Author Archives: Paul_

Etroplus maculatus

23. October 2009

The Indian cichlid, Etroplus maculatus, is a very popular aquarium fish and never disappeared after its first importation again. Recent research suggests that Etroplus is not a close relative of the cichlid family, but rather of the damselfishes (Pomacentridae). However that does not mean anything for the hobby.

Etroplus maculatus can be kept and bred in pure fresh or brackish water. The sexes are equal regarding colour and finnage, but males are always bigger than females, at least after maturity. Males become mature with about 5 cm, females with 4 cm total length. Maximum length is around 9 cm for males. When specimens offered are of equal age or were imported together one should take the largest and the smallest specimen in the tank. They will almost ever form a pair. Etroplus take biparental care. They are open brooders. They attach the eggs on stones, roots etc.. The eggs have small stalks and move when they are fanned. Both parents lead and guard the offspring. The young feed inter alia on skin mucus, similar as young discus do.

Beside the beautiful wild type also a cultivated orange type of Etroplus maculatus exists. Now the breeders have developed a new cultivated variety with iridescend lines over the body. The pattern reminds one on a damascene blade. We now offer this new variety as “Gold-Blue”.

For our customers: the fish have code 415822 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale market.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Nachzucht / bred
Verfügbare Größe in cm 4-6

Gymnorhamphichthys cf. hypostomus

21. October 2009

The sand knifefishes (Rhamphichthyidae) from South America belong to the weak electric fishes. They send continously electric impulses which are used for tracing prey, orientation, and intraspecific communication. Currently three genera and 14 species are known.

The genus Gymnorhamphichthys, also called thermometer knifefishes, contents five described species. There is hardly anything known about the fish, because they are strictly night active and stay during daytime burried in the sand. Thus comprehensive studies in the field are impossible to do.

Our Gymnorhamphichthys have been imported from Peru. So far, no species of Gymnorhamphichthys is reported in the Checklist of the freshwater fishes of South America for Peru. The pattern of our specimens fits best to the pattern described for G. hypostomus. This species, however, has a shorter snout. So it is also possible that our fish represent a species new to science and so we were cautious and stocked them under the name G. cf. hypostomus.

The fish are very peaceful against each other. However, they have no teeth at all nor any other item that would enable them to hurt each other. They are easy to feed, for they readily accept frozen bloodworm which form also a larger part of their natural diet, as was shown in the field for Gymnorhamphichthys when the gut was dissected. Maximum size reported for G. hypostomus is about 20 cm, our specimens are 14-18 cm long.

For our customers: the fish have code 254984 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale market.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Peru
Verfügbare Größe in cm 14-18

Laetacara araguaiae

19. October 2009

Laetacara sp. „Buckelkopf“ described scientifically.

Laetacara sp. „Buckelkopf“ is known in the hobby for many years already. The somewhat unusal common name (the German word „Buckelkopf“ means „humphead“) derives from the feature developed by some very old males, but this happens rather seldom. It is a typical dwarf cichlid, the males grow to a length of about 8, the females of about 6 cm. The typical open brooders with biparental care are easy to keep and breed.

Now the species has been formally described by F. P. Ortoni and W. J. E. M. Costa as Laetacara araguaiae. According to the authors the species comes from the Rio Verde in the Rio Araguaia drainage. However, aquarium literature gives a much wider distrubition, namely the southeastern tributaries of the Amzon river from the Tapajos to the mouth of the Amazon and also the Xingu river.

So finally the second species of Laetacara that had to be named provisionally by aquarists (Laetacara sp. „Orangefin“ has been described already in 2007 by W. Staeck and I. Schindler as L. fulvipinnis) has valid a scientific name.

Interstingly the authors obviously inteded to describe a further species of Laetacara and by mistake in two occasions this species is mentioned under the name L. minuatacara (pp. 45 and 46) in the paper. However, this name remains a nomen nudum without any validity, but clearly shows that we can  expect more new species in this interesting genus.

The original papers can be downloaded for free as pdf-files from http://globiz.sachsen.de/snsd/publikationen/vertebrate-zoology/vz57-1/57-1_Staeck_63-71.pdf for L. fulvipinnis and  http://globiz.sachsen.de/snsd/publikationen/vertebrate-zoology/vz59-1/05_Vertebrate_Zoology_59-1_Costa_03.pdf for L. araguaiae.

For our customers: Laetacara araguaiae has code 603001 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Laetacara: from Latin “laetus” = cheerful and the indigenous name “acara” for cichlid. Refers to the pattern on the snout which suggests that the fish is smiling. araguaiae: from the river Araguaia. fulvipinnis: with orange fins.

Text: Frank Schäfer, photos: H. J. Mayland, Aqualog archieves

Pseudorinelepis sp. L95

16. October 2009

Last week we were able to import another catfish gem: L95, a scientifically undescribed species of the genus Pseudorinelepis, which is very closely related to P. genibarbis.

Our specimens come from the Takutu river in the upper Rio Branco basin. These gorgeous fishes are collected mostly in relative large specimens, because the juveniles are not as attractively coloured. L 95 can probably reach a maximum length of 40 cm, are imported from 15 cm length upwards and our recently imported fish are about 20 to 25 cm long.

Pseudorinelepis are famous for their ability to swallow air. This behaviour replaces the swimming bladder, which is reduced in Loricariids so that is has no function anymore. Pseudorinelepis like to swim in an upside-down postion. This is absolutely normal and no reason for concern.

The fish are omnivorous, but main emphasis is plant material.

For our customers: the fish have code 26480-L 095-5 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale market.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Brasilien / Brazil
Verfügbare Größe in cm 20-25

Pseudacanthicus leopardus

13. October 2009

The genus Pseudacanthicus currently comprises five described species. Three of them are known as aquarium fish. Additionally there are 16 L-numbers given for species of Pseudacanthicus which represent either species new for science or have a doubtful identity.

Species of Pseudacanthicus are also known under their popular name “cactus catfish”, for the species are very spiny and it is no good idea to catch a larger specimen with bare hands. Some species of Pseudacanthicus can reach one metre in length, but there are other species that grow up only to 25 cm. As a rule one must be aware that Pseudacanthicus become bigger than many other common aquarium fish. Larger specimens are quarrelsome against congeneers and so spacy tanks with a lot of hiding places are needed for Pseudacanthicus. On the other hand there are reports of successful breeding of some species in the aquarium. The fish are typical cave brooders. Male are more robust than females (they have especially a broader and heavier head) and have more spines during breeding season.

One of the most popular Pseudacanthicus is L114 which originates from the middle Rio Negro basin in Brazil. This cactus cat was thought to represent the described species Pseudacanthicus leopardus for a long time. However, the real P. leopardus originates from the border region of Brazil and Guyana. There are only very few catchers of ornamental fish in that region and so we are very proud that we were successful in importing a good number of the real P. leopardus in different sizes now. They were collected in the Takutu river that belongs to the system of the upper Rio Branco.

Compared with L114 the fish are much flatter and have a slighly different coloration. They can be best distinguished by the fact that in larger specimens (around 20 cm) of P. leopardus the spots on the head are very small or almost vanished, whereas these spots are relatively large in L114 in all stages.

For our customers: the fish have code 26480-LDA 007-3 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply to the wholesale market.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Brasilien / Brazil
Verfügbare Größe in cm 6-25

Phractocephalus hemiliopterus

12. October 2009

At Aquarium Glaser not only small fish for private community tanks are stocked, but also real rarities for scientific institutions and large fish for public aquaria and zoos.

A specimen for the latter category reached us now: a gigantic Phractocephalus hemiliopterus, more than 80 cm long. We stocked the fish for a Russian customer. The animal was reared by a private keeper. Transportation of such a large fish is, however, a real quest which was solved with a special construction on a trailer.

It took some man power to net the fish and transport it to its prepared quarantine tank which contents several thousand litres of water. Here the fish will stay until it goes on its far journey to its new owner in Russia.

Lexicon: Practocephalus: from ancient Greek “armour head”; hemiliopterus: from ancient Greek “with half-smooth fin”.

 

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Nothobranchius foerschi

9. October 2009

Nothobranchs (genus Nothobranchius) belong to the most colorful species of freshwater fish. This is true at least for the males, as female nothobranchs are all more or less unicolored.

Nothobranchs are typical seasonal fish. They outlive the desiccation of their habitat with eggs that can survive without water almost unlimited. Nothobranchius furzeri is world famous for it is the fish with the shortest livespan at all: between hatching from the egg and natural death are only 3 months! This is the reason why N. furzeri is in focus of science: medics and biologists study the fish as a model organism to understand the mechanisms of aging.

Most species of Nothobranchius, however, live much longer and usually they can reach at least an age of 9 months in aquaria. Nothobranchius foerschi is a very beautiful species that originates from Tanzania. Males can reach around 5 cm in length, females stay smaller. Naturally fish that are as specialized as nothobranchs do not fit in usual community tanks. The most beautiful picture is to see several males together in a one-species tanks. Nothobranchs are solitary fish and so the males are displaying every now and then. Males and females should be kept together only for spawning. They are bottom spawners. The eggs need only around 6-10 weeks after drying out to hatch. So it is possible to have the whole year through these nice fish in your home aquaria.

Due to their strong metabolism nothobranchs need extra strong food. The different types of frozen and live food are very suitable. Plants are ignored. Regarding water temperature: there are differing philosophies among killifish enthusiasts. In nature, temperatures can change very quickly. So the fish are adopted to a wide range of temperatures: 18 – 30°C. However, when kept in the upper or the lower end of this range for longer times they become usceptible for diseases. On the other hand it is a fact that the fish can have a longer live when kept relatively cool. Nothobranchs are basically undemanding regarding the other water parameters, but it is best to keep them in medium hard, slightly alcalic water, for otherwise they are very usceptible for Piscinoodinium.

For our customers: the species has code 331503 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Nachzucht / bred
Verfügbare Größe in cm 4-5

Betta kuehnei

6. October 2009

The mouthbrooding fighting fishes of the Betta pugnax group are wideley spread over Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. The most currently described species is Betta kuehnei from the northernmost Province Kelantan of Malaysia and the southernmost parts of Thailand.

The species has been discovered by the travelling aquarist Jens Kühne and introduced in the hobby as “blue throat fighting fish”. It can be told apart from the other species of the group by the intense blue throat coloration.

Like the other species of the Betta pugnax group B. kuehnei (which can reach about 8 cm in length) is comparatively peaceful against congeneers and so more than one pair can be kept together. However, the tank should contain a good number of hiding places. Male and females can be distinguished best by the different shape of their head.

Soft and acidic water is necessary for breeding, but keeping is possible in almost any water. Breeding is similar to the other species of the group. Males keep the eggs for about ten days in the mouth.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Nachzucht / bred
Verfügbare Größe in cm 6-8

Telmatochromis temporalis

1. October 2009

Snail-cichlids are a specialty of Lake Tanganyika. Of course also other places on earth exist where empty shells of snails are used by fish for hiding or breeding. But nowhere else than in Lake Tanganyika are so many specialized species.

In Lake Tanganyika real fields of empty snail-shells exist. Empty shells that lie here and there, more or less solitary, are settled by the specialized snail-cichlids, for example Lamprologus ocellatus and Co. But in places where the already mentioned fields of empty shells exist they are also used by species that are usually regular cave brooders.

Telmatochromis temporalis is a medium sized cichlid (10-12 cm) that settles along the whole lake. It is not very popular in the hobby, for it has a rather dull coloration and is quite robust in its behaviour. It is a typical cave brooder with a parental family. Interestingly the species has developed a dwarfish variety in areas where large snail-shell fields occur. This dwarf form becomes only 5-6 cm long. Currently this variety is considered to be conspecific with the normal form which is the reason for giving it the additional name “shell” in the hobby.

In contrast to the normal form this dwarf is highly demanded in the hobby, because its unusual shape brings a very interesting aspect in each community tank for tanganyika cichlids.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Nachzucht / bred
Verfügbare Größe in cm 5-6

Cynotilapia axelrodi

30. September 2009

Currently we have received beautiful C. axelrodi from a breeder. The animals are full in colour and about 4-6 cm long. Maximum length for this species is given around 9 cm.

Cynotilapia are typical mbuna cichlids. They differ from the closely related Maylandia (the zebras) by the dentition. Keeping is identical, which means they need ballast rich food and a high pH (over 7.5) to stay healthy. As they are like all mbuna cichlids highly territorial, it is necessary to keep them in groups. A try to keep them by pair usually ends with the violent death of the suppressed individual. Other mbuna cichlids fit also as tankmates and regulatives for the aggression.

In Lake Malawi, C. axelrodi is restricted to small areas (Nkhata Bay and Chirombo Point).

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Lexicon: Cynotilapia: means “dog-Tilapia”, which refers to the dentition. Axelrodi: dedicated to Herbert Axelrod. Maylandia: dedicated to Hans J. Mayland.

Hoplosternum punctatum

29. September 2009

Plated catfish from the genus Hoplosternum are known in the hobby mainly from relatively large growing species, which can reach 15 to 20 cm in length. However, there also exist small species, like H. punctatum, which hardly grows larger than 7 cm. The natural distribution of this species is in Panama and in the rivers of Colombia flowing in the Pacific Ocean. No commercial exports of ornamental fish come from that part of the World. All specimens in the trade are therefore bred ones. Sadly the breeders usually offer their fish under the name Dianema longibarbis, which is a completely different species from Amazonia.

Hoplosternum punctatum is a rather day-active and social species which often swims free in the water column. Males and females can easily distinguished from each other by the much larger and thicker pectoral spine in males. Moreover, if one looks at the belly of the fish, the bony plates that cover the breast touch each other in males, whereas in females they leave open a broad gap.

Plated catfish are known to be bubblenest builders and that the males aggressively guard their nests. Sadly no details regarding the breeding behaviour of H. punctatum are published yet.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Nachzucht / bred
Verfügbare Größe in cm 6-7

Corydoras from the Rio Jamanxim – C. bifasciatus?

