It has been a long time since we were able to import this striking, small-growing banjo catfish from Peru. We last received these fish in 2010; at that time, based on the available literature, we identified them as Pseudobunocephalus cf. bifidus. According to current knowledge, this identification can no longer be upheld. Without a doubt, […]
We recently highlighted the Striped Headstander (Anostomus anostomus) and mentioned that this sought-after species—which is rarely available as a wild-caught import—can now also be obtained as captive-bred specimens from Indonesia (https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fisharchive/anostomus-anostomus-4/). Now, for the first time, we have also received large captive-bred specimens (8–12 cm) from Indonesia. These are truly beautiful fish! Unlike the wild-caught […]
Flag cichlids (Mesonauta) have been delighting aquarists since 1911. At that time, they were still known as Cichlasoma festivum, and it was believed that there was only this one, widely distributed, variable species. However, upon closer examination, these “variants” have turned out to be distinct species. Today, there are 7 scientifically recognized species, and the […]
For the first time, we were able to import a species of tetra from Peru that was previously completely unknown to us. It was offered as “Moenkhausia naponis.” This species does exist, and our new import bears a certain resemblance to it; in particular, the distinctly pronounced longitudinal stripe that begins below the dorsal fin, […]
We received two new Corydoras from Peru, both from the same collection site, classified as Variants 1 and 2. For information on Variant 1, see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fisharchive/corydoras-sp-llanos-oran-var-1-2/. All details regarding their origin can also be found there. Variant1 has received the number CW226 in the meantime. The second variant has more dark areas on the flanks. […]
Since 2007, a very attractive Chaetostoma from Peru has been imported sporadically. The species exhibits extremely variable markings, so much so that it has even been assigned three L numbers. Its defining characteristic is essentially the head region, which is patterned with large white spots. All three L-numbers exhibit this coloration, while the pattern on […]
The checkerboard cichlid Crenicara punctulata is relatively widespread throughout the upper Amazon Basin. There are reports of its presence in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Guyana, Colombia, and Peru. The photos show specimens from Peru. Male Crenicara punctulata grow to about 12 cm in length, so they are no longer strictly speaking dwarf cichlids. However, since this […]
There are still a fairly large number of species in Lake Malawi that have not been scientifically described, for which provisional trade names must be used. Among these is Labidochromis sp. Hongi. Hongi is a small rocky island off the Tanzanian coast of Lake Malawi. However, the species is not found exclusively there. Five naturally […]
Hoplisoma trilineatum is one of the most popular armored catfish. However, this species is almost always sold as Corydoras julii. This isn’t a big thing, since both species grow to the same size, have the same care requirements, and look nearly identical. Aquarists with a special interest in the subject know, however, that Hoplisoma julii […]
Labidochromis caeruleus Yellow is one of the most popular Lake Malawi cichlids. There are several reasons for this. First, of course, are the magnificent colors—a combination of brilliant yellow (which often takes on an orange hue) and deep black. Then there’s its relatively small size. The species typically grows to only about 8 cm in […]
Following the major revision of genus names, only the long-snouted species remain in the “core genus” Corydoras. A very notable species among these “true” Corydoras is C. fulleri, named in honor of the armored catfish specialist Ian Fuller. The official description was not published until 2022, but the species has been known in the hobby […]
Killifish are the most colorful fish in the world. The reason they are still relatively rare in aquariums is that they are considered complicated, short-lived fish best suited for specialists. While this is true for some species, it is not at all the case for others. They are no more difficult to care for and […]
The range of small, peaceful catfish from Asia is significantly smaller than that from South America, but there are certainly some. Moth catfish (Hara, Erethistes) for low-flow aquariums and wasp catfish (Akysis) for tanks with more current are enjoying increasing popularity. Akysis get their name “wasp catfish” from the most famous species, Akysis vespa (https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/10-catfishes/10e-catfishes-from-asia/akysis_vespa_en/), […]
Cultivated forms of livebearing toothcarps are like roses: the more refined they are, the more demanding they become. Just as roses require significantly more care the further the plant strays from its original wild form, so too do the lyra-finned swordtails prove to be considerably more demanding than their common, run-of-the-mill cousins. Large aquariums, optimal […]
