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 […]
Among the freshwater stingrays of South America, there are still some species that remain difficult to identify. It is not possible to determine whether these are species not yet known to science or morphs of species already scientifically documented. One of these unidentified species, known in the hobby since the 1990s, is Potamotrygon sp. “Mantilla” […]
We occasionally have very attractive offspring of the “Northern Mountain Swordtail” in stock. When we receive them, the fish are usually young adults, i.e., the sword of the males is still relatively short or not yet visible. For comparison, we also show a fully grown male here. X. nezahualcoyotl used to be considered a local […]
For a long time, it was believed that there were only two species of electric catfish, namely the widespread Malapterurus electricus and the Congolese M. microstoma. Then, almost simultaneously, two independent revisions of the genus appeared, one by Roberts (2000) and one by Norris (2002), which drastically increased the number of species. However, for a […]
New imports often pose a significant challenge when it comes to identification. A good example of this is the beautiful tetra from Peru, which we were recently able to import again after exactly 25 years, but whose identity remains highly questionable. At the time, based on the available data, we identified the fish as Acrobrycon […]
Wild forms of livebearing toothcarps are generally not very widespread in aquatics. However, specialists in these fish are usually so fascinated by them that they cannot get enough of them. One of the most beautiful species is Brachyrhaphis roseni, which originates from forest streams in Panama and Costa Rica. While keeping adult fish – females […]
Anyone who has ever dealt with piranhas and their species identification knows that it is difficult! Piranhas change their coloration significantly over the course of their lives, and in many cases, this coloration also varies individually. The body shape is also subject to ontogenetic changes (ontogenesis: individual development, as opposed to phylogenesis, the phylogenetic, genetically […]
Years—sometimes even decades—can pass between the discovery of a species in aquariums and its scientific description. There are various reasons for this, but it is mostly because nowadays it is strictly avoided to describe a new species whose exact location is unknown. In the past, it was usually sufficient to ask the supplier of the […]
One of the most unusual cichlids in Central America in terms of behavior and one of the most beautiful in terms of coloration is Hypsophrys nicaraguensis, which many aquarists still remember from the time when pretty much all cichlids from Central America were classified as belonging to the genus Cichlasoma. However, H. nicaraguensis differed from […]
The tetras belonging to the genus Pyrrhulina combine the advantages of two basic groups of ornamental fish. The first group are the schooling species that are always visible and swim merely in the open water: tetras and barbs. The second group has a faszinating behaviour and takes care for the brood: the cichlids and the […]
It’s incredible that new armored catfish are still being discovered in Colombia, a country that has been so thoroughly studied in terms of ichthyology! The hype surrounding Hoplisoma sp. aff. concolor CW217, which was discovered and imported for the first time last fall (2025), has certainly contributed to exporters searching for interesting species outside of […]
According to Ian Fuller (www.corydorasworld.com), Hoplisoma sp. CW219, like Brochis sp. CW220, which has already been presented, originates from lagoons in the upper source regions of the Rio Vaupes near the city of Calamar in Colombia; both species are often exported together as a typical long-snouted/round-snouted species pair. From the Hoplisoma ( = round-snouted) group […]
Hoplisoma sp. CW218 belongs to a group of unusual dwarf armored catfish, which is represented by relatively few species. Scientifically, only one species has been described that is very similar to H. sp. CW218, namely H. osteocarus (Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, Orinoco basin, and coastal rivers); sometimes the species name is also written as osteocarum, but […]
One of the most unusual species of coolie loach is Pangio shelfordii. These animals, which grow to a maximum length of 8 cm but are very thin, have markings reminiscent of leopard skin. Some color morphs of Pangio alternans (https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/07-carp-like-fishes-1-loaches/pangio-alternans-2/) are similarly colored, but those loaches are significantly more stocky in build. As far as […]
Finally Dicrossus foirni is available again! This extremely rarely imported dwarf cichlid was formerly known in the hobby under the name of Dicrossus sp. “Rio Negro”. These fish are a real eyecatcher when fully grown. Keeping this jewel is not complicated at all, but for breeding extreme water conditions are necessary (pH below 5, hardness […]