25. September 2009

From the Rio Jamanxim in the state of Pará, Brazil, we received for the second time now beautiful Corydoras catfish.  The Rio Jamanxim is a tribute to the Rio Tapajós. The first shipment of corys from there contained only long snouted animals, whereas the second shipment contained the shortsnouted counterpart.

The new corys remind one to Corydoras ornatus, C. parallelus, C. pulcher, and C. schwartzi, as well as the  C-numbers C133 and C141. Like all of them they have a pattern of two bold black stripes, a black band through the eye and a golden shining saddlespot before the dorsal fin origin. However, C. ornatus, C. pulcher, C. schwartzi, and C141 have a black pattern in the caudal fin, whereas our new ones have hyaline caudals. C. parallelus as a black triangle-spot situated directly under the dorsal fin origin, which is not found in the Jamanxim fish.

Corydoras bifasciatus is not known until today alive. Preserved ones show a hyaline caudal fin and belong to the longsnouted group of Corydoras. The type locality of C. bifasciatus is in the upper Rio Tapajós system, so it is very likely that our fish from the first shipment really belong to the species C. bifasciatus. The shortnoses from our second shipment already have received the C-number C133. They belong to a species new to science.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Lexicon: bifasciatus: means “with two stripes”. ornatus: means “splendid”; parallelus: allusion to the two black parallel stripes on the flanks; pulcher: means “beautiful”; schwartzi: in honour of Willy Schwartz, an exporter of ornamental fish.

Umbra pygmaea

24. September 2009

Umbra pygmaea Umbra pygmaea Umbra pygmaea

The mudminnows (Umbra) are relicts from the ice age and nowadays found only in remainings of their initial territory. Three species are still extant, two of them in North America and one in Europe. The European species (U. krameri) is in danger of extinction due to habitat destruction.

Mudminnows are inhabitants of extreme biotopes: swampy areas with changing oxygen content, gross temperature differences and very low pH. In former days they were popular aquarium fish. Today mudminnows are among the absolute rarities in aquaria due to their unspectacular coloration.

Even if it doesn´t look like it: mudminnows are relatively close relatives to pikes (Esox). However, they stay much smaller, reaching hardly 10 cm. Most of them stay even smaller than this. Mudminnows can breath through their swimming bladder and so they can take all oxygen they need from the air.

We can offer now Umbra pygmaea as German bred. The species originates from North America, but can be found today in larger parts of Europe, too, where it has been released. U. pygmaea is very similar to the endangered U. krameri and so many reports for U. krameri may refer in truth to the introduced species. Even if it was as long ago as before 1913 that U. pygmaea was released in German waters, one should always keep in mind that it is absolutely forbidden to release any animal from captivity in the wild, may it be a member of a foreign or a native species.

Mudminnows can be kept very easily in captivity. They fit both for aquaria and garden ponds. It is good for them if peat as ground is offered. Heaters are not only unneeded, but even harmful. Mudminnows are thus perfect fish for people who have to save electricity. They feed readily on any kind of frozen and live fishfood. Sometimes they can be quarrelsome to conspecifics, so the tank should have a lot of hiding places.

Females grow bigger than the males. Mudminnows take parental care. Females built nests between dense vegetation and tend very aggressively eggs and larvae. For breeding it is necessary to hibernate the fish at low temperatures (4-8°C, less than 8 hours light per day). They start spawing at 13°C and longer photo periods.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Nachzucht / bred
Verfügbare Größe in cm 3-4

Poeciliopsis prolifica – Blackstripe livebearer

22. September 2009

This tiny species of livebearer originates from northwestern Mexico. The males reach a maximum length of 2 cm, the females of 3.5 cm. At the first glimpse the fish look somewhat unspectacular, but no one who keeps the fish has regrets about it. The whole day through the males are after the females or fight their harmless clashes. When doing this they swim in a typical head-down position and spread the gonopodium in an 90° angle from the body.

This minuscule fish fits perfectly for nano tanks. Regarding the water chemistry they are completely undemanding. In nature they are even found in brackish waters. It is possible to keep this peaceful species in a community tank, but they do much better in a species tank.

It is very interesting that the young are not born at a time, but over a period of several days. So a person, who observes this, could get the idea the fish would give birth every day. This is why the species got its name.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Nachzucht / bred
Verfügbare Größe in cm 2 - 3.5

Xenotoca variata – Jeweled splitfin

21. September 2009

Only few species of splitfin (Goodeidae) have become established aquarium fish, despite the fact that they are perfectly suited for keeping and breeding in tanks. Many species are in danger of extinction in the wild, for they inhabit only very small areas and habitat destruction can easily wipe out complete species. Species conservation via breeding programs in aquaria have been successful in some species, nevertheless these breeding programs would be much easier to do if more people would keep the fish.

However, Xenotoca variata is not one of the endagered species of splitfin. Nevertheless it is only rarely seen in aquaria. In this special case it is very likely that this is due the fact that males get their full colour only relatively late. This phenomenon is also well known from many species of rainbow fishes.

Xenotoca variata are kept best in groups. Here the fish establish a hierarchy that enables exiting studies of behaviour. It is important to feed a lot of plant material to the fish beside their normal food. These fishes are livebearers. Sadly they hunt their own offspring quite violently. So it is best to seperate the female some days before it gives birth in an extra tank.

In nature these fish are exposed to heavy temperature changes. It is recommended to shift the heater along with the light in the aquarium. So the fish get slight temperature changes during the day and night rhythm. This makes the fish healthy and gives them longevity. Hard and slighly alcalic water is best, but the fish are very tolerant to different water contitions. Temperature tolance is between 16 and somewhat above 30°C. During summer the fish can be kept in the garden pond in central Europe. The fish that come out of such a gardenpond in autumn are extremely colorful and strong.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Nachzucht / bred
Verfügbare Größe in cm 4-6

A new L-catfish!

18. September 2009

Last week we were able to import a new yellow seam pleco belonging to the genus Baryancistrus. The fish originate from Sao Felix at the Rio Xingu. They differ from all other members of the genus from there (L18, L47, L81, L85, L177) by the almost black ground colour of the body. Almost no spots are present.

Only one of our 20 specimens – the smallest one – has very tiny white spots. Our animals are 8 – 10 cm long, but it is very likely that they grow up to a length of 25 – 30 cm like all their relatives from the Rio Xingu.

Lexicon: Baryancistrus: means “sturdy Ancistrus” referring to the body structure.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

A new Panchax from Manipur

17. September 2009

After the spectacular importation of the new gourami from Manipur (http://www.aquarium-glaser.de/en/colisa-cf-fasciata-_en_1115.html) now we were able to import a beautiful new Panchax from this state in northern India. Currently only one species is accepted formally within this species-group, eg Aplocheilus panchax. This species is distributed from China over great parts of India, Burma, and Indochina (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos), as well as over Indonesia. Of course fish from different origin look very different and so it is more than likely that there do exist a lot of species and not only one. The new Panchax from Manipur also represents such a different form. It is distinguished from typical A. panchax by many red spots on the body, bright orange fins, and a dark band that is shown when the fish feel disturbed.

Initially, Aplocheilus panchax has been described from Bengal. We also have regular importations from there. These fish are characterized by a polychromatism. Within one population are white-finned and orange-finned males. The females all look the same. Red spots on the body are never present in typical A. panchax. Males and females can be distinguished easily by the different shape of the anal fin, which is shorter and rounded in females. Breeding is very easy, A. panchax is an egglaying fish.

The Panchax is an ideal fish for community tanks where it lives near the surface. Tankmates should not be too small, otherwise they are eaten. The Panchax takes readily any usual fishfood, even flakes. The new Panchax from Manipur should not be kept too warm throughout the year, for they originate from mountain regions. Temperature easily falls as low as 15°C there. On the other hand the shallow waters that are preferably inhabited by the species can warm up very quick to 30°C and even more on sunny days.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Indien / India
Verfügbare Größe in cm 5-7

Geophagus winemilleri

16. September 2009

The main distribution of Geophagus winemilleri is the southern part of Venezuela. Nevertheless most imports come from Brazil, because the species also occurs in the Rio Negro. G. winemilleri becomes often confused with G. proximus and a second, still undescribed or unidentified species. However, G. winemilleri can be identified by the dark spot on the operculum, reddish fins and four dark vertical bars on the body.
It is mentioned already in the original description of the species that the caudal fin can be spotted or striped (depending on the population?).
Geophagus winemilleri is a biparental larvophilous mouthbrooder, which is pretty easy to keep and can be even bred without too many problems.

Text & photo: Thomas Weidner

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Nachzucht / Bred
Verfügbare Größe in cm 6-8

Chela laubuca

14. September 2009

Chela laubuca Chela laubuca

Currently we offer a beautiful surface dwelling fish for community tanks for fishes from Asia: Chela laubuca. The absolutely peaceful species attains a total length of around 6 (rarely 8) cm. Keeping and breeding is comparable to that of the zebrafish (Danio rerio) which shares the same habitats as Chela laubuca in nature.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Indien / India
Verfügbare Größe in cm 6-8

Phenacogrammus interruptus “Albino”

9. September 2009

Currently we receive beautiful cultivated albino Congo Tetras from Indonesia. Like in all true albinos the eyes of the fish are red due to the genetically caused lack of black body pigment (melanin). In many other species of fish albinos have a uniform whitish, yellowish or flesh-coloured body. Not so in the Congo Tetra. The iridescent colours of the body of that species are also extant in the albino variety. This makes the fish look so extraordinary nice.

Lexicon: Phenacogrammus: from ancient Greek, meaning “with tricky line”; this refers to the fact that the shape of the lateral line cannot be used to distinguish this genus from other genera. interruptus: Latin for “interrupted”. Refers to the shape of the lateral line.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Geophagus sp. „Rio Sao Francisco“

8. September 2009

This pearl cichlid from the Rio São Francisco can reach a total length of about 25 cm and thus should be kept in relatively large aquaria of 400 litres and more. Although pearl cichlids are known to be relatively aggressive this particular species is quite peaceful if the tank is large enough. Even when taking broodcare other tankmates are not bitten and can swim freely through the tank. However, only one pair can be kept if the tank is not giantic.
Like all Geophagus of the pearl cichlid group this species is easy to keep and breeds even in a little bit harder water.

Text & photo: Thomas Weidner

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Nachzucht / bred
Verfügbare Größe in cm 5-7

Takifugu ocellatus

7. September 2009

Takifugu ocellatus

We were able to import one of the most beautiful freshwater puffers from China again: Takifugu ocellatus. This fish shows us that the terms “freshwater fish” and “marine fish” can be applied on the very same species. Like salmon these puffers live in pure freshwater during their youth and then go to the sea where they grow up and become mature. Sadly nothing is known about the breeding behaviour of that species. This puffer becomes about 15 cm long and thus it belongs to the smallest members of the genus Takifugu. The species is very aggressive against conspecifics when it is settled in the tank. Against other tankmates they usually are peaceful as long as they are too big to be eaten.

Takifugu ocellatus

Puffers are carnivorous fishes and need frozen or live food. Most of all they like mussels and snails, but they also accept shrimps, small fish, earthworms etc.

The tank should have fine sand on the bottom for this species of puffer likes to bury itself. All trials to acclimate young specimens of 6-8 cm length to full strength seawater failed so no experiments in that direction are recommended.

Lexicon: Takifugu: composed from two Japanese words: Taki meaning “waterfall” and Fugu, which is the name of the puffer which causes deadly poisoning when prepared for food in a wrong way; the term has multiple meanings, one can read it in a way that the fish should be cooked in liquid for example. ocellatus: Latin for “with an eyespot”.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Takifugu ocellatus

7. September 2009

After many long years we were finally able again to import this most beautiful pufferfish. For more informations on the species, please see http://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/archiv.php?news_id=207

For our customers: the animals have code 456363 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft China

Badis “Piebald”

2. September 2009

Currently among the specimens of Badis badis bred by commercial breeders relatively often aberrant specimens are found. A closer look on these fishes reveils that besides the unusual irregular black pattern the basic body colour is a deep red. There can be no doubt that these animals are hybrids.

Quite recently only one species with three or four “subspecies” was recognized as valid in the genus Badis. The real diversity in Badis was completely unknown. Some breeders buy now and then wild collected specimens to refresh the blood in their stock, although this is not necessary in fish, as the great number of offspring usually allows to avoid defects resulting from inbreeding. The example of the Piebald-Badis clearly shows on the other hand that it is very dangerous to cross fish of unknown origin. Nevertheless these hybrids are pretty aquarium inhabitants that can be kept like all Badis. They refuse dry food, but readily accept frozen food. The Piebald-Badis are very active and often fight with each other. These fights are totally harmless. It is unknown if it is possible to breed with the hybrids.

Lexicon: Badis: after the Bengal name for the species Badis badis.

Text & Photos. Frank Schäfer

Bujurquina oenolaemus

31. August 2009

Bujurquina oenolaemus: This very pretty species of Bujurquina originates from Bolivia and was described scientifically as early as 1987 by Kullander. It took almost 20 years before the first living specimens were brought to Austria, Switzerland and Germany by travelling aquarists. Soon after breeding was successful and so the species was spread in the hobby. The fish are biparental, larvophilous mouthbrooders.
Keeping of this small jewel that reaches only 10-12 cm is possible in relatively small tanks of 100 l. If the fish are kept in larger tanks even a number of couples can be kept together. It is very interesting to observe the interactions of such a group.

Text & photo: Thomas Weidner

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Nachzucht / bred
Verfügbare Größe in cm 4-6

Astronotus sp. „Bahia Red“

27. August 2009

Sadly it was not possible to research if this Astronotus really was collected in the Brazil state of Bahia. Currently no scientific reports of the occurence of the genus in Bahia are known. So we have to leave the question open, if this population was brought to Bahia as a food fish or if they do not occur there at all.
Despite all this the new „Bahia Red“ is a beautiful wild variety of oscar which developes a lot of red coloration in the lower part of the body. Keeping oscars is pretty easy given the fact that they need a really spacy tank for they easily reach a length of 30 cm and even more. As long as tankmates are not too small (then they end up as oscar food) they are not in danger, for this species of Astronotus is really peaceful even when taking broodcare.

