This is why many stores do not carry a huge selection of African cichlids, especially Tanganyikans. Most store owners/managers are not interested in scientific names, much less learning about the fish they bring in. I brought this fish in because it looked cool and I was pretty sure no one in the area was working with it. How many stores buy something for the sole reason that they've never seen it before? In fact, most stores avoid unfamiliar fishes. The real issue is that of common names in general. They are almost always misleading. Besides, how many Paracheirodon innesi would I sell if that's how I labelled the tank? Whereas Neon tetras are always a best-seller.
So why Dwarf Calvus? I would speculate that it was important to relay the information that this species is an Altolamp. even though it does not particularly look like the familiar co-generic compressiceps and calvus. There are, in fact, quite a few fish that are called "dwarf" in the industry even though they might grow larger than one would expect. In addition, because it is elongated it looks smaller than a calvus, even though it is longer. In fact the total body mass of adult specimens would lean heavily towards the calvus being the larger fish by a significant factor.
Finally, anyone who buys a fish from me get as much information as I can get on it. I use the opportunity of a new fish, even with a misleading name, to learn about it for my own curiosity as well as to relay that information to someone who may be interested in the fish. More importantly, I have many customers who know more about a particular species than I do and also use that opportunity to learn what they know, instead of pretending that I know more about all fish than anyone who could possibly walk through the front door of my store.
What do I know now that I didn't before I brought in these fish? 1. There's a third species of Altolamprologus, at least according to Konings; other ichthyologists leave it as Lamprologus or Neolamprologus. 2. It grows to 5-6 inches total length and maintains its elongated, juvenile shape throughout its life. 3. It is a cruising predator that eats shrimp and fish fry in the wild. 4. It is found throughout Lake Tanganyika without localized color forms. 5. It is not particularly territorial unless it is breeding. 6. It's a really, really cool fish and I look forward to seeing what Jennifer is able to do with the group that she bought. I didn't know any of these things before I had the chance to see them in person and learn about them.
Everyone knows that common names are problematic, at best, especially with Rift Lake cichlids. Do you not call your Aulonocara baenschi "Sunshine Peacocks" even though there are several species and color forms that might be predominantly yellow in color? Seems to me to be equally misleading. Yet I'll still use the name Sunshine Peacock because it's the name of the fish and will be recognizable to most customers as such. And I'll leave Dwarf Calvus on the tank too because anyone who is likely to buy them will either recognize them for what they are or ask me about the fish before they buy them.
