Help choosing & identifying dwarf corie

[Teddifish]

Greetings, everyone,

First, thanks for being such a great resource! Thanks to this site (and help from some of my catfish-keeping friends) I was able to spend about 2 months preparing and stocking a small (5 gallon) tank in my office with charming little otos and cories. Thanks to your great advices, so far we've had no fatalities and everyone seems happy. That's the good news. The bad news is that the "dwarf cories" I bought at my LFS to go into my little tank have grown at an unbelievable rate, and are now about 2" long with no sign of stopping, and they've also colored up . . . I'm pretty sure they are Peppered rather than any of the dwarf species. I'm going to bring them home to my bigger (35 usg) tank that's stocked with tetras, and I think they should be fine, but I'm nervous now about buying more dwarf catfish at the LFS. I have two questions I'd like to ask:

1. If I try to buy from an online source (where I can choose the dwarf species rather than just being happy to find one), does anyone have recommendations for hardy, lively *little* cories who would be content in a small school (5 fish) with some otos? (From what I've read, hastatus might be the way to go?) My little tank is about 50% planted, with a filter for a 10-15 gallon system, with smooth gravel and a bogwood "log."


2. If I decide to try the LFS again, is there a way that someone new to catfish can tell the difference between young cories and true dwarf cories?

Thanks again for everything you've already taught me and for your advice.

[Teddifish]

Anyone have suggestions about how to tell juveniles from true dwarf species or advice about which dwarf to choose?

[The.Dark.One]

Hi

It's good to see that you are taking the time and effort to try and stock your tank appropriately.

I'm afraid their are no tips really I can give on spotting a dwarf cory as a opposed to a juvenile non dwarf, other than familiarising yourself with what the dwarfs look like. Have a good look at pygmaeus, hastatus, habrosus. They are the main 3 dwarfs that are available. You could even print off some images and take them with you to the shop if you are struggling to remember, or have images on your phone.

[Teddifish]

Thanks for the advice. Printing the pictures is a great idea. (I've looked at so many different pictures that I can't remember them yet, although I am getting to know the ones that I have pretty well now ) I'll try that and see if I can find some real pygmies. (I want them to be happy!)