Black Corys

[Jim 78]

Please help identify if the image attached is a black venezuelan corydoras or black schwartz. (org. seller seemed unsure) Been having success breeding them and would like to make sure I sell them correctly.

(sorry about the dirty glass)

[TheSwissAquarist]

@nabokovfan87 has a couple, maybe he can help…?

[nabokovfan87]

Leaning towards not Venezuelan, but these guys.  Very hard to tell with the glass.

https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=34

Technically speaking it's actually Schultzei "black"

 

Quote

Corydoras schultzei is usually considered a synonym of Corydoras aeneus. However, there is a school of thought that holds the opinion that Corydoras aeneus should be restricted to the holotype form which is from the island of Trinidad and specifically is not as elongate as C. schultzi. Somewhere across the huge geographic range of "continental" Corydoras aeneus and amongst its several geographic variations, which are really quite different shapes and sizes, sees the species featured here. If for no other reason than to prevent captive hybridisation and indeed to help separate the other forms, the junior synonym is used here as a species in its own right.

The black colour form was produced by German aquarists in the '90s and is, confusingly, often marketed as Corydoras sp. "VENEZUELA BLACK". This black colour form does not occur in the wild, has nothing to do with the country of Venezuela or the separate species, Corydoras venezuelanus.

 

Edited November 20, 2022 by nabokovfan87