Text & photo: Thomas Weidner

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Nachzucht / Bred
Verfügbare Größe in cm 5-7

Trachycorystes trachycorystes

26. August 2009

This bizarre species has been described scientifically already in 1840. It is widely distributed in the whole Amazon basin. Nevertheless it becomes only rarely imported and so it is highly demanded by fans of predatory catfish who pay quite high prices for them. The species can attain a total length of about 45 cm.

We were able to import six specimens from Peru recently. They are 15-20 cm long and thus only juveniles. T. trachycorystes is known to be pretty aggessive against tankmates, may they be of their own kind or belong to other species. Nevertheless all our six specimens huggle together in the same pvc-tube. Definitely their desire to hide is by far greater than their disgust against each other.

These cats are quite easy to keep. They feed readily on anything of animally origin that fits in their mouth. If it is planned to keep this catfish in a community tank one must take care that tankmates do not end up as catfishfood!

Lexicon: Trachycorystes: from ancient Greek, trachys meaning “rough” and korystes meaning “one armed with a helmet”.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Pseudepiplatys annulatus

25. August 2009

Currently we can offer wonderful bred Pseudepiplatys annulatus. This tiny species originates from West Africa, the fish we have in stock were bred in Southeast Asia. Maximum length of the male is around 3 cm, females stay even smaller. The species is completely peaceful against all other fish and an ideal choice for so called nano-aquaria. The males like to fight with each other and so the tank should be well planted. P. annulatus feeds readily on any fine dry, frozen or live fishfood.

The fish thrive best in relatively dark aquaria. It is important to put dead leaves, peat etc. on the ground. If the tank is too bright the fish stay nervous. Not too hard water (up to 15°dGH) with a slightly acidic pH (6.2 – 6.5) is ideal, but the fish are pretty hardy and accept also less optimal conditions. However, very clean water is absolutely necessary. Water temperature can be between 18 and 24°C.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Lexicon: Pseudepiplatys: from ancient Greek, means “False Epiplatys”. annulatus: Latin for “ringed”.

Betta siamorientalis

24. August 2009

(formerly: Betta cf. imbellis „Vietnam Black“).

We import from Vietnam a pretty wild collected Betta for some time now. The exact determination of that species proofed to be quite complicated. There are four scientifically described species from this complex: Betta imbellis, B. smaragdina, B. splendens, and B. stiktos. An additional species is already known in the hobby as B. sp. „Mahachai“, which looks very similar to B. smaragdina.

Betta splendens is one of the most enigmatic specie of fish at all. Back in 1910 the scietific decrition based already on domesticated animals. This is comparable as if the species „wolf“ would have been described on the basis of a Yorkshire terrier and one would now try to reconstruct the appearance of the wolf on the basis of the scientific description. So nobody on earth really knows what exactly B. splendens is. Pragmatically speaking both species are distinguished from each other in the hobyy by the coloration of the operculum in males. Males of B. splendes develope two bright red stripes on the operculum, whereas B. imbellis males have shining spots on the operculum.

Our Vietnamese fish were initially termed Betta imbellis on the basis of this. Some time later the scientific description of B. stiktos was published. Checking our fish again, we found that they had the species-specific spots described for B. stiktos. However, after all experience, we know that preserved material does not allow to distinguish species reliably in Betta. Nevertheless we decided to rename our fish to Betta cf. stiktos. Some time later, aquarists made a trip to the type locatlity of B. stiktos and were able to collect the species alive. Now it became clear that our fish had nothing to do with it, as B. stiktos looks almost identical to B. smaragdina.

The Vietnamese fish is distinguoished from most other varieties of Betta imbellis by the lack of green or blue shing spots on the flanks. Thus displaying males look deep black. We now have renamed them to B. cf.imbellis to make clear that they are not identical to the fishes often imported from the malayian region.

What name applied to the fish in the future will be the correct one cannot be predicted, but one thing is for sure: B. cf. imbellis are beautiful fish which fit deally in any well planted community tank with peaceful tankmates. Like in B. imbellis and B. smaragdina keeping more than one male per tank is possible.

Additional note: the species has been described scientifically in 2013 under the name of Betta siamorientalis.

For our customers: The fish have code 391023 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply to the wholesale trade only.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Vietnam
Verfügbare Größe in cm 3-4

Wonderful German Bred South American Cichlids

20. August 2009

Some of the larger cichlids of South American belong to the most beautiful freshwater fish at all. We have recently obtained four species of them, all top German bred quality.

Geophagus winemilleri, a breathtaking species from Venezuela, belonging to the Gephagus-surinamensis-group, code 682601

Bujurquina oenolaemus, a splendid Bolivian, a mouthbrooding species from the Aequidens relationship, code 634551

Geophagus sp. Rio Sao Franzisco, an openbrooder that belongs to the Geophagus brasiliensis group and developes much red coloration, code 682131

Astronotus ocellatus “Bahia”, a wild type of oskar which has deep red colours in the belly region when adult, code 633281

More details on those wonderful fish will be availble soon in our fish archieves.

Text: Frank Schäfer, photos: Thomas Weidner

Apistogramma viejita GOLD

18. August 2009

For the first time we can offer now this beautiful dwarf cichlid in a golden sport. This sport does not occur in nature. The contrasting golden and red colours make the fish extremely attractive.

As Apistogramma viejita originates from Colombia it should be kept at higher temperatures as usual, eg 26 – 28°C. Water should be clean, soft and slightly acidic.

Lexicon: Apistogramma: from ancient Greek, meaning „with unreliable line“. It is not known wether this refers to the lateral line or the dark lateral stripe displayed by many species. viejita: diminutive of the Spain word vieja, meaning crone. Vieja is a term given to cichlid species with brood care in Spanish speaking parts of Latin America.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Giradinus falcatus

14. August 2009

Aquarists usually think of the African killifishes of the genus Aplocheilichthys when they hear the term „lampeye fish“. However, there are also lampeyes among the livebearers! One of them is Giradinus falcatus.

The shining eyes of the fish have the same sense as in their African cousins: they are used to keep the school together. Giradinus falcatus are real school fish. In contrast to their colorful relatives (guppys, platies, swordtails…) they hardly ever fight with each other.

If the fish are kept in relatively dark aquaria the shining eyes look really amazing! G. falcatus is an absolutely peaceful animal. On the other hand it is a bit delicate and so it never should be kept together with tough or quarrelsome species.

Females can give birth for up to 50 young. The adults do not hunt the young, but nevertheless it is better to let them grow up to a size of approx. 1 cm in a seperate tank. Then they can become integrated in the school of the adults. It is a fascinating look to see shining spots of different sizes swim around as if by magic!

Lexicon: Girardinus: in honour for the American zoologist C. F. Girard. Falcatus: Latin for „sicklelike“ or „crooked“.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Orthospinus franciscensis

12. August 2009

For the first time we were able to import the tetra Orthospinus franciscensis which is endemic to the Rio Sao Francisco in Brazil. Keeping and also probably breeding is the same as in the Silver Dollar (Brachychalcinus orbicularis) (http://www.aquarium-glaser.de/en/brachychalcinus-orbicularis_en_1116.html). However, O. franciscensis stays smaller, reaching only 8 cm maximum length.

Lexicon: Orthospinus means “erected spine” which refers to a spine placed before the dorsal fin. franciscensis: refers to the origin of the species, the Rio Sao Francisco.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Brachychalcinus orbicularis

12. August 2009

Brachychalcinus orbicularis is also known in the hobby under the name “Silver Dollar Tetra”, which might lead, however, to confusion with tetras of the genus Metynnis, which are also called “Silver Dollars”. Ephippicharax orbicularis is a well known synonym for our fish, which is quite popular in the hobby despite the fact that it displays not much coloration. The reason for its popularity is probably the unusual shape of the body which forms almost a disc when the fish are fully grown. This and their schooling behaviour is a nice contrast to all the colorful fish in a community tank.

Silver Dollars are omnivorous and might feed on waterplants if they are not fed regularly with plant material by the keeper. Breeding is not complicated. They spawn free and take no care of their brood in any way. Males develop minute hooks on the rays of the anal fin, which can be observed by using a magnification glass. When the fish are catched by using a very fine meshed net, these hooks attach for a short time to the net and this enables also to recognice the males.

The fish are completely undemanding regarding the water chemistry. Temperature should be between 20 and 28°C. The higher temperatures are used for breeding.

The natural distribution of this species are the costal drainages of Suriname and Guyana. We offer bred ones.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Nachzucht / bred
Verfügbare Größe in cm 4-5

Colisa cf. fasciata

11. August 2009

The northern states of India are hardly researched in respect of the fishes. From the state of Manipur we currently received exceptionally colorful gouramis of the genus Colisa, which represent a species new to science. They are without doubt close relatives of the species Colisa fasciata, C. bejeus, and C. labiosa, but differ from all of them by the enlarged soft-rayed parts of the dorsal and the anal fin. Especially in males these fins are almost as big as in paradise fish (Macropodus).

The new Colisa are extraordinary beautiful due to the high amount of red in coloration. Again, the most brilliant red is found in the soft-rayed parts of dorsal and anal fin. The caudal fin also has a beautiful red coloration.

This new species of Colisa is more expensive than their well known relatives, but worth every coin of it. One must take care not to cross this species with other Colisa, as all Colisa can produce fertile hybrids. However, the hybrids never have the beauty of the pure species.

Like all species of striped gourami the new one displays a great variabilty in respect of the stripes on the flanks. The number and the form of these stripes is not species-specific in Colisa.

The new gouramis seem to be very hardy when kept in aquaria and are much easier to maintain than Colisa fasciata and C. bejeus. Keeping can be best compared with the species from Inle lake in Burma, which is known in the hobby as Colisa labiosa. The real C. labiosa is not present in the hobby and the Colisa from Inle lake also represent a scientifically undescribed species.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Indien / India
Verfügbare Größe in cm 8-10

Blue Angel Showsize

7. August 2009

In January 2009 we presented to you the new blue dwarf angel (http://www.aquarium-glaser.de/en/pterophyllum-scalare-blauer-zwerg–blue-dwarf_en_1071.html). In the meantime the breeders were pretty active and crossed the blue dwarfs onother strains of angels. So now we are able to supply also blue angels in showsize, which are almost as big as angels of other colour varieties.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Trichopsis schalleri „Vietnam“

15. July 2009

The genus Trichopsis (Croaking gouramis) currently comprises three accepted species: T. vittata, T. pumila, and T. schalleri. This hardly reflects the reality. Especially T. vittata seems to be catch-all species and represents a number of undescribed species.

Trichopsis schalleri was known so far from Thailand only. We now get this pretty species also from Vietnam. This population is a bit smaller than their congeneers from Thailand and reminds one very much on the Croaking dwarf gourami (T. pumila). The males have very nice orange-red finnage with lots of iridescent blue spots.

All Croaking gouramis like to be kept in soft to moderately hard water, a slightly acidic pH and a well planted tank with peaceful tankmates. They readily take any live, frozen or dried food of an appropriate size.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Vietnam
Verfügbare Größe in cm 3-4

Pangasius bocourti

15. July 2009

Shark catfishes have received their common name according to their swimming behaviour, which is very similar to the way several species of shark do swim. Similar to sharks is also that the fishes do permanently swim and only seldom take a rest.Nowadays they are also well known by their scientific genus name, eg Pangasius, because these fishes are subject of intense aquaculture in Southeast Asia. So their very tasty and boneless filets can be found in almost any foodstore even in Europe.

All species of Pangasius are large to very large growing fishes. Thus they fit on a long time sight only for show aquaria. Here they can live several decades. P. bocourti belongs to the medium sized species, its maximum reported length is approx. 120 cm. The very attractive fish can be distinguished from their congeneers in the trade quite easily by the white bordered caudal fin.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Thailand
Verfügbare Größe in cm 10-15

Beautiful new varieties of liverbearers arrived

10. July 2009

This week we received from specialised breeders in Asia five new, breathtaking varieties of livebearers. One circumstance makes this a little sensation: four of the new varieties belong to the species Micropoecilia parae, which is regarded as almost impossible to keep and breed over generations in aquaria.

Three colour varieties of  M. parae display two horizontal stripes over the body. Between these stripes is another, brillantly colored stripe in red, yellow or blue. We offer these varieties assorted. This form has been described scientifically in 1909 as Acanthophacelus melanzonus. Thus the breeder has added the term „melanzonus“ to these three sports. Scientifically speaking A. melanzonus is regarded currently as a synonym of M. parae.

The fourth  variety of M. parae has vertical stripes on the flanks, which are red and black. The females of all varieties mentioned exactly look the same.

Last but not least we received a new selection of wild-type guppys which is named „Three Spots“ by the breeder. This ancient guppy type is also a real eyeburner and an ideal fish for any community tank with small and peaceful tankmates.

Micropoecilia and guppy are not closely related and can never be crossed.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Lexicon: Micropoecilia: means „small Poecilia“. Poecilia is another genus of livebearers. parae: means „coming from Para“. Para is a Brazilian state. Melanzonus: means „with black zones“ according to the two horizontal black stripes. Acanthophacelus: means „cluster of needles“; in respect of the microstructure of the male´s sexual organ, the gonopodium. Synonym: Synonyms are different words with identical meanings. If a species is named scientifically twice or more often, the eldest available name is the vaild one. The other name(s) are considered to be synonym(s) without validity.

Ilyodon whitei

10. July 2009

The genus Ilyodon currently comprises 4 or 5 species (the status of I. lennoni is under discussion). Like all livebearing members of the family Goodeidae (splitfins) they are restricted to the highlands of Mexico. Ilyodon whitei lives in the upper tributaries of the Rio Balsas on the Pacific slope of Mexico. The peaceful and elegant toothcarps reach a length of 6 to 8 cm.

