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Author Archives: Frank Schäfer
Nomorhamphus liemi
This beautifully colored halfbeak comes from the island of Sulawesi (= Celebes), where it is found in the south of the island, in the highlands of Maros. In contrast to the closely related genus Dermogenys, the upper and lower jaws are approximately the same length, hence the genus name. For some species, however, it is still disputed whether they belong to Dermogenys or Nomorhamphus.
Two subspecies of Nomorhamphus liemi have been described, N. liemi liemi with black fins and N. liemi snijdersi with black and red fins. As wild-caught specimens all show transitions in fin colors, no subspecies are currently scientifically recognized. Imports such as the present one, in which the fish have a high proportion of red, are nevertheless referred to as N. liemi snijdersi in the hobby.
It is interesting to note that Nomorhamphus males can have a fleshy lower jaw hook. The purpose of this is unknown. However, it is noticeable that the hook is developed to different degrees in males of the same size. This suggests that the mandibular hook has something to do with the social position of the respective animal, i.e. males with a high social rank have a strongly developed hook. Males with a low social rank have a weakly developed hook, which is reminiscent of the conditions in females. Such characteristics make it easier for females to select the strongest male for mating.
In the wild, Nomorhamphus are mainly found in streams, they also appreciate strong currents in the aquarium. The viviparous fish give birth to young every 4-6 weeks, which can already be up to 2.5 cm long. The mother fish are extremely prey to the young. Good breeding success can only be achieved if the fish are fed a very varied diet, including small insects (crickets, Drosophila, Buffalo worms). The water temperature should be rather low (20-24°C), the pH value above 7. The males are quite incompatible with each other. However, Nomorhamphus are peaceful towards other fish species, but their ability to swallow should not be underestimated. Small fish are eaten!
For our customers: the animals have code 438844 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Nomorhamphus: Ancient Greek, meaning “with jaws in accordance with the law”; refers to the upper and lower jaws, which are of approximately equal length in contrast to other half-billed pike. liemi: dedicatory name; snijdersi: dedicatory name.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Hyphessobrycon saizi (“Hyphessobrycon eos”) Colombian gold tetra
The most common “gold tetra” in the trade comes from Colombia and is generally traded under a false name. It can be found in the trade up and down the country for little money under the name Hyphessobrycon eos (sometimes also as Hemigrammus eos). The species Hyphessobrycon eos actually exists, but it is not kept in the aquarium. H. eos Durbin, 1909, originates from Guyana and there are currently no significant exports from there; we don’t even have any photos of H. eos in our huge picture archive. Too bad, because Jonathan Armbruster has published a picture of the species in Flickr, which shows a very pretty fish (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jonarmbruster/15464514263/).
Be that as it may, the gold tetra imported from Colombia (and sometimes also from Venezuela and Peru) is Hyphessobrycon saizi, as Axel Zarske found out. The golden sheen is caused by the increased release of the pigment guanine in the skin, which is caused by infection with worm larvae. The fish are only intermediate hosts for the worms. The fish become infected by eating infectious bird droppings. If this happens, the worm larvae migrate into the muscles of the fish, where they encapsulate. Basically, even if it sounds disgusting, this is harmless and the infected fish live – at least in the aquarium – just as long as their non-infected conspecifics. However, their striking golden coloration attracts the increased attention of fish-eating birds – the final hosts of the worms. If a golden tetra is eaten by a bird, the encapsulated worm larvae hatch in its intestine and develop into a sexually mature worm. These produce large quantities of eggs, which are excreted in the bird’s feces – and the game starts all over again.
This explains why golden tetras are always wild-caught in the trade. Offspring of golden tetras are invariably normal-colored and there is no interest in wild-colored Hyphessobrycon saizi in the hobby; we only show also pictures of the non-gold-colored form here for informal reasons. With a maximum size of around 2.5- 3 cm, Hyphessobrycon saizi fits perfectly into any well-maintained community aquarium. It is a typical companion fish of the Colombian red neon in the wild and is a perfect contrast fish to this species. Younger specimens of the Colombian golden tetra in particular have more or less intense red tail fins, which looks very pretty. Unfortunately, this fades somewhat with age. The golden sheen, on the other hand, remains for life.
Literature:
Eigenmann, C. H. (1912): The freshwater fishes of British Guiana, including a study of the ecological grouping of species, and the relation of the fauna of the plateau to that of the lowlands. Memoirs of the Carnegie Museum v. 5 (no. 1): i-xxii + 1-578, Pls. 1-103.
Zarske, A. (2013): Hyphessobrycon saizi Géry, 1964 – der Kleine Silbersamler, seit Jahren inkognito. Aquaristik Fachmagazin 229 (Februar/März 2013): 42-46
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Chilatherina alleni
The rainbowfish of the genus Chilatherina are found exclusively in New Guinea. The genus differs from the closely related genus Melanotaenia mainly in its jaw structure. To date, 11 species have been assigned to Chilatherina. One of the peculiarities of some species of this genus is that they change color strongly at an advanced age. Otherwise, everything that applies to Melanotaenia also applies to the care and breeding of Chilatherina.
Gerald Allen, who has made a great contribution to modern rainbowfish systematics, writes in his 1981 revision of Chilatherina: “Typically these fishes prefer sections of the stream which afford maximum exposure to sunlight. The substratum generally consists of gravel or sand, frequently littered with leaves or log debris. Food items include filamentous algae, small crustacea, terrestrial insects such as ants and beetles, and various aquatic insect larvae. Sexual maturation occurs in most species at a relatively small size, usually about 35-40 mm SL in females and 45-55 mm SL in males. Gravid females deposit several eggs each day which adhere to aquatic vegetation by means of a thread-like filament. Hatching occurs in about 15 days at 22°-24°C. The fry grow rapidly and may attain sexual maturity by the end of their first year.“ Allen distinguished 6 species at that time. The species named in his honor, Chilatherina alleni, was described in 1997 by David S. Prize on the basis of 13 specimens of 44.1-82.6 mm standard length (i.e. without caudal fin). These specimens came from a tributary of the Aiborei River in the Siriwo catchment area, Irian Jaya. The strain currently represented in the hobby probably goes back to the collection by Johannes Graf and companions from the Wapoga River in 2008. The species is therefore also popularly known as the “Wapoga rainbowfish”.
Fortunately, Chilatherina alleni is one of the relatively few species of rainbowfish that already look very attractive when half-grown. The fish photographed for this post are only 4-5 cm long. The fish become more and more beautiful as they get older. The maximum length of this peaceful animal is around 9 cm.
For our customers: the animals have code 409912 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Literature:
Allen, G. R. (1981): A revision of the rainbowfish genus Chilatherina (Melanotaeniidae). Records of the Western Australian Museum v. 9 (pt 3): 279-299
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Mugilogobius rexi
This small goby is a free swimming species, in contrast to most of the other gobies. Maximum length is about 4-5 cm. Territorial males become bright yellow and also develope larger fins with dark bands. Females are much paler in coloration and have translucent fins.
The species is restrictet to Sulawesi and even on that island it occurs only in two lakes, namely Towuti and Mahalona. The water in these lakes is very warm (29°C and more), very clean, slightly alcalic (pH 7.5) and the conductivity is about 225 µS/cm.
The charming fish already spawned in aquaria. The eggs are laid open, attached on vertical structures in a circle-round batch. However, to the best of our knowledge there was no complete successful breeding so far.
For our customers: the fish has code 436812 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Mugilogobius: latin, means “mullet-goby”. rexi: dedication name.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Uaru amphiacanthoides
The triangle cichlids (Uaru) are a small genus of cichlids in terms of the number of species, with only two scientifically accepted species: U. amphiacanthoides from the Amazon basin and upper Orinoco (Brazil and Colombia) and U. fernandezyepezi from the Rio Atabapo (Venezuela). Both species reach a total length of 20-30 cm and are therefore large cichlids. They are close relatives of the discus cichlids (Symphysodon), with which they also have a few things in common. Outside the spawning season, both genera are sociable animals that like to swim in groups with their own kind, both prefer higher water temperatures (26-32°C) and both initially feed their young with skin mucus. In contrast to discus, however, Uaru are predominantly vegetarians.
There is a debate in the hobby as to whether there are one or two species of triangle cichlids under the name U. amphiacanthoides. Normally in U. amphiacanthoides the prominent large black triangle spot is below the upper lateral line branch. This applies to the Uaru usually kept in the aquarium; we have also occasionally received wild-caught specimens of this species from the Rio Negro in Brazil, the type locality of U. amphiacanthoides, which corresponded quite characteristically to this type of pattern. Many years ago, however, we were able to import adult Uaru from the vicinity of Manacapuru, about 100 km upstream of the confluence of the Rio Negro with the Amazon, which had a different appearance. Four of the five specimens had a significantly larger wedge-shaped spot that extended into the upper branch of the lateral line. The fifth specimen, on the other hand, looked completely “normal”. Werner Schmettkamp first introduced the form with the enlarged wedge-shaped spot to the aquarium literature in 1980 as the “orange-colored triangle cichlid”. It is still unclear and controversial whether this orange triangle cichlid from Manacapuru is an independent species or a local variant of U. amphiacanthoides. Unfortunately, we only have aesthetically unappealing pictures of this extremely rare fish.
There are probably only a few fish species that change their coloration as strikingly as Uaru amphiacanthoides in the course of their growth. There is not just one, but several very different-looking coloration phases, which already caused enormous confusion when first imported (1913) and first bred (1916). Uninitiated observers undoubtedly consider the different age stages to be different species due to their coloration, especially as the body shape also changes considerably from the 2-3 cm long juvenile to the over 20 cm long adult. In this post we will therefore show you some of the most striking coloration stages of U. amphiacanthoides. Please note that there are of course transitional phases.
Both wild-caught and captive-bred specimens are available in the trade. While the comparatively rarely imported wild-caught specimens almost always consist of adult or sexually mature animals that are over 12 cm long, the reverse is true for captive-bred specimens. Uaru amphiacanthoides are anything but rare in the wild and are traded everywhere in the region as comparatively cheap food fish. However, ornamental fish collectors rarely take the trouble to acclimatize the initially somewhat timid animals, especially as demand is not very high. Understandably, large wild-caught fish are always relatively expensive, as the freight costs are considerable.
Males and females cannot normally be distinguished with certainty in Uaru. Females remain somewhat smaller, are fuller and have shorter pelvic fins, but in individual cases you cannot rely on these generalized differences. It is always best to purchase a group of 6-8 specimens (or more if space permits), from which pairs will form. These fish are open breeders with biparental brood care. As already mentioned at the beginning, the young eat skin particles from the parents, but they are not dependent on this food and can also be reared with the usual foods. Uaru are usually peaceful towards other fish. It is important to cover their plant food requirements. Planting Uaru aquariums is usually not successful for obvious reasons.
For our customers: the offspring 2-3 have code 688500, 4-6 cm have code 688502, the wild-caught 12-15 cm code 688516 and the wild-caught 16-20 cm code 688518 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Geophagus pyrocephalus ( = Tapajós Red Head)
Since the end of the 1980s, a beautifully colored Geophagus from the closer relationship of G. altifrons and G. surinamensis has been known, which differs from almost all other Geophagus species by an orange or red forehead. This characteristic affects both sexes from the onset of sexual maturity, which is the case at around 8-10 cm in length (excluding caudal fin). But even before that, this Geophagus species can be easily identified by the narrow vertical bands. With a maximum length of 16 cm, this species is one of the smaller representatives of the narrower relationship.
This fish, which was always referred to in the hobby as “Tapajós”, but with various other nicknames such as red head, orange head, Tapajós I (there are other Geophagus species in the Rio Tapajós), red cheek or red face, was not given a scientific name until 2022. The scientific name “pyrocephalus” translates as “fire head”. Why was this striking fish, which is by no means rare in the biotope, only “officially” described so late? This is mainly due to the fact that it is practically without exception color characteristics that distinguish G. pyrocephalus from other species in the group and it took a very long time before color characteristics were accepted as the sole species characteristics in science. Previously, “tangible” anatomical distinguishing features were required, which can also be recognized from old, faded museum material. A rethink has now taken place here.
