you get more than one of each?

 

[ravekiss]

Oh no...I noticed his tail fin different but I thought it maybe was fin rot. I dont want to return him, maybe I can try treating him. I thought you couldnt use salt with corys though. The lfs only had him, and a bunch of peppered corys. I thought he was cute so I bought him and 1 peppered cory. Should I start treating him immediately or monitor him for a few days. The thing is, I'm leaving Thursday for a Camping trip and wont be back until Monday. What shall I do?

Edited for Spelling

 

[Inchworm]

Hi ravekiss

It's a hard decision you have to make. It is finrot, which is a bacterial infection, but a very advanced case. Once their barbels are damaged that severely, its chance of survival is not too good. If it is cured, however, the barbels can grow back enough for him to get along.

The corys I've had like this needed intensive treatment to pull them through and it took some time. A mild case might clear up by itself simply by having an opportunity to live in clean and fresh water, but I don't think this one will. Look how skinny he is; that's not a good thing either because it means he has used up his reserve strength, so to speak.

Who will be taking care of your fish while you are gone? If they will continue the medication, you might want to keep him and give him a chance. You can do the salt dips for a few days to get him off to a good start on the treatment. If he gets cured, he will be a nice fish for your aquarium.

BTW, I can't tell from the picture, but is your peppered cory full grown? I'm asking because there have been some wild caught ones around and if this is one of them (as opposed to being tank raised) you might want to get a few more. Their colors are much nicer and they are stronger fish than the usual ones available.

 

[ravekiss]

I'll be coming back on Monday, leaving Thursday. I know he does look skinny in the picture but its just the angle. He's not skinny at all, he's quite big. SAme size as my bronze. My mom might feed them while I am gone but I'm not sure of that. Possibilities exist that she will go with us and I will use an automatic feeder. Even if she stays, she knows nothing about taking care of fish, much less treating a sick fish. . The peppered cory is not full grown, he's still small. Both of them are very active. The Bandit loves swimming against the flow of bubbles from the airstone.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi ravekiss

I see you want to save him. Good for you! I would do the same.

It's hard to tell from the picture if the infection on his barbels is active or if he is already in the process of healing. Since he was the last one left in the tank, he has probably spent some time in good clean water conditions at the lfs and might have already been treated. Can you tell from looking if his tail and barbels are healing, or do they have a slightly fuzzy appearance about them?

He can eat ok, can't he?

 

[ravekiss]

I cant tell you I've seen him eat but since he got in the tank, he's been scavenging and playing. I'm almost sure he's eating cause he's scavenging all day. I'll watch him carefully tonight after I throw a algae tablet infront of him. His barbels and tain fin dont show any fuzzy appearance. I will take some time out tonight and observe him carefully though.

Edit: He doesnt look sick at all, I hope he's been healing like you said.