Sadly only few aquarists keep and breed splitfins and in the trade they are even rarer. This is a pity, as many species are in danger of extinction in the wild due to environment destruction. Currently Ilyodon whitei is classified as „critically endangered“ by the international Red List. This is the last warning before the complete extinction in the wild.

Nevertheless there are no laws regarding trading and keeping the species, for it is accepted for a long time in science that the live trade with small fish does not harm natural populations. This is especially true for I. whitei, as they are traded only as bred specimens. There is no commercial exporter of ornamental freshwater fish in Mexico.

In the aquarium this beautiful and a bit shy species needs changing water temperatures to stay healthy. The lower temperature level can be around 16°C, the upper around 28°C. If you keep this fish over months at a continous temperature they become weaker and weaker and in the end they stop reproduction..

All dried, frozen and live food is taken readily. Some algae from the garden pond are an ideal food supplement.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Nachzucht / Bred
Verfügbare Größe in cm 6

Xiphophorus hellerii Platin Orange

8. July 2009

Xiphophorus hellerii Platin Orange:

The latest sport in swordtails is this gorgeous variety. In swordtails exists an interesting gentic phenomenon. The gene for „albino“can be combined with body colours, if the body colours derive from a cross with platyfish. A real albino swordtail has red eyes and a whitish body. In the Platin Orange swordtail the red eyes clearly show that it is an albino, but obviously the splendid red back and the Hamburg coloration (black with reflecting zones) which can be observed in some specimens have been crossed in using platys.

The fish can be kept like all swordtails. That means one should keep in mind that the males can be really irreconcilable among each other. So one should keep either only one male per tank or a bigger group of at least 5 specimens. The number of females is more or less meaningless, but it should at least equal to number of males. As albinos are more sensitive to light than usual, the tank should not be illuminated too strong.

Text and photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Asien / Asia
Verfügbare Größe in cm 6-8

Lampiella gibbosa

2. July 2009

This charming little catfish species was described as early as 1908 by Miranda Ribeiro under the name Otocinclus gibbosus. But only when a group of reseaching aquarists (H.-G. Evers, M. Lacerda, and M. Beyer) managed to cellect the fish alive it became clear, how distinct from all other Otocinlus-like fishes this species really is. There do exist lots of individual colour variations, some are pretty orange-black, other ones rather grey. Most of them are yellowish.

The species occurs in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo in the Rio Betari. Well known other species found here are for example Scleromystax barbatus (formerly known as Corydoras b.) or Parotocinclus paulinus. Like all species from these regions Lampiella have to be kept rather cool (16-22°C). They mainly feed on aufwuchs, but they also take readily freshly hatched brine shrimp nauplii. The maximum size for these charming fishes is 5 cm.

For our customers: the species has code 264884 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale market.

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Brasilien / Brazil
Verfügbare Größe in cm 4-5

Loricaria lentiginosa

2. July 2009

For the first time ever we were able to import one of the largest species of Loricarai, namely L. lentiginosa. The magnificent animals are about 40 cm long and thus fully grown. Like in all species of Loricaria they are paternal mouthbrooders. The male transports the eggs that stick together with its moutn until they hatch.

In nature Loricaria lentiginosa occurs in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo. In the natural habitats of this species the water is pretty cool in the winter (our summer), eg 16°C. Temperature rises in the summer (our winter) up to 22°C. It is very important to consider this when keeping the species in the aquarium.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Boraras brigittae & Boraras merah

26. June 2009

Dieter Vogt described in 1978 a subspecies of Rasbora urophthalma (please see the entry for Boraras urophthalmoides in our fisharchives) from Borneo. He named the fish Rasbora urophthalma brigittae, a dedication name in honour for his wife Brigitte. The German name is „mosquito rasbora“. This is not because the fish are as tiny as mosquitos or as red as moskitos after having a dinner, but due to the fact that there were so many mosquitos at the collecting site that fishing became a real pain.

Today the mosquito rasbora is regarded as a full species in Boraras and thus the correct name is Boraras brigittae.

Borars brigittae was found initially in Banjarmasin in the South of Borneo. 1991 another dwarf rasbora was discovered, also in the South of Borneo, but about 400 km further in the west. This new dwarf rasbora is distinguished from all other species known so far by the very large shoulder spot with a golden ring. It was described by M. Kottelat as Rasbora merah and its correct name today is Boraras merah.

Interestingly B. brigittae also occurs in some of the habitats of B. merah. The population of B. brigittae found there is distinguished from those from the type locality by the much narrower stripe along the side. Depending on which species is dominating a peculiar habitat one imitates the other in coloration. For example: if more B. merah live in the habitat B. brigittae changes coloration so much that one has to look very close on the individual fish to be able to distinguish them. In aquaria both species can interbreed. It is unknown if they do this in the wild.

Obviously this is a case of speciation occuring directly before our eyes!

For our customers: B. brigittae has code 451102, B. merah 452752 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply to the wholesale market.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Indonesien / Indonesia
Verfügbare Größe in cm 1-2

Boraras urophthalmoides (formerly Rasbora urophthalma)

24. June 2009

As early as 1914 the then very prominent German aquarist J. P. Arnold illustrated a new species of Rasbora in a German aquarium magazine, imported by the company Scholze & Pötzsche and said to be imported from Sumatra. In 1922 E. Ahl from Berlin Museum described this species scientifically as Rasbora urophthalma and since these days this charming dwarf rasbora is known as R. urophthalma (common name: Least rasbora) in the aquarium hobby. In 1991 M. Kottelat found when re-examining Ahl´s specimens in Berlin Museum that they were not identical with what is well known in the hobby. Thus the name Rasbora urophthalma was not available anymore for the Least rasbora and Kottelat gave a new name on them: Rabora urophthalmoides. He also stated that the Least rasbora is not known from Indonesia.

Today the scientific name for the Least rasbora is Boraras urophthalmoides. It is known from Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. For the aquarium hobby, it is imported mainly from the latter country.

Like all dwarf rasboras this species is best kept in small aquaria in a one-species tank. The water should be soft and acidic. Due to it´s origin for regular keeping temperatures of 20-22°C are enough, but for breeding the temperature should be raised to 26-28°C.

For our customers: the species has code 453001 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply to the wholesale market.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Vietnam
Verfügbare Größe in cm 1-2

Boraras maculatus

24. June 2009

The Dwarf rasbora (Boraras maculatus, formerly known as Rasbora maculata) is the species of genus Boraras (which currently comprises five species, all of them will become presented in the upcoming days) that is known for the longest time in the hobby. None of these species grows bigger than 2-3 cm and thus they are perfect candidates for the so-called nano-aquaria. All like to be kept in soft and acidic water, rather dark tanks, that should nevertheless be well planted (best use swimming plants), fine live food (although they also take readily dried food) and company of their own kind.

The Dwarf rasbora inhabits the malayian peninsula, southern Thailand and Sumatra. Initially it was often thought to represent the juvenile of the much larger growing species Rasbora kalochroma, but observations of the fish in aquaria and their successful breeding left no doubt on the validity of the species.

There do exist lots of varieties of the Dwarf rasbora which may proof to be different species one day. Typical for all of them is the large shoulder spot, which is in any cases bigger than the eye. The ground coloration of the body depends on the variety and can be light orange up to deep red. Some populations have an additional black spot (all Dwarf rasboras have three black blotches: one on the shoulder, one on the origin of the anal fin, and one on the caudal fin base) on the beginning of the caudal peduncle right above the anal fin.

For our customers: the species has code 452702 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply to the wholesale market.

Text and photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Malaysia
Verfügbare Größe in cm 1-2

Laetacara araguaiae, Laetacara fulvipinnis

23. June 2009

Laetacara sp. „Buckelkopf“ described scientifically

Laetacara sp. „Buckelkopf“ is known in the hobby for many years already. The somewhat unusal common name (the German word „Buckelkopf“ means „humphead“) derives from the feature developed by some very old males, but this happens rather seldom. It is a typical dwarf cichlid, the males grow to a length of about 8, the females of about 6 cm. The typical open brooders with biparental care are easy to keep and breed.

Now the species has been formally described by F. P. Ortoni and W. J. E. M. Costa as Laetacara araguaiae. According to the authors the species comes from the Rio Verde in the Rio Araguaia drainage. However, aquarium literature gives a much wider distrubition, namely the southeastern tributaries of the Amzon river from the Tapajos to the mouth of the Amazon and also the Xingu river.

So finally the second species of Laetacara that had to be named provisionally by aquarists (Laetacara sp. „Orangefin“ has been described already in 2007 by W. Staeck and I. Schindler as L. fulvipinnis from Venezuela) has valid a scientific name.

Interstingly the authors obviously inteded to describe a further species of Laetacara and by mistake in two occasions this species is mentioned under the name L. minuatacara (pp. 45 and 46) in the paper. However, this name remains a nomen nudum without any validity, but clearly shows that we can expect more new species in this interesting genus.

The original papers can be downloaded for free as pdf-files from http://globiz.sachsen.de/snsd/publikationen/vertebrate-zoology/vz57-1/57-1_Staeck_63-71.pdf for L. fulvipinnis and http://globiz.sachsen.de/snsd/publikationen/vertebrate-zoology/vz59-1/05_Vertebrate_Zoology_59-1_Costa_03.pdf for L. araguaiae.

For our customers: Laetacara araguaiae has code 603001, L. fulvipinnis 683302 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

All Laetacara species are illustrated in Aqualog Southamerican Cichlids III, which can be ordered here: http://www.animal-book.de/shop/product_info.php/language/en/info/p4_Southamerican-Cichlids-III.html

Text: Frank Schäfer, photos: H. J. Mayland, Aqualog archieves

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Brasilien / Brazil, Venezuela
Verfügbare Größe in cm 4-5

Axelrodia riesei – Ruby tetra

17. June 2009

Once more we were able to import a good number of beautiful Axelrodia riesei from Colombia. These tiny little fish – wild collected animals are sexually mature at a size of 1.5-2 cm, in aquaria they can reach a size up to 3 cm – fully deserve their popular name – they are brillant ruby red. The species is endemic in the upper Rio Meta region.

One should keep these fish in a one-species tank. If necessary, only small, peaceful species should be added as tankmates. Ruby tetras are not schooling fish, but should nevertheless be kept in groups, for they build up a hierarchy and this species-specific behaviour can not be lived out when congeneers are missing.

The beautiful ruby red coloration is in part differing individually – among a shipment of ruby red ones are also always some more yellowish specimens. In part it is also a consequence of the aquarium settlement. Ideally the tank for Ruby tetras is only slightly illuminated, has dark ground, many hiding places, the surface is covered with floating plants and the water has a deep brown-black colour due to alder“cones“ (female catkins of Alnus glutinosa). The water should be soft and acidic (less than 10°GH, pH between 4.5 and 6.5), the temperature can be between 20 and 26°C. Ruby tetras feed on any usual fishfood, but feeding them with Cyclops will intensify the red colours.

For our customers: the fish have code 209912 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply to the wholesale market.

Text & photo: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Kolumbien / Colombia
Verfügbare Größe in cm 1-2

Colorful Great Ramshorn snails

16. June 2009

The Great Ramshorn snail (Planorbarius corneus, formerly known as Planorbis corneus) is kept in aquaria and garden ponds since the beginning of the hobby. They grow to a relatively large size (maximum 4 cm) and do not touch living plants. They feed exclusively on algae and detritus. This snail has a red blood that contains hemoglobin. Thus albinos have a bright red body.

The wild type of the Great Ramshorn is imported each year from eastern Europe for pond keepers. Now and then these shipments contain also albinos.

Now breeders in Singapore were successful in breeding full red and blue sports of this snail. For the first time we are now able to offer these attractive animals.

Keeping and breeding of the Great Ramshorn is extremely easy. As they are hermaphrodites, two animals are in any case a pair. They breath through lungs and so at least a part of the oxygen they need is taken from the air. The maximum age they can reach is about 3 years, but in the wild only very few specimens get that old. The water temperature should be between 12 and 25°, hardness should be at least 10°KH (more is better), the pH can be between 6.5 and 8.5.

For our customers: the wild Great Ramshorn has code 879403, the bright red 486522, the blue one 486512 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale market.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Tanichthys micagemmae – Jewel minnow

15. June 2009

Tanichthys micagemmae – Zwergkardinälchen Tanichthys micagemmae – Zwergkardinälchen

Currently two species f the genus Tanichthys are known in the hobby: the White Cloud Mountain minnow Tanichthys albonubes, and the Jewel Minnow, T. micagemmae. The White Cloud is available exclusively as bred specimens, wheras the Jewel minnows is also imported as wild collected fish. The Jewel minnow has been discovered in 2001 in Central Vietnam.

The maximum size of the Jewel minnow is less than 3 cm, so the species is an ideal fish for the so-called nano-aquaria. Males and females can easily become distinguished by the shape and colour of dorsal and anal fin, which are much larger and more colorful in males.

The Jewel minnow should be kept and bred in schools. The fish are completely peaceful among any other fish. If they are kept in a one-species tank no additional heater is necessary in indoor aquaria. The species spawn in fine plant material. The offspring swims close under the water surface. If the parental are fed properly and with a good variety of food, usually some of the young survive even in the community tank (surface plants are necessary, especially Riccia).

Tanichthy micagemmae is a real gem and every fishkeeper should have tried it.

For our customers: the fish have code 459002 on our stockliste. Please note that we exclusively supply to the wholesale market.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Vietnam
Verfügbare Größe in cm 2

Corydoras longipinnis

12. June 2009

We were able to import a new Corydoras species from Argentina, namely Corydoras longipinnis. This species has been scientifically described as recently as 2007 by Joachim Knaack. The new species is a close relative to the well known Corydoars paleatus and reminds one somewhat of the longfinned sport of that species. In Corydoras longipinnis only males develope long extended pectoral fins, whereas in the longfinned sport of C. paleatus also the females show that feature.

Corydoras longipinnis is a subtropical species and should therefore be kept at room temperature. For those who have the opportunity: it can be kept in garden ponds during summertime. Breeding C. longipinnis is easy and is the same as in C. paleatus. That means the fish must be fed heavily until the females show a swollen belly and then you have to change repeatingly a great amount of water and fill up with cool water (3-5°C cooler than the old water). This triggers mating and spawning.