G. pyrocephalus is a larvophilic mouthbrooder. This means that the pair initially spawns on a stone or similar in an open-brooder manner. Only after 2-3 days (depending on the water temperature), when the larvae are ready to hatch, are they carefully released from the egg shells with the mouth and incubated in the mouth for further brood care. Both sexes take part in the brood care ( = parent family). Externally, males and females differ mainly in their finning, which is considerably more abundant in the male. Both sexes have a red/orange-colored head. As these fish live in social groups outside the spawning season, it is advisable to keep them in a group, from which pairs will then separate on their own.
For our customers: the animals have code 681612 (5-7 cm), 681615 (10-12 cm) and 681616 (12-15 cm) on our stock list; all animals are captive bred. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Moringua raitaborua
We were able to import something quite special for lovers of unusual fish from India: Moringua raitaborua. This “spaghetti eel” grows to a length of 30-40 cm and is only as thick as a pencil. In fact, the representatives of the genus Moringua are not eels of the Anguillidae family, but form a family of their own, the Moringuidae, which can be found in tropical waters in estuaries worldwide. Accordingly, the species can live in both seawater and freshwater and are therefore euryhaline, as the technical term for this is. There are 15 species in two genera in this family. Due to the very wide distribution of most species, it is likely that these fish spawn in the sea and that eggs and larvae are carried by ocean currents.
It is rather unlikely that our imports are actually the species M. raitaborua, because this species has three well-developed fins on the tail: one on the back, one on the belly and the actual caudal fin. Our animals, however, only have one caudal fin; no fin is visible to the naked eye in the dorsal and ventral areas. However, as these fish are virtually unknown in aquaristics and the few illustrations and care descriptions that show the species imported by us always use the name Moringua raitaborua, we have also given the animals this name. In addition, the species that looks most similar to our animals, namely M. multidentata, is currently listed as a synonym of M. raitaborua despite considerable deviations from the text and illustration in the original description of M. raitaborua.
Ultimately, however, it doesn’t matter exactly which species they are, as there is no difference in terms of care. It is important to provide these fish with a sandy bottom at least 4 cm high, as they dig themselves in from time to time. They usually only leave the end of their tail sticking out of the sand. The strangely shaped tail fin makes the tail look like a fish head. A potential predator is thus deceived: it attacks the head, but only catches the tail and the spaghetti eel can escape. It can cope with the loss of a piece of tail, but not the head. Sometimes, however, the spaghetti eels look out of the sand with their heads and then look like the well-known garden eels (Heterocongrinae) from the sea. We recommend keeping them in brackish water (5-10 g salt per liter). Spaghetti eels are completely peaceful animals. They prefer to feed on worm food and (frozen) bloodworm, but will generally accept any animal food as long as it fits well in their mouth. Very small fish are certainly also eaten, but we have not observed this.
For our customers: the animals have code 436473 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Tatia intermedia
The closer relatives of Tatia are quite well known aquaristically, as several species have proven to be easy to keep and breed. The attractive coloration of some species makes up for the fact that these animals are rarely seen during the day. They only leave their hiding places at feeding times. The following applies to the hiding place: the closer, the better, because Tatia love physical contact.
Three species in particular are often confused with each other and it still does not seem to be clear which is which: Tatia aulopygia, T. galaxias and T. intermedia. All three have a rather elongated, cylindrical body with a dark ground color. Usually (but by no means always, there are also unicolored animals in T. intermedia) there is a bright dot pattern on it. If dots are present, T. galaxias differs from the other two in the shape of the dots: circular. In T. aulopygia and T. intermedia the dots/spots are always longitudinal oval. It is difficult to distinguish between T. aulopygia and T. intermedia on the basis of coloration, for this you have to look at an anatomical detail. The thorny shoulder process bone, the so-called cleithrum (it lies on the outside of the body and is therefore easy to see on the living animal), is short in T. intermedia. It always ends in front of an imaginary vertical line from the base of the dorsal fin to the belly. In T. aulopygia this process is much longer and protrudes far beyond the imaginary line.
As nice as this species differentiation model sounds, it is sometimes ambiguous. It seems important to always look at several individuals in order to arrive at a useful result.
Indonesia is currently offering offspring of a Tatia species of this group of forms as “T. galaxias”. This is certainly not this species. All characteristics point to T. intermedia. Tatia intermedia reaches a length of around 10 cm, but becomes sexually mature at about half this length. As with all Tatia species, the anal fin of sexually mature males is transformed into a mating organ. These catfish have internal fertilization, so no male needs to be present when the eggs are laid.
For our customers: T. intermedia have code 295713 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Microrasbora rubescens
This dwarf rasbora – it only reaches a total length of 2-3 cm – is right in line with the current trend. There have always been fashions in aquaristics, just like in any other hobby. Sometimes it’s the characins, then it’s the Malawi cichlids or the discus, the L-catfish or the West African dwarf cichlids. Most recently, dwarf shrimps have played a major role. Such trends come and go. However, it is difficult to predict which species will establish themselves permanently in the hobby.
Microrasbora rubescens was imported and bred for the aquarium hobby as early as 1962, but has always led a shadowy existence. Unfortunately, the animals appear quite colorless in bare dealer tanks. In full color, however, they look not unlike a neon fish (Paracheirodon). As these completely peaceful fish can easily be kept with shrimps and, like them, prefer cooler rather than higher water temperatures, they have experienced a real renaissance with the dwarf shrimp boom.
Microrasbora rubescens is found exclusively in Inle Lake and the surrounding area in Burma. The water there is hard, the pH value slightly alkaline (central part of the lake: pH 7.6 – 8.8, tributary of the lake: pH 7.1 – 7.2). The water temperature during the day is in the range of 21.3 – 28.8°C, the air temperature can fluctuate between 5°C (minimum temperature) and 38°C (maximum temperature) (all data according to: Khaung et al., 2021). A recent study (Fuke et al., 2022) has shown that there is an unexpectedly large genetic diversity in Microrasbora rubescens in Inle Lake and the surrounding waters, without these populations being externally distinguishable. At least two evolutionary lineages have been identified in the surrounding waters of Inle Lake, which are estimated to have diverged from the lake population 2.7 and 1.9 million years ago.
Microrasbora rubescens is easy to keep in the aquarium. They should be kept in groups of 10 specimens or more in well-planted aquaria. They will eat any ornamental fish food of a suitable size, plants are not eaten. The females grow larger than the males, are fuller and have less red in their coloration. Spawning takes place in fine plants, Java moss is particularly popular as a spawning plant. Breeding is something for experienced breeders due to the small size of the young, but is generally not difficult.
For our customers: the animals have code 430942 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Literature:
Fuke, Y., Y. Kano, S. Tun, L. K. C. Yun, S. S. Win & K. Watanabe (2022): Cryptic genetic divergence of the red dwarf rasbora, Microrasbora rubescens, in and around Inle Lake: implications for the origin of endemicity in the ancient lake in Myanmar. Journal of Fish Biology v. 101 (no. 5): 1235-1247
Khaung, T., Iwai, C. B. & T. Chuasavathi (2021): Water Quality Monitoring in Inle Lake, Myanmar from the floating Garden Activity. Malaysian Journal of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, Vol. 17: 593-608
Lentipes ikeae
The goby subfamily Sicydiinae currently comprises nine genera with 121 species. They are all current-loving animals that occur in nature mainly in clear streams and feed on growth and small animals. Larval development takes place in the sea. Some neon gobies of the genus Stiphodon are particularly popular, representatives of other genera are rarely found in the trade.
We have now received the species Lentipes ikeae from Indonesia. The species is known from Java and Bali and was scientifically described in 2014. The maximum size of L. ikeae is 4-5 cm. They are peaceful and sociable animals that like to climb out of the water with their well-developed sucking apparatus formed from the ventral fins – just like in nature. In nature, this is how they overcome waterfalls. In the aquarium, you should therefore ensure good coverage, otherwise the migratory instinct could have fatal consequences.
Incidentally, the species name does not refer to the Swedish furniture store, but honors the employee of the Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Bogor, Java, Indonesia, Mrs. Ike Rachmatika.
For our customers: the animals have code 423632 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Leporacanthicus sp. L241
Why do so many L-catfish have a light-colored dot pattern on a black background? From the 3-5 cm long Parotocinclus haroldoi (https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fisharchive/parotocinclus-haroldoi-4/) to the sometimes meter-long Acanthicus adonis (https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/10-catfishes/acanthicus-adonis-2/) the coloration occurs; in between there are tens of species with such coloration, which are in between in size. In the entire realm of other catfish, we can only think of the spiny catfish of the genus Agamyxis (oops, we don’t even have a post on our homepage yet! We’ll make up for it, they’re sick right now – they have white spots, haha) and the Tatia galaxias (https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/10-catfishes/tatia-galaxias-2/), which show such coloration. Mysterious!
One of the very first L-catfish – from 1988, it was given the number L7 – also shows this coloration. This is reflected in the scientific name given to L7: Leporacanthicus galaxias. The species name galaxias means that the animal would look like the starry sky! Today we know a whole series of Leporacanthicus forms that are very similar to L. galaxias. Among them are L240, which can be recognized by its broad black dorsal fin margin, and L241. Both originate from Venezuela (upper Orinoco). L241 is anatomically very different from the other black Leporacanthicus with white spots. It has a proportionally much longer head and a lower dorsal fin. In terms of color, L241 is one of the most variable L-catfish of all. From almost pure black animals, to specimens with very few spots, animals with large spots and those with tiny speckles, every transition is conceivable.
These carnivorous L-catfish grow up to 30 cm long and require correspondingly large aquaria. Breeding these relatively peaceful cave breeders has already been successful; Leporacanthicus particularly appreciate caves with a side entrance. The sexes can only be distinguished in larger animals (males with a broader head, stronger spines on the hard rays of the pectoral fins and bristles on the head), the coloration says nothing about the sex.
For our customers: L241 has code 26480-L 241-2 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Enteromius fasciolatus ( = Barbus fasciolatus, Barbus barilioides)
Only very few of the numerous small barb species in Africa have been able to establish themselves permanently as aquarium fish and only one species is bred so regularly that it is more frequently found in the pet trade. This species is the beautiful Angola barb, Enteromius fasciolatus. A well-known synonym of the species is Barbus barilioides.
The Angola barb reaches a length of around 6 cm. This schooling fish should always be kept in larger groups of 12 animals or more, otherwise it will remain timid, shy and pale. However, animals kept in shoals are a beautiful sight. A dark substrate and plenty of plants provide intense colors.
Angola barbs are completely peaceful towards all other fish, and plants are usually ignored. The species is originally widespread in south-eastern Africa (Angola, Botswana, D.R. Congo, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe), but is only available in the hobby as captive-bred specimens.
Lexicon: Barbus: Latin, meaning “the bearded one”, referring to the barbels. Enteromius: the genus was established by Cope in 1867 for the species potamogalis; the name was not explained, but possibly refers to an anatomical feature, the short digestive tract, which Cope considered typical of the genus. The name is therefore probably a coinage of Cope using the ancient Greek énteron (Gr. ἔντερον), for intestine. fasciolatus: Latin, meaning “finely striated”. barilioides: meaning “similar to a barilius”; Barilius is another genus of barbel.
Common names: African banded barb, Angola barb, blue-barred barb or fire barb
For our customers: the fish have code 369002 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Pterophyllum “Rio Nanay Type3”
The systematics of the angelfish (Pterophyllum) is poorly understood. Only three species are generally recognized, namely P. altum, P. leopoldi and P. scalare, but there are undoubtedly many more. The “field-forest-and-meadow” scalar of the aquarium hobby in its countless breeding forms is a hybrid for which it makes no sense to give it a scientific name.
There are several species of Pterophyllum in the Rio Nanay in Peru; the best known is the “Peru-Altum”, a pointed-headed, tall form (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/25-perchlike-fishes/scalare-leopoldi-red-spots-peru-2/); the “honey-spotted” scalar of the Rio Nanay is very popular among aquarists: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fisharchive/pterophyllum-sp-rio-nanay-bred/. However, there is also the small, round-headed angelfish in the Rio Nanay, which used to be called “eimekei”. It is very typical for this species that the males are larger and more hump-headed than the females, meaning that the sexes can be easily distinguished in sexually mature animals. This is not the case with the other Pterophyllum species.
We have now received the “eimekei” from the Rio Nanay as beautifully colored German offspring. To distinguish them from the “Peru-Altum” and the “honey-spotted”, they are referred to as “Type3”.
For our customers: the animals have code 699746 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Horabagrus brachysoma
The catfish fauna of Asia is very species-rich and includes several hundred species, but only very few of these are kept in aquaria on a fairly regular basis. The genus Horabagrus is endemic (= only found there) to southern India. There are only two accepted species in this genus, namely H. brachysoma and H. nigricollaris. Until 1991, Horabagrus was considered to belong to the Bagridae, i.e. the spiny catfishes living in Africa and Asia. Due to anatomical peculiarities and not least because of molecular biological findings, a new family, the Horabagridae, was established, which, in addition to Horabagrus, also includes the genera Platytropius, Pseudeutropius and Pachypterus, which were previously classified as Schilbeidae and are not dissimilar to the glass catfish.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, the wild population of Horabagrus brachysoma is in sharp decline. The reasons for this have not been researched in detail, but it is assumed that biotope destruction and overfishing for food are among the main causes. Fortunately, Horabagrus brachysoma, which can grow up to 45 cm in length and is highly sought-after as a food fish, can be bred well in aquaculture, making it independent of wild catches. The animals that we can currently offer are also captive-bred specimens.
Apart from the expected final size, which requires a sufficiently large aquarium, Horabagrus brachysoma is easy to keep. This catfish species is very peaceful and sociable; if possible, you should never keep individual animals, but groups of 5-15 or more specimens. Very small fish are naturally regarded as food. Any common ornamental fish food is readily accepted, plants are ignored. Sexual differences exist mainly in the shape of the gential papillae. In our fish it can also be observed that there are slimmer animals with proportionally higher dorsal fins (probably males) and stronger ones with lower dorsal fins (probably females). In aquaculture, the fish are usually stripped, but they also spawn spontaneously after hormonal stimulation, with the male embracing the female in a ring. The animals are polygamous, one female spawns with several males. No further brood care has been reported.
Horabagrus brachysoma are undemanding in terms of water composition; they are considered to be very hardy and insensitive to low oxygen levels and can therefore be marketed live as food fish. In the wild they are often found in brackish water, an indication that soft and acidic water is not one of their preferred environmental conditions.
For our customers: the animals have code 421694 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Blind cave tetras
In 1936, an ornamental fish catcher named C. Basil Jordan discovered blind tetras in a cave in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosi. He managed to catch 100 specimens and bring them to the USA without any losses. This discovery was a sensation, as it was the first blind cavefish belonging to the tetra family to be known to science. The species was named Anopichthys jordani in honor of the discoverer, which translates as “Jordan’s fish without eyes”.
The species proved to be very easy to keep and breed. Today we know that the blind cavefish can be crossed with the above-ground, sighted species Astyanax fasciatus mexicanus without any restrictions. Many scientists therefore said that it was not a separate species. Today, this is seen differently and things are viewed more from an evolutionary-biological perspective. This is why the blind cave tetra is now usually referred to as Astyanax jordani.
The great thing is: although the fish is really not beautiful, the strain from 1936 never became extinct in the aquarium again. The animals we currently have in stock – offspring from Singapore – are also descended from the original import.
Blind cave tetras can be kept together with sighted fish of all kinds without any problems – provided they are peaceful! Blindness is not a handicap for the animals. This is probably the reason why the blind cave tetra has survived in the aquarium for over 80 years: many fish enthusiasts want to admire this sensational behavior in their own aquariums.
For our customers: the animals have code 209012 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer
Sturisoma cf. ghazziae
Recently (December 2023) the genus Sturisoma was revised and on this occasion four new species were described. We have now been able to import Sturisoma from Brazil and according to the identification key of the revision we came to the conclusion that it must be one of the newly described species, namely Sturisoma ghazziae. This species originates from the Rio Araguaia. However, as we do not know the exact collecting site of our imports, we have added a “cf.” (meaning “compare with”) in the species name as a precaution.
Typical for the newly imported species is the course of the lateral bands, which converge in the area of the dorsal fin. Furthermore, the species has a black underside of the snout (the rostrum), which we have only seen in this expression in Sturisoma nigrirostrum from Peru so far. According to the first description, Sturisoma ghazziae grows to a maximum length of 24 cm (standard length without caudal fin). Our specimens are just 10-12 cm long and sexually differentiated; the species therefore appears to become sexually mature early. Females can be recognized by their proportionally less developed fins. Fully grown males of Sturisoma also develop a whisker, as does S. ghazziae.
We are delighted to be able to offer this new, attractive representative of the popular genus Sturisoma. So far, care has not caused any difficulties and corresponds to the familiar pattern for this genus, which is well known in the hobby.
For our customers: the fish have code 294753 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Literature: Londoño-Burbano, A. & M. R. Britto (2023): Taxonomic revision of Sturisoma Swainson, 1838 (Loricariidae: Loricariinae), with descriptions of four new species. Journal of Fish Biology v. 104 (no. 4): 989-1041
Apistogramma cacatuoides Yellow wild
The Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid is one of the most popular members of the genus Apistogramma and found in petshops all over the World. Almost exclusively bred specimens of very colourful sports are traded. These do not appear in the wild.
However, “the” wild form of A. cacatuoides does not exist at all. Like so many other Apistogramma, this one is polychromatic in males. This means that even within one population males can look very different. The biological sense of the phenomenon is not understood at all. But the polychromatism is without any doubt the reason why in so many cases Apistogramma sports can be developed after only a few generations of breeding the fish.
Currently we have wild collected specimens of A. cacatuoides from Peru in our stock, where many males show a particularly high degree of yellow in coloration.
For our customers: the animals have code 617234 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Tylomelania marwotoae
Although in aquaristics the scientific names are usually chosen for communication and only very few species have a really common or international popular name, there seems to be an occasional need for such popular names. However, in the case of the snail Tylomelania marwotoae, which originates from a single lake on Sulawesi – Lake Mahalona, which is part of the famous Malili Lakes – a really stupid popular name was invented, namely Himalayan TDS. TDS stands for the German term Turmdeckelschnecke, which means translated towersnail with cover. This term is used for all thiarids.
You can get away with abbreviations like TDS, but the reference to the Himalayas is really very misleading. Between the island of Sulawesi, which belongs to Indonesia, and the high mountain range of the Himalayas, which separates the Indian subcontinent from the rest of Asia, there are not only around 5,000 km as the crow flies, but entire zoogeographical regions. The name probably alludes to the snow-white shell of this snail, which reminded someone of the snow-covered Himalayas.
So be it. Care and breeding of these beautiful animals are problem-free. In contrast to the dwarf shrimps of the Malili Lakes, which can react very sensitively to water chemistry conditions and excessively low temperatures (below 28°C), the Tylomelania species have so far proved to be tolerant and adaptable; normal tap water and temperatures between 24 and 26°C meet their requirements. Tylomelania marwotoae prefers sandy, muddy soils and feeds on detritus, i.e. decaying plant and animal remains. In the aquarium, they are fed accordingly with fine-dust dry food; food tablets that slowly disintegrate into small particles have proven to be effective. The snails are sexually separate, but the sexes cannot be distinguished externally. A group must therefore be purchased for breeding so that – from a purely statistical point of view – both sexes are represented. The young are born alive and fully developed. Newborn Tylomelania marwotoae have a black shell. The shell coloration typical of adult snails (3-5 cm long) only gradually appears as they grow up.
By the way: it is completely normal for the tip of the shell to be missing in adult animals. This is not due to damage, but the snails recycle the shell material that is no longer needed for further growth.
For our customers: the animals have code 488955 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Cichlasoma pusillum
Cichlids identified as Aequidens portalegrensis have been kept and bred in the aquarium since 1913. The German common name was “Streifenbuntbarsch” ( = striped cichlid) because the fish can show numerous vertical stripes in the rear half of the body. As there is a very nice photo by Paul Unger from the 1930s of a broodcaring pair with young, this cichlid species was mentioned in pretty much every handbook on aquarium fish until the 1970s. Even then it was known that these animals look very different depending on their origin and also grow to very different sizes. The only thing they all had in common was that – compared to the Central American cichlids known at the time – they were relatively peaceful and did not burrow excessively.
In 1983, a revision of the genus Cichlasoma was published by Kullander. This turned the previous naming system on its head. Kullander had discovered that only a few cichlid species that had previously been placed in the genus Cichlasoma were actually allowed to bear the name Cichlasoma, all others were not. From then on, the “true” Cichlasoma also included the portalegrensis, which were now called Cichlasoma portalegrense. Kullander restricted the distribution area of the species to the Laguna dos Patos system and several coastal rivers in southern Brazil, Bolivia and Uruguay. At the same time, Kullander described eight new Cichlasoma species, bringing the genus to 12 species.
One of the newly described species is Cichlasoma pusillum. The species name means “small”, because Kullander had no specimens larger than 81.1 mm (standard length without caudal fin), the vast majority were significantly smaller (around 6 cm). After all, other Cichlasoma can grow to over 20 cm in length! The distribution area of C. pusillum lies in the upper reaches of the Rio Paraná and Rio Uruguay in Paraguay. A good feature by which C. pusillum can be distinguished relatively reliably from the similar species C. dimerus and C. portalegrense is the very large dark spot below the eyes, which the other two species lack.
We can currently offer adult C. pusillum from European breeding. The fish may not be a “hit” in terms of color, but they score with their pleasant behavior (see above) and the fact that they belong to the “energy-saving fish”. At least outside the breeding season, C. pusillum thrive best at room temperature, i.e. 18-22°C. Aquarium heating is therefore not required for these fish. C. pusillum are problem-free omnivores, the water values are irrelevant, any drinking water is suitable for keeping and breeding. Like all Cichlasoma, C. pusillum are open-breeders with a biparent family.
For our customers: the animals have code 659104 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Vieja fenestrata White & Marbled
The Central American large cichlids of the genus Vieja (synonym: Paratheraps) were, like so many others, previously classified as Cichlasoma. In the 1980s and 1990s, these fish enjoyed relatively great popularity among cichlid enthusiasts who traveled to their Central American habitats and brought back many new findings (and a few little fish). The species Vieja fenestrata has been known to science for a very long time and was originally described as Heros fenestratus in 1860. The distribution area of the species is the Rio Papaloapan system and Lake Catemaco and its tributaries in Mexico. All occurrences drain to the Gulf of Mexico (Atlantic Ocean).
The phenomenon of polychromatism is known in many Central American cichlids. There are pure white, pink, yellow and pied morphs. In the wild, these morphs represent only a small proportion of the total population, the vast majority of animals are wild-colored (i.e. with a pattern typical of the species). Under aquarium conditions, however, such color morphs can be bred relatively easily in isolation.
Vieja fenestrata grows to a maximum length of 35-40 cm and is a prolific open brooder with a parental family. Babies taken from a breeding pair in the wild, which were brought home and raised by traveling aquarists, occasionally developed into the morphs mentioned above as early as the 1990s. In Asia, where such fish are particularly popular, they are still being bred today. We recently received white and black marbled juvenile Vieja fenestrata from Indonesia. At first glance, they can easily be confused with the pied zebra cichlids (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fisharchive/amatitlania-formerly-cichlasoma-nigrofasciata-marble-2/). We have put some specimens aside to grow them into large fish, as you can find photos of really spectacular looking adults of these morphs on the www!
For our customers: the fish have code 688536 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Mugilogobius adeia
This strikingly beautiful dwarf goby, which is endemic to Lake Matano on Sulawesi (formerly Celebes), was only scientifically described in 1992, although this lake has long been known as the focus of independent evolution and has been the subject of much research. The earliest findings probably date back to 1989, when Arthur Werner and Maurice Kottelat collected the animals that later became type specimens of the species. Even before its scientific description, the species, which is a maximum of around 4 cm long, was occasionally traded. Unfortunately, breeding in the aquarium has not yet been successful (at least as far as we know), although the animals spawn regularly and willingly. The larvae are very tiny and we have not yet been able to find a suitable food for rearing them.
Keeping the small gobies is relatively easy, but it should be noted that the water in Lake Matano is alkaline, so pH values below 8 should be avoided. In terms of other requirements, these beautiful fish present the keeper with hardly any difficulties worth mentioning. In the lake, the gobies like to hide in the empty shells of the snail Tylomelania gemmifera. However, unlike the snail cichlids from Lake Tanganyika, they are not obligatory cave breeders, but will also lay their eggs on open surfaces (e.g. plant leaves). Nevertheless, a few narrow caves should be provided in the aquarium as hiding places. Males and females can be easily distinguished. The males have a thread-like first dorsal fin and the second dorsal fin has a broad yellowish edge with a black border at the upper edge. In females, this region of the fin is colorless.
Unfortunately, this beauty must be considered endangered due to environmental degradation and the invasive flowerhorn cichlids, which are causing great harm to the fauna and flora of Lake Matano. It is therefore desirable that as many serious aquarists as possible take a closer look at the species and hopefully soon solve the mystery of rearing the larvae in the aquarium.
For our customers: the animals have code 436782 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Peckoltia sp. L76
In 1990, well over 30 years ago, the beautiful orange-fringed loricariid catfish L76 was introduced in the DATZ. Like L99, which was introduced in 1992 and is currently only seen as a color variant of L76, it originates from the Brazilian state of Pará, more precisely from the Rio do Pará. There are three forms of orange-fringed plecos among the L-catfish, in addition to L76 and L99 there is also L265 (Rio Tajajós and its tributary Rio Jamanxin, Brazil). The locations of all three L-numbers are therefore within the state of Pará. L265 also received the LDA number 84 after the assignment of an L number. All orange-fringed loricariids have in common that the otherwise largely unmarked dorsal and caudal fins have an orange-colored fringe. Individually, the basic body pattern can be quite different, hence the various L and LDA numbers. However, you can always recognize a pattern of four broad, dark bars on the flanks. In 2005, an orange-fringed loricariid catfish from the Rupununi River in Guyana, which looks extremely similar to L265/LDA84, was scientifically described as Peckoltia cavatica. Unfortunately, no scientist has yet compared the L-numbers with P. cavatica, so that it is uncertain whether all orange-fringed loricariids belong to just one species (P. cavatica) or represent different taxonomic units.
With a total length of 12-15 cm, these omnivores belong to the medium-sized loricariid catfishes. They are mainly active at dusk and at night, but are hardly shy after acclimatization and are often visible during the day. As they are peaceful animals, they can usually be kept well in groups. Orange-fringed plecos have been bred in Germany and Scandinavia for many years, although they are mostly marketed locally. It is mainly wild collected specimens that are sold wholesale, as in this case. The males develop dense bristles on the caudal peduncle as soon as they are sexually mature. These Peckoltia are typical cave breeders with a father family; if the catfish are kept in a species tank, i.e. without other fish species, the juveniles usually grow up without any problems, even in the presence of the adults.
For our customers: L76 have code 26480-L 076-2 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Loricariichthys sp. Rio Blanco
The interesting genus Loricariichthys currently comprises 19 accepted species. The members of the genus can be reliably recognized by the shape of their lips. These lip-brooding catfishes – similar to many other whiptail catfishes, the male carries the clutch of eggs attached to the lower lip until the larvae hatch – do not have any fringe-like extensions on the lower lip. All other genera have such fringes, whiskers or the like. The situation is quite different when it comes to species identification. For reasons unknown to us, these catfish hardly ever appear in the trade, so that many species are only known from old alcohol preparations and/or from scientific descriptions that are inadequate from today’s point of view. Although species have been discovered and described recently (e.g. Loricariichthys melanurus from southern Brazil in 2021), there is still no modern revision of the entire genus.
We have now been able to import some specimens of a Loricariichthys species from Peru, more precisely from the Rio Blanco, for the first time. Five Loricariichthys species are known from Peru: L. cashibo, L. chanjoo, L. hauxwelli, L. stuebelii and L. ucayalensis. From a geographical point of view, three of these can be considered for the Rio Blanco (which drains via the Rio Tapiche into the Ucayali and finally into the upper Amazon): L. cashibo, L. chanjoo and L. ucayalensis, while L. hauxwelli comes from the Rio Ampiyacu and L. stuebelii from the Rio Huallaga. L. cashibo was only described from a single specimen that was lost; no illustration exists. L. chanjoo was drawn in detail by the first describer; the ventral plates are completely different from those of our specimens, which is why it is most likely that our imports from the Rio Blanco represent L. ucayalensis. Even if there is basically nothing against this assumption, we think it makes more sense to refer to the animals as L. sp. Rio Blanco, as in similar cases it has often turned out later that a more precise scientific examination leads to different results.
Loricariichthys are omnivores and are not particularly difficult to keep. The known species grow to a length of 20-30 cm (L. ucayalensis 20-25 cm) and are somewhat shy, which is why the largest possible aquaria should be used. Otherwise the animals easily bump their snouts when disturbed. As with most lip-brooding whiptail catfish, a sandy substrate is recommended. Furnishing should be done very sparingly, it is much more important to provide as large an open bottom area as possible.
For our customers: the L. sp. Rio Blanco have code 266688 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Corydoras orcesi
The beautifully marked Corydoras orcesi is only very rarely found in the aquariums of enthusiasts. The species has been described from the Rio Tigre system in Ecuador, originally as a subspecies of C. pastazensis. Both species are similarly colored, but no hybrid forms occur, so that they are in all probability independent species, even if some scientists currently only see C. orcesi as a synonym of C. pastazensis. The rare imports come to us from Peru. If C. orcesi and C. pastazensis are seen side by side, there is no possibility of confusion.
Corydoras orcesi is one of the long-snouted species that remain in the genus Corydoras even after the current reclassification of armored catfishes; the same applies to C. pastazensis.
The males remain smaller than the females. They are easy to care for in the aquarium and have proven to be robust. As with all armored catfish, the substrate should consist at least partly of fine, soft sand. Worm food (Tubifex) is very popular, but the fish will happily accept any common fish food, whether live, frozen or in dry form. Both species grow to a maximum size of 6-7 cm.
For our customers: C. orcesi has code 237903 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Corydoras: from ancient Greek, meaning “with helmet and lance”, referring to the outer bony armor and the strong fin spines. orcesi: dedicatory name in honor of Gustavo Orcés-Villagomez. pastazensis: after the Rio Pastaza in the province of Pastaza in Ecuador, where the species was discovered.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Botia udomritthiruji
From time to time you have to tidy up the homepage a bit. On one such occasion we came across this nice post from 2007:
Botia sp. New Emperor, probably imported for the first time, comes from the border region of Burma/Thailand. It is said to occur there in large numbers every ten years and is only caught then.
According to a local ichthyologist, transportation through hilly areas close to the border is only possible using small mopeds, on which only a small number of these animals (approx. 20) can be transported. It is therefore not surprising that these animals are extremely rare and have a certain price tag. They are also quite large for members of the Botia rostrata group and have a very attractive pattern on a strong yellow background. (Text K. Diehl)
In the meantime, this beautiful loach, in which no two specimens have the same pattern (the pictures accompanying this post show the original wild catches from 2007) has been scientifically described as Botia udomritthiruji – in honor of the ornamental fish exporter Kamphol Udomritthiruj in Bangkok. We receive these animals from time to time (usually every 2-3 years), but no longer as wild-caught moped transports, but as offspring that are comfortably flown in.
For our customers: the offspring in 4-5 cm have code 405702, in 5-6 cm size 405703 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Hoplisoma sp. CW 91/CW 107
The Rio Vaupés – the Spanish spelling – or Rio Uaupes – the Portuguese spelling – is a “small” right-bank tributary of the Rio Negro. After all, the “little one” has a length of 1,375 km! It rises in Colombia in the foothills of the Andes and forms the state border with the Brazilian state of Amazonas about 150 km downstream from Mitú, where it flows into the Rio Negro about 40 km south of Icana.
Aquarists have long known that the Rio Vaupes is home to many special species. Among them are four armored catfish, which have only become known in recent years: Brochis sp. CW 89 (long-snouted, relatively narrow dorsal band), Hoplisoma sp. CW91 (round-snouted to CW 89), Brochis sp. CW106 (long-snouted, wider dorsal band and shorter snout than CW89), Hoplisoma sp. CW107 (round-snouted, wider dorsal band than CW91). They are all found in Colombia, approx. 40 km east of Mitú, at least according to the exporters.
Unfortunately, the distinguishing features mentioned are not really constant. The more animals you see, the more intermediate forms become recognizable, as is also known from other Rio Negro Corydoras. The width of the dorsal band in particular varies enormously. That’s why we don’t differentiate between CW91 and CW107 in the trade.
Now we have received particularly attractive animals, which correspond much more to CW 107 due to the very broad back band.
For our customers: the CW 91/CW 107 have code 236114 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Ivanacara adoketa ( = Nannacara a.)
This cichlid, which only occurs in a narrowly defined area on the middle Rio Negro and was only scientifically described as Nannacara adoketa in 1993, was for a long time one of the absolute dream fish of cichlid enthusiasts. The initially very few imported fish were mostly exported to Japan and insane prices were demanded – and paid!
The species differs in many respects from the other Nannacara species and has a distribution area that is far removed from that of the other species. This led to the genus Ivanacara being established for the species (and the also very different N. bimaculata, which is very similar to N. adoketa, but is endemic – i.e. occurs exclusively there – in the Potaro and Essequibo rivers in Guyana).
Nowadays, the initial situation has eased considerably. We can regularly offer Ivanacara adoketa both as offspring and occasionally as a wild catch. This species, which is demanding in terms of water quality during breeding and rearing, will probably never be a “cheap fish”, but the prices have fallen to such an extent that anyone seriously interested can probably afford them.
The males of these beautiful cichlids grow to around 8-9 cm long, the females remain around 3 cm smaller. The fish require soft and acidic water for their well-being; these values are essential for breeding. The temperature should be between 23 and 26°C, the animals prefer it a little cooler than too warm! Breeding is also successful at temperatures around 24°C. They are open brooders with a parent family.
For our customers: the animals have code 683474 (wild) and 683481 (captive bred) on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer
Apistogramma cacatuoides Double Red
Of course this beautiful breeding form of the cockatoo dwarf cichlid is not a novelty, but such beautiful specimens, as those, which we just received from a German breeder, are a rarity!
For our customers: the animals have code 617803 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Acestrorhynchus microlepis
The pike characins (Acestrorhynchus) belong to the obligatory predatory fish among the tetras. They only eat carnivorous food, preferably fish. There are currently 14 recognized species. The smallest species are barely 10 cm long, the largest 35-40 cm.
With an expected final size of 20-30 cm, A. microlepis is one of the medium-sized species. In addition to the particularly small scales (to which the species name refers), there is an inconspicuous but reliable identification feature for this species: a small dark spot behind the gill cover. This spot is missing in other, similar-looking species.
We received some specimens of this species from Peru measuring 6-9 cm. After a few days of acclimatization, they developed very pretty, orange fins, which we had never really noticed in this species before. The subsequent literature check revealed that only a few years ago (2003) the variability of A. microlepis in the very large distribution area of the species – which includes practically the entire Amazon and Orinoco basins as well as the Guyana states – was investigated. No new species could be delimited. Thus, our animals are at least formally only a local variant of A. microlepis.
Acestrorhynchus microlepis (and all other A. species) should be kept in aquaria that are as large as possible, as they are somewhat skittish and can easily injure their snouts in cramped conditions. Acclimatized specimens usually eat frozen fish, but during the acclimatization phase you usually need healthy (!) live food fish. A. microlepis are peaceful with each other and with other species that are not suitable as food. The water values (pH and hardness) are insignificant, the temperature should be in the range 22-28°C. Good planting, light that is not too bright and a calm, low-stress environment are the key to keeping Acestrorhynchus successfully for many years. We know of no breeding reports, and breeding has probably never been attempted. It can be assumed that these animals are free spawners without further brood care.
For our customers: the animals have code 202203 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Ariopsis simonsi (formerly Arius jordani or Hexanematichthys seemanni)
The Colombian shark is a wanderer between worlds. It spends its childhood in fresh water, adults live in the sea. The nutrient-rich brackish water zones of the estuaries are particularly favorable habitats for specimens that have outgrown their infancy. These catfish, which belong to the Ariidae family of around 150 species, only have their name in common with sharks.
The pretty, lively, peaceful and diurnal juveniles are easy to care for, as long as you bear in mind that pH values below 7 are poorly tolerated and that this fish must always be kept in groups of at least 5 specimens. The water temperature should be between 24 and 30°C. The animals require larger aquaria from the start (from 120 cm edge length), and the tank must be correspondingly larger for the adults, which grow to 20-25 cm in length in the aquarium. The largest specimen documented to date was 33 cm long (without caudal fin). Due to the mini shark’s high metabolism and particular sensitivity to nitrite, larger animals should be kept in brackish or seawater. From the onset of sexual maturity, females develop fleshy flaps at the base of the pelvic fins, the significance of which is unknown. The species is a male mouthbrooder. You can find more stories and pictures about the mini shark here: https://www.aqualog.de/blog/franky-karfreitag-der-kreuzwels-oder-minihai/ (unfortunately only available in German).
The mini sharks in the ornamental fish trade come almost exclusively from Colombia, but the species is widespread in the eastern Pacific from Colombia to Peru.
For our customers: the animals have code 208104 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Neosilurus ater
Catfish are an incredibly successful group of fish and have conquered practically all freshwater habitats. Only the sea catfish (Ariidae, the only true ornamental fish in this family is the Colombian mini shark) and the eel catfish (Plotosidae) are true marine fish, with around 30 of the 40 or so species of eel catfish regularly found in freshwater or living there permanently.
The latter group of purely freshwater fish includes the 11 species of the genus Neosilurus, which live on New Guinea (7 species) and in Australia. Identification of the species is difficult; proportions change in the course of their lives and a number of features used for scientific differentiation are not visible on the living animal. For this reason, Neosilurus in the ornamental fish trade are always named after the best known species, N. ater.
Due to the great interest shown in the rainbowfish of New Guinea in the hobby, other fish from the island are also increasingly coming into the trade, including Neosilurus. We obtain them from Indonesia. Visually, after comparing pictures, the “N. ater” imported by us most closely resemble the species N. novaeguineae. This species becomes about 20 cm long, N. ater around 40-45 cm; our animals are currently 12-15 cm long. All Neosilurus species build nests in gravel and guard the spawn and fry. Externally recognizable sexual differences have not yet been described. The fish are problem-free but greedy eaters that will accept any standard ornamental fish food of a suitable size. The chemical composition of the water (pH and hardness) is insignificant; if it is drinkable, Neosilurus can also be kept in it. The water temperature can be between 22 and 28°C.
There are not many published aquarium observations on these fish. In our fishhouse they are peaceful and sociable. They are said not to eat small fish, but we would not rely on this. Shrimps and snails are definitely at risk.
For our customers: the animals have code 438404 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Hydrolycus wallacei
The genus name “Hydrolycus” means “water wolf”. These sabre-toothed tetras are indeed impressive predatory fish and anyone who is interested in predatory fish and can provide the appropriate space – Hydrolycus species grow to between 40 and 120 cm in length – will have exciting fish to keep at home. For obvious reasons, however, such animals are usually kept in zoos and show aquariums.
There are four species of Hydrolycus, plus the similar Rhaphiodon vulpinus (https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/09-characoids-tetra-relationship/rhaphiodon-vulpinus-2/). We are able to import three Hydrolycus species more or less regularly (albeit only in small numbers, the number of interested parties is manageable): H. armatus (https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fisharchive/hydrolycus-armatus-orinoco/); H. scomberoides (https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/09-characoids-tetra-relationship/hydrolycus-scomberoides/) and H. tatauaia (https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/09-characoids-tetra-relationship/hydrolycus_tatauaia_en-2/). Only the fourth species, H. wallacei, has so far only been obtained in a single specimen in 2012. Why is this species so rarely exported? We do not know. It is possible that Hydrolycus wallacei has an escape behavior that differs from the other species, which ensures that it rarely enters the nets.
Apparently Hydrolycus wallacei, H. armatus and H. tatauaia occur together in Colombia, where our current import comes from, at least locally and at times, because they were sent mixed. Unfortunately, it was again only a single Hydrolycus wallacei, which, however, now shows the species-characteristic differences. Whether Hydrolycus wallacei is actually the smallest Hydrolycus species with a maximum length of 40 cm, or whether no larger specimens have yet been documented, is beyond our knowledge. At least our individual specimen can clarify this question; however, the animal currently measures only 12-15 cm, so it is still young.
For our customers: Hydrolycus wallacei has code 259345 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Hoplisoma (previously: Corydoras) weitzmani
Over the decades, we have often witnessed the rise of a new star in the ornamental fish sky. Among the armored catfish, this was undoubtedly Hoplisoma weitzmani, which went from being a sought-after phantom to a species that is now firmly established in the range.
Our first posts on this animal appeared in 2007: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/10-catfishes/10a-catfishes-corydoras-co/corydoras_weitzmani_en/ and https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/10-catfishes/10a-catfishes-corydoras-co/corydoras_weitzmani_en-2/
The existence of this armored catfish was already in doubt, or it was believed that the animal was extinct, as the first scientific description from 1971 gave “Cuzco in Peru” as the type locality of the uniquely marked fish. However, several expeditions to the area around Cuzco were unsuccessful. Today we know that the first describer was given incorrect information. Hoplisoma weitzmani originates from the Madre de Dios region, where it was rediscovered by ornamental fish trappers in 2004. The Peruvian departments of Cuzco and Madre de Dios border each other; it is therefore possible that the first collector of the species meant the department, not the city, but this remains speculative.
Keeping this beautiful fish is very easy. They are sociable fish that should always be kept in a group. Earlier speculation that this armored catfish had to be kept cold (Cuzco is located in the Andes at an altitude of 3,400 m) is of course completely wrong. In fact, this species has no special requirements in terms of temperature or water composition. They are ideal armored catfish for a community aquarium.
Nowadays there are still wild-caught specimens from time to time (fortunately, as there were already fears of extinction in the wild due to the insane pollution of the biotope by gold miners), but captive-bred specimens reliably cover the main demand.
For our customers: the animals have code 248905 (wild) and 248912 (bred) on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer & Erwin Schraml
Biotoecus dicentrarchus
The dwarf cichlids of the genus Biotoecus were shrouded in mystery for decades. The first species, B. opercularis, was scientifically described as early as 1875. It originated from the Amazon River basin in Brazil, a well-collected area for aquaristic purposes, and yet the first import was not accomplished until the mid-1980s and early 1990s. The species was considered one of the most delicate aquarium fishes around. Its nice pastel colors and unusual breeding behavior – as sand dwellers, the fish like to build small “castles” for egg laying – nevertheless made it a sought-after keeper among specialists.
In 1989 a second species of the genus, B. dicentrarchus, was described from the Orinoco basin. Preserved animals differ from B. opercularis almost only by tiny anatomical details, which have to be examined under the microscope. Thus one looked with each of the (rare!) imports of Biotoecus very exactly whether differences were recognizable.
Nowadays Biotoecus are everything else than everyday fishes, but by far not so sensitive. The ever improving catching, transporting and keeping methods on site are the reason for this. And so both B. opercularis and B. dicentrarchus, when offered, arrive here in good to very good condition and present no one with unsolvable problems. The distinction between B. dicentrarchus and B. opercularis is very simple: B. dicentrarchus has free, extended rays in the front part of the dorsal fin, so that a “cockatoo” shape of the dorsal fin is formed here. In B. opercularis, all rays in the dorsal fin are approximately the same length.
For care a bottom of fine sand is the most important, in addition warmth (26-30°C), humic substances (from dead leaves, alder cones, peat, etc.) and if possible no or only extremely peaceful company, because Biotoecus are stress sensitive. If you now also do good water care and create low-germ conditions, you will have a lot of fun with the animals.
At the moment we have very nice B. dicentrarchus from Colombia in our stock.
For our customers: Biotoecus dicentrarchus has code 634483 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Physoschistura mango ( = Yunnanilus sp. Rosy)
A delightful dwarf loach from Burma has been enriching the aquarium hobby since 2006. It was called Yunnanilus sp. Rosy before its scientific description in November 2023. The scientific analysis showed that the characteristics of the species (especially the lip structure, but also DNA examinations) do not allow it to be assigned to Yunnanilus and that it should instead be assigned to the genus Physoschistura, which contains eight other species in addition to P. mango. There are also many similarities to Petruichthys.
In the wild, P. mango has only been found with a maximum length of 23.4 mm (standard length without caudal fin). The males of this species indicate the onset of sexual maturity with a pretty orange base coloration. From a scientific point of view, the fish fulfill the requirement for a dwarf species, namely the onset of sexual maturity below 26 mm standard length (Weitzman & Vari, 1988). However, it has been shown that with many years of care – the animals grow to an astonishing age – they can reach almost twice this length (albeit with a caudal fin) in the aquarium. However, this obviously does not occur in nature.
In aquaria with lots of Java moss, young often appear without any special help from the keeper. Physoschistura mango lives together with Celestichthys margaritatus in the wild; like Celestichthys margaritatus, it therefore tolerates low temperatures of around 18°C at times, but the loach breeds reliably at 26-27°C. Males and females can be easily distinguished by their coloration, only the males turn orange.
Literature:
Weitzman, S. H. & R. P. Vari (1988): Miniaturization in South American freshwater fishes; an overview and discussion. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 101(2): 444-465.
For our customers: the animals have code 478502 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Pelvicachromis sacrimontis ( = P. pulcher RED wild)
The kribensis cichlid (Pelvicachromis pulcher), also known as the king cichlid, is the most popular dwarf cichlid from Central Africa. In the wild, it colonizes large areas in the Niger River basin. It is mainly bred in the hobby. Like so many dwarf cichlids, P. pulcher is also polychromatic, i.e. it occurs in different color forms. Some of these color forms apparently exist together in the same locality, other color forms apparently only come from certain regions. The dwarf cichlid in question here, Pelvicachromis sacrimontis, also originates from Nigeria. It looks very similar to P. pulcher, but cannot be fertilely crossed with it; the young of such a cross are always sterile in the first generation.
Pelvicachromis sacrimontis differs unequivocally from P. pulcher only in the female sex. In the dorsal fin of female P. pulcher there is always a light stripe on the upper edge, the dorsal fin of female P. sacrimontis is always uniformly dark (see: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/25-perchlike-fishes/pelvicachromis-pulcher-wild-yellow-2/). Experienced experts can tell whether the males are P. pulcher or P. sacrimontis, but the differences are difficult to describe in words. Basically, the dark middle longitudinal band is wider in P. sacrimontis than in P. pulcher.
There are also color forms of P. sacrimontis. There are usually two: a red and a green, whereby the latter is sometimes subdivided into green and yellow. The red color variant has red gill cover and cheek regions in both sexes. Below the eye there are blue-green iridescent bands. This is an important difference to red color variations of P. pulcher. In the green/yellow colorations, the cheek and gill cover regions are shiny green/yellow. The blue-green iridescent bands under the eyes can also be found here. It is still unclear whether the red and green/yellow color forms occur together in the same biotope; they are always exported mixed. The trade name “P. pulcher RED wild” for P. sacrimontis dates back to the 1960s and refers to the intense red belly coloration of these animals, which all females and many males display. In the hobby P. sacrimontis used to be known as P. pulcher form B or P. sp. aff. pulcher, an invalid trade name for P. sacrimontis from this time is P. camerunensis (a particularly stupid name, as the animals come from Nigeria and not Cameroon).
In terms of care and breeding, P. sacrimontis hardly differs from P. pulcher. The species should be kept under subdued lighting if possible, otherwise the animals are often shy and pale. Soft, slightly acidic water is best suited to their needs. Any common ornamental fish food is eaten. The water temperature should mainly be in the range 22-26°C, too high temperatures are less favorable for P. sacrimontis than the lower temperature range.
For our customers: Pelvicachromis sacrimontis has code 560004 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Celestichthys margaritatus ( = Danio m.)
