Blub

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.

Blub

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 e 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.

Blub

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.

Blub

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.

Blub

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!

Blub

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.

Blub

Common names: Red rainbowfish, Salmon red rainbowfish, Irain jaya rainbowfish, Lake sentanti rainbowfish, Red irian rainbowfish, New guinea red rainbowfish.
Size: Males 12cm, Females 10cm.
pH: 7.0 – 8.0
Tempº: 22ºC - 28ºC
Tank region: Middle/Top
Origin: New Guinea, Indonesia
Gender: Easy. Males are red, females are a silver color.
Notes: These Rainbowfish are true marvels of the natural world. They have stunning colors, and in a school of mixed sexes they are amazing! When kept without females, Male red rainbowfish will turn a dull rusty brown color. They need to be kept in school of at least 6, and does best with a ratio of 1 male to every 2 females. This species is listed as ‘Vunerable’ on the ICUN red list. They like to have lots of live plants in their tank, and are totally safe with them so are excellent candidates for the Planted tank.

Blub

Common names: Pikehead, Crocodile fish, Giant pikehead.
Size: 20cm
pH: 5.5 – 6.0
Tempº: 22ºC - 28ºC
Tank region: ?
Origin: Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia.
Gender: ?
Notes: These carnivorous fish are not for the beginner. They are very sensitive, require an acid pH. They can be kept in groups. They have a remarkable method of hunting: they hover in the same spot for hours on end, mimicking a twig, and at exactly the right moment they strike out with their massive crocodile like jaw at it’s prey. They will tackle even large goldfish, and cannot be weaned onto commercial food. They do best in a Planted tank.

Blub

Common names: American flagfish, Florida flagfish,
Size: 6cm
pH: 6.0 – 8.0
Tempº: 19ºC - 24ºC
Tank region: All layers
Origin: Florida to the Yucatan
Gender: Females have shorter fins than males.
Notes: The American flagfish is a beautiful cool water killifish from the south eastern United States. It is a good tankmate for other cooler water species like White Cloud Mountain Minnows and Bearded corydoras since they are so peaceful. It is a good algae eater, rivaling even the Siamese algae eater in it’s algae eating quality’s.

Blub

Common names: Threadfin rainbowfish, Featherfin rainbowfish.
Size: 5cm
pH: 6.0 – 8.0
Tempº: 26ºC - 30ºC
Tank region: Middle top layer
Origin: Irain Jaya, Northern Australia
Gender: Males fins have long ‘thread’ extensions, the males first anal fin is large and fan shaped, the males fins are a richer red to black, females are duller.
Notes: These rainbows are some of the most suitable for a small tank. They need to be kept in schools of at least 6. They prefer to live in a planted tank, and look truly stunning when kept in large numbers in a well aquascaped tank. In fact, it is one of the most magnificent sights in the freshwater aquarium world. Since these fish’s throats are narrow, they must be fed very small foods to prevent choking. They are very peaceful.

Blub

Common names: Upside-down catfish, USD.
Size: 10cm
pH: 6.0 – 8.0
Tempº: 22ºC - 28ºC
Tank region: All layers
Origin: Zaire
Gender: Males are darker and females are a little rounder.
Notes: The USD is a very unusual and peaceful fish unique in that it spends almost all it’s time upside down! In nature they ‘sit’ on the bottom of lily pads to avoid predation – which is why they live their lives in such a peculiar way. These odditys need lots of places to hang under – bogwood is ideal. They are somewhat shy, and are more active at night. However, they can be enticed out into the open in day by providing them with a small group (this fish should always be kept in a group of at least 3) and providing lots of caves and hiding places. This fish’s coloration is curious in that it is dark on it’s belly and light on it’s upside – an adaptation to living upside down. When viewed from the bottom, the lighter color looks more like the sky (so predatory fish will have a more difficult time spotting it) and when viewed from the top it looks more like the leaf litter (so terrestrial enemies have a harder time finding it). The Upside down catfish is an omnivore, and should be offered quality flake food, sinking pellets, and appreciates live foods. On a more sinister note, whjen buying at the store make sure you really are getting S.nigriventis – there are plenty of less charming and larger and more aggressive Synodontis that it could be regrettably confused with.

Blub

Common names: Scarlet badis, Red badis, Bengal dario.
Size: 1.5-2cm
pH: 6.0 – 7.0
Tempº: 22ºC - 27ºC
Tank region: Middle layer
Origin: India
Gender: Males are red, females are much duller.
Notes: This tiny, cute and colourful fish is a great addition to a small nano tank. It is peaceful, and does well with other peaceful fish. Since they are hardy, they make great beginners fish. They are not schooling fish, but prefer living in a social environment. They are very inquisitive and intelligent, so it is a good idea to keep them in a complex environment to explore. Females are rarely imported because of their dull colour. Overall, the Scarlet badis is one of those miracle fish that is interesting, easy, small and pretty.

Blub

Common names: Gold barb, Golden barb, Goldfinned barb, China barb.
Size: 8cm
pH: 6.0 – 8.0
Tempº: 22ºC - 28ºC
Tank region: Middle-Bottom layer
Origin: South East China, Vietnam, Singapore (Introduced), Hawaii (Introduced).
Gender: Males have more black patches along their flanks.
Notes: These are hardy, peaceful barbs that do well in a community aquarium in schools of 6 or more. They are not the best fish for a Planted tank, as they tend to nip at the plants and if the tank is sparsely planted they may rid you of your green matter. They are fairly good eaters, and can easily outcompete more delicate species for food, so be careful.

Blub

Common names: Pentazona barb, Fivebanded barb, Five banded barb, Belted barb.
Size: 5cm
pH: 5.0 – 7.0
Tempº: 23ºC - 26ºC
Tank region: All layers
Origin: Borneo, Singapore, Malayan Penisula.
Gender: Males have bit (just a hint) of red on their fins.
Notes: These peaceful barbs are a lot like tiger barbs, but are nowhere near as aggressive and smaller. Like other barbs, they are schooling fish who need schools of at least 6, although 5 is ok. They need a larger tank than other fish of their size might because they can be really active and tend to use the whole length of the tank. They are shy however, and should not be kept with overly active fish as they may go into hiding and become very shy. When sold they are usually yellowish, but with time and care can develop a red color. They do well with other peaceful fish and aren’t well known for fin nipping behaviors at all! They appreciate cover of plants, but also appreciate plenty of swimming space.

Blub

Pristella Tetra
(Pristella maxillaris)

Common names: Pristella tetra, X-ray tetra.
Size: 4 - 5cm
pH: 6.0-8.0
Tempº: 24ºC - 28ºC
Tank region: Middle
Origin: Venezuela, Brazil, Guiana, British Guyana.
Gender: Males are more slender than females.
Notes: The Pristella tetra is a peaceful, schooling community fish good for beginner’s tanks as they are fairly hardy. They enjoy the cover of plants, so a planted tank is a real bonus. Pristella tetras need to be kept in groups of at least 6 or they may become agitated, stressed and nippy. They are easy to feed, in the wild they eat small insects and planktonic animals, but in captivity they will thrive on a varied diet of commercially prepared foods.

Blub

Red Neon Goby
(Stiphodon sp.)

Common names: Red neon goby, Neon goby,
Size: 5cm
pH: ? – Thrives in general community pH’s, although they are best on the cooler end of the scale, probably around 24ºC - 26 ºC.
Tempº: ? – Thrives in general community pH’s.
Tank region: Bottom layer
Origin: Indonesia.
Gender: Male are more colorful – females have no red on them.
Notes: There is only a tiny amount of information available on these small gobys. They are peaceful fish who tend to graze on algae and microscopic animals. They may take bottom feeder pellets, or they may need to be fed on live foods. Care must be taken when mixing them with aggressive fish as they are very peaceful towards other fish and are easily bullied. These fish are rarely imported, and when they are they are almost always males because females do not have the colorful fins and are not as easy to sell. They have a peculiar way of swimming, and a suckermouth which they use a lot like a pleco might. They prefer a fast flowing current and slightly cooler water.