Hobby culture
Pearlescent
Trade name Tentative
A culture sold as Pearlescent. The working identification is Lepidocyrtus sp. 'Pearlescent'.
Read this first
The identification is a working one. Do not cite it as a confirmed species.
The classification shown here is a working one.
What the name stands for
Three different things share one name. A culture is not a species, and a species is not the animals in your tub. Keeping them apart is how this site avoids repeating the trade's mistakes.
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The culture
A lineage kept in tubs and passed between keepers under one name. The name comes from the trade.
- Name type
- Trade name
The origin of this stock is not documented.
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The species it matches
The working identification, and how it was reached.
Lepidocyrtus sp. 'Pearlescent'- Name form
- sp. (species not named) The genus is known. The species is not.
- How sure
- Tentative A best guess that needs checking.
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The animals checked
A specimen was examined.
- Basis
- Body form
- Review
- Reviewed by a curator
Care advice follows the working identification. Check it against what you see.
What would settle it
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Which species are the hobby *Lepidocyrtus* cultures named Micro Gold and Pearlescent?
Identification Needs a specialist
Why it matters. Both carry the label Lepidocyrtus sp. and they must not be merged just because they share a genus. Potted plant and isopod advice depends on knowing what they are.
What would help. Slide-mounted adults compared with Lepidocyrtus keys, and a COI barcode from each culture.