Author Archives: Paul_

The gardenpond season starts up! The Tench, a species initially native in Europe and western Asia, is a perfect pond and aquarium fish. Nowadays the Tench has a worldwide distribution, because it is a very delicious food fish, too. The Tench is very tolerant regarding the water temperature: it is totally winter hardy on the one hand and has no problems at all in summer, when the temperature rises up to 26°C on the other. Due to its low oxygen requirement the Tench inhabits muddy waters in the wild.

Currently we have two sports of the Tench in stock, the wild coloured – also called Green Tench – and the wonderful golden sport. Among the latter ones are many three-coloured specimens, which are very rare (not assorted available!). The Tench can reach a length of about 40 cm (the largest one reported had 70 cm). Our specimens are currently 8-10 cm long and thus fit also perfectly for coldwater aquaria.

The Tench is not only a beautiful fish, but also very useful. Among all fish species native in Europe the Tench is spezialized most in feeding on small molluscs. Thus the Tench can be used in any pond or tank where snails become to numerous. However, in the absence of snails the Tench also feeds readily on any usual type of fish food. Against other fish, may they belong to the own species or not, the Tench is completely peaceful. Males can be distinguished from the females by the shape of the ventral fins, which are much larger in males. The Tench is an egg-scatterer that does not take care for its eggs at all.

For our customers: the Tench has code 878802, the Golden Tench 879003 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Tinca: this name was already in use in ancient Rome for the Tench.

Common names: Tench or Green Tench (for the wild coloured sport), Golden Tench (for the golden or threecoloured sports)

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

We have this large barb that originates from the south of China and the north of Vietnam in stock for the first time. The usual length of the fish is up to 40 cm. At this length they weigh about 1.5 kg. However, the largest S. denticulatus captured so far had a weight of about 30 kg. Spinibarbus denticulatus is one of the most important food fishes for aquaculture in its native range, for it grows fast, has a high tolerance regarding water temperature (the range of water temperature in its natural environment is between 9-16°C in winter and 25-30°C in summer), and the species is a specialized plant feeder that is able to transform worthless weeds, grass etc. in protein of high value.

However, we are less interested in the quality of the flesh of the fish, but in its potential use as aquarium or garden pond fish. Our specimens currently are 10-12 cm long and look rather dull. But the common name Chinese Phoenix barb has been given with some reason on the fish. When the fish grows it becomes – starting on the head – fire red. A picture of a larger fish can be found here:
http://fugupuff-fugupuff.blogspot.de/2011/02/spinibarbus-denticulatus.html

For our customers: the fish have code 455893 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Spinibarbus: means “barb with a spine”; this refers to the dorsal fin spine. denticulatus: means “with small teeth”; this refers to the structure of the dorsal fin spine.

Suggestion of a common name: Chinese Phoenix barb

Text & photo: Frank Schäfer

For the first time ever we received youngsters of this highly interestingly fish species. Maximum length reported for Elopichthys is about 2 m. This species is one of the very few real predators among the carp-like fish. Currently the genus Elopichthys is regarded to be monotypical, but there might exist a second species in the north of Vietnam, which is characterized by larger scales and and a more anteriorly placed dorsal fin.

Elopichthys bambusa occurs in China and Siberia. So it can be kept easily in garden ponds and has no problems during the winter in central Europe.

As everybody knowns, carps have no maxillary teeth at all. Elopichthys has solved that problem and developed strong horny sheets along the maxilla. So the mouth of the fish works like a strong scissor. Moreover the mouth´s tip has a hook on the lower jaw and a notch in the upper jaw; so the predator is enabled to hold strongly its prey.

In the wild Elopichthys bambusa prefers to hunt nearby waterfalls and rapids. Against conspecifics the fish are completely peaceful, at least in our facility.

For our customers: the fish have code 414903 on our stocklist. Please note that we eclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Elopichthys: means “fish like an Elops”; Elops is another genus of fish. bambusa: means “belonging to bamboo”.

Common name: Yellowcheek

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

The island of Borneo is divided, politically speaking, in three parts: Kalimantan belongs to Indonesia, Sarawak and Sabah belong to Malaysia and Brunei represents an independent state. Kuching is the biggest town on Borneo. It is located in the northwest, in Sarawak (Malaysia). Ornamental fish are collected there only very occasionally. However, recently we were able to manage an import from there that contained a number of very interesting fish species. Among them were barbs that were sent under the name of Barbus kuchingensis. This species really exists, but shows only two vertical bands on the anterior body and a black spot right above the anal fin. Our fish looked completely different from that and showed a much more contrasting pattern.

