Updated ID info, site, and art for everyone interested in Corydoradinae Catfishes!

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Well regarded authority on Corydoras Catfish, Ian Fuller and Hans-George Evers have been working for years to update their previous edition of this book, a real labour of love for these fish and the hobby itself. Up to date with the very latest classifications that underwent huge changes recently!

Link for more info here: https://www.corydorasworld.com/shop/books

CordorasWorld is going through a site update, so will also be a good time to join and become a member should you so desire!

Don't need to be a member of the CorydorasWorld site itself, can still use the shop and/or pre-order the book from 10th September onwards without being a member.

I'm shamelessly promoting the book now, because there will be a big discount for pre-orders on the book, and want to let my fish nut friends know!


Identifying Corydoradinae Catfishes book is now complete and scheduled for publishing on the 1st of November. The RRP will be £60.00 but as of the 10th September it will be available to pre-order at the discounted price of £53.00 plus shipping. This also coincides with the launch of the new upgraded Corydorasworld web site which will be launched on Monday 9th September. The new book is in the same A5 size hard back format as the original first edition, but contains 800 pages compared to the 384 of the original. It contains a massive amount of new information, not only from our own research and experience, but it also contains contributions from Dr Martin Taylor, Dr Luiz Tencatt and Dr. Eric Thomas & Erik Wictor. The species pages take on a completely new format and follow in lineage format L1 through L9 with the relevant coded (C & CW) species displayed in their relevant lineages.


There's also new artwork by Ian Fuller on the site, he happens to be a talented artist too, so when G.Pygmaeus became available, I couldn't resist getting a print! And a mug...

Gastrodermus pygmeaus
Art: Ian Fuller


How could I resist those faces?? I'll add a photo of my new mug in front of my pygmy colony tank when they next co-operate for a photo session! I've been trying to lure them into frame, but the little fellas are fast!

Not just catfish either... I don't think I've seen this species before in my life, but just from the art I love them and want one now:

Haplochromis sp 44
Art: Ian Fuller

​

 

[Colin_T]

Link for more info here: https://www.corydorasworld.com/shop/books

Identifying Corydoradinae Catfishes book is now complete and scheduled for publishing on the 1st of November. The RRP will be £60.00 but as of the 10th September it will be available to pre-order at the discounted price of £53.00 plus shipping. This also coincides with the launch of the new upgraded Corydorasworld web site which will be launched on Monday 9th September. The new book is in the same A5 size hard back format as the original first edition, but contains 800 pages compared to the 384 of the original. It contains a massive amount of new information, not only from our own research and experience, but it also contains contributions from Dr Martin Taylor, Dr Luiz Tencatt and Dr. Eric Thomas & Erik Wictor. The species pages take on a completely new format and follow in lineage format L1 through L9 with the relevant coded (C & CW) species displayed in their relevant lineages.

about $300 Australian then

 

[Back in the fold]

Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine reported that the entire Corydoras group of fish has undergone a massive revision in scientific names .
“ This is the largest shake-up in scientific names among aquarium fishes since Kullander’s revisions of the genus Cichlasoma in the early 1980s - changes that continue to be felt in the cichlid world to this day , and were slow to be adopted . Here at TFH , we are embracing the Cory cat shift , and you should see these strange new names in future publications . “

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine reported that the entire Corydoras group of fish has undergone a massive revision in scientific names .
“ This is the largest shake-up in scientific names among aquarium fishes since Kullander’s revisions of the genus Cichlasoma in the early 1980s - changes that continue to be felt in the cichlid world to this day , and were slow to be adopted . Here at TFH , we are embracing the Cory cat shift , and you should see these strange new names in future publications . “

Yep! This revised edition is up to date with the revised names and reclassifications.

 

[Back in the fold]

Yep! This revised edition is up to date with the revised names and reclassifications.

So get your mind tuned to Aspidoras , Gastrodermus , Hoplisoma , Brochis and Scleromystax . The fish formerly known as Corydoras sterbai is now called Hoplisoma sterbai .

 

[GaryE]

The changes make sense, incredible sense. It's just a few new names to learn. People who live in places where names change when women marry should find it easy. I already had tanks of Aspidoras, Scleromystax and Brochis. It's just learning how they are now lined up.

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

New updated Corydoras World website went live last week, and looks really good! Much more up to date and easy to use.

Can shop for newly added fish art, books, badges and pins etc too!

I have C.fullari pinned to my handbag! So goes everywhere with me
Will add photos of my other goodies from there too, when I can!

The book is also now available for the reduced pre-order price

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Oh hey! Can also get your favourite species on a mug! Or a few of your favourite species, on a mug, or prints

I don't know why, but coffee does taste better on this mug. I tried to get a shot with the pygmy cories in the background, but they were refusing to cooperate. Haven't given up trying though, determined to get that shot!

