Common Names?

Hey, I'm looking into some new fish to get and I really like the looks of altolamprologus compressiceps but I can't find a common name for it. If anyone knows its common name it would be helpful.

 

Can you post a picture? It might help identify the species over the scientific name

 

Welcome to the forum.

It doesn't really have a common name that's well known or widely used. It would usually be sold by it's Latin name.

 

Latin names are much more accurate because only one animal can have it. Common names are frequently given to more than one creature depending on where you are in the world. Much better to know the full Latin name and then you can be sure of the fish you're asking for

 

Latin names are much more accurate because only one animal can have it. Common names are frequently given to more than one creature depending on where you are in the world. Much better to know the full Latin name and then you can be sure of the fish you're asking for

True, but some of us don't know fish by those names including me.

 

Right, which is fine if you're looking for common fish like mollies and guppies and cories! But if you're on the hunt for exotics the Latin name is the way to go

 

Exotic means more $$$ to me, so that may be why.

 

Gold head compressicep

 

Exotic means more $$$ to me, so that may be why.

Probably, LOL! I think it may also be more important in cichlids just because the sheer number of them means that most have likely not been named by anyone other than a scientist

 

Gold head compressicep

That is only one color variety. There are several in the hobby.

Another "technical point" (I know, I'm terribly picky about that!). The scientific names of fish are not properly called "Latin" names, as they are often based in Greek and other languages, as well. It is, however, traditional to "latinize" the names of people when used as a genus or species name.

As noted, the scientific names of fish are supposed to be traceable to only one species of fish. Even when the name changes, the old name is still traceable to only that species, as it cannot be used again. Very uncommon fish are not likely to have common names. However, sometimes fish in the hobby don't have scientific names yet, either! The Honduran Red Point, for example, is still undescribed. Neither is it guaranteed that we are using the correct scientific name for a common fish. A list of such errors would be quite long.

There is a tendency on this forum to try to use common names as much as possible, because the majority of users here are not greatly experienced. I try to use both when I can, because I think it is important to learn.