Corydoras longipinnis should be kept in groups of at least 7 specimens. It is completely peaceful against congeneers and all other tankmates. The fish take readily any usual fishfood. Plants become not destroyed. The water parameters are of no great relevance. The pH should not be lower than 6 and not higher than 8.5.

For our customers: Corydoras longipinnis has code 233552, C. paleatus 239502 and C. paleatus „Longfin“ 239702 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale market.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Literature: Knaack, J. (2007): Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Callichthyidae (Teleostei: Siluruformes). III. Corydoras longipinnis sp. n. – ein neuer Panzerwels aus dem río Dulce in Argentinien (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Callichthyidae). Vertebrate Zoology 57 (1): 35-55

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Argentinien / Argentina
Verfügbare Größe in cm 4-5

Aphyosemion celiae celiae

10. June 2009

Killifishes of the genus Aphyosemion are among the most colorful fishes of the World. They become only a few centimetres long (in the case of Aphyosemion celiae: about 5 cm). Many killifishes are thought to be short living, delicate fish, aggressive towards other fish and difficult to maintain. A. celiae belongs to the species that show that killifishes are different. They originate from western Cameroon, but we offer currently only captive bred specimens. A. celiae belongs to the same subgenus (Mesoaphyosemion) as the well known Cap Lopez (A. australe) does. Like the latter they can be easily kept in somewhat harder water of about 8-14°dGH. The eggs become attached to submersed plant material, roots etc. A. celiae can reach an age of three years and becomes even more beautiful with growing age. The fish should be kept at temperatures of 20-25°C. They feed readily on any usual fish food, but prefer frozen or live food. There should not be too much light over the tank; the fish look best when there is peat or some dead leaves on the ground and swimming plants cover the surface.

For our customers: The fish have code 305802 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale market.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Nachzucht / bred
Verfügbare Größe in cm 4-5

Tucanoichthys tucano

8. June 2009

Once more we were able to import a real jewel among the tetras for the first time ever: Tucanoichthys tucano. This tiny little species attains a maximum length of around 2 cm and is thatfore an ideal fish for nano aquaria. Tucanoichthys lives endemic in the upper Rio Negro basin, to be more precise in the Rio Uaupes. Fishes from that region should be kept in very soft, strongly acidic water (pH 5). The water should be coloured brownish with humidic acids. Males have red in the caudal and anal fin, which is missing in females.

In dark aquaria the pastel, but shining colours of the fish are presented best.

Text and photos: Frank Schäfer

Mountain crystal tetra, Leptagoniates pi

5. June 2009

Glassfishes occur in many fish families. In the hobby we know for example glass perches (Parambassis etc.) and glass catfishes (Kryptopterus); occasionally also glass gobies (Gobiopterus) and Crystal danios (Danionella) are kept in aquaria. All these fishes come from South and South East Asia. Now we were able to import from South America a species new for the hobby: the Mountain crystal tetra, Leptagoniates pi. We obtained the fish from Peru, the species was oringinally described from Bolivia. The fish attains a length of about 4 cm. Very characteristic and species-specific is the swim bladder, which is parted in two and has a connection on the top, thus forming a figure that reminds one to the ancient greece letter „Pi“. This is why the species is named as it is.

The very special form of the swim bladder can be seen on this photo.

Mountain crystal tetras are very peaceful fishes, maybe a bit shy. They should be always kept in schools. Although they are so colourless (or maybe due their colourlessness?) they are real eyecatchers. The Mountain crystal tetra can be kept in community tanks without problems. Any usual fish food is readily taken, aquatic plants will not become damaged by the fish.

For our customers: the animals have code 266002 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply to the wholesale trade.

Text and photos: Frank Schäfer

A fantastic lemon tetra

3. June 2009

The lemon tetra, Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis, belongs to the most important ornamental fishes and can be found in almost any pet shop. Like in so many other very common species no one gives a thought on them. But even the lemon tetra keeps a lot of secrets…..

The origin of the lemon tetra was not known until 1980, although the species has already been scientifically described in 1937. The scientific description based on specimens imported for the ornamental fish trade and so the origin could be given only vaguely as „probably Amazon river“. Although breeding the lemon tetra is not that easy (not every pair will spawn readily and females have to spawn very often for otherwise their eggs become infertile etc.) no wild caughts came in anymore. So it lasted until 1980 when Gery found that the natural range of the species lies in the lower Amazon basin, to be more precise in the lower and middle Tapajós between Itaituba and Jacare Acanga, and in brooks flowing towards the Rio Curua do Sol. Other sources give also the Xingu and the Tocantins.

The ancestors of our new lemon tetra which we can offer in wonderful German bred specimens are said to originate from Bolivia. They differ from the well known lemon tetra due to their brillant orange basic colour and the lack of the typical black border of the anal fin. According to our breeder the breeding behaviour is also different. So it is very likely that our new lemon tetra belongs to a so far undescribed species.

Keeping the new lemon tetra is very easy and even beginners can do it. One should keep the up to 4.5 cm long animal in little groups in well structured aquaria. Every individual will form a small territory after settlement and defend it against congeneers. They feed on any commercial and living fishfood, tempertaure can be between 22 and 28°C. In soft and slighlty acidic water they become most beautiful, but these water conditions are not necessary for a successful keeping.

For comparison: the classical lemon tetra

For our customers: the new animals, called „Orange Bolivia“ by us, have code 261632, the classical lemon tetra code 261603 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale market.

Text Frank Schäfer, Photos: Frank Schäfer and H.-J. Mayland/Aqualog archieves

Trachelyopterus galeatus

28. May 2009

Already in 1766 this species was described under the name Silurus galeatus by the founder of the zoological nomenclature, Carl von Linné. It is extremely widespread in South America. Today this fish is classified in the family Auchenipteridae, and within this family in the subfamily Auchenipterinae. The species in Auchenipterinae share a very special feature: the males have the first rays of the anal fin modified as a sexual organ.

Currently, we have wonderful and large (12-15 cm) specimens from Guyana in stock. The sexual differences can easily be spotted and so there is a good opportunity for breeders to try themselves on this extraordinary species. Details of the breeding behaviour are still unknown. It is believed that they have an internal fertilization. The only thing known for sure is that they spawn at night times exclusively.

A common name for Trachelyopterus galeatus is „Driftwood Catfish“. Is is a nocturnal species. The fish should be kept in large tanks with lots of hiding places. Tnakmates should not be too small (minimum half length of the catfish), otherwise they could be mistaken for food. The water parameters are neglegtable in this species, temperature should be between 22°C and 28°C. They can be fed with any usual fishfood, but one should keep in mind that it necessary to feed them in the afternoon.

For our customers: the fish have code 297555 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply to the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Guyana
Verfügbare Größe in cm 12-15

Mikrogeophagus ramirezi „Electric Blue“

25. May 2009

The Ram is one of the most beautiful aquarium fishes. The wild Ram originates from the llanos of the Orinoco. The newest sport of this dwarf cichlids is blue all over the body. It is virtually impossible to illustrate this very special colour in a high resolution picture. Only reducing the resolution brings the effect to see the „Electric Blue“ coloration in a way as one sees the fish with bare eyes.

Text: Frank Schäfer, Photos: Frank Schäfer und Roman Neunkirchen

Opsodoras stuebelii

22. May 2009

The Doradidae family contains around 90 species in about 35 genera. Thus they represent only a minority among the huge number of catfishes existing in South America. But all dordadid catfishes are really bizzarre and desirable creatures for catfish enthusiasts.

There are dordaid catfishes that reach around one metre in length, but for Opsodoras stuebelii only 10-15 cm total length are reported. Our specimens originate from Paraguay and were determined using the standard aquarium literature; however, there is some indication that our fish in truth represent a species completely new to science (the „real“ Opsodoras stuebelii has a much longer snout). Among the insiders of the „catfish scene“ our fish is thatfore also known as „Doradidae sp. 2“.

Many doradid catfish are nocturnal and hide during daytimes. This is not true for O. stuebelii, which is pretty active during daytimes. Against congeneers O. stuebelii are totally peaceful, and although they cannot be termed schooling fish they like to stand together in groups.

Regarding food and water parameters O. stuebelii are totally unpretending and represent a hardy beginner´s species. One should only keep in mind that they originate from subtropical areas and should not be kept year-in year-out too warm.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Paraguay
Verfügbare Größe in cm 5-7

Astacus astacus

30. April 2009

The Noble or River cray, Astacus astacus, is sadly in danger of extinction in central Europe. The reason for this are the extreme destruction of the natural habitats in combination with the introduction of a Northamerican species between 1860 and 1870. This species, the so-called Camber cray (Orconectes limosus) was infested with a disease. This fungus does no harm to the Camber cray at all, but kills all European species. The disease was called the crayfish pestilence. Later, another Northamerican species (Procambarus clarkii) was introduced in southern Europe and brought the crayfish pestilence in the remaining territory of the native European species. Both Camber cray and Procambarus clarkii were introduced as food sources.

We can offer Noble crays from special, disease free breeding farms for pond and aquarium keeping. The small underwater knights are omnivorous, but the main part of their natural diet forms dead plant material. So dead leaves from oak, beech and so on should be available for the animals the whole time through. It is esssential that the water temperature never gets higher than 18°C.

Males and females can easily be distinguished from each other. Only the males have a special pair of legs, the so-called gonopdes, which serve as genitals. The gonopodes reach in between the last pair of walking legs. In females there is simply nothing between the swimming legs (pleopods) and the walking legs. After mating the females carry the eggs between the pleopods until they hatch.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Deutschland / Germany
Verfügbare Größe in cm 8-10

Hydrolycus scomberoides

29. April 2009

The Dogtooth characins (Hydrolycus) are small genus of tetras (four species) that have a wide distribution in tropical South America. They have in common very long saber-like teeth in the lower jaw. In the upper jaw cave-like notches are present, as otherwise the fish would not be able to close the mouth.

These saber-teeth are used to stab the fish the Dogtooth characins feed on to death before they eat them.

Hydrolycus scomberoides is one of the largest species of the genus. The maximum length reported so far is more than a meter. This fish weighs around 18 kg. So it is clear that this species can be kept in very large aquaria only.

H. scomberoides can be easily recognized by a distinct black spot on the innermost rays of the pectoral fins. This is a feature unique to that species.

In the aquarium H. scomberoides require not much space (compared with other fish), as well settles specimens do not move much. They stand in their genus-typical head-down position and wait for prey. Although these predators stand clear to congeneers they are not aggressiv e at all. Water temperature should be between 22 and 28°C. The remaining water conditions are of no great importance. Live fish are prefered as prey, but well settled specimens will also accept dead fish for food.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Peru
Verfügbare Größe in cm 8-12

Nannostomus anduzei

28. April 2009

For the first time ever we were able to import this tiny fish in larger numbers. Until now the fish was available only by accidental by-catches. Please read more about this new jewel for nano tanks:

Within the family Lebiasinidae, sixteen scientifically accepted species of the genus Nannostomus are known. Still, in aquatic specialist shops only seven different species are offered: N.beckfordi, N.harrisoni, N.marginatus, N. mortenthaleri, N.trifasciatus, and the two 'head-ups' N.eques and N.unifasciatus. occasionally N. digrammus, N. espei and N. limatus are also available.Until today, one other species, N.britskii, is completely unknown to the aquatic world.

Hardly anything can be said about colouration or appearance in general. All other species are fairly known to aquarists but not available in the shops because there is no demand for them. Every now and then, some specimens of the species N.anduzei FERNANDEZ & WEITZMAN, 1987 come as accidental catches to Europe.It can sometimes be found in catches of the Blue Neon, Paracheirodon simulans.Very often, the fish are ignored due to their smallness: they only reach a maximum length of 1.8 cm! With this maximum length, N.anduzei is the smallest species of the genus. By the way: the genus type is N.beckfordi. The authors FERNANDEZ and WEITZMAN named the pretty dwarftetra in honour of Dr Pablo Anduze who supported their research of the fish world of southern Venezuela in every possible way.The reference specimens of this fairly 'new' species come from a collection of a freshwater lagoon that is about 15 km north of Puerto Ayacucho, in the upper regions of the Rio Orinoco. The water temperature in the lagoon was nearly 30° C, the pH differed from 5.0 to 7.0. A second place where N.anduzei was found is in northern Brazil. Dr WEITZMAN was asked to identify a collection of fish from this particular place; several specimens of N.anduzei were among them.The fish had been collected in the waters of a savanna in the Rio Negro area. These stretches of water belong to the Rio Ererê which comes from the North and flows (about 250 km northwest of the mouth of the Rio Branco) into the Rio Negro, near the Rio Padauari which came to our knowledge through exciting catches of Dwarf cichlids.This particular place is one of the socalled 'black water' regions. Interestingly, the fish caught there have the same colouration as the specimens caught in Venezuela but the males of the Brazilian form have a much longer anal fin. N. anduzei differs from all other Nannostomus species in the lacking of dark spots or bars in night colouration. In night colouration these fish seem to be transparent and display a golden shine while the red in the anal fin and the caudal base is hardly recognizable. The fish that are imported as accidental catches probably come from the Rio Ererê region. For keeping them one needs only a small aquarium with a volume of about 10 to 30 litres. At water parametres of 27° C, pH 7 or slightly below and 10°dH hardness the precious little fish are absolutely unproblematic to keep. For feeding one should use (due to the smallness of the fish) very fine, sieved Cyclops, sometimes small Grindal Worms or artemia nauplia.Occasionally they also enjoy fine dry food. If you keep a swarm of N. anduzei under the conditions mentioned above you will soon observe the first courtship rituals of the males.Now, the dominant males display a blood red caudal fin base and anal fin. The golden horizontal bar shines in a light green and the brown back as well as the brown horizontal band below the gold-green bar turns grey-brown. After this impressive courtship display one of course hopes for numerous offspring of this pretty and rare fish. But although I very often watched courtship rituals the fish never spawned. So I decided to try to breed with a swarm of four males and six females which were all animals that I had picked out from several Blue Neon imports. I set up an 8 litre breeding tank; 2/3 of the bottom were cushioned with Java-moss, the surface was covered by Ceratopteris. The spring water I used had pH 6.3 and 2° dH hardness.The swarm was kept like this for ten days; artemia nauplia were fed daily.The food remains accummulated in the light front part of the tank and were carefully sucked out every two days.Afterwards I filled up the tank with fresh spring water. Three days after I had removed the adults from the breeding tank I could see tiny zygotes that stuck to the panes.This way it was easy to measure them: they were three milimetres long, grey-white in colour and very thin. The head with the clearly visible eye was thicker than the rest of the body. Every two days I carefully added two drops of Liquifry to the tank water. At the beginning of the third week I gave some artemia nauplia into the tank but I could not see whether they were eaten or not. After three weeks I removed all plants from the tank.To my disappointment, there were only six young fish. Still, those six were now 4 mm long and had put on considerable weight.As the plants were removed, I could now watch the fry eating the nauplia. At this stage I dared to suck out some mud and fill up the tank with spring water. For eating food remains I put in several Posthornsnails. Although this very first breeding of N. anduzei was not too successful regarding numbers, it still showed that it is possible to breed the dwarf species in the aquarium. It might be possible that the species is (like many of its relatives) a predator of its own eggs. If this is the case it could be wiser to breed only in pairs. It will surely be possible to improve breeding results so that the pretty species can be part of its owner's life for a long time.