For the first time, we have received a new species of beautiful armored catfish from Peru, which, according to our supplier, is referred to by the fishermen as “Corydoras Llanos.” It is found exclusively in a tributary of the Amazon River called the Oran. We assume this refers to Oran Creek, near the town of […]
For several years now, tetras have been experiencing a renaissance in the aquarium hobby. As a result, exporters are also striving to offer new species that have not previously been available to aquarists. It is sometimes impossible to identify such new arrivals. This may be because they are (in the scientific sense) old but “forgotten” […]
The pearl danio (Danio albolineatus) is a true classic in the aquarium hobby. The species is native to Southeast Asia (from Burma to the Malay Peninsula and further east), but it has been bred in aquariums for over 100 years, and wild-caught specimens are almost never available in stores. This completely peaceful danio is a […]
If you’re looking for a dwarf cichlid that doesn’t have the relatively high water quality requirements for breeding—unlike many Apistogramma, Dicrossus, and other species—then Amatitlania nanolutea is an excellent choice. This dwarf cichlid from Central America (the Atlantic side of Panama) never grows larger than 8 cm and lives and spawns in virtually any standard […]
The cute blue-eyes of the species Pseudomugil gertrudae are actually always in our stock. We usually get them as bred ones from Indonesia. Originally they are found in northern Australia and southern Papua New Guinea. At the moment we have fully grown, about 4 cm long animals in stock, which we received from a European […]
We have received magnificent Geophagus from the brasiliensis group. The smallest specimens are 15–20 cm long, while the largest are well over 25 cm. “True” G. brasiliensis of this size develop a large forehead hump. Even in the largest males, this hump is only faintly visible. This is why we classify them as Geophagus iporangensis. […]
We have received some magnificent tetras from Colombia that, in neutral mood and as young fish, bear a strong resemblance to the Neon Costello, Hemigrammus hyanuary. However, they can be reliably distinguished from that species by their red iris; in H. hyanuary, the iris (that is, the rim of the eye surrounding the pupil) is […]
The slender freshwater needlefish from South America are much sought for by specialists. Many years only one species was mentioned in the aquarium literature, namely Potamorrhaphis guianensis. This species really exists and is said to be fairly wide spread in South America. But it seems that the needlefish we obtain from Peru currently belong to […]
Mormyrids are incredibly interesting fish. There are about 230 species in 22 genera, all of which live in Africa. Unfortunately, most species look very similar to one another and aren’t particularly attractive in color. But for aquarists with a thirst for knowledge, there are few more exciting subjects to study. The genus Pollimyrus comprises 23 […]
Pethia setnai is the mainland Indian (Goa, Western Ghats) counterpart to the black ruby barbs (P. nigrofasciatus and P. bandula), which are found only on the island of Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, it is very rarely available in the trade. These are beautiful fish that, once fully acclimated, display a distinctive violet-blue color not otherwise found […]
Geophagus brasiliensis is one of the very first cichlids to become available in the aquarium hobby. It was first imported to Germany as early as around 1900. This species, native to the southern part of South America, is tolerant of low water temperatures—such as those that could occur in the unheated living rooms of our […]
At first glance, you might think you’re looking at an “Oto negro” (Otothyropsis piribebuy), but a closer look reveals that this is a very special dwarf sucker catfish saying “hello”: Pseudotothyris obtusa. Species belonging to the genera Hisonotus, Otothyris, Otothyropsis, Pseudotocinclus, Pseudotothyris, and Schizolecis look very similar in appearance and also have similar requirements for […]
The Marbled headstander is perhaps the most unusual of all the headstanders. This beautiful fish grows to about 15–20 cm in length and is virtually unmistakable due to its deep body shape. There is only one other Abramites species, A. eques, but it has never been imported live. It is found exclusively in the Rio […]
As we have mentioned several times, Apistogramma agassizii is a polychromatic species. The word “polychromatic” literally means “multicolored.” This means that many color characteristics in this species are highly variable and therefore not diagnostic for species identification. As a rule, multiple color variants occur within a single population. If imports give a different impression, it […]
The genus Melanocharacidium (the name roughly means “black Characidium”) was established in 1993. The author assigned eight species to the new genus, six of which he described as new. Since then, only one additional species has been added: M. auroradiatum from the Rio Araguaia in Brazil. We were recently able to import a Melanocharacidium species […]
