What name should we use to Identify our fish.

[itiwhetu]

Using the Latin name is all well and good, however there are many cases where fish have been sold under the incorrect name (both common and Latin)

When that happens there is usually a 20+ page thread trying to identify the poor thing...and some never get identified with 100% certainty

For example, there are many accounts of an LFS selling "Dwarf Cichlid" but without actually identifying which one and when bought as juveniles they tend to be pretty hard to differentiate, and then you get the contraindications on stock happen and you have both newby and oldie in fishkeeping being caught out which in turn can end up being very messy indeed for the fish mix

So its fine to use the Latin name if you can identify the fish in question to begin with, but if the fish cannot be identified for any reason then using the Latin and common potential names gets overwhelming and confuzzling to people, especially the newbies.

An aquarist who is keeping lots of fish or buying lots of fish should also buy Dr. Axelrods "Atlas of Freshwater aquarium fishes". It is an extremely easy reference book to use and has basic care requirements with each fish in the book.

 

[Deleted member 149562]

An aquarist who is keeping lots of fish or buying lots of fish should also buy Dr. Axelrods "Atlas of Freshwater aquarium fishes". It is an extremely easy reference book to use and has basic care requirements with each fish in the book.

First published in 1985....possibly out of date information by now, so cannot be 100% trusted as a source

And who in their right mind when first starting out in fishkeeping and who has never been close to a fish will take the time or expense of buying such an old book anyway?

I get why you swear by the old books, its worked for you personally...but it is not a one thing, fixes everything pastime.

 

[itiwhetu]

First published in 1985....possibly out of date information by now, so cannot be 100% trusted as a source

And who in their right mind when first starting out in fishkeeping and who has never been close to a fish will take the time or expense of buying such an old book anyway?

I get why you swear by the old books, its worked for you personally...but it is not a one thing, fixes everything pastime.

Simply because the information in that book is way more accurate than the Seriously Fish site that everyone swears about on here, but is so inaccurate it is laughable.

 

[Deleted member 149562]

Simply because the information in that book is way more accurate than the Seriously Fish site that everyone swears about on here, but is so inaccurate it is laughable.

Until I came here I had never heard of Seriously Fish

I made educated choices of which fish by discussing it with the LFS who supplies me. They have my aquarium information and advise accordingly...and are not afraid to say "no" should I consider certain fish. They actually place the fish welfare and my ability level over their bank account. A refreshing change thesedays.

 

[itiwhetu]

Until I came here I had never heard of Seriously Fish

I made educated choices of which fish by discussing it with the LFS who supplies me. They have my aquarium information and advise accordingly...and are not afraid to say "no" should I consider certain fish. They actually place the fish welfare and my ability level over their bank account. A refreshing change thesedays.

Do you know what I like about this is that you trust your LFS that amount. So much that you will disregard someone like Axelrod, where they most probably learnt what they know from.

 

[Deleted member 149562]

Do you know what I like about this is that you trust your LFS that amount. So much that you will disregard someone like Axelrod, where they most probably learnt what they know from.

I learnt alot from my late father who kept fish for over 70 years by the time that he passed away.

As I said before, reading books obviously suits you and worked for you...but its not the be all and end all for everyone, we all have our methodology and none are better than the other.

 

[DoubleDutch]

Do you know what I like about this is that you trust your LFS that amount. So much that you will disregard someone like Axelrod, where they most probably learnt what they know from.

Don't you think you have completely conflicting thoughts? You worked in retail, at wholesalers, at breeders and bred several fish yourself (if I recall correctly) and you're reffering to the most famous Ichtyologist and books, but still want to use common names.

Personally I use common names as long as we all know what we are talking about.

In case of honeygouramis and the by the trade caused mix up with Red Honeys I'd use Latin names so you don't end up with two different fish.

In case of look a likes in Corys or any fish I'd use Latin names to not mix up C.julii / C.trilineatus / C.gomezi / C.leopardus / C102 or C.melanistius, C.brevisrostris, C.ambiacus, etc etc.....

This is what they're made for and this is what Mr.Axelrod used and why fish where called Paracheirodon axelrodi / Corydoras axelrodi etc....

The employee that got his info from Axelrod's knowledge will know the Latin names as well.
Few do I think.

 

[itiwhetu]

Don't you think you have completely conflicting thoughts? You worked in retail, at wholesalers, at breeders and bred several fish yourself (if I recall correctly) and you're reffering to the most famous Ichtyologist and books, but still want to use common names.

Personally I use common names as long as we all know what we are talking about.

In case of honeygouramis and the by the trade caused mix up with Red Honeys I'd use Latin names so you don't end up with two different fish.

