From the Congo River basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) originates Distichodus sexfasciatus. This in the aquarium to approximately 30 cm growing characin is a pronounced herbivore. This has to be regarded for the basin setup, since most smooth leaved plants are regarded as food. Some hardy plants as Anubias- or […]

In the last years some quite difficult to classify new species of characins arrived from Paraguay. Usually they belong to the genera Creagrutus, Hemibrycon and Piabarchus. As a common characteristic a high swimming activity can be called for all species of this relationship. They need thus tanks, with a large free swimming area. Thus long […]

Until a few years ago Red Phantom tetra, Hyphessobrycon sweglesi was easy to identify, even though under the name of Megalamphodus sweglesi. Lately “Red Phantom Tetras” appear more often, which are very similar to it, but also show other characteristics. It stays (temporarily) unclear, if they are own species, subspecies or “local forms”. Interested hobbyists, […]

This scientifically undescribed ground tetra originates from Peru. This is a peaceful species also when housed with delicate fish. This is a medium size tetra fish, which probably does not grow larger then 5 cm. If more then one male of this ground tetra inhabits the tank then they can become somewhat territorial and therefore […]

The Yellow Tetra originates like its close related Von Rio Tetra from coastal rivers in southeast Brazil. With its pretty yellow basic colour it forms a beautiful contrast to it and other reddish characin species. As a schooling fish the Yellow Tetra should be kept only in larger swarms. Particularly in not too brightly lit […]

With Hoplias macrophthalmus we could import from Colombia one of the biggest predatory fishes of the Amazon river system. Contrary to the regular imported Hoplias malabaricus these arrive only extreme rarely in the trade. As an adult with a weight of over 40 kg and a length of more than 120cm they belong to the […]

This prettily drawn representative of the genus Characidium reached us over Rio de Janeiro, its actual occurrence area is unknown. A classification of the more than 50 Characidium species is difficult, for orientation we here adopt the numbering of the Aqualog photo collection. As natural biotope small clear watercourses are to be assumed. The water […]

It was illustrated on the homepage of Canadian fish exporter “Below Water” and designated as “Kitty” Tetra (“a new Hemigrammus-species, caught in Mato Grosso in November 2000). It is presented as Hyphessobrycon loweae in the February/March-issue of “Aquaristik Fachmagazin & Aquarium heute”. According to Dr. Géry there are “good correspondences” with Hyphessobrycon loweae (Costa & […]

“Here's lookin' at you, kid,” – but be careful. Otherwise it could happen that it will be the very last what a tank mate will be looking at. Under these beautiful green eyes are not less impressive teeth that makes the wolf fish Hoplias malabaricus a feared hunter. The owners of these from Costa Rica […]

Because of their rhomboid body form these animals remind one a little of African tetras of the species Phenacogrammus or Bathyaethiops. Except from Rio Oyapock Astyanax leopoldi are also said to be found in Rio Approuague. They were named in honour of King Leopold III of Belgium, who attended an ichthyological expedition to Rio Oyapock […]

The Rainbow Tetra is one of the most attractive characins of South America. They origin from western Colombia, where they are caught in the tributaries of the Rio San Juan. They belong to the same genus as the usually better known Emperor Tetra Nematobrycon palmeri. Rainbow Tetras can not be characterized as true schooling fishes, […]

Up to now this ornamental tetra is only known from western Guyana/Southamerica in the lower course of Mazaruni River. Full-grown fish reach a total length of approx. 40mm. When putting on spawn the females are getting much plumper. By using their dish-shaped anal fin the males fix the eggs to a substrate (e.g. bottom of […]

This tetra was introduced to us under the name of “Inpaichthys sp. Lapislazuli” in February 2002 by Mrs. Glaser-Dreyer (Aquarium Glaser GmbH). On the (Japanese) internet it is called Lapis tetra. It was imported in a bigger number of pieces without exact declaration of place of discovery. The males are growing up to at least […]