Our research showed that our new fish in all probability represents the first (?) import of the “real” Barbus everetti. It is already known for some time that all fish in the hobby that are termed “B. everetti” in reality belong to the species Barbus dunckeri. This correct name is only slowly adopted by hobbyists worldwide due to the fact that the real B. everetti was not present in aquaria so far and thus there was no need for a change of the name.

Our new entries are beautiful fish in any way. It can be supposed that they will reach a similar size as the close relative B. dunckeri, eg 10-12 cm, and that they will reach sexual maturity at a length of about 6-8 cm. Keeping is totally problem free. The water should be soft to medium hard, pH range should be between 6.5-7.5 and the water temperature should be between 24-28°C. Fish that are kept under the described conditions are very lively and colourful. These barbs feed readily on any type of usual fishfood.

For our customers: the fish have code 369862 on our stocklist.We have only a very limited number in stock. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Barbus: Latin, means “the bearded”. everetti: dedication name for Alfred Hart Everett (1848-1898), the collector of the species. dunckeri: dedication name for Georg Duncker (1870-1953), ichthyologist and former custos of the Naturhistorisches Museum Hamburg (= Hamburg museum for natural history).

Suggestion of a common name: Kuching-Clownbarb

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

You think you know quite well the rosy barb? Please take a look on our photos of the fantastic wild collected ones we currently have in stock and think about it. In fact wild collected rosy barbs – our specimens originate from the vicinty of Calcutta, the type locality of Barbus conchonius – look completely different compared with the aquarium strains. Males of the wild ones become metallic black and get a red caudal peduncle. Each scale is ornated with a bright silver spot – gorgeous!

Obviously the aquarium strains of the rosy barb do not belong to the species Barbus conchonius at all, but this is a different story.

Regarding keeping the wild collected rosy barb there is no difference compared with the domesticated ones. They are pretty hardy fish and very easy to keep.

For our customers: the fish have code 364335 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Barbus: Latin, means “the bearded one”, referring to the barbels. conchonius: after the common name of the fish in Bengal.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

It was only last year that this beautiful Indian barb has been described scientifically. It originates from the south of India. Presently it is only known from hill streams in the Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu. It differs from the other Indian barbs of its closer relationship (eg D. arulius, D. assimilis, D. exclamatio, D. filamentosa, and D. tambraparniei) by the coloration. Especially diagnostic is the shape of the caudal spot, which is teardrop-shaped in D. rohani and circular in D. assimilis and D. filamentosa, the two species that look most similiar to D. rohani. Moreover, the caudal fin of D. rohani has no pattern, whereas in D. assimilis and D. filamentosa this fin has black markings.

Males and females can be easily distinguished by the shape of the dorsal fin which is filamentous in males. Like all these Indian barbs D. rohani is a wonderful schooling fish for larger aquaria. The species attains a length of around 8-12 cm.

For our customers: the fish has code 370914 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Barbus: Latin, means “the bearded”. rohani: dedication name for Rohan Pethiyagoda, an ichthyologist that works mainly on the freshwater fishes of Sri Lanka and India. Dawkinsia: dedication name for the biologist Richard Dawkins (“The Selfish Gene”).

Suggestion for a common name: Golden Scaled Indian Barb

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

The dwarf rasbora that is traded under the name of “Boraras micros RED” for some years already, has been described now scientifically and has been named Boraras naevus. The species is distinguished from all other spotted Boraras species known so far by the sexual dichromatism. The B. naevus males develope a much bigger shoulder spot than the females. Regarding keeping and breeding the charming dwarfs do not differ in any way from their congeneers. This means, they should be kept in small, well planted tanks with a dark ground in soft and acidic water. Under these conditions the dwarf rasboras are astonishingly long-living and enjoy their keeper for many years. Boraras naevus reaches a maximum length of 1.5 – 2 cm.

For our customers: Boraras naevus has code 452822 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Boraras: Boraras: anagram of Rasbora, referring to the reverse ratio of abdominal and caudal vertebrae in Boraras compared with Rasbora. naevus: Latin, means “spot” or “mark on the skin”; refers to the prominent shoulder spot of the species.

Suggestion of a common name: Strawberry rasbora

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Scardinius erythrophthalmus GOLD

The rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) is the only species of freswater fish native in Central Europe that is specialized in feeding on soft water plants and algae. Thus it is a perfect helper for garden ponds where algae and especially duckweed should be reduced. As the rudd likes to swim in the upper regions of the water column it is easier to observe it than koi or goldfish, which often like to swim near the bottom. The rudd is an indigenous fish species and thus completely frost restistant.