Text & Photos: Dieter Bork
Reprint from AqualogNews No 7, actualized 4/2009

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Venezuela
Verfügbare Größe in cm 1-2

Markiana nigripinnis

24. April 2009

We were able to import one of the most unusual tetras again: Markiana nigripinnis. Our specimens originate from Argentina. The species inhabits the river basins of the Paraná, Paraguay and the Marmoré (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay). Due to the southern subtropical region where the fish occurs it is not necessary to install a heater in the tank. During summertime the fish can be kept even in garden ponds. Specimens brought in in autumn again show extraordinary brillant colours.

The body colour is blue-green-metalic-silvery, on the base of the caudal fin is a black spot, a humeral spot is present, but not always visible. Along the horizontal scale rows are black zickzack lines. The most obvious feature is the very long anal fin which has a brillant orange colour. This colour can be hardly found in other species of ornamental fish. There are specimens with deep orange, black bordered anal fins (males?) and specimens with light orange analfins without a black border (females?).
M. nigripinnis is easy to keep. Water conditions are of no great importance. It is an omnivorous species that needs to be fed with plant material, too. It grows to a common size of 12 cm, rarely 15 cm total length. As it is a relatively large and lively fish that must  be kept in schools, one should have a large tank to keep them. Given the fact that M. nigripinnis is a hardy and not shy species it is an ideal companion for large cichlids like Geophagus brasiliensis for example.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Geophagus dicrozoster and G. abalios

22. April 2009

The beautiful eartheaters of the Geophagus-surinamensis relationship are among the most colorful cichlids, shining in all colours of the rainbow. There are numerous species and some of them even have colour varieties in different river systems. As these are currently not recognized by scientists, we help ourselves in adding the river´s name behind the scientific name in these cases.

Six species of that group (in the widest sense) occur in Venzuela. Two of them, Geophagus dicrozoster and G. abalios, are regularly imported by us. Their natural range is the Orinoco river, the Casquiare river (this is the river that connects the Orinoco and the Rio Negro) and – at least G. dicrozoster – also the upper reaches of the Rio Negro. Both species are really lookalikes, at least as juveniles, and often occur together in the wild.

The only feature observable in live fish that enables one to distinguish young specimens of these two species is the prsence or absence of a black stripe on the pre-operculum. In G. abalios this stripe is always missing, in G. dicrozoster always present. Sadly fish under some stress (for example when they are caught with a net) often do not show the stripe at all. So it is often impossible to sort young fish in the wholesale trade.

We are therefore not able to give a 100% guarantee that all our fish belong to G. dicrostoster. The one or the other G. abalios may hide among them. So we decided to give them the name G. cf. dicrozoster on our stocklist.

G. dicrozoster can become around 20cm long, as well as G. abalios. In rare occasions they even might grow a bit larger. The species should be kept in clean, soft and acidic water. In the wild they are stricly limited to blackwater streams. Only when kept under those water conditions they develope the full colours. G. dicrozoster like it warm, temperatures of around 28°C are perfect. It is essential to enable the fish to „eat“ fine sand. This is an important part of the natural behaviour of the fish. Moreover it keeps the fish healthy for this „sandeating“ cleans their gills in a way that is comparable with our teethbrushing.

Text: Frank Schäfer
Photos: Thomas Weidner

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Venezuela
Verfügbare Größe in cm 5-8

Hypancistrus L236xx

21. April 2009

The Brazilian species of the genus Hypancistrus are currently not allowed to be exported from the country. Thus L-numbers of this genus, like L236 from the Rio Iriri, are available as bred specimens only. Among the last brood we received was one extraordinary specimen, which is depicted here.

Text & Photo: Frank Schäfer

Lepomis gibbosus

15. April 2009

The pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) is one of the most beautiful coldwater fishes. Moreover it has a very interesting behaviour. The species originates from central parts of the North American continent. The continental climate (hot summers, cold winters) makes the pumkinseed a hardy fish and so it was transferred by humans to many regions as a foodfish. To Europe it was brought around 1880 for the first time. Since then it became a native fish in Europe but was not able to settle over the whole continent.

Nowadays the pumkinseed is blamed as an unwanted and useless species in Europe. In its natural habitat the fish grows up to 25 cm, but in Europe it stays small. How come? Indigenous North American populations of the pumkinseed serve as food fish for many predators. The strategy of the pumkinseed is a a very high reproduction rate. In Europe these predators are missing what leads to a mass-reproduction and the fish stay dwarfish. This phenomenon is also known from other fish species. The perch (Perca fluviatilis) also becomes dwarfish where predators are missing. And so the pumpkinseed usually grows only up to 5-10 cm in Europe.

In aquaria the fish can become much older than in nature. Like all fish the pumkinseed can grow its whole live through and so aquarium specimens can grow to a captial size. In the garden pond, on the other hand, they usually stay small (around 15 cm). With growing age the adaptability to changes in the enviroment lessenes and so most pumkinseeds die at the age of around 5 years due to weatherchanges or something similiar. It is wise to buy small individuals (4-5 cm) as their adaptability is high and they easily adopt to live in the new environment.

The garden pond for pumkinseeds should contain shallow parts with fine sand. Good growth of submerged plants is also important for the fish. Clear and clean water ist preferred. Pumpkinseed are small preators which feed on insect larvae, amphibian larvae, small fish and so on. They can be fed easily with frozen bloodworm, but will almost ever refuse dried food.

Males become bigger than the females and are more colourful. A pairbinding is not known in the species, the male will readily mate with any females that will come around. The males defend territories where they take care of the brood until the fry swims free.

For our customers: the animals have code 882500 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply to the wholesale market.

Photo: B. Migge / Aqualog archieves
Text: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Nachzucht / bred
Verfügbare Größe in cm 3-5

Wakin Hoe Kim

14. April 2009

Goldfish are timeless classics. The number of different sports and colours seems to be neverending. Basicly all goldfish belong to the very same species, eg Carassius auratus. So every single sport is a mere variety and all the different goldfish can be crossed with each other. Most of the varieties that exist nowadays have a deep, short body. Most of them are known as „fantails“ in the hobby. These goldfish often die during winter in garden ponds in Central Europe. Their gut has a different form compared with the gut of a wild-type goldfish. So very often some food remains in the gut during winter and this leads to death in the end.

Among the „normal“ bodied goldfish varieties the Wakin is one of the most attractive for ponds. Wakin are defined as „normal“ goldfish with doubled caudal fin. They survive problem free the winter and grow to a relative big size (20-25 cm). The chinese name for the red-white Wakin is Hua he jin, whereas the Japanese name for red-white goldfisch is in general Sarasa. It is very likely that the original name „Hua he jin“ became what is nowadays „Hoe Kim“. In South East Asia, this highly attractive  red-white Wakin is bred and sold as Hoe Kim.

For our customers: the fish has code 808703 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply to the wholesale market.

By the way: all goldfish and varieties are depicted and explained in the unique AQUALOG „all goldfish and varieties“. Please click here for further informations.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Pygocentrus piraya

8. April 2009

The „real“ piranha, Pygocentrus piraya, is restricted to the river system of the Sao Francisco in southern Brazil. It is a up to 30 cm long species, which is characterized by its deep red breast and the mighty jaws when it is fully grown.However, even juveniles display a very attractive coloration.
Most piranha species belong to the genus Serrasalmus. Externally Pygocentrus and Serrasalmus are very similar, but the behaviour of the members of the two genera is completely different. All Serrasalmus are fin eaters and solitary fish whereas all three Pygocentrus species (P. caribe, P. nattereri and P. piraya) are schooling fish.
This means that P. piraya should be kept in real big aquaria, as it becomes a large fish and must be kept in groups. When they reach maturity, pairs build up small territories (places around large plants are most wanted). They dig out spawning pits by hitting away the gravel with the caudal fin and defend this against other fish. Only the male defends eggs (many thousands) and fry. The brood care ends when the young become free swimming.
Usually no piranha will attack a human being. Nevertheless you should keep respect as the fish have razorsharp teeth and can give really heavy bites. There is only real danger when the aquarium is too small for the fish and they cannot get out of the way or during feeding times, as by chance the piranha can take the keeper’s finger for food by mistake.
All in all P.piraya is a gorgeous fish for show tanks where it can also show its faszinating and highly developed behaviour.

Text & Photo: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Brasilien / Brazil
Verfügbare Größe in cm 5-8

Available again: Pterobrycon myrnae, the Semaphore tetra

6. April 2009

New stock arrived for first calendar week 2010

And the good news is: the are considerably more favourable than last year!

It was only twice, 1998 and 2008, that we received the Semaphore Tetra by Thomas Schulz. This fish is restricted to fast running brooks in Costa Rica.

It is a spectacular tetra and luckily absolute unproblematic and peaceful. It has an internal fertalization and the female is able to store the sperms over a long period. The fish has an extreme sexual dimorphism. Females are plain blue-grey, whereas the males are particulary colorful. Only the males develope the semaphore-like long scales which are responsible for the common name. Moreover the males have longer anal and ventral fins. The females become slightly bigger (up to 55 mm total length) than the males, which stay 10-15 mm smaller. The mating rituals are very interesting to observe. During this the male presents the „semaphore scales“ widely spread. We were able to produce a little offspring from the wild collected fish which will be offered by Aquarium Glaser in very near future. The eggs are attached on substrates by the female. The sexes are distinguishable as late as when the fish are six months old. We hope that this interesting tetra will become established in the aquarium hobby now. We currently work on the F1 generation.

Text: Peter and Martin Hoffmann
Photos: Peter Hoffmann

A new pleco from the Rio Sao Francisco

1. April 2009

The Rio Sao Francisco is a large river in southern Brazil. It´s length is around 3.200 km. The ichthyofauna of the Sao Francisco is comparably  good explored, as there plans for an irrigation project. So the environment has to be explored and there were and are several studies on the fish fauna.

We currently received a shipment containing fish from the Sao Francisco, among them several plecos. One species was puzzling us, as we have never seen something like that before. On the first glimpse it reminded us on L238/LDA40 due to it´s extraordinary broad mouth. However, catfish expert Ingo Seidel kindly informed us that he thinks our new fish is a member of the genus Hypostomus.

It seems that the fish belongs to a so far undescribed species. Due to the well developed odontodes along the pectoral fin spine they are at least sexually mature, maybe even fully grown. Their current size is 5-6 cm. So they could proove to become perfect algae-eaters for smaller tanks.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Wonderful Golden Rams!

31. March 2009

We currently have an extraordinary good and healthy stock of Golden Rams, bred in Germany. They have a perfect size and are highly recommended for anybody who wants to try these beauties for the first time.

For our customers: the fish have code 686802 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale market.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Land hermits: Coenobita rugosus imported!

30. March 2009

From Taiwan we were able to import beautiful land hermits. They belong to the species Coenobita rugosus, which can be recognized by the ridge-like swellings on the upper edges of the claws. The colour is very variable and can be grey, brown or reddish. Like all Coenobita species the animal likes to live in groups. They are omnivorous and can be fed easily with flake food for fish and several vegetables. It is necessary to feed always dried leaves (oak, beech etc.). In one bowl one has to offer daily changed fresh water, in another one seawater. The terrarium should be filled 10 cm high with a mixture of sand and garden earth. It is necessary that the ground is high enough to allow the animals to burrow themselves completely. Otherwise they are unable to moult.

For more informations please see Aqualog book „All about shrimps, crayfishes, & crabs in the fresh-and brackish-water aquarium and paludarium“

For our customers: the animals have code-number 483212. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale market.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Hillstream loach week at Aquarium Glaser! Part 4: Chinese Rarities

27. March 2009

Vanmanenia pingchowensis
Only three specimens of this attractive species were imported recently. The fish are about 8 cm long and seem to be almost fully grown. The species is found in mountain strams, where they live on the bottom between pebbles.

Erromyzon sinensis
This is a small species, reaching hardly 5 cm. It is interesting that they differ much in coloration. Some specimens are almost uniform brown while others have a pattern of fine stripes. The species is restricted to the West River.

Sinogastromyzon wui
This is the only hillstream loach of today´s update that we have more or less regulary in stock. They are very pretty and reach around 6 cm in total length. The species is found on the island of Hainan and in the Zhujiang River on the Chinese mainland. Golden (xanthotistic) specimens occur regularly. Normally the basic colour of the fish is a warm brown.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Hillstream loach week at Aquarium Glaser! Part 3: Crossostoma lacustre, Homaloptera tweedei, Gastromyzon punctulatus

25. March 2009

Crossostoma lacustre

Crossostoma lacustre is a species that we were able to import for the very first time now. It is endemic on Taiwan. That means it occurs nowhere else in the World. Despite its scientific name (lacustre means: „Living in a lake“) it is found in nature only in heavily torrent waters of small brooks. The maximum size reported for that species is 12 cm.
Homaloptera tweedei

Homaloptera tweedei is a chraming dwarf species that reaches only 4-5 cm in length. Although it is not that much colorful it is a real eyecatcher due to its funny behaviour. In nature – we get this species from Thailand – it lives in medium sized streams where it swims over on large stone plates and stuff like that.

Gastromyzon punctulatus (G. ctenocephalus?)

The island of Bormeo is home to a very large number of hillstream loaches. Sadly it is virtually imposible to give a correct name on them, although a great revision of these fishes was published quite recently (2006). But there are many species which are known already but which are not yet described formally and thus it is impossible to identify them. So in the trade we use the catch-all name Gastromyzon punctulatus for this group of species, as it was also usually in the scientific literature until 2006.

Leaving the difficulties in naming the species aside these spotted hillstream loaches are wonderful aquarium inhabitants. As they come from tropical areas they can be kept in heated tanks. The species we actually have in stock has very nice blue fin membranes, but sadly they show them only for a very short time. The fish become 6-7 cm long. Their body coloration varies between light brown and deep black. Scattered over this ground coloration are yellow spots of different size. Currently our species is often identified as G. ctenocephalus.

Gastromyzon punctulatus (G. ctenocephalus?)

For our customers: Crossostoma lacustre has the code 412692, Homaloptera tweedei 421632 and Gastromyzon punctulatus 416562. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale market.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Hillstream loach week at Aquarium Glaser! Part 2: Beaufortia leveretti

24. March 2009

This is by far the most often offered hillstream loach. It originates from China and Vietnam, but is currently imported from China only. The whole habitus is very similar to the Sewellia species we presented yesterday. The coloration is formed by pretty black spots on golden underground.

The most important fact one has to know about B. leveretti is that this is not a tropical fish at all, but comes from moderate climate zones. Thus it is impossible to keep it in a long time sight at water temperatures above 24°C. The ideal range is 12°C in winter and 21°C in summer. Avoid abrupt jumps in temperature!

B. leveretti is therefore an ideal inhabitant of unheatet aquaria and helps you to save energy costs. A perfect tankmate for B. leveretti is the White cloud mountain minnow, Tanichthys albonubes. A school of that fish containing about 15-20 specimens in the water column and 10-12 Beaufortia form a very nice picture.

Text & photo: Frank Schäfer

Potamotrygon cf. falkneri

18. March 2009

Currently we have a great selection of wonderful river stingrays from Paraguay belonging to that species in stock. As in all river stingray species, each individual has its own colour pattern, which differs clearly from all other congeneers. This is one of the reasons why species can only be distinguished with great difficulties in Potamotrygon. Moreover there is strong evidence (DNA-analyzes, colouration) that the species hybridize in nature .

Potamotrygon cf. falkneri belongs to the big species of river stingrays. Specimens of more than 60 cm disc width are known. It is very interesting that there exist dwarf males that reach sexual maturity at only 20 cm disc width while other males are unripe even at 40 cm disc width. Sexual maturity can easily be recognized by the size of the sexual organs, the so-called claspers.

For our customers: the animals have code 282955 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply to the wholesale market.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Just in: L114

17. March 2009

After some time we were able now to import again L114. It is a member of the beautiful Pseudacanthicus-leopardus species group. The members of this species group can reach 25-30 cm total length, some sources give even 40 cm.

They originate from the Rio Negro basin near Barcelos in Brazil. They are omnivorous, but prefer clearly meat. L114 almost refuses plant material, but they readily accept food tablets.

Breeding was successful in captivity already. They are cavebrooders with paternal eggcare. Breeding of Pseudacanthicus is difficult due to the extreme aggressiveness of the adult fish. This makes it often impossible to keep pairs long enough together to enable breeding at all.

Text & photo: Frank Schäfer

Ctenopoma acutirostre Leopard babies!

16. March 2009

Among the most beautiful anabantoids or labyrinth fish from Africa is Ctenopoma acutirostre, the Leopard bushfish. It can become 15-20 cm long. Its natural habitat is the Congo. It is collected there for the ornamental fish trade in the Stanley Pool region. Here the fish live under the swimming meadows of the water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). At dawn  they start hunting. Like a dead fish they slowly thrive through the water column. The special leopard pattern suggests a rotting carrion. Small fish are attracted by the obvious easy food and find themselves eaten as soon as they try to taste it.

Juvenile Ctenopoma acutirostre hunting

Regarding breeding in the aquarium the Leopard bushfish proofed to be difficult, although they are completely peaceful among each other and can be sexed easily (ripe males develope thorns behind the eyes and on the caudal peduncle which serve to fix the female during spawning). Nevertheless they only bred ocassionally by chance and never when planned.

Now the breeders in Southeast Asia were successful at least. And we can therefore offer charming little leopard babies! They already hunt like their parents and imitate a carrion when hungry. Luckily enough it is not necessary to feed live fish, neither to the young nor to the adults. They easily can be adopted to frozen food (bloodworm etc.). They also can be kept in community tanks given the fact that possible tanksmates are at least as half as long the Leopard bushfish. So they cannot be swallowed anymore and become not attacked. On the other hand one has to choose calm species as tankmates, for the Leopard bushfish does not like hectic atmosphere at all!

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Trichomycterus alternatus: In the shadow of the vampire

13. March 2009

female

Sometimes fishes have the same problems as human beings: one cannot choose his relatives! And so the good reputation of a small fish sometimes is destroyed due to the bad one of a cousin. The most by far feared species of fish in South America is the so-called candiru. In fact, the name candiru is applied to a number of different species in different genera, but this does not matter in our context here. The candiru is able to penetrate the ureter of a human if the person is urinating under water.     This causes horrible infestions that can even be fatal. The fish has spines on the operculum which make it impossible to move backwards. So the candiru dies in the ureter and the victim becomes hazared from inside.

male

Of course this is not the real intention of the candiru. Its attitude is to find one of the giantic catfishes and suck blood from their gills. When a candiru swims into a human´s ureter this is only an accident. Nevertheless, even being a bloodsucking parasite does not make the candiru more sympathic…..

                 

juveniles

This is pretty sad for some of the close relatives of the candiru are charming and interesting aquarium inhabitants. One of them is Trichomycterus alternatus from Brazil which we were able to import recently. They reach about 10 cm and remind of loaches with an walrus´ beard. It is very interesting that both the sexual dimophism (males and females are differently coloured; moreover males have longer and broader pectoral fins) and the juvenile coloration is very similar to the stone loach (Barbatula barbatula).

                 

females

Regarding feeding this loach-cat is completly unproblematic. The species likes the community of its own kind and should always be kept in groups. Otherwise the fish will be shy and hiding. The water temperature can be between 22 and 25°C. No special recommendments for the aquarium water are required,but it should be clean and oxygen rich. As the fish originate from fast running brooks the like a good filter currency.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Neocaridina Deep Blue Tiger Yellow Eyes

11. March 2009

The latest new entry in our stocklist: this is a very beautiful sport of the tiger shrimp. The blue sport is known for quite a long time. Our new stock shows extreme bright colours. Males can grow to a size of 2.5 cm, females become 3.5 cm long.
For our customers: the animals have the code 485442 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photo: Frank Schäfer

Neocaridina Red-Bee-Snow-White-Shrimp

5. March 2009

Breeding of „Crystal Red“ shrimps has become a widespread hobby. These dwarf shrimps are real pets in the sense of domesticated animals, a very interesting fact under the aspect of culture history: this is the first case of a crustacean that has been cultivated for that reason since the rise of men on earth! A very characteristical feature of a domesticated animal is that it is impossible to apply it to a species on the basis of anatomical appearances. This is the reason why the Crystal Red bears no scientific name, as it does not appear in the wild and there is no natural species that can be identified as the wild ancestor of the Crystal Red without strong doubts.

In contrast to wild living animals, pets are not doomed to the (in our eyes often cruel and radical) rules of natural selection. There are no predators in the aquarium and food is available unlimited. The only thing a breeder has to look at is the sensibility against diseases and parasites.

Until very recently breeders in Europe mainly looked for the development and brightness of the red colored parts on the body of the shrimps. In Eastern Asia, on the other hand, breeders were more fascinated by developing the white parts in coloration. This white colours are contrasting with the red in a very attractive way. However, nowadays even pure white strains exist. This white colours are reflecting which makes the shrimps almost shine. A typical feature of these pure white strains is the fact that the red has been substituted by an orange colour. Depending on the grade of orange in the body ground coloration, the animal looks either like platinum white or golden white.

Breeding and general care of the Snow-Whites is the same as in all Crystal Reds.

For our customers: the animals have code 485340 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale market.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Taiwan
Verfügbare Größe in cm 1-2

Hyphessobrycon amapaensis

4. March 2009

One of the most beautiful tetras of South America is availble now in brillantly colored wild collected specimens. The Amapa tetra is an uncomparable eye-catcher for any well suited community tank for South American fishes. As usual, among these wild collected fishes were also specimens of other species, so-called by-catches. This gives us a good idea about the community of species the Amapa tetra lives in in the wild and also suggests perfect tankmates:

Marbled hatchetfish, Carnegiella strigata; Dwarf pencilfish, Nannostomus marginatus; Head-and-taillight tetra, Hemigrammus ocellifer.

Beside these species, however, also some less attractive species were among the Amapa tetras. We show them here anyway (please use button “Further pictures”).

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Brasilien/Brazil
Verfügbare Größe in cm 3-4

Bamboo shrimps actually spawned

3. March 2009

Last week we could introduce to you the new Bamboo shrimp, which we imported for the first time ever from Taiwan. Due to the extreme high price of the two alleged pairs we established them not in the fish house, but in our show room.

Yesterday a scientist researching on these shrimps asked us about the actual size of our specimens. To answer this question we photographed the animals sitting on a ruler. Taking the opportunity, one of our so-called males surprised us by bearing deep red eggs under the tail!

The most exciting aspect on this is the relative big size of the eggs. That means usually that the larvae hatch directly in fresh water and have no planctonic phase in the ocean like the other regularly imported members of the genera Atya and Atyopsis. With other words: the species should be easily bredable in captivity! We’ll see……

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Protomyzon pachychilus

2. March 2009

For the first time we were able to import these charming hillstream loaches. Due to their origin (China) and their black&white coloration we call them dwarf panda hillstream loaches. Although the species has been scientifically described back in 1980 in a Chinese journal almost nothing has been published concerning the beautiful animal since then.

Our specimens are around 3 cm long. Unfortunately we have no reliable information about how big they can grow. But there can be no doubt that these small beauties that seem not be be delicate at all are a „must have“ for any real loach enthusiast.

Text and photo: Frank Schäfer

Sensation: Bamboo shrimp from Taiwan

26. February 2009

We are proud and happy that we were able to import yesterday the first few pairs of a new shrimp from Taiwan. According to the local scientists it belongs to a so far undescribed species. There is no doubt that it belongs to the Atya-relatives. The males of the „Bamboo shrimp“ are almost two times as big as the somewhat unspectacular females. Due to their rareness the animals are very expensive.

Text and photos: Frank Schäfer

Eretmodus cyanostictus “Makombe”

25. February 2009

Actually we can offer very pretty Tanganyika Clowns, Eretmodus cyanostictus, from Makombe. Like so many other cichlids from the lake they have developed a lot of different geographical varieties.

Eretmodus are highly specialized fishes. In the wild they live in the very shallow water of the shore. Here, in the surf, they feed on aufwuchs. This means that they have a very long gut that enables them to digest this poor food. In the aquarium it is often a fatal mistake to feed them fat and protein rich food. The Clowns need also relatively high temperatures (around 28°C) and they love a heavy current.

Tanganyika Clowns have a reduced swimming bladder and are therefore unable to float in the water column. As they are somewhat quarrelsome it is best to keep them in pairs. Females usually stay smaller than the males. In the aquarium Tanganyika Clowns often form stable couples. They are biparental mouthbrooders. Male and female change eggs and fry from mouth to mouth. This makes a high degree of synchronizity necessary and that is the reason why Eretmodus are not often in the mood for changing their partners.

Text and photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Tanganjikasee / Lake Tanganyika
Verfügbare Größe in cm 6-8

Great variety of freshwater stingrays available at Aquarium Glaser

23. February 2009

The export stop of freshwater stingrays (Potamotrygon) has ended and so the very much sought after black species (P. henlei and P. leopoldi) are regulary available now again.

Beside these Brazilian black rays we have astonishing Flower rays (P. schroederi) from Colombia and Venezuela, fantastic „King Marble”and Fire Spot” from Colombia (called P. motoro in the trade, but are in fact the species described as P. boesemani recently) and very nice „Tigrillos” (P. castexi) from Peru.

In all these rays each indivial animal has a different colour pattern. That is the reason why our customers get always actual photos of the fish we have in stock. And also the pictures you see right here are not „any” photos, but exactly the fish in our house.

Text and Photos: Frank Schäfer

Schistura cf. jarutanini

19. February 2009

Schistura cf. jarutanini Schistura cf. jarutanini Schistura cf. jarutanini

The brook loaches of the genus Schistura are far spread over South and Southeast Asia. There are hundreds of species, most of them still scientifically undescribed. Almost each flowing water has it´s own species. So it is no surprise that some of the species also became cave-dwellers.

We could import a small number of individuals of a very special species now: Schistura cf. jarutanini. All cave fishes have naturally a very limited distribution. Thus we have the self-limitation to import these animals only occasionally and in small numbers to make sure that there is no danger for the natural population by over-collecting.