It was the sensation of 2006: the galaxy rasbora (Celestichthys margaritatus). The species was still scientifically unknown at the time of its discovery. Just one year later, in 2007, Tyson Roberts described this 2 – 2.5 cm long fish jewel from Burma under the scientific name Celestichthys margaritatus and established the new genus Celestichthys. This did not go uncriticized, as there is obviously a great similarity to M. erythromicron, which also originates from Burma and was placed in the genus Microrasbora at the time. In 2008, Conway et al. declared the genus Celestichthys to be a synonym of Danio on the basis of anatomical studies. Many follow this suggestion, in which case the galaxy rasbora must be called Danio margaritatus. Others do not accept Conway’s suggestion and see Celestichthys as a valid genus with the two species margaritatus and erythromicron, as molecular biological studies show that the genus Danio is polyphyletic. Accordingly, only the large species around D. dangila, the genus type (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/08-carp-like-fishes-2-barbs-minnows-carps-goldfish-etc/danio_dangila_en/), should be designated as Danio in the proper sense, everything else would have to be distributed among several genera, including Celestichthys. This whole story is not yet settled.
Much more significant is the fact that the galaxy rasbora has now become firmly established in the aquarium hobby. It is available both as wild collected and as a captive-bred. Fortunately, initial fears that the species could be overfished by catching it for the aquarium trade have turned out to be completely unfounded. There is no threat to the species from ornamental fish catchers. Bred animals are generally somewhat larger and better nourished, as life in the wild is hard; otherwise there are no external differences.
As a subtropical species, the galaxy rasbora should be kept at temperatures between 18 and 24°C, i.e. temporarily without heating and only for breeding at slightly higher temperatures. The water should be neutral to slightly alkaline, which is easier to achieve in harder water than in soft water. This completely peaceful schooling fish will eat any ornamental fish food that is suitable for their mouths. Females lack the red in their fins and they have a black anal spot. Spawning takes place in Java moss and the like, galaxy rasboras do not practice brood care.
For our customers: the animals have code 408243 (wild) and 408233 (captive bred) on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer & Erwin Schraml
Sewellia lineolata
From a zoological perspective, hillstream loaches belong to the family Gastromyzontidae and are very close relatives of the brook loaches, which belong to the family Balitoridae. Hillstream loaches are adapted to life in flowing water. Their pelvic and pectoral fins are enlarged and look like the spoilers of a car. The water flowing over the fish sitting on the bottom presses them against the substrate so that they can hold themselves in place without exerting any force. In some species, this fin apparatus is so effective that it acts like a suction device and enables the animals to climb up waterfalls!
Hillstream loaches are small animal eaters. They also eat algae. They can be fed a variety of frozen foods in the aquarium, live food is of course also popular and many also eat dry food. Hillstream loaches usually get on well with each other, at most there will be the occasional small chase. Other fish are completely ignored.
A hillstream loaches aquarium should be set up like a stream, i.e. contain stones and roots and have a strong current. Planting is of secondary importance. All hillstream loaches are very sensitive to nitrite.
Recently, breeding has been more successful, as aquaristic ambition has developed since the import of the spectacular Sewellia lineolata. The females grow larger and are fuller. They are permanent spawners that spawn constantly. Breeders offer pebble piles for this purpose, which are made of gravel with a grain size of 2-4 cm. The eggs disappear into the gaps in the gravel and are thus protected from the voracious parents. The young also grow in the gaps until they reach a size where they are no longer regarded as food by the parents.
Sewellia lineolata is certainly one of the most attractive hillstream loaches. Its area of origin is rivers and streams in Vietnam. There they live in fast-flowing sections of water with sometimes rapid currents.
They like it a little cooler in the aquarium – heating is not absolutely necessary for their well-being. As diurnal insect and mollusc eaters, they are a real enrichment to the range of East Asian fish.
For our customers: Sewellia lineolata has code 455052 (md), 455053 (lg) and 455054 (xlg) on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer & Erwin Schraml
Pao baileyi ( = Tetraodon baileyi)
From time to time we can import what is probably the strangest of all freshwater puffer fish: Pao baileyi. This species occurs in the rapids of the river Mekong in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia and has been discovered only in 1985. The species attains a maximum length of about 12-15 cm. The strange beard that is developed in some specimens is most probably only sometimes a feature that can be used to sex the fish. There do exist beardless animals that seem to be males (according to the overall proportions) and there are sometimes animals with a small beard that seem to be females. It is only rarely as easy to sex the fishes as it seems from some of our pictures. Anyway, the species is highly variable in respect of coloration, too, not only in respect of the beard.
This variability is connected with the unique lifestyle of the fish. They imitate stones! The puffer sucks with its belly to the ground. Now the function of the beard becomes obvious: this beard imitates algae growing on a stone! If a fish or a shrimp comes along and tries to feed Aufwuchs or algae from the surface of that “stone”, it becomes prey of the pufferfish. So a comparably bad swimmer like a pufferfish can survive in the strong current of rapids with a minimum of energy.
Pao baileyi is very aggressive against conspecifics. So one should keep these puffers solitary and put pairs together only for breeding purposes. The hardness and pH of the water is of no meaning, but this puffer needs clean, oxygen-rich water.
For our customers: the animals have code 461254 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in limited numbers only!
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Garra rufa
The Kangal psoriasis fish (Garra rufa) has become famous because the population of this species, which is widespread in the Middle East, living in the Turkish Kangal thermal baths can be used to provide relief for people suffering from serious skin diseases (neurodermatitis, psoriasis, etc.). This is due to the fact that this sucking barb is not shy towards humans and grazes them, as it usually does with algae-covered stones. Growth, i.e. algae and the microorganisms it contains, form the natural diet of the Kangal psoriasis fish.
In humans, the grazing process very gently removes dead skin cells and thus promotes the healing of inflamed areas. Young fish in particular are obsessed with cleaning and eating algae. The self-experiment, during which the picture shown here was taken, clearly showed that the small Garra rufa (we only have offspring in stock) nibbled on my arm as if it were a root; Garra rufa can be recommended without hesitation as a great algae eater for the aquarium. After all, what other algae eater can you show friends and acquaintances as a trained fish that voluntarily swims to your hand as soon as you put it in the aquarium?
Garra rufa is very easy to care for and tolerates temperatures between 16 and 30°C. They should definitely be kept in a shoal. Their maximum size is around 10 cm TL.
For our customers: the species has code 416451 (2-3 cm), 416452 (3-4 cm) and 416453 (4-5 cm) on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer
Syncrossus hymenophysa ( = Botia h.)
There are six to seven species of tiger loaches (Syncrossus), their identification is sometimes tricky and occasionally difficult even for specialists: S. beauforti (Southeast Asia from the northern Malay Peninsula to China (Yunnan) and Vietnam), S. berdmorei (Burma and India), S. formosus (controversial form, possibly synonymous with S. lucasbahi, lower Mekong: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and southern Vietnam), S. helodes (Southeast Asia from the northern Malay Peninsula to Laos and southern Vietnam), S. hymenopysa (Indonesian islands and Malay Peninsula), S. lucasbahi (Southeast Asia: Thailand, Laos and China) and finally S. reversus (high altitudes of Sumatra, Borneo and Java). Identification is difficult because the species differences are essentially based on differences in coloration. However, the coloration is variable within species and also changes during growth.
In the case of Syncrossus hymenophysa, however, the matter is pleasingly simple, because our animals come from Indonesia and there are only S. hymenophysa and S. reversus. The latter has probably never been (recognized) imported alive. It is very similar to S. hymenophysa, but lacks the distinctive black spot in the dorsal fin that is characteristic of S. hymenophysa. But beware: stressed S. hymenophysa fade very much; then neither the vertical tiger stripes nor the dorsal fin spot are clearly recognizable.
The care of all tiger loaches is similar, perhaps apart from temperature requirements. Here S. berdmorei and S. reversus probably like it a little cooler (18-22°C), the other species should be kept at the usual temperatures of 20-30°C for tropical fish. None of the species should be kept at exactly the same temperature year in, year out; a certain seasonal rhythm (cooler at times, warmer at times, for several weeks at a time) is favorable. Unfortunately, tiger loaches are sometimes quarrelsome. They then chase other fish and conspecifics around the tank, usually without injuring them. But the stress can damage sensitive species. Sometimes (like our S. hymenophysa currently in stock), however, they are lamblike and love to cuddle in the company of their own kind, as you can see in the pictures. Unfortunately, it is not possible to make any general statements about the social behavior of these animals.
All tiger loaches grow to over 15 cm long and are very long-lived animals. They eat whatever they can find, preferably frozen and live food of all kinds, but also flake and granulated food. The water composition is completely unimportant, any drinking water is suitable for keeping them. Tiger loaches are diurnal animals. For larger community aquariums with a Southeast Asian character, a troop of tiger loaches (they should never be kept individually, but in groups of at least 5-6, preferably more specimens) is a wonderful enrichment.
For our customers: the animals have code 401003 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Eigenmannia virescens ( = E. sp. aff. trilineata “Orinoco”)
The glass knifefishes (Eigenmannia), also known as green knifefishes, are a difficult and very complex group of fishes from a systematic point of view. They are widespread throughout the South American subcontinent and, together with other knifefish, make up a significant proportion of the fish biomass in many biotopes. The first species was already described in 1836: E. virescens. All glass knifefish in the aquarium trade were usually referred to by this name. However, it is questionable whether this southern species – which is found in the Rio la Plata and lower Paraná in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay – has been imported more frequently. This is probably not the case. In 1994 Mago-Leccia revised all the New World knifefishes; at that time E. humboldtii (Rio Magdalena and Beni), E. macrops (Potaro, Orinoco, Essequibo), E. microstomus (Rio Sao Francisco), E. nigra (Amazonas, Essequibo, Orinoco) and E. trilineata (La Plata, lower Paraná) were known, i.e. a total of 6 species, plus 3 uncertain synonyms: all in all manageable. But then it started: today we have 32 species and there is no end in sight. Needless to say, they all look very, very similar…
One of the as yet undescribed species is the glass knifefish, which we have now received from Venezuela. In the most recent scientific papers on the genus, it is referred to as E. sp. “Orinoco”. It shares the pattern of three black longitudinal stripes with E. trilineata, but the head profile is different. As can be clearly seen in the photos, the “Orinoco” has an undershot mouth, meaning that the lower jaw is significantly shorter than the upper jaw. In the “true” E. trilineatus the mouth is terminal, both halves of the jaw are approximately the same length.
From an aquaristic point of view, the species affiliation is rather irrelevant, as all Eigenmannia species are similar in terms of behavior and hardly any reliable information can be obtained about the achievable final size. We therefore usually continue to refer to them as E. virescens, especially as exact identification is rarely possible. What is known: Eigenmannia males grow considerably larger than females and the largest Eigenmannia reported to date was about 50 cm long; however, many apparently remain under 20 cm. These animals establish a hierarchy among themselves, but are generally considered peaceful. Their favorite food is red mosquito larvae, but they will also eat other, comparable food, usually also granules. The glass knifefish observed so far have spawned in the roots of floating plants.
We also find it interesting that the probable male of the photographed pair is yellow and the probable female is gray-white. The animals are currently 9-12 cm long.
For our customers: the fish have code 253003 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Hyphessobrycon myrmex
A great aquarium future can be predicted for this new dwarf tetra – it barely reaches a total length of 3 cm – now that breeding has been successful and the initially rather expensive rarity is coming onto the market in large numbers. The brilliance of the colors in this little animal is really quite incredible. The alpha male is the most intensely colored. The females are inconspicuously greenish, without red.
It is surprising that in the well collected Mato Grosso area in Brazil – the home of these fishes – such a jewel could escape attention until very recently. It was not until 2017 that the scientific description of this fish appeared. The exact locality is the Rio Formiga, a tributary of the Rio Juruena in the upper basin of the Rio Tapajós. The species name “myrmex” means “ant”, because of its small size and because of its native river, whose name translates as “ant river”.
For our customers: the animals have code 261383 (wild) and 261388 (bred) on our stocklist.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Rineloricaria formosa ( = Hemiloricaria f.)
Among the small whiptail catfish (Rineloricaria), all of which are cave breeders, there is a group that is particularly well adapted to life on sandy bottoms in black water. They are particularly sought after by catfish specialists due to their attractive spot pattern. What they have in common is a circular, conspicuous spot on their front back.
Although there are hardly any problems in keeping these fish, breeding is unfortunately not very productive and the rearing process (compared to other witch catfish) is quite costly, which is why the few offspring usually remain among breeders. We are therefore delighted that we have once again succeeded in importing Rineloricaria formosa. The animals come from the Rio Atabapo in Venezuela. Overall, this species is the most widespread of the group described above and colonizes the greater area of the western Orinoco catchment and the upper Amazon catchment in Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela. The maximum length is about 18 cm. What is very interesting about this species (and looks almost frightening in close-up) is its ability to bend its head upwards. The purpose of this anatomical peculiarity is unknown.