On the other side;

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I have had the good luck to meet both Ian and Hans. Ian I just had the opportunity to shake his hand and to thank him for all the great things he has done fo hobbyists. Hans I have met several times and been able to pick his brain about zebras and the Big Bend of the Xingu. Finally, I have had a similar chance to talks with Ingo Seidel.

All of this happened at weekend fish events these people with either attending or there to be some of the speakers. I cannot urge folks out there enough to go to such events. These sort of experts are more than willing to talk to those of use who are legends in the hobby and experts who write books and do research and are actually in the wild where many of our fishes live.

I knew form day one with zebra plecos I would never make it their habitat to be able to observe them there and to see how where they live looks. So I had to settle for the next best thing, talking with the people who have done that.

I have a fish sized rock i was given as a gift from someone who got it from the Xingu. it went right into my breeding tank of wild L173. I figured a rock from their home might get them more in the mood.

I am still always amazed that these experts were willing to put up with my questions and answer them all. The last one I met was Leandro Sousa at CatCon in 2022. I have reached the point were I am no longer selling at such events and I am not willing to drive much more than 4 hours to go anywhere. Old age is a beech.

I encourage all of the folks on this site to make and effort to attend a few weekend fish events. You will be glad you did. And do not wory if you are new to the hobby. Most of the people and speakers at such events are happy to answer questions and to help out newbies. After all, every one of us was new at some point. I am really happy when at my fish club meeting somebody new comes in who is starting out. It means that one more person will be helping to keep the hobby going.

edite for typos and to add "enough" as suggested above

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

I have had the good luck to meet both Ian and Hans. Ian I just had the opportunity to shake his hand and to thank him for all the great things he has done fo hobbyists. Hans I have met several times and been able to pick his brain about zebras and the Big Bend of the Xingu. Finally, I have had a similar chance to talks with Ingo Seidel.

All of this happened ay weekend fish events these people with either attending or there to be some of the speakers. I cannot urge folks out there to go to such events. These sort of experts are more than willing to talk to those of use who are legends in the hobby and experts who write books and do research and are actually in the wild where many of our fishes live.

I knew form day one with zebra plecos I would never make it their habitat to be able to observe them there and to see how where they live looks. So I had to settle for the next best thing, talking with the people who have done that.

I have a fish sized rock i was given as a gift from someone who got it from the Xingu. it went right into my breeding tank of wild L173. I figured a rock from their home might get them more in the mood.

I am still always amazed that these experts were willing to put up with my questions and answer them all. The last one I met was Leandro Sousa at Catcon in 2022. I have reached the point were I am no longer selling at such events and I am not willing to drive much more than 4 hours to go anywhere. Old age is a beech.

I encourage all of the folks on this site to make and effort to attend a few weekend fish events. You will be glad you did. And do not wory if you are new to the hobby. Most of the people and speakers at such evens are happy to answer questions and to help out newbies. After all, every one of us was new at some point. I am really happy when at my fish club meeting somebody new comes in who is starting out. It means that one more person will be helping to keep the hobby going.

I love this story, and message, thank you for sharing it!
(I think there might be a missing "enough" in a sentence up there? Was surprised when I read "I cannot urge folks out there to go to such events", but think it was just a brain skip and you meant you cannot urge them enough. )

I know of one 2-3 day bigger fish event in the UK in March that I'd really, really love to go to... but another friend warned it's expensive, and would mean spending 1-2 nights t'p North (@MattW ), adding to the cost - not to mention was thinking of ways to be able to keep fish overnight in a hotel and travel them home with USB powered air stones etc, and any fish sold there would surely be pricey one!

But... I'd honestly love love love to go! Just to hear the speakers and mingle with other fish nuts. Wish I had a close fish nut friend to drag there with me, but the only in person fish people I know aren't up for the cost. But, even if I go alone, if I can manage to budget for it, I want and plan to be there!

 

[GaryE]

The big fish events are worth it. I've had fun with Ian Fuller at one we both spoke at- he's a good guy. Just because a person has expertise doesn't mean they aren't accessible. If someone attends a convention, they aren't there to avoid everyone. They're into sharing info. When you say you'd hang around with other fishnuts - they are other fishnuts.

Hans Georg has been in my fishroom, and is another character in the hobby. Brilliant and open to discussing with anyone. Whenever I've met Leandro Sousa, we've been staring at video and he's been working hard. I was hardly working. He's a very nice guy, but I haven't seen him at conventions to know him as a speaker.

There are exceptions I haven't been as impressed with - it takes all sorts to make both a world and a fish convention. There are a few wild egoists and jerks who are names in the hobby, especially some of the older ones, but I haven't met them in the world of Corys. The killie "experts' are good people, as are most of the Cichlid ones. They're just people who got into things.