The Doradidae are a small family of South American catfish. Currently, there are 31 genera with 96 species, but new species are constantly being discovered and described. The largest thorny catfish grow to over 100 cm in length: Opsodoras niger, whose record is 120 cm and 20 kg in weight, and the smallest species only […]
With a maximum length of 270 cm and a weight of 400 kg, the giant grouper Epinephelus lanceolatus is one of the largest reef-dwelling bony fish on earth. Unfortunately, this impressive giant is terribly overfished. Since this predatory fish is a highly intolerant loner outside of the breeding season, there are not many individuals at […]
From time to time, we are able to offer a beautiful and extremely rare Otocinclus from Paraguay, namely O. mimulus. In addition to all the well-known positive characteristics that this species shares with other members of the Otocinclus genus – i.e., small size, peaceful nature, good algae cleaning on plant leaves, diurnal activity – this […]
Siniperca chuatsi is a large fish for display aquariums. The maximum length reported to date is 70 cm, at which point the animal weighs around 8 kg. Of course, most specimens remain significantly smaller, but Siniperca chuatsi is still only suitable for normal aquariums as a young fish for a limited time. Siniperca are obligate […]
The genus Labeo plays hardly any role in aquatics; most species grow large (30-50 cm), have little to offer in terms of color, and are also considered quarrelsome. The smaller and more colorful species formerly classified as Labeo, such as the redtail shark, are currently classified in the genus Epalzeorhynchos. True Labeo species are found […]
From a geological perspective, we are currently in an ice age – despite global warming and its terrible consequences. This means that both polar ice caps are frozen. However, within the ice age, we are living in a warm period called the interglacial period. It began about 11,700 years ago. Before that, large parts of […]
The gold barb is a breed that originated from a barb closely related to the chinese barb (Barbodes semifasciolatus). However, no one knows for sure; the entire Barbodes genus is in dire need of revision. The gold barb was developed in the 1950s by an aquarist named Thomas Schubert from Camden, New Jersey (USA), which […]
Celestichthys erythromicron, which is endemic to Inle Lake in Burma, i.e. only found there, is a tiny aquarium fish. It reaches a maximum length of 3 cm when fully grown. The only complicated thing about this species is actually its name. It was originally described as Microrasbora erythromicron. However, it then became apparent that it […]
The classification of the genus of African alestid characins is the subject of ongoing debate, with no end in sight. There is constant back and forth, especially with regard to the Congo characins, which are of some importance in aquariums. Just recently, in the latest checklist of characins (Toledo-Piza et al, 2024), P. bleheri, which […]
The Port Hoplo Megalechis thoracata – still known to many by its old name Hoplosternum thoracatum – is one of the oldest aquarium fish. It really only has one disadvantage, namely that it grows to a considerable size, reaching a length of around 15 cm (sometimes even more). Despite its size, however, it has a […]
We regularly have beautiful offspring of this cute dwarf cichlid in stock. Wild-caught specimens are very rare on the market. Males of this species grow to about 6 cm in length, while females remain smaller. This makes this Nanochromis one of the smallest cichlids in existence. The fish originally comes from the Lac Mai Ndombe […]
There is no consensus on the systematic position of the livebearing toothcarps living on the Caribbean islands. Based on anatomical characteristics, the genus Limia was long considered synonymous with Poecilia, but they have so many unique characteristics that Limia was almost always referred to as a subgenus. However, more recent studies, particularly those based on […]
The genus Gymnogeophagus comprises medium-sized earth-eaters from the southern part of South America. Most species grow to a length of 10-15 cm, some up to 20 cm. Almost all of them are beautiful animals. Of the 20 currently accepted species, only 8 were scientifically described before 2000, which clearly shows that distinguishing between the species […]
Rice fish, or medakas, have a long tradition in aquariums. As early as the 19th century, so-called “gold haplochilus” – nothing more than a yellow breed of the Japanese rice fish, Oryzias latipes – were exported to Europe as ornamental fish, making them one of the very first imported exotic ornamental fish species. However, they […]
In southern India lies the ancient Deccan Plateau, which was formed when India was still part of Africa. Numerous small rivers flow directly into the Indian Ocean from here, and due to their geographical isolation, many of these rivers have developed their own color variations, subspecies, or species of freshwater fish. Barbs and loaches in […]
We occasionally receive the magnificent Satanoperca daemon, mostly from Colombia. The species is widespread and common throughout the Rio Negro region, but it is sensitive and therefore only available from the most experienced suppliers. The “three-spot daemon” is one of the most beautiful cichlids in South America and one of the most peaceful. With these […]
The dwarf cichlids of the genus Nannacara are found along the Atlantic coast of South America from Brazil to Venezuela. The easternmost species is N. taenia (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/25-perchlike-fishes/nannacara-taenia/), which is also the smallest species of the genus. To the west, this is followed by Nannacara aureocephalus, the largest species of the genus. Its range covers […]
Pangasius spp. (shark catfish) are huge edible fish that feed largely on a vegetarian diet and have low water quality requirements. This makes them extremely well suited for aquaculture in tropical regions. These fish farms are where the cute babies that still regularly appear on the ornamental fish market come from. As long as they […]
In 2008, while examining a newly imported species (previously referred to by us as Boehlkea sp. “Sky Blue”), Dr. Axel Zarske discovered that it was actually Boehlkea fredcochui. The fish that had been referred to as B. fredcochui for decades, on the other hand, represented a species of the genus Knodus that had not yet […]
Hoplisoma sterbai (formerly: Corydoras sterbai, see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/10-catfishes/corydoras-sterbai-wild-4/) from the Rio Guapore basin in Brazil and Bolivia is at the top of the list of all-time favorites among armored catfish. The species is available year-round as captive-bred and occasionally also as wild-caught, and there is even an albino breeding form of these animals. The related long-snouted […]
We have this beautiful killifish in our stock as offspring; there are no exports from the animals’ original homeland – Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. The species was scientifically described as early as 1911 and has been kept and bred in aquariums since 1961. Unfortunately, killifish still have a reputation for being particularly sensitive, short-lived, and […]
For several years now, the first exotic aquarium fish after the goldfish—the paradise fish (Macropodus)—has been enjoying renewed attention. This is partly because new interesting wild forms have been discovered, but also because breeders are putting more effort into the animals again and offering high-quality specimens. Macropodus species have been crossed in aquariums since the […]
The discovery of Iriatherina werneri in 1973 by two traveling aquarists in rice fields near the city of Merauke in New Guinea was a sensation at the time. The animals were scientifically described in 1974 and named in honor of one of the discoverers. Since there were no ornamental fish exports from New Guinea at […]
We can offer a very small number of Hypsolebias faouri, which was only scientifically described in 2016. It is one of the rarest fish in the world. Of course, all animals on the market in this case are captive-bred specimens. What makes a fish rare? The adjective “rare” can mean many things. Rare on the […]
Since 2018, a relatively small species of tetra from the central Congo Basin has been causing quite a stir: Phenacogrammus sp. “Fantastique.” However, very little literature has been published on these animals to date, which is somewhat surprising given their small size (for an African alestid) and the beautiful coloration of the males, at least […]
In 1992, W. L. Fink and A. Machado-Allison described two piranha species of the genus Pristobrycon from locations in the Rio Atabapo basin (Venezuela): P. careospinus and P. maculipinnis. The two species differ in color. While P. maculipinnis has small dots on its body and spots on its vertical fins, the fins of P. careospinus […]
The three-banded flag tetra, Hyphessobrycon heterorhabdus, was once one of the most sought-after small tetras. When tetras were very fashionable – in the 1950s to 1970s – this species was classified as a “problem fish” because it did not reproduce without tricks and gimmicks. However, keeping this species without breeding intentions was completely problem-free. Today, […]
We often find that the fish species that are most commonly found in stores are not yet posted on our website. This is, of course, because there are always so many new and exciting species to introduce, but admittedly, even the supposedly old ones still have a lot to offer! Danio frankei appeared on the […]
Until relatively recently, the magnificent large-growing Andinoacara species were classified in the genus Aequidens. The genus Andinoacara comprises a total of eight recognized species. Three large-growing species—A. blombergi, A. rivulatus, and A. stalsbergi—form a species complex. These three species can therefore be relatively easily confused with one another. The easiest way to tell them apart […]
In aquarium science, there are always fish that are shrouded in legend. One of these is definitely Hoplisoma evelynae, which was described as early as 1963 based on a single specimen collected by Axelrod in the upper Rio Solimoes region (the name given to the Amazon above its confluence with the Rio Negro). For some […]
Members of the Sewellia genus are also commonly referred to as “splendid hillstream loaches” because their markings are often very contrasting. However, there are also species with plain coloring, such as the most recently scientifically described species, S. pudens Kottelat, 2025. A total of 15 Sewellia species have been named, but it is difficult to […]
