Blub

Common names: Schwartz's Cory, Schwartz's Corydoras, Schwartz's Cory Cat, Schwartz's Catfish.
Size: 7cm
pH: 6.0-7.5
Tempº: 22ºC - 24ºC
Tank region: Bottom layer
Origin: Brazil
Gender: Mature females are plumper than males.
Notes: Corydoras Catfish are very popular among aquarists because they are small, peaceful and active bottom dwellers. All Corys are gregarious and the Schwartz's is no exception; keep them in groups of their own species and they will be much healthier and happier for it. Some aquarists mix species of cory to create a mixed school, but this is not as good as a single species group. This species spends most of it's time foraging around the substrate in search of food; for this reason a soft sand substrate is advised to prevent damage to their delicate barbels. This catfish is an excellent community fish; there are very few fish that cannot be kept successfully alongside them. Corydoras can be rather shy at times, and for this reason it is reccomended that plenty of rocks and driftwood are used in the aquarium to provide cover for them. Schwartz's Corys are not fusst about diet and should eat most commercially available fish diets. When kept in good, clean conditions a school of corys will be a very active addition to the tank and will delight the aquarist with their humurous antics.
Image: The Schwartz's cory sports an attractive spotted pattern.

Blub

Common names: Skunk Loach, Hora's Loach, Skunk Botia.
Size: 10cm
pH: 6.0 -7.5
Tempº: 23ºC - 28ºC
Tank region: Bottom layer
Origin: Cambodia, Laos, Thailand.
Gender: Females are plumper.
Notes: This small loach is rather plain in terms of pattern, but still makes an excellent choice for a loach aquarium. Like most Loaches, the Skunk loach is a gregarious species that enjoys the company of it's own kind and thus should always be kept in a group. The Skunk loach is well known for being incredibly feisty and active, but also relatively peaceful. However, as with most loaches the Skunk loach will eat snails and similar invertebrates! Skunk Loaches can be somewhat shy if not provided with adequate places to hide and retreat; thus it is important to have multiple caves in a Skunk Loach tank. Live plants can also help to create areas of cover for the fish. The Skunk Loach is a good community fish, and should get on well with most other peaceful community species. This loach is primarily carnivorous, but will also eat vegetables. They should take most commercially available fish foods however. Overall this species makes an excellent bottom dweller for medium sized aquariums and communities.
Image: This is a young Skunk Loach, at around 5cm.

Blub

Striped Barb
(Puntius johorensis)

Common names: Striped Barb, Banded Barb, Lined Barb.
Size: 12cm
pH: 5.0 – 7.0
Tempº: 22ºC - 26ºC
Tank region: Middle layer
Origin: Malaysia, Indonesia.
Gender: Males have more defined and bolder striped on the body and females are plumper.
Notes: One of the larger Barbs, the Striped Barb makes an excellent choice for a larger community aquarium due to it's peaceful nature. Making no exception from the rest of the Barb family, the Striped Barb is a schooling species and thus needs to be kept in groups in the aquarium to be happy. The Striped Barb is similar in temperment and behaviour to the Rainbowfish family; and Rainbowfishes such as the Boesmani's make ideal tankmates due to their similar size. However, unlike Rainbowfish the Striped Barb lacks any vibrant colours. This is not to say that this species is unatractive however; it's striped pattern makes for a very natural looking addition to an aquarium. The Striped barb prefers it's water on the cooler side of tropical, so when choosing tankmates this should be taken into account. Thanks to the fish's peaceful nature however there are lots of potential choices and thus this is a great community fish. Care should be taken when housing the Striped barb with smaller and skittish species like the neon tetra however as it's size may spook the smaller fishes. Ideal tankmates include Loaches, other peaceful Barbs, larger Rasboras, Gouramis and the aforementioned Rainbowfish. Being slightly larger than most other aquarium schooling species, the Striped barb needs plenty of open swimming space. However, plants are also welcome in any Barb aquarium to provide cover when the fish feel threatened. This species is an omnivore and should be easy to feed in the aquarium; taking both commercially prepared and live food readily. Overall the Striped barb is a fantastic addition to the larger aquarium.

Blub

Filament Barb
(Puntius filamentosus)

Common names: Filament Barb, Blackspot Barb.
Size: 15cm
pH: 6.0 – 7.0
Tempº: 20ºC - 25ºC
Tank region: Middle layer
Origin: India
Gender: Can be difficult with juveniles, but easier in adults. Fully grown females are plumper, and the males have extended fins.
Notes: Large, hardy and active are three of the first words used by aquarists to describe the Filament Barb. This schooling species is very easy to care for provided it has plenty of swimming space and is housed in a group of at least 5-6. Unfortunately it's size and boisterous nature make it incompatible with more skittish community fish, but the Filament Barb is peaceful by nature and should fit in will with a large community. Filament Barbs are very attractive, thanks to their simple yet striking pattern, shiny scales and long fins. This species is not picky about food, and as an omnivore will happily take most aquarium diets. This barb needs slightly cooler water than many other tropical species, but is quite hardy. Overall this fish is a wonderful addition to the right setup.