For our customers: the animals have code 257934 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Oryzias latipes “Sparkled Orange”
The popularity of the numerous varieties of medaka (Oryzias latipes) continues unabated. Currently, so-called “sparkled” morphs are increasingly being offered. These are animals with scattered striking silver-white shiny scales. Depending on the basic coloration, “Sparkled” is then offered as orange, grey or blue.
Oryzias latipes “Sparkled Orange” is basically the good old gold medaka with shiny scales. Incidentally, the intensity of the coloration varies considerably from individual to individual. This is the special incentive for hobby breeders to build up a particularly color-intensive strain through constant selection.
For our customers: the animals have code 339755 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Apistogramma gephyra Santa Isabel
Since its scientific description in 1980, this dwarf cichlid has been the subject of heated debate among enthusiasts. Some consider it to be another color variant of Apistogramma agassizii, while others are certain that it is a separate species. Both parties are probably right; there is no doubt that Apistogramma gephyra and A. agassizii are very closely related and only developed relatively recently from a common ancestral form. Whether they are therefore still considered to be a single species or already two different species is therefore ultimately a matter of taste.
Here in the wholesale trade we usually distinguish between A. agassizii and A. gephyra on the basis of a color detail that has proven to be quite reliable: the red fringe along the dorsal fin, which only A. gephyra shows.
Unfortunately, A. gephyra is rarely offered or correctly recognized by exporters. We have recently received some very beautiful specimens from the Santa Isabel area (Rio Negro, Brazil). Like all Apistogramma species from this region, the fish show a particularly high proportion of yellow and orange in their coloration, especially in the anal fin. However – and this also applies to all Apistogramma species – the animals are also polychromatic, i.e. differently colored specimens occur within the same population.
Further information on A. gephyra can be found here on captive bred specimens: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/25-perchlike-fishes/25d-perchlike-fishes-4-south-american-dwarf-cichlids/apistogramma_gephyra_bred_en/ and here on wild-caught specimens and juvenile markings: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/25-perchlike-fishes/apistogramma-gephyra-wild-2/
For our customers: A. gephyra Santa Isabel have code 619523 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Cichla mirianae FOGO
The Peacock basses of the genus Cichla are among the most popular food fish in South America. The animals grow large (30-60 cm, some even up to 100 cm) and have firm, tasty meat with few bones. They are also highly sought after as game fish and anglers travel long distances to catch certain tucunaré (the name given to the fish in the indigenous Tupi language). Scientifically and aquaristically, Cichla were treated very neglected until the 2000s. A distinction was generally only made between 2 species (ocellaris and temensis), which were considered to be purely specialist fish.
This has changed fundamentally. In a major revision of the genus in 2006, Kullander & Ferreira distinguished 15 species, including 9 species that they described as new species; a further species (C. cataractae) was added in 2020. One of the species described by Kullander & Ferreira is Cichla mirianae from the Tocantins and upper Xingu drainages. Cichla mirianae grows to around 50 cm long. The “Fogo” ( = fire) represents a local population of this species. It lives – or so it is said – in only one lake in Brazil. A floating fishing camp has been set up in the middle of the lake, to which there is no road. Very wealthy anglers fly in to catch the tucunaré with the fiery red breast. The photos that these sports anglers spread on the internet aroused the interest of big fish aquarists.
The first Cichla mirianae FOGO were incredibly expensive, as the exporters also had to fly to the lake in a small Cessna and collect the Cichla in correspondingly small numbers. In the meantime, however, Cichla mirianae FOGO is also offered as offspring from Southeast Asia. The juveniles, as we usually trade them, because the nervousness typical of Cichla species is particularly pronounced in this species and larger specimens are correspondingly sensitive to transportation, still have yellow bellies. All yellow parts of the body in adult Cichla mirianae FOGO turn fiery red – a fantastic sight!
In general, the care and breeding of Cichla species is relatively (!!!) popular nowadays. If sufficiently large aquaria (several thousand liters) can be provided, care and breeding are not particularly problematic, the animals are open breeders with a parent family, each brood contains several thousand young. As Cichla mirianae FOGO are only suitable for specialists with appropriate experience anyway, we will not provide detailed care recommendations here.
We have also made a small film about these fish, which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1tR7kOEVNI
For our customers: the animals have code 636355 (12-15 cm) on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Pimelodella sp. Ventuari
The genus Pimelodella comprises 103 described species, of which 81 are currently considered valid. The size of the Pimelodella species is between 7 and 30 cm. So no species is really huge. The genus is almost exclusively South American, with only one species reported from Central America (Costa Rica and Panama). Identification of the species is rarely successful, as many Pimelodella species look extremely similar. Almost all have a dark stripe along the middle of the body, the width of which is assumed to be species-specific. After the very first species ever imported for the hobby, fish marked in this way are generally called “Pimelodella gracilis” in the trade, but this name should only rarely apply.
Pimelodella catfish play no role in aquaristics. This is a shame, as they are pretty, peaceful animals, albeit somewhat shy. Small fish are regarded as food if they can fit in their mouths. Pimelodella species are usually found in more or less large shoals and are considered sociable.
We have now been able to import a number of Pimelodella catfish from Venezuela for the first time, which we have not yet been able to identify with certainty. They are currently 4-5 cm long. The body markings are very unusual and characteristic and consist of a vertical black band that starts immediately in front of the dorsal fin and runs approximately to the middle of the body. There are also numerous black pigment cells (melanophores). The intensity of the pattern varies depending on the individual and mood, but is always recognizable. According to the supplier, the fish were caught over sandbanks. They are said to dig themselves in when in danger, but we have not yet observed this. The place of discovery is the Rio Ventuari.
The species discussed here is also referred to as Pimelodella sp. on Planetcatfish, in Steven Grant’s book “Pims” it is illustrated as P. sp. Tefe. It is very similar to P. megalops, a species described from Guyana, which is also said to occur in the Orinoco drainage. Naturally, nothing can be said with certainty about the expected final size; due to the undoubtedly close relationship to P. megalops, the animal will probably become around 10 cm long.
For our customers: the fish have code 279222 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Bagarius vegrandis
The devil catfish (Bagarius) is one of the largest representatives of catfish in South and Southeast Asia: giant 2-meter specimens of the Goonch – as the animals are called in India – have been caught. Unfortunately, the systematics of Bagarius are highly confused. Only one species is very well defined and clearly recognizable: B. suchus (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/10-catfishes/bagarius-suchus-2/). The others look very similar and repeatedly give rise to confusion and misidentification.
For example, it was long believed that the large goonch from India was Bagarius yarellii, but according to the latest findings this species is a synonym (double name) of one of the smallest known Bagarius species, namely B. bagarius, which only grows to 20-30 cm in length. The large species is therefore now given the next oldest available name, B. lica (originally described from Sumatra). Then there is B. rutilus from Vietnam, Laos and China, which grows to a good 70 cm long and has striking red-orange fins from about 30 cm in length. Only recently (2021) was the small species B. vegrandis described from the large Chao Phraya and Mekong rivers (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, probably also Vietnam). It is only about 22 cm long (without caudal fin). B. vegrandis was misidentified as B. bagarius in all scientific literature until 2021.
Bagarius vegrandis can be distinguished from all other species by the position of the adipose fin compared to the anal fin. If you think of a vertical line at the base of the adipose fin towards the belly, you can see that the anal fin is positioned much further forward towards the head. The coloration of the fish is quite variable and not very helpful for identification. Also typical of B. vegrandis is the thread-like pectoral fin filament that extends to the anus (this is similar in B. bagarius, but absent in the other species) and oval tubercles on the head. The latter feature appears to vary greatly in intensity.
With Bagarius vegrandis, we have succeeded in importing one of the most aquarium-friendly of all Bagarius species, which can also be kept successfully by predatory fish enthusiasts without a huge tank. Nevertheless, these are animals for specialists. Bagarius are obligatory predatory fish that can only be fed with strong chunks – preferably small fish. We keep these precious fish individually for safety reasons, but they seem to be relatively compatible with each other. However, there are no reliable observations on this subject, and we generally recommend keeping them individually. Bagarius generally require clean, oxygen-rich water; generous weekly water changes are generally recommended to remove the abundant metabolic products from the system. On the other hand, Bagarius are relatively sedentary, so aquariums that are 5 times the length and 3 times the width of the fish are completely sufficient (the height is not so important).
For our customers: Bagarius vegrandis has code 368444 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Planorbella duryi
Ramshorn snails have been popular since the beginning of aquaristics (around 1850), as they consume algae and eat leftovers, but usually leave the plants alone. In addition, as lung breathers, they are not additional oxygen consumers. In the past, it was natural to have the native species Planorbarius corneus in the tank, which coped very well with the conditions at the time. It should not be forgotten that even living rooms in the late 19th and early 20th century were only heated when necessary and the aquariums of our ancestors were correspondingly cool. The native ramshorn snail does not like consistently high water temperatures, especially not in regularly heated tanks. They don’t last long there. It has therefore been gradually replaced by a Californian in our days, without most aquarists being aware of it. They just have ramshorn horn snails. They don’t care about the species.
In the vast majority of cases, the Californian ramshorn snail (Planorbella duryi) is found in the aquarium. They are hermaphrodites that can fertilize themselves if necessary, so anyone who acquires an animal already has a breeding pair. Reproduction takes place by laying eggs. The clutches are a transparent disk that can be attached to all kinds of objects. A clutch contains up to 15 eggs, which take around 10-12 days to hatch. The duration of development depends on the temperature and is somewhat shorter at temperatures above 25°C and somewhat longer at cooler temperatures. Planorbella duryi is a thermophilic species that only occurs here and there in artificially warmed waters. However, you should never release any aquarium snails! The Californian species differs from the native species Planorbarius corneus mainly in its small size. If you have lively reproducing ramshorn snails at home and they never get significantly larger than 1 cm in shell diameter, then it is most likely Planorbella duryi. P. duryi is bred in red, blue and brown ( = wild colors).
For our customers: blue post horn snails have code 486512, red 486522 and brown 486531 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Macropodus “Blue Tiger“
It is only very recently that we have begun to realize that the diversity of species of paradise fish (Macropodus) is much greater than we thought possible. Basically, three main groups can be distinguished in this genus, whose representatives are at home in China, Vietnam and Korea: Round-tailed paradise fish (M. ocellatus and related species), Red Fork-tailed paradise fish (M. opercularis and related species) and Black Fork-tailed paradise fish (M. spechti and related species). Of these, the round-tailed paradise fish occur furthest north, where fork-tails can no longer exist. The red and black forktails, on the other hand, occur in areas that are geographically close together. They are ecologically distinct: red fork-tails have their ecological optimum in standing, marshy waters, while black fork-tails prefer flowing waters. For this reason, red and black fork-tails are hardly ever found in the same habitat in nature and cross-breeding does not occur in nature either – at least no hybrids have ever been found.
In the aquarium, however, all paradise fish can be crossed with each other. The hybrids often look very attractive. However, none of the hybrids have been able to establish themselves in the hobby in the long term. They have always disappeared again after a short time. We can currently offer a new, very attractive hybrid, the “Blue Tiger”. The breeder describes the development as follows: “As the Royal Blue were no longer colorful enough for me, I created hybrids from the Royal Blue and Snake Skin paradise fish, which I then mated and was able to select a few very beautifully blue-striped animals (approx. 10 out of 200) in the F2. I now have a new generation swimming from these few animals. The animals stand out due to their beautiful, uniformly intense blue with dark blue stripes. The blue is more opaque than my Royal blue.”
Both “Royal Blue” (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fisharchive/macropodus-spechti-royal-blue-4/) and “Snakeskin” are representatives of the black forktails. Formally, they are currently assigned to Macropodus spechti, but it is still unclear whether they are not descendants of animals that also have a coloration that is constantly different from M. spechti in nature.
„Blue Tiger” is particularly attractive due to the fact that the females are just as colorful, often even more colorful than the males.