In case of look a likes in Corys or any fish I'd use Latin names to not mix up C.julii / C.trilineatus / C.gomezi / C.leopardus / C102 or C.melanistius, C.brevisrostris, C.ambiacus, etc etc.....

This is what they're made for and this is what Mr.Axelrod used and why fish where called Paracheirodon axelrodi / Corydoras axelrodi etc....

The employee that got his info from Axelrod's knowledge will know the Latin names as well.
Few do I think.

Not at all, I don't want people that are new to the hobby to be corrected on a name, when we all know exactly what that member is talking about. I don't want people to be put off this hobby because we decide that it is important that two fish almost identical in every way apart from some dots or strips must be named correctly. That makes the hobby looks like it is pretentious and elitist, not what I think the hobby is about. It needs to be easy to understand and inclusive of all people.

 

[DoubleDutch]

Not at all, I don't want people that are new to the hobby to be corrected on a name, when we all know exactly what that member is talking about. I don't want people to be put off this hobby because we decide that it is important that two fish almost identical in every way apart from some dots or strips must be named correctly. That makes the hobby looks like it is pretentious and elitist, not what I think the hobby is about. It needs to be easy to understand and inclusive of all people.

It isn't at all. As said the Latin names are only to get clear what they exactly have bought.

Nothing weird about that and has nothing to do with Purists, Elitists etc....

 

[itiwhetu]

It isn't at all. As said the Latin names are only to get clear what they exactly have bought.

Nothing weird about that and has nothing to do with Purists, Elitists etc....

In the case of the Corydoras does it matter if it is C. jullii, C.trilineatus, C.deiphax, C.sodalis, C.ambiacus. What difference does it make to the well-being of the fish? Why does the member need to be corrected on the name?

 

[DoubleDutch]

In the case of the Corydoras does it matter if it is C. jullii, C.trilineatus, C.deiphax, C.sodalis, C.ambiacus. What difference does it make to the well-being of the fish? Why does the member need to be corrected on the name?

Firstly that often is the question of the OP.
What Cory do I have, Cory ID etc....
There could be all kind of reasons.
A biotop tank for instance and not all Corys, as you suggest, have the same requirements.

Another reason is that our hobby is international. Pearl Gouramis are called Diamant (Diamond) goerami in Holland.

Some corys are sold as C.blotchi simply cause they're are blotched. Misnamed completely.

An LFS nearby sells Corys as : Striped, Spotted or White Cory.

But let people that want to use common names do so. Several here will stay using Latin for the mentioned reasons.

Do what you like.

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Meh its very rare that going into more detail than common names is needed.

Often on the fish were it matters they are just as likely to be mislabeled in the LFS anyway so it still doesn't matter most of the time.

There is a reason all these fish have common names. Its because they are easier to remember and use.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

In the case of the Corydoras does it matter if it is C. jullii, C.trilineatus, C.deiphax, C.sodalis, C.ambiacus. What difference does it make to the well-being of the fish? Why does the member need to be corrected on the name?

Don't bite my head off... but maybe the fish that has an extra stripe on its butt also has an extra need that should be considered?

I'm useless with Latin names and wouldn't have a clue so I'm a common name gal...but I think it's useful to know exactly what you have so you can be sure how to look after it correctly...in my opinion

 

[DoubleDutch]

Don't bite my head off... but maybe the fish that has an extra stripe on its butt also has an extra need that should be considered?

I'm useless with Latin names and wouldn't have a clue so I'm a common name gal...but I think it's useful to know exactly what you have so you can be sure how to look after it correctly...in my opinion

In most cases the common name simply is used. The OP is reffering to different species of Corys which names are mixed up in the trade and even of which the common name is derived from the Latin name. C.julii (Corydoras of Juli) isn't in the trade and a look-a-like is sold as such.

Someone mentioned them to be a different species than bought and is completely right.

That doesn't have to do with common ot Latin names but about using the right one. "They are Three Lined Corys instead of Julii Corys" could have been the Common name used.

Also when several species are having the same common name (Leopard Cory, Firemouth, Rubberlip Pleco, Clown Pleco, etc...) it can be useful to use Latin names if you like to be more specific, want to breed them or buy it company of the same species for instance.

If one has altum angels one doesn't want to end up with scalare to join them.

Plain and simple : In normal situations there is not any problem at all to use common names.
We ALL do so.
If they're (easily) mixed up or there is doubt which species we're talking about there can be reasons to use / mention the Latin name.

If people only want to call their fish Cory, Cichlid, Pleco or even plain "fish" they should do that. But this could cause some practical problems in this forum.

There is no right or wrong about this, we're free to do so and there is no law for it as far as I know

But there is nothing wrong to point out the OP has bought himself different fish than thought either.

 

[ClownLurch]

I will. They're one of my favorites! They spit sand at one another!

I like them already.