Blub

Common names: Smudge Spot Cory, Smudge Spot Corydoras, Smudge Spot Cory Cat, Smudge Spot Catfish, Violet Cory.
Size: 6cm
pH: 5.6-7.0
Tempº: 21ºC - 27ºC
Tank region: Bottom layer
Origin: Brazil
Gender: Mature females are plumper than males.
Notes: The Corydoras genus is ever popular with aquarists because it encompasses over a hundred species of small, peaceful bottom dwelling catfishes. The Smudge Spot Cory is not seen in the Aquarium trade as often as some other Corydoras species, but is usually snatched up by aquarists when available. Inkeeping with the rest of it's genus, the Smudge Spot Cory is a schooling species and thus must be kept in groups to satisfy it's gregarious nature. The tank should be designed with plenty of plants and caves, as the Smudge Spot can be quite shy at times and needs plenty of retreats. It is also a good idea to use a soft sand substrate for these fishes, as they spend a lot of time foraging on the bottom and thus can damage their delicate barbels on sharper substrates. This species will be quite active given the right conditions, and being an omnivore will take most aquarium foods that reach the tank floor. Corydoras catfish are incredibly peaceful and this makes them ideal tankmates for all manner of community fish. This species is an unusual but rewarding Corydoras to keep, and is sure to fit into all kinds of community tank.

Blub

Common names: Golden Wonder Panchax, Golden Wonder Killifish, Golden Panchax, Striped Panchax, Golden Killifish, Yellow Killifish.
Size: 10cm
pH: 6.0-7.5
Tempº: 24ºC - 27ºC
Tank region: Top layer
Origin: India, Sri Lanka.
Gender: Males will grow larger and become more colourful, but females have wider bars on their flanks.
Notes: A seldom seen aquarium species, the Golden Wonder Panchax provides an interesting mix of traits. At ten centimeters long, this species is not that much larger than the average community fish but it should be noted that it has a somewhat predatory nature towards smaller fish like Tetras, Rasboras and other similar small species. For this reason it should only be kept in communities with larger or similarly sized fish; ideal tankmates include Rainbowfish, large Barbs, Dwarf Plecos, peaceful American Cichlids and Corydoras. The Golden Wonder Panchax can also be aggressive to cospecifics; if kept in a group this is less noticable but in a pair it can cause problems. For this reason it's best to keep Golden Wonder Panchax as singles in most tanks although in a large tank a group can be kept. This Panchax is very much a top dweller; in the wild it preys on small insects on the water surface and thus in the aquarium it's diet should be mostly made up of meaty foods. It is reccomended to feed some form of freeze-dried or live food along with a more meaty flake food. Golden Wonder Panchax always appreciate some form of floating vegetation or cover in the aquarium; and is also noted for it's jumping ability so a secure lid is needed on the tank. Unlike many Killifish, this species lives in permenant bodies of water and is not an Annual species. Overall this is a very interesting fish to keep in the right tank, but should not be mixed with any species it could eat!

Blub

Common names: Queen Arabesque Pleco, L260.
Size: 9cm
pH: 6.0-7.6
Tempº: 23ºC - 28ºC
Tank region: Bottom layer
Origin: Brazil
Gender: Males have patterning on the belly, females tend not to.
Notes: Possibly one of the most attractive Dwarf Plecos available, the Queen Arabesque demands a high price and is much sought after by Catfish lovers. This Loricariidae is primarily carnivorous, so meaty foods must be fed. However, a small ammount of vegetable matter may be consumed particularly by juvenile specimens. The Queen Arabesque Pleco originates from fast flowing, well oxygenated streams with sandy susbtates and plenty of smooth rocks. It is a good idea to mimic this in the Queen Arabesque's aquarium, but they can also be kepy in Planted tanks with little difficulty. As with most Plecos, this fish requires plenty of caves and cover to feel secure in the aquarium and the Aquarist should provide for this. Queen Arabesque Plecos are very peaceful; both to cospecfics and other species. For this reason they can fit into community aquariums; assuming care is taken to ensure that they get plenty meaty foods to sustain them.

Blub

Spotted Talking Catfish
(Agamyxis pectinifrons)

Common names: Spotted Talking Catfish, Spotted Humbug Catfish, Whitebarred Catfish, Spotted Raphael Catfish, Raphael Catfish.
Size: 15cm
pH: 6.0-7.5
Tempº: 20ºC - 26ºC
Tank region: Bottom layer
Origin: Peru, Bolivia, Brazil.
Gender: Unknown.
Notes: The Spotted Talking Catfish is somewhat prehistoric in appearance and makes a very unusual addition to the aquarium. This Catfish is primarily nocturnal, and tends to be rather inactive during daylight hours but can be seen swiming around in the day occasionally. It needs plenty of caves to hide in, and the more 'bolt holes' provided the more comfortable the fish will feel. Plants are also a welcome addition, but a full grown individual can uproot plants simply because of it's sheer size so ensure all plants are well rooted! This fish is generally peaceful and unobtrusive towards other fishes of both it's own and other species. However, it has a penchant for eating smaller fishes like Tetras or Guppies; especially when full grown! For this reason it is best to keep larger fish species with it, rather than risk smaller fishes becomming dinner. Good tankmates include peaceful American cichlids, larger schooling fish and Plecos but because of it's peaceful nature towards fish that cannot fit in it's mouth the options are not very limited. Because this fish is nocturnal, it is usually a good idea to feed it during hours of darkness and it will happily accept most catfish pellets and also live or frozen foods. The Spotted Talking Catfish is a member of the Doradid family and is quite long lived; some individuals have been reported to reach 17 years old! It should be noted that this catfish can be quite difficult to handle for several reasons. It posseses spines all over it's body which can get tangled in nets and ruin them, but also make it difficult to pick up by hand. For this reason, it is reccomended that a plastic container or similar is used to catch this fish. An interesting behaviour of this fish is that when caught it will lock it's pectoral fins in order to make it as difficult to pick up as possible. This is a defense mechanism driven by reflexes, and Aquarists attempting to catch the fish by hand have found that their fingers get quite painfully locked by the fish's fins until the catfish is placed back in water. Another unusual trait of this Catfish can be gleamed from it's name - the 'talking' catfish. Spotted Talking Catfish have often been oserved makign a loud 'croaking' sound by grinding the base of their pectoral fins against the shoulder bone. Overall this is a very unusual and quirky addition to the larger community tank and will surely delight the Catfish lover.
Image: This species is decidedly prehistoric in appearance.

Blub

Common names: Red Rainbowfish, Salmon Red Rainbowfish, Scarlet Rainbowfish, Red Irian Rainbowfish.
Size: 12-15cm
pH: 7.0 – 8.0
Tempº: 22ºC - 28ºC
Tank region: Middle layers
Origin: Indonesia
Gender: Males are bright red; females are more silvery. Males also develop the characteristic high back as they grow.
Notes: This beautiful Rainbowfish is listed as 'Vunerable' on the ICUN Red List and has only been found in the Lake Sentai, New Guinea. Thankfully the species is thriving in the Aquarium trade; being one of the most common Rainbowfish in the hobby. The Red Rainbowfish is a schooling species and thus needs to be kept in groups; preferably with more females than males to minimise aggression between males. Due to it's potential size, this species deserves quite a large tank with plenty of open swimming space. Red Rainbowfish also benefit from the addition of plants to the aquarium; providing a quick retreat when they feel threatened. This Rainbowfish is quite a peaceful species, and makes a good community fish but it's large size can spook small, skittish species. Ideal tankmates include other Rainbowfish, large Barbs and Catfish but due to it's peaceful nature the options are relatively open. Red Rainbowfish prefer their water slightly more alkaline than most other species, but are perfectly happy at neutral pH levels. This species is an omnivore and will happily take most Aquarium foods. There are very few species better suited to a large community tank, and the Red Rainbowfish's vibrant colours paired with boisterous activity make it a very entertaining species to own.
Left Image: This species often displays poor colouration in the shop, but this will improve vastly after a few months.
Right Image: Female Red Rainbowfish lsck the bright red colouration of the males, but are still very attractive.

Blub

Common names: Giant Danio, Malabar Danio, Giant Danio Minnow,
Size: 10cm
pH: 6.0-8.0
Tempº: 22ºC - 26ºC
Tank region: Top layer
Origin: India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand.
Gender: Mature females are plumper than males, and males are more colourful.
Notes: Despite it's name, the Giant Danio is in fact not that large. It still dwarfs the rest of the danio family however; thus making it an ideal choice for a larger tank. This is a schooling species and thus should be kept in groups. The Giant Danio makes a good community fish because of it's relatively peaceful nature but it's size and boisterous antics may spook more skittish species. The Giant Danio is a good fish for the begginer Aquarist because it is rather hardy, however they have a reputation for being excellent jumpers to a covered aquarium is a must.
Image: The Giant Danio lacks vibrant colours, but has a very attractive subtle aesthetic.

Blub

Common names: Colombian Tetra, Blue Colombian Tetra, Blue Flame Tetra, Colombian Redfin Tetra.
Size: 7cm
pH: 5.0-7.0
Tempº: 24ºC - 29ºC
Tank region: Middle layer
Origin: Colombia.
Gender: Males have an elongated dorsal fin, females are plumper than males.
Notes: This elegant tetra species is very similar in terms of care to the rest of it's family. As with most Characins, the Colombian Tetra is highly gregarious and should always be kept in a school. It is also quite peaceful, and makes an excellent addition to a community of similarly sized fish. Colombian Tetras really appreciate being kept in a planted tank; although it is really quite adaptable. The Colombian Tetra was only recently described by science in 2002, but is nevertheless a very popular aquarium species. As with most tetras it is not overly fusst about food, and being an omnivore will happily take most varieties of aquarium foods.
Image: The Colombian Tetra boasts a very attractive blue body which is complemented by it's vibrant red fins.

Blub

Common names: Keyhole Cichlid.
Size: 10-15cm
pH: 6.0-7.5
Tempº: 22ºC - 25ºC
Tank region: Middle Bottom layer
Origin: Suriname, French Guiana, Venezuela, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago.
Gender: Males possess longer, pointed Anal and Dorsal fins.
Notes: This is an unusual cichlid in that it has a peaceful temperment and is actually rather shy. It should be noted that the adult size is quite variable; but the tank should be large enough to house the maxinum size to allow the fish to grow properly. Because of it's shy temperment, the Keyhole cichlid needs plenty of cover in the form of plants and caves in the aquarium. This will allow the fish to feel as confident as possible. Because of it's peaceful nature, the Keyhole is one of the few cichlids that can be kept in a general community aquarium without problems. Keyhole cichlids are usually peaceful with cospecifics, but being a cichlid the Aquarist should be very observant to spot any problems.
Right Image: The Keyhole cichlid lacks bright colouring, but does have an attracttive patterning.
Left Image: Here we see a Keyhole with it's eggs. It is worth noting that when breeding, the Keyhole's peaceful nature is reversed and it will fiercly protect it's spawn.

Blub

Banjo Catfish
(Bunocephalus coracoideus)

Common names: Banjo Catfish, Guitarrita.
Size: 15cm
pH: 5.8-7.8
Tempº: 20ºC - 27ºC
Tank region: Bottom layer
Origin: French Guiana, Peru, Brazil.
Gender: Unknown.
Notes: The Banjo catfish is a typically nocturnal catfish hailing from South America. Not typically popular among most aquarists because of it's inactivity and unusual aesthetic, the Banjo catfish does however have a loyal following. Because of it's nocturnal nature, the Banjo Catfish spends most daylight hours hidden away in driftwood or burried in the sand. This is normal behaviour for this species, and should always be kept in a tank with a sand substrate to allow it to do this. Banjo Catfish also enjoy leaf litter in their tank; this provides them with ideal camoflauge to hide in and also looks good in a natural aquarium. The Banjo Catfish is very peaceful although care must be taken not to house it with species which may disturb or excavate it when it is burried. There have also been reports of Banjo Catfish eating smaller fish although they are generally OK in most communities. Because the Banjo Catfish is nocturnal, it is necessary to feed it when the aquarium lights are out. They are not overly fussy about food types, but it should sink to the bottom to allow the Banjo Catfish to find it. This species is somewhat prehistoric in appearance, and when they do swim around they have a rather curious method of moving. The fish will swallow water into it's mouth, then expell it from the gills at high speed to produce a jet of water! The Banjo Catfish is extremely hardy and can be kept in a variety of conditions. Overall this can be an interesting oddball to keep, but may not be seen very often and care must be taken to ensure they are being fed.
Image: The Banjo Catfish is peaceful to it's own species as well as others. Photo credit goes to RuanMaritz.

Blub

Leopard Bushfish
(Ctenopoma acutirostre)

Common names: Spotted Climbing Perch, Spotted Bushfish, Leopard Bushfish, Leopard Ctenopoma, Spotted Ctenopoma, Leopard Bush Gourami, African Spotted Gourami, African Leaf Fish, Congo Leaf Fish, Bushfish.
Size: 15-20cm
pH: 6.0-7.5
Tempº: 23ºC - 28ºC
Tank region: All layers
Origin: Congo River Basin
Gender: Difficult to determine; males have more small spines on the gill covers.
Notes: This is an unusual species in the Aquarium trade, and because of it's predatory nature it should not be kept with small fish that can fit in it's large mouth to avoid them being eaten. The Bushfish is very popular among experienced aquarists because of it's attractive patterning which is used as camoflauge when stalking prey. This fish needs plenty of cover and hiding places in it's aquarium; live plants are ideal for this purpose. As adorementioned, the Spotted Climbing Perch is a predatory carnivore and should be fed as such. They will take live foods, frozen or freeze dried meaty foods and occasionally they will eat high quality flake food; although this must be high in protein. This species is not usually territorial but occasionally there can be some conflict. As long as the tank is not overcrowded and plenty of hiding places are provided this should not be a significant problem however and Bushfish can usually be kept together in relative harmony. Because of the fish's rather retiring nature, more aggessive fish may not be the best choice of tankmates. Good species to keep with the Bushfish are African Butterfly Fish, Dwarf Plecos, peaceful Synodontis Catfish, Rainbowfish and larger characins such as Congo Tetras. The Bushfish is both hardy and long lived, with some reports of it reaching 15 years old! Aquarists should note that the species is not often bred in captivity and many specimens in the trade are in fact wild caught. Overall this is an excellent species to keep in a community of well selected larger species and is sure to provide plentiful entertainment for many years.

Blub

Wrestling Halfbeak
(Dermogenys pusilla)

Common names: Wrestling Halfbeak, Malayan Halfbeak, Silver Halfbeak, Golden Halfbeak.
Size: Males 5.5cm, Females 7cm.
pH: 6.5-8.0
Tempº: 23ºC - 28ºC
Tank region: Top layer
Origin: India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Phillipines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Gender: The easiest method is to look at the Anal fin. Male fish have an Andropodium (similar to the gonopodium of livebearers such as the Platy), which is a tube shaped organ. Fully grown females are larger than males. Male fishes also have a red patch on the dorsal fin which is abesent in females.
Notes: The Wrestling Halfbeak is a bizzare aquarium species, and gains it's name from it's unusual 'beak' shaped jaw. Many specimens can be rather skittish when first introduced to an aquarium, with reports of them crashing into walls as they frantically swim around when paniced. However, this behaviour usually stop after they get used to the tank. Because this fish is quite delicate, it is best to keep it with other small community species like Tetras, Rasboras, Corydoras, small Livebearers and small Rainbowfish. However, whilst the Halfbeak is peaceful to other species males can be quite aggressive towards each other; often locking jaws and bickering. In it's native countries, locals sometimes bet on the victor of these fights in a similar way to betta fishes! However, it is possible to keep a group as long as there are plenty of females to each male or only one male. This is a carnivorous species and usually enjoys live food and similar meaty products, but can be fed on aquarium flakes. As with most suface dwelling species, the Wrestling Halfbeak is an acclaimed jumper so a tight fitting lid should be provided on the tank. Floating plants will also help with this, and should be included in the tank to provide a retreat for the Halfbeaks. Interestingly, this species can also be kept in slightly brackish water although this is by no means a requirement.
Image: The Wrestling halfbeak is a surface dweller by nature.

Blub

Common names: Black Ruby Barb, Purplehead Barb, Ruby Barb.
Size: 6-7cm
pH: 6.0-7.0
Tempº: 20ºC - 26ºC
Tank region: Middle layer
Origin: Sri Lanka
Gender: Difficult in juvenile fish, but easier when thy reach adulthood. Mature males in breeding condition will develop the dark colouration this species is famous for wheras females will retain the striped light colouration. Females are also plumper than males.
Notes: The Black Ruby Barb is an attractive aquarium species; with females sporting similar colouration to a Tiger Barb or Fivebanded Barb. It's care is typical of any small barb species and as such is not particularly challenging to provide for; but it is a bit more fragile than some other members of it's family so is not an ideal fish for the novice aquarist. Being a Barb, it is a gregarious species that should always be kept in groups of 6 or more. It is an omnivore by nature, and is not a fussy eater so it can be fed on most small fish foods without a problem. As with all small schooling fish, adding plants to it's environment can make the Black Ruby Barb feel more comfortable as it has places to hide. It prefers to live in a cool tropical temperature range and should not be combined with heat loving species. However, it's peaceful temperment makes it an excellent choice for a community tank of similarly sized fish. Since 1996 this species has been listed as 'Conservation Dependant' on the IUCN Red List, but this has improved since 1986 when it was listed as 'Vunerable'.
Image: This is a mature male fish; not the dark purple/black colouration.