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Common names: Fancy guppy, Guppy
Size: 6cm
pH: 6.0 – 8.0
Tempº: 24ºC - 27ºC
Tank region: All layers
Origin: Central America
Gender: The male’s anal fin is long and tube shaped – known as a gonopodium.
Notes: These fish are very hardy and thus are amazing fish for newbie fishkeepers. You can get many varieties of guppy, from dull black to electric blue and everything in between
Being livebearers, if you have a male and female you’re almost guaranteed to get babies!
Left Image: Female Fancy Guppy
Middle Image: Various Male Guppys
Right Image: Male Fancy Guppy

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Common names: Harlequin rasabora, Harlequin fish
Size: 5cm
pH: 5.5 – 7.0
Tempº: 22ºC - 27ºC
Tank region: Middle layer
Origin: Thailand
Gender: Males are thinner than females.
Notes: This is many aquarist’s all time favorite fish, and for good reason. These little guys are hardy, peaceful, attractive and active! They are at home in a planted aquarium and a large school of harlequins in a well aquascaped planted tank is a sight not to be forgotten.

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Common names: Peaceful betta, Crescent betta,
Size: 6cm
pH: 5.5-7.0
Tempº: 24ºC - 29ºC
Tank region: Middle Top layer
Origin: Malaysia
Gender: Males are red and blue, females grey. Males have longer fins.
Notes: This is a fish that was named appropriately. Whilst the males will fight, (Thus multiple must not be kept in the same aquarium!) they are very peaceful to other species in the aquarium and don’t stand such a good chance of being nipped as the ‘standard’ Betta - B.splendens. These fish also readily accept their own kind (With the exception of males accepting other males) which means they can be kept in small groups in the aquarium. These fish are good jumpers, and should have a cover over the tank to prevent this. When kept in a quiet and peaceful community – these fish will become real stars of the aquarium!

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Common names: Marthae silver hatchetfish, Black winged hatchetfish
Size: 5cm
pH: 6.4 – 6.8
Tempº: 24ºC - 28ºC
Tank region: Top layer
Origin: Venezuela
Gender: ?
Notes: A great little fish to keep, these fish are great jumpers and can achieve distances of 2M – so a tight fitting cover is a must. In the wild they use this incredible jump to escape predators and catch insects that re above the surface! Hatchets are carnivorous, and need to be fed plenty of meaty foods to stay alive. These fish are totally peaceful, and are an ideal addition to the community to fill the almost always empty top layer. Hatchets must be kept in groups of at least six to minimize stress – and therefore minimize jumping. Some sources may give this fish a difficult reputation – this is almost totally because of attempts to keep them in small numbers! It is important to have some sort of guard in your filter – as this fish’s thin body is easily sucked in at night. Hatchetfish benefit from the addition of floating plants.

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Common names: Glowlight danio,
Size: 3cm
pH: 6.5 – 7.0
Tempº: 18ºC - 26ºC
Tank region: Middle/top layer
Origin: Asia
Gender: Females are fuller bodied when carrying eggs.
Notes: A great addition to a community without any fish large enough to eat it. Indeed, seeing a school of Glowlight danios swimming through a well maintained planted aquarium is an unforgettable sight. These fish must be kept in a school of at least 6, but since they are so small 10 Glowlight Danios has the bio load of 6 Cherry barbs.

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Common names: African butterfly fish, Butterfly fish
Size: 10cm
pH: 6.4 – 7.5
Tempº: 24ºC - 28ºC
Tank region: Top layer
Origin: West Africa
Gender: Male has a slightly curved anal fin, female has a straight one.
Notes: These fish make an interesting addition to the right tank. When housing a butterfly fish, it is important to remember that these fish will eat anything alive that will fit in it’s mouth! They are good jumpers, and require a tight lid to prevent them escaping. They are strictly carnivorous, and will eat small fish (5, maybe 6cm fish or perhaps bigger fish if the fish has a narrow body; will be taken by a full grown Butterfly - their mouths are like trapdoors!) so they must be kept with fish around their size. Some fish that might be safe with them that are around 6-8cm are Bleeding heart tetras, as their tall body shape makes them difficult for an ambush predator like the Butterfly to swallow. Cory catfish and other small bottom dwellers are also safe, as Butterfly fish are strictly top dwelling fish. Butterflys love planted tanks, and it is a very good idea to floating plants or stem plants that reach the surface like Cabomba or Ambulia for the Butterfly fish to hide in, as they love cover and having a place to hide will reduce stress levels that may cause them to jump out of the aquarium. These fish may not take commercially prepared foods, so it is a good idea to keep live crickets in stock, as they absolutely love live crickets.
Image: The Butterfly fish is a true oddball - and one of the only fish that spends most of it's life on the surface. Image credit goes to TreeFork.