One of the most beautiful African labyrinth fish is the leopard bush fish, Ctenopoma acutirostre, which grows to a length of around 15-20 cm. It is native to the Congo and is usually collected from Stanley Pool for aquariums. There they live during the day under the floating meadows of water hyacinths (Eichhornia crassipes). Occasionally, […]
The Brazilian state of Amapá is located in the far northeast of Brazil on the Atlantic Ocean. It is particularly interesting from a zoogeographical point of view because its rivers – such as the large Rio Araguari river system – are home to fish species that are otherwise only found in neighboring French Guiana in […]
The African glass catfish, Parailia pellucida, is a magnificent aquarium fish, but strangely enough, it is virtually unknown among hobbyists. Yet this species is almost always available. We import it regularly from Nigeria. The African glass catfish is not closely related to the Asian glass catfish (most commonly found in aquariums: Kryptopterus vitreolus, see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/10-catfishes/kryptopterus-vitreolus-2/). […]
Betta macrostoma is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful fighting fish—and one of the most sensitive. There is hardly any other fish species that is as susceptible to bacterial infections as this one. Many breeders have no choice but to run their tanks continuously through UV filters. A little tip: clay dissolved in the water […]
When one sees these sleeper gobies from the Indo-West Pacific region, where they are very common, for the first time, one spontaneously thinks of an oversized Australian spotted goby (Mogurnda). The main difference between Giuris and Mogurnda is – aquaristically speaking – that the tiny larvae of Giuris develop in the sea, while the much […]
The Malawi eyebiter Dimidiochromis compressiceps (formerly: Haplochromis c.) is one of the most unusual cichlid species in Lake Malawi. It is a predatory fish, with males reaching up to 25 cm in length and females up to 20 cm. In 1966, the species was mistakenly considered to be a specialized eye eater. However, this behavior […]
The Port Hoplo Megalechis thoracata – maybe the synonym (now invalid) name Hoplosternum thoracatum is more familar to some readers – is one of the earliest aquarium fish at all. The fish has only one real disadvantage: the maximum size, which is about 15 cm (or sometimes even larger). However, the species has a comparatively […]
A pretty new tetra is Inpaichthys luizae, a species that was only formally described in January 2025. It occurs in areas that are hardly accessible to scientists and commercial fishermen because they are privately owned. What is known, however, is that these locations are tributaries of the Rio dos Peixes in Brazil, which in turn […]
The snail cichlids of Lake Tanganyika continue to enjoy unbroken popularity. Their comical breeding behavior, in which they guard their spawn and young in empty snail shells, never ceases to fascinate. It is particularly interesting to observe an entire colony of these fish inhabiting what is essentially a snail shell city. In most snail cichlids, […]
The genera Sturisoma (15 scientifically described and accepted species, east of the Andes = cis-Andean) and Sturisomatichthys (13 scientifically described and accepted species, west of the Andes = trans-Andean) are referred to in German as Störwelse (= sturgeon catfish), in English as Royal Farlowellas. Sturisoma nigrirostrum from Peru is imported more or less regularly. The […]
Hoplisoma sp. C3 (previously classified in the collective genus Corydoras) is a very beautiful armored catfish, especially adolescent specimens, because they often develop high dorsal fins at this age. However, this is a temporary phenomenon that can sometimes also be observed in Hoplisoma metae. Only fully adult males of C3 – the animals grow to […]
Polycentropsis abbreviata means roughly translated “short and similar to Polycentrus”. In fact the African Leaffish looks very similar to Polycentrus schomburgkii from South America. Both species witness the existence of the ancient super continent Gondwana. Gondwana was formed from what is now South America, Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica. South America drifted away from Gondwana […]
Oriximiná is located on the Rio Trombetas in the Brazilian state of Pará. From there we receive fantastic blue discus in magnificent colors. For the tiresome question of species classification in discus, see here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fisharchive/the-scientific-species-name-of-discus-cichlids-an-open-question/ Blue discus are generally very variable in color (“polychromatic”), even those from the same location. That is why the “Oriximina […]
In 1982, Gerald R. Allen and Norbert J. Cross published the first modern comprehensive overview of the rainbowfish known at that time. By that time, Allen had already described 12 new species since 1978. When he began systematically studying rainbowfish, only 19 Melanotaenia species had been described between 1843 and 1978, a period of 135 […]