The South American pufferfish Colomesus asellus (a recent study shows that, based on genetic analysis, the genus Colomesus should be considered a synonym of Sphoeroides; the species should therefore correctly be designated as Sphoeroides asellus) are ideal for aquarium keeping. They remain small (usually around 6–8 cm, at most around 12 cm; other size claims are […]
The genus Gymnogeophagus is found in southern South America (Argentina, southeastern Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay). There, the 20 currently scientifically recognized species inhabit the river systems of the Rio Uruguay, Rio Paraná, and Rio Paraguay, as well as several more or less isolated coastal rivers. In the aquarium hobby, only one species is truly established: […]
The variable platyfish (Xiphophorus variatus) is considerably less common in the hobby than the common platy (X. maculatus). There are also far fewer breed variants of the variable platyfish. One of these breed variants, however, ranks among the most beautiful livebearers in terms of coloration: the Hawaii platy. It is essentially the “Tuxedo” form of […]
The genus Hemiancistrus is—as virtually all experts agree—a so-called “polyphyletic” genus. This means that the species grouped within it are not necessarily closely related to one another, but merely share some external characteristics. In the case of Hemiancistrus, there is also the additional issue that a clear definition of the genus does not exist. Currently, […]
The Rio Uruguay, with a length of approximately 1,800 km, is a major river. Over long stretches, it forms the border between Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. In its lower course, it joins the Rio Paraná to form the Rio de la Plata. The Rio Uruguay’s drainage is therefore vast. The proportion of endemic fish species—that […]
The “Baianinho” armored catfish originate from the Brazilian state of Bahia. Loosely translated, “Baianinho” means “the little one from Bahia.” The first of the imported Baianinho is now known as Scleromystax lacerdai, and the second as C113. However, there are other forms, some of which also originate from Bahia, while others come from remaining areas […]
This attractive tetra is native to Peru. So far, it has not been possible to classify it as one of the scientifically described species. It is the coloration of the 2–3 cm long juveniles—whose vivid orange sheen reminded us of the well-known copper tetra (Hasemania nana)—that led us to initially name them “Hasemania sp. Orange” […]
They still exist—those mythical fish. These are species of which only a very small number of specimens are known, and about which, consequently, very little is known. Leporinus amae undoubtedly belongs to this group of mythical fish. The species was described in 1980 based on eight specimens caught in Brazil. The type specimen comes from […]
It’s been a very long time since we were last able to import Hoplisoma ehrhardti, formerly known as Corydoras ehrhardti. That’s why, every now and then, one of us stands in front of the aquarium housing these fish with a nostalgic smile. It’s a bit like meeting an old schoolmate. There are many reasons why […]
Channa asiatica is a species with many variants or, as is often considered today, a species complex consisting of species that cannot be anatomically distinguished from one another but sometimes differ quite markedly in color. In the past, as many as 12 species were scientifically described, all of which are currently considered synonyms of Channa […]
From the species-rich genus Harttia—which currently includes 28 recognized species—hardly any ever find their way into our aquariums. These fish are relatively close relatives of the popular royal farlowellas (Sturisoma and Sturisomatichthys) and resemble them in many behavioral traits, but they are considerably more demanding. To thrive, Harttia require very clean, oxygen-rich water that is […]
This particularly beautiful goodeid (Xenotoca doadrioi) was formerly known as “Xentotoca eiseni San Marcos.” Unfortunately, the species—which was not “officially” described as a distinct species until 2016—is critically endangered. Over 50% of the originally known populations have already disappeared, and the remaining populations show a steady downward trend. The causes are always the same: water […]
The armored catfish of the genus Scleromystax are unique. Some impress with their size, others with their coloration, and still others with the fins of the males, which are greatly enlarged. Currently, the hobby distinguishes between eight scientifically described species, two C-numbers, and seven CW-numbers. All species originate from coastal rivers in southeastern Brazil. They […]
An import from southeastern Brazil provided us with, among other things, several specimens of a piranha that has rarely been seen in the aquarium trade to date: Serrasalmus marginatus. In any case, it seems likely to us that this is the species in question, which is widespread in the Paraná-Paraguay and Uruguay river systems. Very […]
For a long time, it was believed that Pethia stoliczkana, was native only to Burma; but it is now considered to be relatively widespread throughout Southeast Asia, and scientific databases list it as occurring in the basins of the Chindwin-Irrawaddy, Mae Klong, Chao Phraya, and Mekong rivers in India, Burma ( = Myanmar), Thailand, Laos, […]
In the 1980s, the blue-eyed Panque was one of the most common loricariid catfishes on the market. Incidentally, the correct name is Panaque suttonorum. For unknown reasons, the animals are hardly available nowadays. There are a lot of rumors that an environmental disaster is to blame or that a madman has poisoned the river or […]
Until recently, the genus Saxatilia was classified under the large, catch-all genus Crenicichla. Saxatilia encompasses the pike cichlids formerly known as the Crenicichla saxatilis species complex. The genus is quite species-rich; 38 scientific names are associated with it, though only 23 are currently widely accepted. Among the species that have recently been relegated to the […]
When the first black-and-white “Tatia” appeared in the ornamental fish trade a few years ago, they were hailed as a sensation. These fish, native to Brazil, were initially identified as Tatia musaica. In 2017, a team of scientists published a study on Centromochlus species and described the species from Brazil (a tributary of the Rio […]
The Celebes Rainbow, Marosatherina ladigesi, is perhaps still remembered by some readers as Telmatherina ladigesi. The species lives endemically (i.e. – seen worldwide – exclusively there) in cool karst streams in the area around Bantimurung, Maros karst, Sulawesi Selatan; Sulawesi belongs politically to Indonesia, but zoogeographically to the Australian region. In former times the big […]
Catfish of the genus Brachyplatystoma are among the most important and sought-after food fish in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, as well as in the Guyana region. They can reach lengths of up to 360 cm and weigh over 200 kg. Many thousands of metric tons of these catfish are landed annually as food fish, […]
As adults, the freshwater gobies (Rhinogobius) are strictly freshwater inhabitants that are found at most once in the brackish waters of the lower reaches of rivers; but even that is the exception, not the rule. With approximately 170 described species, 85 of which are generally considered valid, there is still a vast field of exploration […]
There are four species of the small headstanders in the genus Chilodus. In theory, they should be relatively easy to distinguish, since two of these species (Chilodus fritillus from Peru and C. zunevei from French Guiana, Suriname, and the area of Brazil bordering French Guiana) never have a longitudinal band, while the other two (C. […]
New Guinea remains one of the least explored regions on Earth. Its freshwater fish only made their way into aquariums relatively late. Among them is the peacock gudgeon or peacock goby, Tateurndina ocellicauda. This small species, which never grows larger than 5–6 cm, was not discovered until 1953. During the fourth Archbold Expedition, Hobart M. […]
The genus Spatuloricaria comprises 13 scientifically described species. The genus has an extremely wide range, extending from southern South America (Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, southern Brazil) to Panama in the north. It is also found on both slopes of the Andes. Eleven of the 13 species were described by 1945; it was not until 70 years […]
Every now and then, we receive the fantastic Moenkhausia agnesae from Peru. This is a larger species of tetra that, thanks to its hardiness, can be kept successfully with cichlids and catfish. Its maximum length is reported to be about 8 cm. In the past, this characin species was often confused with Moenkhausia simulata […]
We have received a truly enchanting new breed variant from Thailand: Super Red Yellow Top. It is an Endler type (Poecilia wingei), meaning it is small and delicate. All males have a fairly uniform coloration; variation is minimal and is essentially limited to the light shoulder stripe. However, the origin of the additional designation “Yellow […]
There is hardly any other genus of South American cichlids where there is as much confusion regarding species delimitation as there is with the Oscars (Astronotus). For a long time, only two species were generally recognized: A. ocellatus and A. crassipinnis. However, there are apparently significantly more species; currently (2026), A. crassipinnis, A. mikoljii, and […]
The needle catfish Farlowella amazonum is imported much less frequently than some of its conspecifics. We present wild-caught specimens of this species here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/10-catfishes/farlowella-amazonum-2/; general care instructions can be found here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/10-catfishes/10b-catfishes-suckermouths-plecos-and-l-numbers/farlowella_platorhynchus_en/ Breeding Farlowella is not inherently more difficult than breeding other open-brooding armored catfish, such as Sturisoma and others. However, it is rarely practiced […]
In behavioral science, the baby schema (Kindchenschema) refers to a combination of physical characteristics that evoke instinctive reactions in the observer—reactions that are normally triggered only by the young of one’s own species: protective instincts. In addition, people generally find babies cute and view them positively. The baby schema includes, among other things, a chubby […]
The bala shark, Balantiocheilos melanopterus, is one of Asia’s most popular ornamental fish. Its native range includes the large Sunda Islands of Sumatra and Borneo, as well as the Malay Peninsula. The type locality of this species, which was first described in 1850 as Barbus melanopterus, is Banjarmasin on Borneo. However, it did not become […]
A literal little sensation has reached us from Vietnam: a new miniature gourami that does not belong to any previously described genus or species. And these tiny fish, which grow to only 1–2 cm in length, are also exceptionally pretty! The little fish were discovered by Vietnamese nature enthusiasts, who first found them in September […]
We receive a very charming lifebearer from a breeder from Thailand: Limia vittata. This species, which originally comes from Cuba, has been known aquaristically for a long time: the first import date is 1913. In the hobby, however, the animals are only sporadically available. That is hardly to be understood, because each animal has an […]
One of the rarest animals in the world is this Madagascar cichlid, which was only scientifically described in 2006 and already in 2013 it was feared to be extinct. It existed in only one river on Madagascar, the Mangarahara, after which the perch is also called Mangarahara cichlid. A dam project and excessive water extraction […]
We are pleased to offer this unusual armored catfish from Brazil, first discovered in 2020, as German captive-bred specimens. Hoplisoma rikbaktsa is known only from a small range in the upper reaches of the Rio Tapajós. The species was named after the Rikbaktsa people (also known as Rikbakta or Erikbaktsa) who originally lived there but […]
Nothobranchius rubripinnis is one of the most beautiful species of the genus. It was discovered in 1983 by traveling aquarists (Wischmann and Seegers) in the coastal region of Tanzania, approximately 40 km south of Dar es Salaam, in the Mbezi River drainage, and was brought back to Germany alive. This strain is known among killifish […]
Aquariums are increasingly becoming the last bastion of survival for small fish species. Unfortunately, the loss of species diversity (biodiversity) due to environmental change is reaching ever more dramatic proportions, and many species must already be categorized as “threatened with extinction” or even “extinct in the wild” barely after their existence has been discovered. The […]
We have mentioned this before: identifying Characidium species is a daunting task. A total of 88 species are currently (2026) generally recognized, of which about 30 have been described in the last 10 years. Above all, our knowledge of the “old” species is rather limited. Thus, when importing a new batch, it is never entirely […]
When the first „Papagei Apistogramma“ were imported from Peru around the turn of the millennium, they were met with great enthusiasm by aquarists. They are truly magnificent, colorful fish. In the years that followed, these and similar forms appeared on the market under a wide variety of names: Apistogramma sp. Nanay, A. sp. Algodon1, A. […]
Every now and then we can import this incredible freshwater pufferfish in small numbers. It is a very specialized species that only occurs in nature in Sumatra and Borneo, where it inhabits very soft, acidic water. This puffer fish is a purely freshwater species, never frequenting brackish or seawater. The strangely colored belly is used […]
The Malili Lake System on Sulawesi (formerly Celebes) is the source of some truly spectacular shrimp, snails, and clams. Five lakes—three large and two small—make up this system: Matano, Towuti, Mahalona, Lontoa, and Masapi. We have now once again succeeded in importing one of the fish species endemic to the area, namely (most likely) Telmatherina […]
The kissing gourami (Helostoma temminckii) in its pink breeding form is one of the best known labyrinth fish. It is not actually bred as an ornamental fish, but as a food fish. The species grows up to 30 cm long under suitable (fattening) conditions and is considered delicate. In the nutrient-rich, turbid breeding ponds, the […]
The so-called silver hatchet, Gasteropelecus sternicla, is found throughout virtually the entire tropical region of South America. Different genetic lines have likely developed across this vast range. In any case, it is extremely unlikely that this is not the case. Nevertheless, they look remarkably similar everywhere: they are, quite simply, evolutionary success stories! The maximum […]
Two species of armored catfish are commonly referred to as dwarf armored catfish. The northern species is Gastrodermus pygmaeus (upper Amazon in Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, and Colombia); see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/10-catfishes/10a-catfishes-corydoras-co/corydoras_pygmaeus_en/. The southern species is Gastrodermus hastatus; it is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Until recently, both species were classified in the large, catch-all […]
There are developments in the genus Aspidoras. There are currently 18 recognized species. Several long-established names have been reclassified as synonyms (A. eurycephalus = albater, A. mariane = poecilus, A. menezesi = raimundi, A. microgaleatus = poecilus, A. spilotus = raimundi, A. taurus = albater), two species have been reclassified out of the genus (A. […]
Crenuchus spilurus is the only formally described species of the genus Crenuchus. There is, of course, at least one other species in Venezuela (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/09-characoids-tetra-relationship/a_new_species_of_crenuchus__en/). C. spilurus was originally described from the Essequibo River in Guyana. We were able to import some extremely colorful specimens from Peru, which stand out particularly for their vibrant orange […]
Like most neritine snails, Clithon sowerbianum, known as the mini neritine snail, is extremely variably colored. As early as the 19th century, a number of variants were therefore scientifically named, but these are no longer considered to be of systematic importance. However, it must be clearly stated that the identification of the 57 accepted Clithon […]
We have mentioned this on several occasions: whether the short-finned Molly breeds actually belong to the species Poecilia sphenops has never been scientifically investigated. In the hobby, at least four different species (P. butleri, P. mexicana, P. salvatoris, and P. sphenops) are more or less regularly represented, and they can hardly be distinguished using standard […]
The Rio Jurua is a tributary of the Amazon River approximately 3,300 km long; it originates in Peru (Ucayali Region) and flows into the Amazon River in Brazil, where it traverses the state of Amazonas. The river gives its name to one of the most sought-after large catfish among predatory fish enthusiasts, namely Brachyplatystoma juruense. […]
Since we went online with our homepage over 20 years ago, many new discoveries have been presented here. Some of them were able to establish themselves as ornamental fish, others disappeared again.The former category includes Hyphessobrycon robustulus, which was initially exported from Peru as “junior tetra”; it is now also regularly bred commercially.The somewhat unusual […]
The species of the genus Ilyodon are among the larger members of the splifins (Goodeids). In exceptional cases, individual specimens can reach a length of 15 cm. For this reason, Ilyodon are sometimes even found on the human menu. The number of species within the genus Ilyodon has been (and, to some extent, still is) […]
Bumblebee gobies (Brachygobius) are all small and tiny fish. The debate over which is the smallest fish species—and thus also the smallest vertebrate species on Earth—is ongoing, but with living organisms, the question always arises as to how relevant measurement data in the range of tenths of a millimeter actually is. There’s no need to […]
The marbled hatchetfish (Carnegiella strigata) is the ideal aquarium fish. It remains small (4 cm), is peaceful, and has interesting coloration. The species is widespread throughout South America (Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, Peru, and Suriname) and is common. That is why it is almost always available in the ornamental fish trade. The distinctive shape […]
The real headstander Anostomus anostomus is one of the most beautiful characins in South America. It looks like the big brother of the three-banded pencil fish, Nannostomus trifasciatus. Anostomus anostomus grows to a length of 15–18 cm. Unfortunately, there are currently hardly any exports of ornamental fish from Guyana, which is why the Anostomus anostomus […]
One of the newest stars in the tetra world is the stunning Inapichthys luizae (for more information, see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fisharchive/inpaichthys-luizae-2/). Previously, we sourced these fish from breeders in East Asia; now they are also available as locally bred stock. For our customers: these fish are listed under code 264792 on our stock list. Please note that […]
The armored catfish in the species group around Gastrodermus elegans are incredibly variable in coloration. They also have a distinctive juvenile coloration. Furthermore, males and females look different. In short: it is truly difficult to assign them to specific described species. But they are beautiful fish! One of the most beautiful forms in this group […]
Alestopetersius smykalai is the only species of Congo tetra in the strict sense that does not originate from the Congo basin, but from the Niger. It only grows to a length of about 5-6 cm, which makes it ideal for owners of smaller aquariums. Due to the magnificent blue back of the males, which differ […]
The classic fishing grounds for green discus are the Rio Tefé and the region where it widens into a lake at its confluence with the Amazon, known as Lago Tefé; the city of Tefé lies on the shores of Lago Tefé. The entire Tefé region is located in Brazil, in the state of Amazonas, and […]