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Red Cherry Shrimp
(Neocaridina sinensis var.red)

Common names: Red cherry shrimp, RCS, Cherry shrimp,
Size: 3cm
pH: 7.0-8.0
Tempº: 4ºC - 28ºC
Tank region: Bottom layer
Origin: Taiwan, Southern China
Gender: Males are smaller than females, ad more transparent. Females are bright red, with some exceptions.
Notes: These small freshwater shrimp are a popular addition to the community aquarium. They are easily bred, as long as you provide good conditions. Shrimp are particularly sensitive to nitrate – and it should keep it at under 20. Live plants such are beneficial to shrimp, as they provide somewhere to hide, help control Nitrates, and of course, are visually pleasing. Java moss and Java fern are particular favorites, as they thrive in the same conditions the shrimp do. It is good to place leaves of Ash or Oak trees in a bucket of aquarium water for a few days, then place them in the tank. The shrimp will feed on the micro-organisms on the leaf, and strip it down to the skeleton, which should be removed and replaced. In order to breed them successfully, you should make it a shrimp only tank. Ideally, you should keep the temperature Tropical, although they can survive in the colder climes.

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Knight Goby
(Stigmatogobius sadanundio)

Common names: Knight goby, Spotted goby, Fan dance goby, Night goby.
Size: 8cm
pH: 7.5 – 8.5
Tempº: 20ºC - 26ºC
Tank region: Bottom layer
Origin: India to Indonesia
Gender: Males fins are larger than the female’s, and the female’s fins are light yellow.
Notes: As with most gobies, the Knight goby really does best in Brackish water. However, it can be kept in freshwater as long as the pH is fairly high. However, this species is relatively shy; disqualifying African cichlids as tankmates. It may eat smaller fish, so it definitely should not be included in a Nano. Ideal tankmates would be Sailfin mollies, who also enjoy Brackish conditions and are larger than Knight gobies. Fairly typical of gobies – this fish might not eat commercial foods and may only chomp on live foods so keep a good source of live food at the ready. Even so, this fish will accept prepared foods much more readily than other gobies, and is actually fairly omnivorous so provide it with veggies from time to time.

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Common names: Three spot gourami, Opaline gourami, Gold gourami, Blue gourami,
Size: 15cm
pH: 6.0 – 8.0
Tempº: 23ºC - 28ºC
Tank region: Middle-top layer
Origin: South East Asia
Gender: The male’s dorsal fin is pointed.
Notes: As with all gouramis, the secret is only one male and a number of females, or just females. These are relatively bigger than other Gouramis – and need a larger aquarium to counter that. However, they are relatively peaceful and are easily freaked out by fast moving fish like Zebra danios. T. trichopterus comes in 3 colour varieties: the ‘classic’ Three spot, Opaline and Gold. Males of this species – even a different colour variety – will fight a lot.

Three spot gouramis are Labyrinth fish, and have a labyrinth organ that allows them to breath atmospheric air. In experiments when the Labyrinth organ was removed, the fish died shortly after. They are very hardy, and good for beginners with a tank of at least 200 litres.
Image: The Gold Gourami is a popular variety. Image credit goes to Jglove276.

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Common names: Bolivian ram, Altispinosa, Bolivian ramirezi, Clown ruby barb.
Size: 8-10cm
pH: 6.5-7.5
Tempº: 22ºC - 26ºC
Tank region: Middle-bottom layer
Origin: Bolivia and Brazil
Gender: Mature males are more colorful. Females tend to have pink on their belly.
Notes: These wonderful cichlids are a good alternative to German blue rams, as they are not nearly as delicate and, when properly cared for, their colour can even rival that of the German blue. Ideally, they should be kept in a well planted, well established aquarium. They can be kept in pairs, or groups. As they get older, they will pair off. This fish is peaceful to other fish, but is territorial with its own kind. It is good to use some sort of dither fish like Neon tetras with the Bolivian ramirezi. It is sometimes sold by the made up name ‘Clown ruby barb’.

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Cockatoo Apisto
(Apistogramma cacatuoides)

Common names: Cockatoo apisto, Crested apisto
Size: Female 5cm, Male 9cm
pH: 6.0 – 7.5
Tempº: 23ºC - 29ºC
Tank region: Middle-Bottom layer
Origin: Amazon Basin
Gender: Females are yellow, Males are more colourful, have an extended ray in the dorsal fin and are much larger than females.
Notes: Available in 3 Colors: Cockatoo apisto, ‘Triple Red’ Cockatoo apisto and ‘Orange Flash’ Cockatoo apisto this fish is both beautiful and one of the hardiest Dwarf cichlids around. They love to sift sand through their gills, and their colors show up best over a black substrate, making a smooth black sand substrate the best to keep these cichlids over. Cockatoo apistos enjoy having leaf litter and caves as well as lots of plants to hide in, Coconut caves being excellent contenders for Cockatoo apisto décor because not only can they be used as hiding places, but moss and ferns can be grown on them as well as releasing tannins that help buffer the pH into the water. As with all apistos, it is fascinating to watch them interact and they are spring loaded with personality to please the aquarist!

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Sterba’s Cory
(Corydoras sterbai)

Common names: Sterba’s cory,
Size: 6.5cm
pH: 6.0-7.5
Tempº: 24ºC - 28ºC
Tank region: Bottom
Origin: Brazil
Gender: Females are larger – this is most noticeable from the top.
Notes: As with all corys, the Sterba’s cory enjoys company of it’s own kind. They should preferably be in groups of 6 or more, but this is not essential and they can do well in 3’s. They are totally peaceful, and are best kept over fine sand or gravel where they will not damage their delicate barbells. This species was named after Dr. Günther Sterba. They are much sought after and very desirable corys – with their spots and yellow fins on older individuals. To go along with their popularity rating, they are relatively expensive for corys. Corys love strong currents – and bubbles from airstones are favorites. They are very active when kept in proper conditions – and especially when kept over sand – they are not a disappointment! Sometimes you might notice them swimming to the surface for air.

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Flash Pleco
(Panaque sp.)

Common names: Flash pleco, L204
Size: 13cm
pH: 6.6 – 8.6
Tempº: 24ºC - 30ºC
Tank region: Bottom layer
Origin: Peru
Gender: The males start to grow odontodes on their backs when they reach about 9-10cm.
Notes: These fish are rapidly emerging as one of the most popular plecos around. Like all plecos, they love caves to hide in – and you should feed them on vegetables along with spirulina wafers and such. These fish can be prone to fin nipping – as their exotic tail extensions are somewhat vulnerable. Ideal tankmates would include fish from the livebearer family, like platys and guppys. They can get a little territorial as they mature.

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Kuhli Loach
(Pangio kuhli)

Common names: Kuhli loach, Coolie loach
Size: 9-12cm
pH: 5.5 – 7.0
Tempº: 24ºC - 30ºC
Tank region: Bottom layer
Origin: South east asia
Gender: ?
Notes: The Kuhli loach loves to dig in the substrate, and these snake-like fish have no scales – making fine gravel or sand essential in a Khuli’s tank. You may not see them much, and need to be kept in groups; three fish in a group being the absolute minimum.
The more loaches you have, the more you’ll see them. These fish are generally very cheap and don’t take up too much space as they are serpentine in shape.

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Chinese Algae Eater
(Gyrinocheilus aymnonieri)

Common names: Chinese algae eater, CAE, Golden sucking loach, Sucker loach, Algae eater, Sucker fish, Golden algae eater, Housekeeper, Indian algae eater.
Size: 28cm
pH: 6.5-8.0
Tempº: 24ºC - 28ºC
Tank region: Bottom layer
Origin: India
Gender: ?
Notes: When young, this fish is peaceful, friendly and a real delight. However, as it ages it becomes aggressive, and will latch on to the sides of large fish, and suck their slime coating. Therefore, it should be kept in an aquarium with no large, flat sided fishes (such as Angelfish), and you should be cautious when mixing with slow-swimming fish. Usually, this fish is fine with fish like Barbs or Tetras.

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Common names: Zebra Loach, Candy stripe loach,
Size: 10cm
pH: 6.0-8.0
Tempº: 23ºC - 26ºC
Tank region: Bottom layer
Origin: India
Gender: ?
Notes: The Zebra loach is an active and hardy fish for the community aquarium. It is peaceful, but likes to eat snails, shrimp and other crustaceans. It has an attractive pattern, and looks great when there is a few zooming around the tank. This fish should be kept in at least 3‘s, but will be happier in groups of 6 or more. The less Zebra loaches you have the nippier and shy they become. They sometimes school with other Loaches like YoYo’s or Clown’s. They are often bought as ‘scavenger fish’, but actually need to be given bottom-feeder tablets. They also appreciate vegetables like Broccoli or Cucumber, which should be nuked in microwave for 30 seconds before feeding. These are great personality fish for reasonably large aquariums!

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Common names: Black Molly
Size: 8cm
pH: 7.5 – 8.5
Tempº: 18ºC - 28ºC
Tank region: All layers
Origin: Central America
Gender: Males have a gonopodium instead if an anal fin.
Notes: One of the very few jet black fish available for the aquarium – this is a truly beautiful species who prefer to have a teaspoon of aquarium salt per 20L of water. However, the salt should only be added if the other species in the tank can thrive in it. Care should be taken to ensure you only have one sex unless you plan on breeding, as these fish are very prolific and all you need to do is add a male and female to the tank to get babies. This fish is not as hardy as other Livebearers, but is still relatively hardy. To be truly happy, this species should be in a group of at least 3, but it will make friends with other livebearer species.

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Swordtail
(Xiphophorus hellerii)

Common names: Swordtail,
Size: 13cm
pH: 7.0-8.0
Tempº: 22ºC - 28ºC
Tank region: Middle-Top layer
Origin: Mexico, Belize, Hondorus.
Gender: Males have swords on their tails. The males anal fin is long and tube shaped (called a gonopodium), the female’s is triangular.
Notes: Swordtails are an old favorite - boating all the good points of the livebearer family in a larger package.
Hardy, pretty, active, easy to breed and lots of colour varieties to collect. This fish is a perfect addition to a community aquarium if you want a larger fish. Watch out though, these fish WILL breed if you have males and females, and whilst some fry are eaten, 1 or 2 from every batch make it to adulthood. It is also a bad idea to keep male Swordtails with Female platys, or vice versa. Both species are in the Xiphophorus genus and will interbreed readily.

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Common names: Angelfish, Angel, Freshwater Angelfish.
Size: 15cm
pH: 6.0 – 7.5
Tempº: 24ºC - 30ºC
Tank region: Middle layer
Origin: Amazon river
Gender: Difficult, if impossible to tell when not spawning.
Notes: This graceful fish is very popular among Aquarists because of it's beautiful shape and personality. Hailing from the sluggish waters of the Amazon, they are usually kept in slow moving water but many Aquarists have had success keeping them in moderately fast currents. Whilst they are often bought as very small juveniles, they will soon grow to a vast size, sometimes even 20cm tall! Angelfish should ideally be kept in a tank of around 200 litres or more, and make an excellent 'centrepiece' fish for a peaceful community. If you plan to house Angelfish with smaller species such as Neon Tetras or Cherry Barbs, it is a good idea to buy the Angel whilst it is still young. By allowing the Angel to grow up with the smaller fish, it is less likely to eat them when it is full grown. However, if you introduce a fully grown Angelfish to a tank of small Tetras, it will most likely make a meal of them!
Angelfish can be kept either on their own, or in groups. They are usually quite peaceful, although occasionally some typical cichlid aggression can show through; particularly if there are lots of territorial fish in the tank. If your Angelfish pair up, you may also see some aggression.
There are many colour varieties of Angelfish available; including Zebra, Black, Marble and Koi forms. Most of these have been bred in captivity, but all are equally beautiful. Angelfish do well in a Planted Tank.
Left Image: As this Koi Angelfish is demonstrating, this species enjoys plants it it's Aquarium.
Right Image: Angelfish are incredibly elegant animals. Thanks to Jglove276 for use of this image.

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Dwarf Gourami
(Colisa lalia)

Common names: Dwarf gourami, Neon blue dwarf gourami, Cobalt blue dwarf gourami
Size: 6-7cm
pH: 6.0 – 8.0
Tempº: 25ºC - 28ºC
Tank region: Middle layer
Origin: India
Gender: Males are often more colorful than females; the male’s dorsal fin is more pointed.
Notes: There are many varieties of Dwarf gourami. They make great beginner fish – and would make a nice addition to a peaceful tropical community. Currently, fish from asian fish farms are carrying a virus known as iridivious, which is impossible to diagnose until the fish is already dying from it. The only answer to stop your tank being contaminated with this cureless virus is to not buy from stores importing their Dwarf gouramis from the orient.

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Bronze Cory/Albino Cory
(Corydoras aenus)

Common names: Bronze cory, Albino cory, Green cory, Black cory, Bronze catfish, Albino catfish, Bronze corydoras, Albino corydoras
Size: 6-7cm
pH: 6.0 – 8.0
Tempº: 22ºC - 27ºC
Tank region: Bottom
Origin: Trinidad
Gender: Females are larger.
Notes: The Bronze and Albino Corydoras (‘cory’) catfishes have a lot in common. They are both peaceful, active, a schooling species and fun to watch. A bit like all corys. But they are actually the same species! Despite appearances – they are totally the same kind of fish, although the albino is slightly smaller. You must keep them in groups of three or more (although 6 plus is preferable) – they will reward you with their funny antics. When kept in numbers under this – they simply just sit on the tank floor and waste away.

Corydoras species are often simply bought to eat algae and clean the bottom of the tank. They won’t eat algae – and actually need feeding with special catfish pellets and wafers. Neglacting this is as bad as not feeding them – not nearly enough food falls to the tank floor to sustain a school of hungry fishes like these.

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Common names: Pearl gourami, Leeri gourami, Lace gourami,
Size: 10cm
pH: 6.0 – 8.0
Tempº: 24ºC - 28ºC
Tank region: Middle/Top
Origin: Maylasia, Sumatra, Borneo
Gender: Males have a red throat and longer fins.
Notes: These fish are somewhat more delicate than other gouramis. (Like Three-spot, Dwarf and Honey) However, it is still one of the most attractive and easy-to-keep Gouramis around. Like all other Labyrinth fish; it can breath atmospheric air – and does best in a slow current. The Pearl gourami can be freaked out by many larger fish – and simply hide away. They are more brave and active in pairs – and can quickly become the dominant fish.

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Ember tetra
(Hypessobrycon amandae)

Common names: Ember tetra, Fire tetra.
Size: 2cm
pH: 5.5-7.5
Tempº: 24ºC - 28ºC
Tank region: Middle layer
Origin: Brazil
Gender: Males are more brightly colored, females are larger.
Notes: These tiny fish are very social, and wit hall tetras they must be kept in groups of at least 6. They make brilliant fish for a Nano aquarium because of their size, being possibly the smallest schooling fish available to the freshwater aquarist. They are very peaceful, thus making good companions for other small fish. Care must be taken not to mix them with large fish – because they will easily wolf down the tiny tetras! They are at their best in a planted aquarium where they will feel secure and can be kept in huge schools without taking up much space. Indeed, 20 ember tetras is only 40cm of fish, compared to 10 Serpae tetras making the same fish mass!

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Common names: Clown pleco, Ringlet pleco, L162, LDA22, L104
Size: 10cm
pH: 6.8 – 7.6
Tempº: 23ºC - 28ºC
Tank region: Bottom layer
Origin: Venezuela
Gender: Males have odontones near the back of the body.
Notes: Like many Dwarf plecos, the Clown pleco is incredibly hardy and peaceful to other fish. It is important to include driftwood in their tank, as they like to rasp on it and actually get some of their diet from it. They are omnivores, and do not eat a great abundance of algae. They enjoy cucumber and frozen bloodworm or similar should be offered 2 -3 times a week. Their color changes with age, young fish being dark with cream stripes and adult fish are much lighter in color. They do not eat live plants so they are excellent candidates for the Planted tank.
Image: Clown Plecos are most often found in fish shops as small Juveniles like this one. Image credit goes to TreeFork.

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Common names: Panda cory,
Size: 5cm
pH: 6.0 – 7.4
Tempº: 22ºC - 25ºC
Tank region: Bottom layer
Origin: Peru
Gender: Females are more fuller bodies, especially when viewed from the top.
Notes: These small schooling catfishes make great additions to the community tank, bringing with them activity, cuteness and the added bonus of a clean up crew. Unfortunately many people buy singles on they as ‘scavengers’ to eat leftover food. The catfish wastes away without any friends, and get an improper diet. They really need high quality bottom feeder pellets, although they will take food that is left by the other fish. Contrary to popular belief they do not eat algae. As with all Corys, they are extremely peaceful and their small size means they are more suited to a small tank than their larger cousins such as Bronze and Peppered.