The rudd usually grows to a length of 15-20 cm. The fish becomes sexually mature in its second year of life. At that age it is usually 8-10 cm long. Maximum length given for the rudd in literature is about 50 cm, but it is very likely that most often such giants are hybrids of the rudd with other cyprind fishes.

The golden rudd is a sport ot the rudd that is bred in fishbreeding facilities.

For our customers: the fish have code 878553 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Scardinius: derived from Scarus, which was a name for a nowadays unidentifiable species of fish in ancient Greece. erythrophthalmus: Latin, means “with red eyes”.

Common name: Golden rudd

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

At the first glimpse this pretty Rasbora may look a bit colorless; however, if the fish is kept in the perfect milieu (blackwater conditions and dimmed light) it looks really beautiful.

Due to a number of anatomical specializations, the species has been recently placed in a new genus, namely Kottelatia; so the most actual scientific name is Kottelatia brittani.

Obviously K. brittani has been often confused with another small cyprinid, Pectenocypris korthausae. The latter has an identical coloration, but is much more slender and has a more prolonged snout.

Our animals (wild collected) are about 3 – 3.5 cm long, sexually mature and the females exhibit a belly full of eggs. So the maximum length for that species given in literature (around 5 cm) seems to be a bit exaggerated.

For our customers: the fish have code 451112 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: brittani: dedication name for M. R. Brittan, who revised the genus Rasbora in 1954. Kottelatia: dedication name for Maurice Kottelat, one of the most experienced ichthyologists specialized in the freshwater fish of Southeast Asia. Pectenocypris: from ancient Greek, means something about “Comb-Carp”. korthausae: dedication name for Edith Korthaus, who was editor of the German aquarium magazine “Das Aquarium” and discovered the species.

Suggestion of a common name: Taillight rasbora

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Rasbora lacrimula

For the first time ever we can offer this beautiful Rasbora, which has been described scientifically only in 2009. R. lacrimula is endemic in the Mahakam basin, Kalimantan Timur Province on Borneo.

Regarding coloration this new Rasbora reminds one in R. reticulata and R. vulcanus, but R. lacrimula stays much smaller. Maximum length observed is around 4 cm.

The new species is a lively, undemanding schooling fish and a perfect addition (not at least due to the unique orange fins) to any tank for Southeastern Asian fish.

For our customers: the fish have code 452803 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Rasbora – the native bengali name for Rasbora rasbora. lacimula: Latin, means “little teardrop”, referring to the drop-shape of the lateral band on the caudal peduncle.

Suggestion of a common name: Dwarf volcano rasbora

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

This tiny, hardly 10 cm long species originates from North America. The overall coloration is similar to that of the European minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) in its eclipse plumage, thus the popular name “Fathead minnow” was chosen for the fish. However, there are important differences regarding life history between the two species.

While the European minnow is a stenoecious fish that needs cool and oxygen-rich environments, the fathead minnow can be found in a rich variety of habitats and is one of the most undemanding coldwater fishes at all. Water temperature may be between 4 and over 30°C. The fish can be found as well in cool and clear springs as in muddy and warm pools. As Pimephales promelas is widely used as bait, it can be found in most parts of North America.

This opportunism makes the fathead minnow an ideal fish for small garden ponds. The golden sport of the fish is in fact the only “goldfish” that can be kept with a good conscience in such miniature pools. Here the fathead minnow is very useful as it feeds on mosquito larvae. However, in regions with winter temperatures below 0°C the fish have to be hibernated in a cool and dark, but frost free bucket or aquarium. In large ponds that are deep enough and do not freeze to the bottom in winter the hardy fish can also hibernate in the pond.

Pimephales promelas is also a very interesting and easy to keep aquarium fish. Males develop odd stingy warts during the breeding season and become almost black. The species belongs to the rare cyprinids that care for the brood. The eggs are laid under or on roots, stones etc. and the male guards them until the fry swims free. Thus it seems very likely that the warts on the head are somehow connected with the broodcare. Maybe the males use them in a similar matter against potential eggfeeders as cattle do with their horns against a potential aggressor.

For our customers: the wild colored fish have code 870014, the golden sport code 870004 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Pimephales: abbreviation of the ancient Greek Pimelecephales which means “fat head”. promelas: from ancient Greek, means “black ahead”. Phoxinus: a name used for a river fish in ancient Greece; it is not identifiable nowadays anymore.

Common name: Fathead minnow

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer