Author Archives: Paul_

If you ever wondered what gives Amazonian small fish nightmares, here’s the answer. Hydrolycus tatauaia is a saber-toothed tetra that impales its prey with the extremely elongated teeth in its lower jaw, making escape impossible. Once the prey has wriggled to death, it is devoured. These teeth are so long that when the mouth is closed, they are pushed into specially designed cavities in the upper jaw and skull, like a saber into a sheath. Sweet dreams…

In terms of color, Hydrolycus tatauaia, which by the way is widely distributed in the warm clear water rivers of tropical South America (Amazonas, Orinoco, Guyana countries) and can grow a good 60 cm long and weigh 2.7 kg, is the prettiest of its clan. Not only the fins are strongly tinted red-orange, also the back shows this tint. Among themselves and against fish that are not considered food, Hydrolycus are peaceful. One must be rather careful whom one puts to the saber-toothed tetras, because they are somewhat jumpy and cannot deal well with boorish behavior.

It goes without saying that such fish are only suitable for specialists and show aquariums. For the care it is very important that the water is as little bacterial loaded as possible, saber-toothed tetras like it warm (26-30°C) and have a high metabolism, therefore a good biological filtration is indispensable. 

For our customers: the animals have code 259336 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

We currently have magnificent, large bred specimens of the Kitty tetra in stock. The males already have wonderfully developed dorsal fin “flags”. This species has been confused in the past with Hyphessobrycon lowae, which is a different species.

For our customers: the animals have code 261334 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photo: Frank Schäfer

The lizard tetras of the genus Iguanodectes are in general very rare aquarium fish. Currently 8 species are accepted. The very slender fish attain a maximum length of about 7 cm and are peaceful schooling fish.

We could import the very pretty Iguanodectes geisleri from Venezuela. This blackwater fish is characterized by the three coloured longitudinal bands on the flank. Males can be easily recognized by the red ventral, anal and caudal fins, which are transparent in females.

For our customers: the fish have code 264613 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Iguanodectes: means “Iguana biter”, referring to the teeth structure. geisleri: dedication name for Rolf Geisler (1925-2012).

Suggestion of a common name: Threebanded lizard tetra

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Finally we are able to offer this tiny, very nice and extremely rare dwarf tetra once more. For more information please see http://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/news/Tucanoichthys_tucano_en/.

For our customers: the animals have code 298923 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

The tigerfish of the genus Hydrocynus are the top predators among the freshwater fishes of Africa. H. goliath represents the largest species, maximum length reported so far is more than 130 cm and 50 kg weight. Our specimens currently are 10-12 cm long.

Tigerfish are very popular among sport fishers, but aquarists specialized in predatory fish also get nervous when they get the opportunity to observe these animals, as they represent everything that is typical for a predator: power, size, elegance and a deathful set of teeth.

Juveniles of the different species of Hydrocynus look quite similar to each other; all have a silvery shine on the flanks and a similiar shape of the body. H. goliath can be recognized best by the fact that only the lower lobe of the caudal fin has red coloration. The species is native in the Congo basin and Lake Tanganyka.

Hydrocynus goliath is quite peaceful against conspecifics and other tankmates as long as they do not fit as prey. The teeth cannot be used for dissipating or gnawing, but work like a trap and prong the feeder fish.

For our customers: the fish have code 1414103 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Hydrocynus: from ancient Greek, means “waterdog”. goliath: after the mythological giantic warrior in the bible, Goliath.

Common name: Giant tigerfish

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

For the first time ever we can offer this attractive new tetra. Our specimens are German bred ones. Hyphessobrycon melanostichos has been described scientifically only in 2006. Until now the fish is known only from the upper reaches of the Rio Tapajos, namely a small river called Rio Doze de Outubro. If our fish are identical with H. melanostichos cannot be said for sure so far, but they have many similarities with that species.

Hyphessobrycon cf. melanostichos are very lively tetras. They reach a maximum length of about 3-4 cm. When the fish are displaying their proximal part of the back becomes bright red as well as the fins do. Keeping these fish in aquaria is pretty easy and comparable to that of other small tetras.

For our customers: the fish have code 261834 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in limited numbers only!

Lexicon: Hyphessobrycon: ancient Greek, means “small Brycon”. Brycon is another genus of tetras. melanostichos: ancient Greek, means “with a black band”.

Suggestion of a common name: Fireback-Blackband-Tetra

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

We were able to import this obviously undescribed species of Crenuchus from Venezuela. This beautiful, reddish tetra is distinguished from the only described species of the genus (Crenuchus spilurus) by the deeper body, the orange-red fins, the only hardly visible caudal spot and the fact that the anal fin in males of the new Crenuchus is not as much extended as in males of C. spilurus. The latter is imported together with the new species.

The females of the new Crenuchus – sadly the shipment contained only very few females – have no pattern in the dorsal fin. It is unknown how big the species may become, but our specimens are about 5 cm long and fully sexually differenciated.

Crenuchus are broodcaring fishes, an exception within the tetra relationship. Males occupy tubes or other types of cave for breeding. The fish spawn in an upside-down manner and attach the eggs on the roof of the cave. The male guards the eggs until thy hatch, the the broodcare ends.

Hopefully we will able to import a larger number of these beautiful fish in the near future.

For our customers: the animals have code 250235 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Only a very limited number of specimens available!

Lexicon: Crenuchus: ancient Greek, means “guardian of the spring”. spilurus: ancient Greek, means “with a caudal spot”.

Suggestion of a common name: Red Sailfin Tetra

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

This beautiful striped Leporinus originates from the Ventuari river in Venezuela. It represents possibly a still undescribed species of Leporinus; Leporinus with a similar coloration are known so far only from the Rio Tapajos and Rio Xingu in Brazil; these “haresnouts” (this is what the name Leporinus means translated) have been described in 1929 under the name of Leporinus fasciatus tigrinus. Nowadays this subspecies is usually regarded as a full species, eg Leporinus tigrinus.

The double band in front of the dorsal fin and the shining scales on the back are very obvious and seem to be species-specific. Against their own kind Leporinus are known to be quarrelsome sometimes, but our fish are quite peaceful so far.

One may reckon that the species attains a total length of more than 20 cm, as its close relatives (L. fasciatus, L. affinis, L. y-ophorus) do. It is also very likely that the fish feeds mainly on plant material. Currently our fish are between 6 and 8 cm long.

For our customers: the fish have code 265773 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in very limited numbers only!

Lexicon: Leporinus: Latin, means “haresnout”. tigrinus: means “striped like a tiger”.

Suggestion of a common name: Tiger-Leporinus

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

We are able to import this rare and comparably small (up to 13.5 cm standard length without caudal fin), pretty pacu only very occasionally. This is due to the fact that Acnodon represents a type of fish that lives in open waters. This is also obvious from its typical pattern, consisting of thin vertical stripes on a light blue body, which perform an excellent camouflage when the sun shines in natural waters. These fish try to escape in stampede when disturbed. This behaviour makes it very difficult to collect them and the collectors also need a lot of patience and knowledge until the fish have settled down.

When kept in aquaria, these fish need a comparably large tank. Acnodon does not represent a genus of specialized plant eaters. like many other pacus are, but they need nevertheless some plant food (special flakes for example) to stay healthy.

Against tankmates, may they belong to their own or to other species, sheep pacus (this is their common name) are usually peaceful. They need warm (26-30°C), clean and oxygen rich water and love a strong current.

For our customers: the animals have code 202703 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon:

Acnodon: from ancient Greek, means “without the projections on a hunting spear”; this name was chosen in the erroneous believe that the type species, A. oligacanthus, lacks the predorsal spine. However, this spine is present in the genus.

normani: dedication name for John Roxbrough Norman (1898-1944).

Common name: sheep pacu

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

This dainty little characin was a fairly popular aquarium fish in the 1950s and 1960s – according to the literature, at least. Nowadays it is only very rarely seen in the trade.

The species is comparatively widespread in Central Africa. It has been reported from Angola, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, and the D. R. Congo However, it would appear that this little fish (around 2.5 – 3 cm long) is commonly overlooked or prefers habitats where it can’t be collected effectively. Otherwise it is difficult to explain why the species so rarely turns up in the trade.

There is also a question mark over whether all fishes determined as Neolebias ansorgii actually belong to this species. Depending on the locality, these fishes look very different and it has yet to be clarified what the fish described by Boulenger in 1912, from the Lucula River in Angola, actually looks like in life. The fish we can offer currently are offspring from a sample of five specimens sent to our company in spring 2012. The variant or species exhibits a very attractive, brilliant green lateral stripe.

These dwarfs, which aren’t particularly delicate, are best maintained in a small species tank. In the company of larger and livelier fishes they become timid and pale, as also happens in brightly lit aquaria. So, muted light, dark substrate (peat fiber), soft water, pH 6.0-6.5, and a temperature around 24 °C. You should then get a lot of pleasure from these charming little fishes, which will eat all the usual fish foods of appropriate size.

There is a current discussion whether all species of Neolebias should be better placed in Nannaethiops, for the differences seem not to justify two separate genera.

For our customers: the fish have code 154512 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in limited numbers only!

Lexicon: Neolebias: from ancient Greek, means “new Lebias”; Lebias is a different genus of fish. ansorgii: dedication name for the collector of the species, William John Ansorge (1850-1913). Nannaethiops: means about “small Ethiopian”.

Suggestion of a common name: Ansorge´s Neolebias

Text: Frank Schäfer, photos: Frank Schäfer & Dieter Bork

On tuesday 28.8.2012 we informed you in our Extra-Newsletter that the rare headstander Pseudanos trimaculatus from Peru had arrived. One of our readers – a specialist in headstanders – informed us kindly that the import contains two species, the rare P. trimaculatus and the even rarer Pseudanos gracilis. Hearty thanks for the hint! We have assorted our fish now and can offer both species in limited numbers.

For our customers: Pseudanos trimaculatus has code 206103 on our stocklist, P. gracilis code 205733. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

We received the very rare Threespotted headstander from Peru. The size of the fish is 5-7 cm.

For our customers: the fish have code 206103 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photo: Frank Schäfer

The Flag Tetra (Hyphessobrycon heterorhabdus) belongs to most beautiful small tetras of Amazonia. A sister species, H. amapaensis, occurs in Brazil. It has a similar coloration, but can be recognized by the broad, red stripe. Both species are much sought after. Now we were able to import another species of Flag Tetra from Peru, which belongs probably to a species not recognized by science yet. It looks most similar to the described species Hyphessobrycon agulha. So we decided to call it Hyphessobrycon cf. agulha on our stocklist.

IN THE MEANTIME THE SPECIES HAS BEEN DESCRIBED SCIENTIFICALLY UNDER THE NAME OF HYPHESSOBRYCON ESCHWARTZAE.

The very pretty new species looks a bit like a cross of Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi (Black Neon Tetra) and Hemigrammus erythrozonus (Glowlight Tetra). The bright red eye is very striking. The behaviour of the new Flag Tetra, which attains a maximum length of 3-4 cm, is comparable to that of other small tetras. Hyphessobrycon cf. agulha prefers to swim in schools and looks best in well planted aquaria with other quiet tankmates. Soft and slightly acidic water is much liked by the fish, but they also adapt very well to other water conditions. The new Flag Tetra feeds readily on any usual type of food for ornamental fish. Plants are not bothered as well as tankmates are completely left at peace. The water temperature may lie between 22 and 28°C.

For our customers: the fish have code 255973 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Hyphessobrycon: ancient Greek, means “small Brycon”. Brycon is another genus of tetras. heterorhabdus: ancient Greek, means “with different stripe”, which refers to the coloration. amapaensis: Latin, means “originating from Amapa”. agulha: after a popular name given to the species in the region of the Rio Madeira, the type locality.

Suggestion of a common name: Red-Eyed Flag Tetra

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Code: 278934

Six eyed tetra

We obtained the rare, fascinating Six eyed tetra (Phenacogaster (formerly: Vesicatrus) tegatus) from Paraguay. The peaceful, about 6 cm long schooling fish confuses predatory fish with its pattern. In the middle of the body and on the caudal peduncle P. tegatus has eye-spots; thus it looks like that the fish has three eyes on each side of the body. Predatory fish target always the eye of their prey, so the unique “six-eye-pattern” guarantees the greatest safety one can think of.

For our customers: the fish have code 299002 on our stock list. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

We already introduced to you a new sport of the dwarf pencil fish from Peru in an Extra-Newsletter this week. We took the opportunity to take a closer look than usual on our “regular” dwarf pencils from Brazil. Honestly – aren ´t they among the most beautiful species of ornamental fish at all?

For our customers: the animals have code 272104 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Nannostomus: from ancient Greek, means “with a tiny mouth”. marginatus: Latin, means “bordered”.

Common name: Dwarf pencil tetra

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Finally we were once more able to import some of the very rarely offered Leporellus vittatus from Brazil. This extraordinary species attains a length of approximately 25 cm and belongs to the headstander tetra relationship. However, in Leporellus the air bladder is mostly reduced and so the fish live strictly bottom orientated.

Our animals are currently 10-12 cm long. Like all headstanders, these fish establish a hierarchy among themselves. They look most beautiful in strongly lightened aquaria with a good current. Leporellus feed readily on any type of fishfood, but all headstanders have a type of teeth that are specialized for feeding on plant material. So one should offer the fish a great variety of plant material for a proper feeding.

For our customers: the fish have code 265725 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Leporellus: diminuative of Leoprinus, eg “small Leporinus”; Leporinus is another genus of tetra. vittatus: Latin, means “striped”.

Suggestion of a common name: Yellow-golden Striped Tetra

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer