20. Sticklebacks (5)

Gasterosteus aculeatus – Three-spined stickleback

7. June 2022

The Three-spined Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) is the most interesting and beautiful native aquarium fish. Its behavior has been intensively studied scientifically and the courtship, nesting and mating behavior of the species are still an integral part of school lessons today. The stickleback is a model organism for instinct research. 

Systematically-scientifically, the three-spined stickleback remains poorly understood. Over the centuries, 47 species of threespine stickleback have been described, but only a few of them are valid, the vast majority are seen as synonyms. In terms of behavior, a distinction is made between a stationary freshwater form and a migratory form that spends large portions of the year in the sea and returns to freshwater only to breed; in addition, there are apparently purely marine populations. Anatomically, there have been repeated attempts to use the number of lateral body plates as an identifier for species. For example, Gasterosteus gymnurus was for a long time considered a valid species lacking these plates on the caudal peduncle. However, recent DNA-based studies could not find any differences between G. gymnurus and G. aculeatus. 

Three-spined sticklebacks live in practically all of Europe, large parts of northern Asia and North America. Our animals come from German fish farms. Unfortunately, nowadays most students and adults know these animals only from movies and books. Now is a good time to buy these fish for your home aquarium and watch this fantastic animal live.

For our customers: Three-spined sticklebacks have code 884005 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Indostomus paradoxus

27. February 2020

The Burmese Dwarf Stickleback or Paradox Fish, Indostomus paradoxus is a tiny species, it becomes only 2-3 cm long and originates from the northern parts of Burma. The charming creature should be kept in single species tanks, so called nano-tanks fit perfectly. Indostomus are very peaceful against conspecifics, but they are too weak to compete with other species. The Paradox Fish feeds exclusively on small live food.

The species should be kept best at room temperature (18-22°C), the water should be medium hard to hard and the pH should be around 6.5 – 8. Despite its diminutiveness the fish is rather hardy and can live for a long time in aquaria. It has been bred occassionally already, females become larger than males, otherwise the sexes are difficult to distinguish. The Burmese Dwarf Stickleback breeds in caves like bamboo stems etc..

For our customers: the fish have code 421713 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Indostomus: means about “with a very tiny mouth”. paradoxus: means “very strange, paradox”.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Indostomus crocodilus

25. May 2018

This Southeast Asian dwarf will never grow larger then 3 cm; we obatined the species recently again from Thailand. The gender difference is very easy to see, for the males have broad light seams along the dorsal, the ventral and the anal fins. Moreover, during breeding time the females are clearly more filled around the belly. The male fish shows guarding behaviour for spawn and fry until the young are free swimming; breeding occurs in tubes, for example pieces of bamboo. 

These are peaceful, quiet and slowly moving fish. Even the smallest aquarium is sufficient for these fascinating study objects. The substrate in the tank should be finest sand and the aquarium should be planted with fine-leafed plants and decorated with small stones and little pieces of bogwood. 

The food should consist of smallest live food. 

For our customers: the fish bhave code 411723 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Indostomus crocodilus

6. July 2007

This Southeast Asian dwarf will not grow larger then 3 cm. The gender difference is not very difficult to determine. During breeding time the females are clearly more filled around the belly. The males have brighter colours and the dorsal fin is black at the seam. The male fish shows guarding behaviour for spawn and fry until the young are free swimming. These are peaceful, quiet and slowly moving fish. Even the smallest aquarium is sufficient for these fascinating study objects. The substrate in the tank should be finest sand and the aquarium should be planted with fine-leafed plants and decorated with small stones and little pieces of bogwood. The food should consist of smallest live food. Breeding should be possible and the method of continuous breeding should be practised but will only be possible if there is sufficient live food of the smallest kind in order to feed the very small fry. (Photo: Frank Schäfer, Text: Izaak den Daas)

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Thailand

Indostomus paradoxus

6. July 2007

Indostomus paradoxus

This fish, which only grows up to approx. 30mm comes from Myanmar. Their habitat is the lake Indagwi. Due to their small size they can be easily kept in small tanks, but you should tend them in species tanks. These should sufficiently contain plants and tubes wich are 10-14mm in diameter. On the ceiling of such caves, the fish are also placing their eggs when kept under optimal conditions. The males guard the clutch of approximately 10-30 eggs until the slippage of the larvas starts after 2-3 days. You can start feeding them with very small live food only. When they reached their adult size they can be fed with live Cyclops or new hatchet Artemia. In general all Indostomus items should be kept in water parameters of a neutral pH and about 7° to 10° german hardness. The temperature should stay around 22°C. The breeding of Indostomus crocodilus was recorded and published by WALLACH and SCHLÜTER. Past experience has shown that Indostomus crocodilus is easier to keep than Indostomus paradoxus, and it is generally possible to socialize them with fish like Boraras urophtalmoides. (Photo & Text A. Dorn)

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Myanmar
Name Indostomus paradoxus