The very spezial thing in Schistura cf. jarutanini is the fact that we so to say look over the should of evoltion while observing them. There are individuals which are completly blind and have no eyes at all (at least no visible eyes) . This is usual for cave fishes. But there are others with well developed eyes also! And in between are specimens with eyes that are deformed. The coloration is very variable. The blinder the animals are the less contrasting is the coloration.

In the aquarium these fish can be easily kept. They are omnivorous and one has to keep an eye on them to hinder them to become too fat. Against any tankmates – may they be of the own or another species – they are completely peaceful. In contrast to most other loaches they are restless swimmers. All in all this loach is (also in respect to it´s relative rareness) a fish for specialized aquarists only, but fulfills all the desires a researcher may have.

Text and photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Thailand
Verfügbare Größe in cm 5-7

Import season for Orinoco-Plecos has startet!

18. February 2009

The Rio Orinoco is with more than 2.000 km length one of the biggest rivers of South America. About 3/4 of it´s length it runs through Venezuela, the remaining 1/4 belong to the territory of Colombia. The Brazo Casiquiare connects during high water levels the Orinoco-sytem with the Amazon-sytem via the Rio Negro.

The import season for loricariid catfishes from the Rio Orinoco influence has started now. So we already can offer a good number of different species of that group.

The genus Hypancistrus is formed by relatively small (around 10 cm) mainly carnivorous species. Among the recent imports are Hypancistrus contradens (L201, formerly thought to be a variety of H. inspector) with variing pattern. Some have big spots, others very small ones. Then we have Hypancistrus furunculus L199, a zebra cat with also very individual coloration. This is also true for Hypancistrus debilittera L129, which has a very attractive white wavy pattern on black ground.

 


Meat eaters are also Leporacanthicus species. Probably the most wanted species is L. triactis (L91). It can reach around 20 cm maximum length.

Very much sought for is also L200. Actually, there are two mimetic species that hide behind that L-number, which are often confused, although they might belong to even different genera. The real L200 is a still undescribed species. It can be easily recognized by the big gap between the end of the dorsal fin and the beginning of the adipose fin. The second species – called L200 Highfin or L200a in the trade – has been formally deescribed already as Baryancistrus demantoides. In this species dorsal and adipose fin are connected. The depth of the dorsal fin is variable and of no use for differentiation of the species. Both L200 are omnivorous with a large compound of vegetarian food.

One should not forget the robust and pretty Peckoltia species. The usually grow up to 8 – 15 cm and so they fit in almost any tank of common size. Now imported are L243 with a very attractive coloration. Peckoltia species feed on aufwuchs like the well-known Ancistrus species do. Like these they need soft wood as a necessary food compoundment.

The „flyer cats” of the genus Pseudolithoxus are funny looking, extremely flat fellows. Especially P. dumus (L244) and P. tigris (L257) are very much sought for. Both won´t grow bigger than 15 cm and can be kept like the former species.

Finally the genus Guyanancistrus should be mentioned which is represented in the actual imports by L106. Depending on the sources it grows to 8-15 cm in length. It is a very attractive species that feeds on aufwuchs.


Of course this short review of the plecos from the Orinoco is far from being complete. One should always keep in mind that fishes from that region like relatively high water temperatures, eg 26-28°C.

Text and Photos: Frank Schäfer

Pyrrhulina laeta

16. February 2009

It is quite long ago that we were able to import this wonderful tetra. But now we can offer it again! Including the caudal fin the males can reach 12 cm in length. Males are generally larger than the females. A characteristical pattern for the species is the black line that extends to the level of the dorsal fin. The species originates from the upper and central Amazon river basin.

Systematically speaking this species is an enigma, as the type specimen is in a poor condition and only the hinder part of the specimen is extant. Thus it is possible that in the future our fish might be re-named.

In the aquarium Pyrrhulina laeta is an ideal tankmate for community tanks. It is very peaceful. However, tankmates must be not too small, otherwise they are taken as food. Only in breeding condition males defend their territory and might become a bit quarrelsome.

Like all its congereers P. laeta is a broodcaring species. The eggs (up to 500) are deposited on the top of a large leave. The male defends and cares for the eggs until they hatch.

Water temperature should be between 24-28°C, pH and hardness are of little importance. They feed readily on live, frozen and dry fishfood. Plants are neglected.

Text and Photo: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Brasilien /Brazil
Verfügbare Größe in cm 10-12

Toxotes jaculatrix

12. February 2009

Seven species of Archerfishes (Toxotes) are known. Three of them (T. lorentzi and T. kimberleyensis from Australia and T. microlepis from South East Asia) are usually found in fresh water. Two are practically unknown, at least they have not been kept in aquaria so far: T. blythi from Burma and T. oligolepis from the Moluccas. The remaining two species have an extreme wide spread distribution in the Indo-West-Pacific region. They are found in brackish water (especially T. chatareus) or even in pure marine environment (T. jaculatrix).

Toxotes chatareus can easily be recognized by its typical pattern (alternating large and small spots), whereas T. jaculatrix is the only species of archerfish with only 4 spines in the dorsal fin (all other species have 5). Both features are recognizable in live fish and serve as the basis for the determination.

For a while we already receive shipments from one of our thai suppliers with wonderful T. chatareus that are collected in pure freshwater. They stay in perfect condition when kept in freshwater. The last shipment contained for the first time mainly T. jaculatrix. The specimens from this population also thrive extremly well in pure fresh water.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Thailand
Verfügbare Größe in cm 10

Betta splendens

11. February 2009

We have a new supplier for fighting fish (Betta splendens). Besides the amazing males (which we will introduce to you detailed in the near future) there are also wonderful females.

Text & Fotos: Frank Schäfer

The Odessa barb has finally been named: Pethia padamya

10. February 2009

Die Odessabarbe hat endlich einen Namen: Puntius padamya Die Odessabarbe hat endlich einen Namen: Puntius padamya

There is a good number of well known aquarium fish that bear no scientific name, so they „officially” do not exist at all! Only with a formal scientific description a name can be applied to a species that is binding for every person in the world. On the other hand, common names can be given merrily by every person. There do not exist any rules for them.

The origin of the Odessa barb was unknown for almost 30 years. The first specimens appeared in the former USSR. It was unknown for a very long time whether they represented a wild species or an artifical breeding product. Only 2001 the first wild collected specimens could be traced. Now it was clear that this fish is a wild species originating from Burma. Sven O. Kullander and Rald Britz described the species formally in October, 2008. Its correct name is now Pethia padamya.

Literature: Kullander, S. O. & R. Britz (2008): PUNTIUS PADAMYA, A NEW SPECIES OF CYPRINID FISH FROM MYANMAR  (TELEOSTEI: CYPRINIDAE). Electronic Journal of Ichthyology. October 2008 2: 56 – 66

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Brachyplatystoma

6. February 2009

The catfishes of the genus Brachyplatystoma are some of the most important foodfish in the basins of the Amazon, the Orinoco and the countries of the Guiana shield. Some of them may reach a length of 360 cm and a weight of 200 kg. Many thousand tons are landed each year, which led to local breakdown of the populations and to demands for long-sighted management. Details of the biology of the species, however, remain mostly unknown. Only 4 years ago a new species of these giants was decribed scientifically. Although the species is well known for a long time, it was always mixed up with other species: Brachyplatystoma capapretum. In the scientific paper in which the species is described, 7 species of Brachyplatystoma are recognized. Important for the aquarist: the existence of the sometimes body-long filamentous rays of the caudal fin in juveniles was found to be a genus-specific feature. So, for example, the catfish formerly known as Merodontotus tigrinus now is a member of Brachyplatystoma, as well as the former Goslinea platynemum. The most popular species among the fans of predatory catfishes is Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii, although they do not know it. Only slowly people become aware of the fact that for decades the wrong name Brachyplatystoma flavicans has been applied to the species (it is a synomym of Zungaro zungaro). We now have again some young specimens of these up to 2 m long giants in stock. We are sure they soon will fill the owners of giantic aquaria with enthusiasm. For our customers: the fish have the code number 211100. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Text: Frank Schäfer, Photos: Erwin Schraml Literatur: Lundberg, J. G. & A. Akama (2005): Brachyplatystoma capapretum: a New Species of Goliath Catfish from the Amazon Basin, with a Reclassification of Allied Catfishes (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae). Copeia 2005 (3): 492-516

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Südamerika / South America
Verfügbare Größe in cm 4-7

Black winged dwarf hatchets

5. February 2009

There are two species of Black winged dwarf hatchets recognized. These charming little creatures hardly reach 3 cm in length. From Peru we get occasionally Carnegiella schereri with a spotted belly as a so-called by-catch of C. strigata, whereas Carnegiella marthae from Brazil has a lined belly and is now and then available assorted (214003).

Please note that we are supplying the wholesale trade only.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

A great number of Leporinus species in stock

3. February 2009

Actually, Aquarium Glaser has many Leporinus species in stock. These are often very attractively coloured large tetras which are perfectly suited for large and show aquaria.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Pearlscale

28. January 2009

Pearlscale Pearlscale Pearlscale

The goldfish is the eldest ornamental fish species in the world. For hundreds of years it has been bred on highest levels. Although the western aquarium hobby is unthinkable without the goldfish and its varieties the main breeding centres are still located in the east of Asia. It is very important to know where a goldfish has been bred, as their temperature tolerance varies immensely with the origin. In general goldfish (Carassius auratus) are among the most tolerant fish species of the world. They are adapted in the most extreme habitats in nature. So they can accept principally temperatures between 5 and 32°C. However, the different breeding strains have very different needs and a goldfish originating from Thailand or Singapore will never tolerate as low temperatures as a specimen from China.

The Pearlscales are very short goldfish. Each scale is formed like a little mussel. The must be handled quite carefully, as lost scales will be replaced by regularly formed ones. Since a few decades ago the Pearlscale goldfish were bred only in the Chinese province Kwangtung. Nowadays they are more common. The specimens available now from Aquarium Glaser originate from China.

Pearlscales are among the goldfish that are very suitable for keeping in aquaria, as they belong to the smallest varieties of the goldfish. Maximum body length is around 8 cm (fins go extra). Moreover, most Pearlscale goldfish are bred as “matt” ones. That means that the pigment that is responsible for the silver coloration in fishes – guanine – is mostly missing. So the Pearlscale goldfish have deep black eyes which look very attractive when the fish is looked at from the side instead of from the top.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft China
Verfügbare Größe in cm 6

Barbus erythromycter – Lipstick barb

27. January 2009

The males of this unique dwarf barb (maximum size around 4 cm) have a red “walrus moustache”. Until the scientific description of the species in 2008 it was known in the trade as Barbus cf. puntio.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Baryancistrus L18, L81, L81n, L177

26. January 2009

The main collecting season of the beautiful gold seam sucker cats of the genus Baryancistrus starts around end of may and lasts until the end of september. Although these fishes are common in the wild, live in shallow waters and are traditionally used as food fish, they cannot be connected with one of the about 700 species of Loricariidae known to science. In the ornamental fish trade they have that fore L-numbers to have at least a basis for communication.

All these gold seams originate from the Rio Xingu and its tributaries. Four colour varieties can be recognized: L18, the “golden nugget”, which has relatively large spots. It comes from the main Xingu River. The spots in L81 are much smaller and more numerous. Both forms (L18 and L81) seem to live syntopically in the wild. The largest spots of all has L177, which is collected in a tributary of the Xingu, namely the Iriri River. Quite recently another variety came in the market, which has the spots like L81, but has much broader seams in the dorsal and the caudal fin. This fish is termed as L81n in the trade (the “n” stands for “new”). The exact origin of this fish is still unknown, but it seems that it is also collected in the Xingu.

In all four L-numbers the number, size, and colour of the spots varies, which is also true for the broadness of the seams of dorsal and caudal fins. So in some cases it is not possible to determine a single specimen for sure. Fully grown specimens of all four L-numbers (they can reach about 30 cm in length) more or less look all the same. Their spot are much smaller. Nevertheless it is still unclear if the four L-numbers represent different species, morphs or populations. Breeding of these Baryancistrus in the home aquarium is possible, but a rare event. The fish are typical cave brooders. It is difficult to fulfil their needs in the tank, so there are very few reports on successful breeding.

First of all one must know that the Xingu river has relatively warm water the whole year through. The catfish are very sensitive against water temperatures below 28°C. The other fact is that these Baryancistrus species are used to feed the whole day through, because the food contents only very few nutrients. One or two feedings a day is definitely too less for these fishes. Alt least one must realize that Baryancistrus are territorial and quarrelsome fish. Specimens larger than 20 cm need a lot of space.

All in all one must say that Baryancistrus L18, L81, L81n and L177 are beautiful and desirable fish, but a successful keeping and breeding is possible only for those who are willing to fulfil the very special requirements of these species.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer
Please note that we supply the wholesale trade only

Addendum: In the meantime the fish have been described scientifically under the name of Baryancistrus xanthellus.

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Brasilien/Brazil
Verfügbare Größe in cm 5-15

Pterophyllum scalare Blue Dwarf

23. January 2009

In 1949 Werner Ladiges mentions a blue dwarf angel (Pterophyllum scalare) that appeared by chance (problably by mutation) in a large breeding stock before WW2. Beside its unique blue coloration a characteristicly feature of these fishes was their small adult size. They never grew bigger than 5 cm body height. Although this stock survived WW2 it was not possible to establish a pure bred strain, as the blue dwarfs did not spawn easily.

Now Aquarium Glaser has also a blue angel in stock. It is very difficult to express the colours in a picture, because the camera flash always expresses much more the silvery parts of the coloration. In the beginning Aquarium Glaser was stocking the fish due to its interesting colours, but after some time it became clear that these blue angels also represent a genetically dwarfish variety – the same phenomenon as described by Ladiges.

So now we can offer a beautiful coloured angel that is also suitable for much smaller tanks than all other varieties known so far.

For our customers: the animals have the code 693403 in our stocklist

Literature:
Ladiges, W. (1949): Eine Diskussion über die Arten der Gattung Pterophyllum. Die Aquarien- und Terrarienzeitschrift 2 (3): 50-52

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Nachzucht / bred
Verfügbare Größe in cm 3-4