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Leopard Cory
(Corydoras trillneatus)

Common names: Leopard cory, False julii cory, Three lined Cory.
Size: 5.5cm
pH: 5.8 – 7.2
Tempº: 22ºC - 26ºC
Tank region: Bottom layer
Origin: Peru
Gender: Females are more fuller bodies, especially when viewed from the top.
Notes: Many people own Leopard corys without knowing it. They are often mislabeled as the rare Julii cory, and indeed to an unpracticed eye they are almost identical. However, the Leopard cory’s spots are joined up whereas the Julii has a lot of un joined spots. They are simple to care for: they need to be in groups of at least 3 (preferably 6 for most activity and happier fish), need a well maintained tank, and need to be fed special bottom feeder pellets. They are very peaceful and will fit right in with the average peaceful community! They are not very suitable for keeping with Loaches, as they will be easily outcompeted by the larger fishes.

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Pygmy Cory
(Corydoras pygmaeus)

Common names: Pygmy cory.
Size: 3.2cm
pH: 6.4 – 7.4
Tempº: 22ºC - 26ºC
Tank region: Bottom layer
Origin: Brazil
Gender: Females are more fuller bodies, especially when viewed from the top.
Notes: One of the smallest fish readily available for the aquarium trade, the Pygmy cory is the perfect choice for a nano tank. They should be cared for as any other cory: a group of at least 3, regular water changes and bottom feeder pellets. This catfish has been known to school in the middle of the water, but more often it swims at the bottom of the tank. They should be kept over a substrate of fine sand or gravel as anything else will wear down their barbells.

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Common names: Emerald catfish, Emerald cory, Common Brochis.
Size: 8cm
pH: 5.8 – 8.0
Tempº: 22ºC - 28ºC
Tank region: Bottom layer
Origin: Brazil, Ecuador, Peru.
Gender: Mature females are more fuller bodies, especially when viewed from the top. It is ery hard to sex immature Brochis splendens.
Notes: These large cousins of Corys are very hardy and simple to care for, almost identical to Cory care in fact. They need to be kept on a fine substrate (sand is ideal) to prevent barbell erosion (which can lead to mouth rot and other diseases.) This fish is often mislabeled as a Cory but this is no huge problem because it is so similar in it’s requirements. They are much more suitable for keeping with loaches than Corys as their larger size helps them compete for food where smaller Corys would be outcompeted. They are not scavenger fish like many people believe, they need a proper diet of bottom feeder pellets. Emerald Catfish need to be kept in groups of at least 3. However, they are much more active and happy in a school of 6 or more.

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Bamboo Shrimp
(Atyopsis moluccensis)

Common names: Asian fan shrimp, Bamboo shrimp, Wood shrimp, Rock shrimp, Flower shrimp, Asian filter shrimp, Thai filter shrimp, Singapore filter shrimp,
Size: 8-12cm
pH: 7.0 – 7.5
Tempº: 22ºC - 27ºC
Tank region: Bottom layer
Origin: Southeast Asia
Gender: In mature animals the male’s first pair of walking legs are much larger than his other walking legs, whilst the mature female’s walking legs are all the same size.
Notes: These incredible little creatures are extremely peaceful. They feed exclusively on particles in the water and are harmless to fish despite their size. They are harmful to small bacteria, however. They feed be sweeping their fans around in the filter current to catch microorganisms. When bought in the store, Bamboo shrimp are a brownish color, but when fed enough food and are feeling comfortable they turn a dark red and develop a white line down their back. They do best in a community tank with small peaceful fish because the detritus in the filter it’s tankmate’s produce are necessary to create enough microorganisms in the filter to reproduce, and the filter carries some of them in the current, strait into the Bamboo shrimp’s fans. It is impossible to breed this species in freshwater, so all the shrimp you see at your local fish store will be wild caught. Sometimes, the closely related shrimp Atyposis spinopsis is sold as Atyposis moluccensis. However, it is not much of a problem as they are very similar in their husbandry and cannot be told apart without the use of a microscope!

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Rosy Barb
(Puntius conchoneus)

Common names: Rosy barb, Red barb.
Size: 14cm
pH: 6.0 – 8.0
Tempº: 18ºC - 26ºC
Tank region: All layers
Origin: India, Bengal, Assam.
Gender: Males are completely red, females are more silver.
Notes: Rosy barbs are some of the largest commonly kept schooling fish. They are great fish for the larger community, being active and peaceful. There are many different varieties of rosy barb, including the Long Fin Rosy Barb and Neon Rosy Barb. Since they are schooling fish they need to be kept in numbers of at least 6 in the aquarium to prevent stress and fin nipping. They prefer their water to be cooler than the average tropical aquarium – and make good candidates to the cool water tank.