Blub

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.

Blub

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.

Blub

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.

Blub

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’.

Blub

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 have an extended ray in the dorsal fin.
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!

Blub

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.

Blub

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.

Blub

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.

Blub

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.

Blub

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!

Blub

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 gonopludium 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.

Blub

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 gonopludium), 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.

Blub

Common names: Angelfish
Size: 15cm
pH: 6.0 – 7.5
Tempº: 24ºC - 30ºC
Tank region: Middle layer
Origin: Amazon river
Gender: ?
Notes: This fish should not be kept in aquaria housing small fish such as Neon tetras – as it will eventually eat them! These grand fish are pretty hardy – but are very large. It is best to go for a tall aquarium when buying for angels; as they are more comfortable in a tall tank where they can stretch their fins. They are sometimes referred to as ‘Queen of the aquarium.’ They are aggressive feeders, so fish that are easily outcompeted may not be good tankmates.

Blub

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.

Blub

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.

Blub

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.

Blub

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!

Blub

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.