Youtube stars tend to be a different kettle of fish, and can be touchy about their stardom. Sadly, a lot of them know little about their subjects compared to the shy thoughtful people out there, but they have the extroverted ways to sell their products. I think they stay behind social walls because a lot of the ordinary convention goers they meet know more than they might, and none wants to be embarrassed. They can be very stand offish. Stick with the fishnerds at conventions.

When you go, recognize that ours is a hobby that attracts shy and introverted people. Everyone thinks we're nerds and geeks because we like little fish. We of course know better. But it's not a super social hobby - we tend to be more solitary types by nature (in most cases, not all). The same true for a lot of the speakers.

I want that book!

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

outube stars tend to be a different kettle of fish, and can be touchy about their stardom. Sadly, a lot of them know little about their subjects compared to the shy thoughtful people out there, but they have the extroverted ways to sell their products. I think they stay behind social walls because a lot of the ordinary convention goers they meet know more than they might, and none wants to be embarrassed. They can be very stand offish. Stick with the fishnerds at conventions.

I can absolutely believe this! At least for the bigger "stars". Youtube, by it's nature, is more extroverted and there's more of an incentive to make videos that lure in views, not just quiet information sharing or updating on the same few tanks that are muddling along quite well, thank you! That's not terribly exciting, or clickable.

But the ones with "NEW MONSTER FISH TANK!" and "YOU WON'T BELIEVE THIS HAPPENED TO MY FAVOURITE FISH!*HEART-BREAKING*" and all "NEW" EXCITING! SHOCKING!" are going to be the ones that draw in the views, make money, and draw a wide, not necessarily nerdy, crowd.

Especially if it becomes obvious to those genuinely deep in the hobby that the YT'er is full of nonsense and just trying to make cash, then they leave the channel and only the naive and children remain.

Not gonna name specific channels, but there's a big group of very young men in Florida that post a lot of "catching fish" type videos. Millions of subs and views, clearly making good money from it, and showing that off on their channels too- more so than any fish, I'd wager, although I can't stand watching often or long enough to say that for sure. But way, waaaay too many videos where they claim to have found weird and wonderful fish in increasingly outlandish settings, that they then have to "rescue" by catching them with a fishing pole and exclaiming loudly in shock "what's this giant gourami doing in an abandoned house's backyard pool!?!?! wow! So lucky we found and rescued it!" kinda stuff. Where any adult can see they've bought fish in a store, dumped them into some strange and awful for the fish place, just to make a video.

But it's clear how they get away with it when you scan the comments, and find it's all obviously children. So so many kids watching this stuff. But it makes them money. It's super sad.

Channels that are more ethical ae still going to be more wary of "fans", simply because they're more recognisable, bound to have come across their share of nuts, and the nature of filming and uploading puts a huge barrier between creator and viewer.

But the people who have written respected, researched books, have decades in the hobby, collect fish from the wild, have been known names for keeping and breeding certain species in the hobby, but who aren't instantly recognisable faces on the street; are more likely to be invited to speak at fish events, and (hopefully) less snobby about interacting with other fish nuts, even if normally shy and introverted. Plus they must know that it's mostly people who are truly interested in the hobby and the fish that attend these events. It's not like a YT convention, from the sounds of it, although I've attended neither, so could be totally and completely wrong!

Just my own hypothetical

 

[TwoTankAmin]

@GaryE

I met Leandro at the Catfish Convention in 2022 where he was a speaker. He is a really nice guy and one of the best sources of information on the Xingu and it's fish I have ever met. He was there not only there to speak but also to promote his project Ictio Xingu. I was happy to buy the poster I got and to make a donation as well. Andreas Tanke ran the booth with the great picturs and poster being sold to help raise moneny for the project. Another nice gent who I saw again at the Keystone Clash in 2023.

I have a few good pleco books. One of my favs is interesting as it is in both English and German in the same book. One page is in English and the opposite page is the same info in German. The pictures are pretty great. They show shots of the rive area where various species live.

 

[anewbie]

Is his book any good - also i see nothing on tghe website that suggest it has the new classification. A sample page would be helpful. Never met the guy - i do see a his name a bit; a lot of these books have disappointed me - i have the cicihld atlas and the problem is that the details i want are usually missing (my focus is rather uncommon apisto - for example one species i picked up shows almost no aggression and all the members tend to hang together much like b. cupido; of course other species are of an extreme aggression and in a small glass cage you wouldn't want more than 2. I'm curious if the current lack of aggression is due to being mouthbrooders. Anyway i don't really know what his book actually covers.

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Is his book any good - also i see nothing on tghe website that suggest it has the new classification.

If you're a member of the site, or the FB group, he's been posting himself that it has the latest updated classifications.