Parotocinclus maculicauda, native to southeastern Brazil (the states of Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, and Espírito Santo), is one of the dwarf sucker catfish that used to be regularly available in large numbers in the trade. The species of the genus Parotocinclus differ from the “normal” dwarf sucker catfish (Otocinclus) in that they […]
The splitfins (Goodeidae) are a relatively species-poor group of predominantly live-bearing small fish. The live-bearing species are grouped into the subfamily Goodeinae, which, according to current knowledge, comprises 16 genera with 42 species. All live-bearing species are native to Mexico. Many of them are found only in tiny ranges. Water use for agriculture, water pollution, […]
One of the very first exotic ornamental fish ever was a species that arrived in Berlin in 1895, sent to Paul Matte under the name Pimelodus gracilis. Although this slender “thread catfish” received generally positive reviews, it remained confined to the aquariums of only a few enthusiasts. Whether the identification at the time was correct […]
The redtail black shark, Epalzeorhynchos bicolor, has been one of the most popular aquarium fish for decades. Its color combination—a jet-black body with a fiery red caudal fin—makes it irresistible to many aquarists. Experienced aquarists often say: “Everyone must have fallen for this fish at least once.” That sounds rather negative. Why is that? Well, […]
At last, we once again have this stunningly beautiful killifish in stock as a German-bred specimen. The species grows to 4–5 cm in length. Unfortunately, this magnificent killifish is very rarely available. We currently have a few of these captive-bred specimens from the locality Ijebu Ode (Nigeria, Ogun State) in stock, fully colored and very […]
A true classic is the krib, or, as it is also sometimes known, the king cichlid Pelvicachromis pulcher. The most complicated thing about it is the history of its name. In the very early days, it was known as P. kribensis; in English-speaking countries, it is still referred to as “the krib” to this day. […]
Traditionally, two species of red-eyed Moenkhausia are distinguished, which are virtually indistinguishable in appearance. These are M. oligolepis from the Amazon region and the Guianas, and M. sanctaefilomenae from the adjacent southern zone, the Rio Paraguay and Parnahyba. There are color-based details for species differentiation, but these are often unreliable. For example, M. oligolepis is […]
In southwestern Ecuador, on the Pacific side of the Andes, lives the remarkable tetra Rhoadsia altipinna. In terms of coloration, this species—also known as the rainbow tetra—resembles an XXL version of the brilliant tetra, Moenkhausia pittieri. But when it comes to behavior, one can’t help but think that this tetra originally planned to become a […]
There are few species of tetras that have been depicted under incorrect names in the literature as often as those of the genus Mimagoniates. These attractive fish are occasionally exported from southern Brazil as ornamental fish. Since they reproduce via internal fertilization—meaning the female can lay fertilized, viable eggs some time after fertilization even in […]
There are currently very few cultivated varieties among Channa species. Only albinos of Channa striata have been bred in aquaculture, and—also from aquaculture—a silvery-white breed of Channa argus called “Pearl White Lemon” (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/25-perchlike-fishes/25a-perchlike-fishes-1-labyrinth-fishes/channa_white_pearl_lemon_en/); these fish were described in 1936 as Channa argus kimurai. Channa asiatica is a species with many variants or, as is […]
Barracuda tetras of the genus Acestrorhynchus are very well suited for aquarium keeping, even though they are true predatory fish and primarily feed on small fish in the wild. Several species grow to a medium size, about 20–30 cm, but there are also dwarf species, including A. isalinae, which reaches only about 7.5 cm in […]
Hoplisoma nattereri is one of the armored catfish species that became known in the aquarium hobby quite early on. This species was first introduced to Europe around 1920 from the area around Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. It is found in the coastal regions of the entire state of Rio de Janeiro as well as […]
It is somewhat surprising when one considers how long it took scientists to distinguish between two armored catfish species that are similar in color but, from today’s perspective, clearly distinct. We are referring to Hoplisoma nattereri and Scleromystax prionotos, both of which were classified under the common genus Corydoras until relatively recently. While Hoplisoma nattereri […]
The Alpha swordtail is not actually a very new breed of Xiphophorus hellerii; it already existed, at least in its early stages, as far back as the 1960s. However, it has been heavily hyped in recent years (the last 10 years), and the prices demanded for it are nothing short of sensational, exceeding the prices […]