For our customers: Macropodus “Blue Tiger” has code 425813 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer
Cyphocharax abramoides
The genus Cyphocharax comprises 48 species and has a very wide distribution in South America. However, only one species has become known aquaristically, namely C. multilineatus (https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/09-characoids-tetra-relationship/cyphocharax-multilineatus-4/). This species is attractively marked. However, the majority of Cyphocharax species offer little incentive to keep them in the aquarium, as they present themselves as silver-colored, colorless animals – as far as can be deduced from field observations.
C. abramoides is one of the species of the genus that has been known to science for the longest time. It was described as early as 1878. We have now been able to import this high-backed fish – the species name abramoides refers to the bream (Abramis brama) native to Europe, which is our highest-backed white fish – from Venezuela for the first time. The overall distribution area of the species is large, it has already been reported from the Rio Negro, the upper Orinoco and tributaries of the lower Amazon.
This up to 20-25 cm long fish does not have much to offer in terms of color. It is silver-colored, the fins can sometimes have a slight orange tinge. That’s it. But the elongated dorsal fin in combination with the very small scales, which give the fish a shine reminiscent of moonshine, give it a really interesting appearance. Cyphocharax abramoides are absolutely peaceful with each other and with other fish, as far as we have been able to observe so far. In the wild, these omnivores specialize in eating aufwuchs. Ecologically, they can be compared quite well with kissing gouramis (Helostoma temminckii).
For our customers: The animals have code 251363 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer
Trichogaster leerii WILD JAMBI
Wild-caught pearl gourami (Trichogaster leerii or Trichopodus leerii) are hardly ever available on the market. In fact, the exact distribution of this gourami species, which is present in the hobby since 1933 and has never disappeared since then, is more anecdotal than scientifically known. It is certain that this species is found on the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo, and probably also on some of the larger Lesser Sunda Islands (Indonesia), but it is difficult to find in the field and only for a few weeks each year. As a result, little or nothing is known about the wild life of this species, which is so familiar to us from the aquarium.
We have now received wild-caught specimens from the black water of the province of Jambi in central Sumatra. These are young, 5-7 cm long animals. The pearl gourami only becomes sexually mature when almost fully grown (from 9 cm, more likely 10-11 cm), which is why the imported animals do not yet show the beautiful colors that have made the pearl gourami one of the most popular ornamental fish in the world (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/25-perchlike-fishes/trichogaster-leerii-2/). But for biologically interested aquarists, this is one of the very rare opportunities to obtain wild-caught fish of known origin.
For our customers: the animals have code 469513 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer
Inpaichthys parauapiranga now available!
Finally we received the eagerly awaited Inpaichthys parauapiranga offspring. They are beautiful, already sexually mature animals. We took the pictures for this post of exactly these specimens. They are already wonderfully colored, and this will certainly increase with well acclimatized animals. For pictures of the parents see here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fisharchive/coming-soon-inpaichthys-parauapiranga/
For our customers: the animals have code 264693 (mlg) and 264694 (lg-xlg) on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer
Moenkhausia cosmops
After many years, we have once again received one of the most extraordinary tetras in Brazil: Moenkhausia cosmops. This species was only scientifically described in 2007. Until now it has only been known from the upper reaches of the Rio Paraguai and Rio Tapajos basins in the state of Mato Grosso: Rio Juba, Rio Juruena, Rio Papagaio and their tributaries.
The closest relatives are the aquaristically well known Moenkhausia oligolepis and M. sanctaefilomenae (redeye tetra). Other similar species are M. cotinho, M. diktyota, M. forestii and M. pyrophthalma, which have so far remained insignificant in the hobby. All these species have a red iris and the tail root spot in common. M. cosmops can be distinguished at first glance from all the other species mentioned by its unique blue-green eyes and the red stripe above the mouth.
The unique coloration of this fish is somewhat reminiscent of the wonderful emperor tetra (Nematobrycon) on the one hand and the Asian lipstick barb (Pethia erythromycter) on the other. However, there is no closer relationship to the fish mentioned.
The maximum length of Moenkhausia cosmops is around 6 cm. The fish are somewhat shy at first. They have proved to be less sensitive and peaceful with us. Like most characins, they are unproblematic in terms of diet. Stomach tests in the wild revealed insects (mainly ants), as well as plant remains and algae. The water temperature should be between 24 and 26°C, soft and slightly acidic water comes close to natural conditions, the habitats are described as white water biotopes with sandy bottoms. The species forms shoals of over 50 individuals, which are usually found near the bank vegetation between dead branches in still water zones of rivers.
For our customers: the fish has code 268643 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text and photos: Frank Schäfer
Synaptolaemus latofasciatus
Finally we managed to import again some specimens of this unusual “striped sock” from Venezuela. The species – there is just the one in the genus Synaptolaemus – was long known under the name S. cingulatus, until Britzki et al. discovered that the species described as Leporinus latofasciatus by Steindachner in 1910 was identical with S. cingulatus. Because S. cingulatus was described about 40 years later, the principle of priority applies and the older name must be used.
S. latofasciatus is found in the Orinoco, the Casiquiare, the Rio Negro, the drainage of the Rio Tapajos, and the upper Rio Xingu, but it is thought that the species is frequently overlooked and has an even wider distribution. The individual populations may differ somewhat in coloration – the Ventuari fishes have the highest percentage of red in the body rings, those from the Xingu are more yellow – but in general Britski et al. were unable to find any differences that would justify the description of new species or subspecies.
This extraordinary headstander grows to around 10-12 cm long. It is specialized in grazing the undersides of pieces of wood. A quite unusual characteristic of the type is the “frayed” lower lip. Like all headstanders the species is somewhat aggressive towards conspecifics, but several specimens can generally be maintained together. We think on the basis of our observations that males are somewhat smaller and daintier than females. These fishes have proved to not be particularly delicate, though the species needs to be kept somewhat warmer than usual, with 24 °C the lower limit of the recommended temperature range.
For our customers: the fish have code 294883 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in limited numbers only!
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Pelvicachromis subocellatus “Moulondo”
The dwarf cichlids of the Pelvicachromis genus, in the form of P. pulcher, are the most popular cichlids from Africa. They are colorful, relatively peaceful, adaptable and have a very interesting family life. Pelvicachromis have a mother-father family in which the more colorful female is responsible for caring for the spawn laid in a cave and the newly hatched young. During this time, the male only defends the more extensive surroundings of the spawning cave. When the young leave the cave, the mother and father join forces and lead the brood together.
Pelvicachromis subocellatus is a rarely available representative of this genus. It only grows to around 7 cm long, females remain even smaller. In the wild, it inhabits an area from Gabon to the Congo. This fish used to be quite widespread in the hobby as Pelvicachromis klugei, but it fell into oblivion, so that nowadays it can only be found among specialists. We have now received a nice number of sexually mature offspring from a German breeder. When the females put on their mating colors, it is simply spectacular. But this “goldhead” is also a really pretty fish in its plain dress.
For our customers: the animals have code 560523 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Oryzias latipes “Sparkled Blue”
The popularity of the numerous varieties of medaka (Oryzias latipes) continues unabated. Currently, so-called “sparkled” morphs are increasingly being offered. These are animals with scattered striking silver-white shiny scales. Depending on the basic coloration, “sparkled” is then offered as orange, grey or even blue.
„Blue” is special in that the fish do not have a blue base coloration, but stand out due to the intense blue-white reflex colors of both the peritoneum and the fin margins. Some also have a blue-white back coloration. An additional name for this breed is Miyuki.
For our customers: Oryzias latipes “Sparkled Blue” has code 339754 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Chindongo elongatus (formerly Pseudotropheus elongatus)
The former large genus Pseudotropheus is currently divided into four genera: Pseudotropheus, Maylandia, Tropheops and Chindongo.
The type species of the genus Chindongo, C. bellicosus, which was described together with the genus in 2016, is one of the most combative mbuna of all. The species name “bellicosus” means “belligerent”! Chindongo includes the species C. ater, C. bellicosus, C. cyaneus, C. demasoni, C. elongatus, C. flavus, C. heteropictus, C. longior, C. minutus, C. saulosi and C. socolofi. They are among the smallest mbuna and – at least in the wild – barely grow to over 8 cm in length. In the aquarium, however, they can grow 50% larger.
We offer Chindongo elongatus, which was described in 1956 on the basis of specimens from Mbamba Bay (Tanzania), as captive-bred specimens from South-East Asia. The care and breeding of this beautiful but aggressive species is simple if the basic rules of mbuna care are complied: aquaria that are as large and well-structured as possible, temperatures of 22-26°C, good water care, pH above 8, group keeping (ideally from 10 specimens upwards), a high-fiber diet that does not neglect the plant component.
For our customers: the animals have code 568352 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Ageneiosus inermis
Already in 1766 this catfish was described by Linné. It is one of the most widespread species in South America. It has been reported from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Ecuador, Peru, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Uruguay, Colombia and Venezuela. In the course of the centuries many synonyms accumulated: 12 times this species was described under different names! However, this is not surprising, if one considers how drastically the young fish differs from the adult animal! The best known synonym is surely A. marmoratus. Under this name we have received now again young animals with a beautiful pattern from Peru. They keep this markings up to a length of about 20 cm, then the dots become smaller and smaller with increasing growth and finally disappear, whereby the up to 60 cm long adult animal appears monochromatic silvery.
Ageneiosus are predatory fish that catch fish with their huge mouths, which contain countless, small teeth. At spawning time, male Ageneiosus develop an enormous dorsal fin spine and a penis-like copulatory organ. With the dorsal-fin spine, the male clamps the female; mating with internal fertilization follows, allowing the female to lay fertilized eggs later. The dorsal fin spine regresses after spawning.
Ageneiosus inermis are magnificent predatory catfish for specialists, zoos and show aquariums.
For our customers: the animals have code 203404 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Poecilia vivipara
Only very rarely do we get this pretty livebearer. The species was scientifically described as early as 1801, is the first ever known livebearing toothcarp, is genus type for Poecilia and is said to have a huge distribution area in South America, from Venezuela in the north to the Rio de la Plata in the south of the subcontinent. There are seven synonyms (double descriptions), but it can be assumed that some of them are in fact valid species.
What is very remarkable about P. vivipara is its strong ability to change color. These wild mollies often present themselves with vertical stripes, but sometimes only a shoulder spot can be seen. The belly area of the males is usually yellowish or shimmering blue, but the belly coloration changes to a magnificent orange in dominant animals that are active in courtship. Observing these fish is a great pleasure. They reach a length of around 5 cm (males) to 7 cm (females) and are absolutely peaceful.
For our customers: the fish have code 280993 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Eirmotus furvus
The delicate and sensitive barbs of the genus Eirmotus are very poorly researched. The first discovered species – E. octozona – was described on the basis of a single specimen that came from the trade. It allegedly came from Bung Borapet in Thailand. Since then, no Eirmotus has ever been found in Thailand. Instead, they are found in Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo. In 2008, these animals were examined and it was concluded that there are four different species, which are, however, very similar. In the trade, all four species are still called E. octozona. You can see the “real” E. octozona here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/08-carp-like-fishes-2-barbs-minnows-carps-goldfish-etc/eirmotus_octozona_en/
We have now once again been able to import Eirmotus, which we initially also referred to as E. octozona. Only the evaluation of macro images showed the difference: our animals currently in the stock have less than 23 teeth (serrae) on the back of the dorsal fin spine and a terminal mouth. In E. octozona there are 25 or more serrae. Further examination revealed that it must be E. furvus. This species lives in the black water of Sumatra (Jambi).
In terms of care – there are no breeding reports to our knowledge – the four species do not differ. They are typical blackwater fish that require low-bacteria water. This is easiest to achieve in soft, acidic water. The water should also contain humic substances. The fish only grow to 3-4 cm long and require fine food. Artemia nauplii are very suitable. Eirmotus are completely peaceful and do not damage plants.Very interesting (and not yet mentioned in the literature available to us) is the fact that the anal fin of the males of Eirmotus is modified in a way that is only known from African characins: the first long anal fin ray is strongly broadened, tthe fin itself convexly bulged (slightly concave and straight in the female).
For our customers: the animals have code 414583 (as E. octozona) on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Nandopsis haitiensis (2)
A few weeks ago we introduced you to the cichlid Nandopsis haitiensis, which is very rarely on sale. Unfortunately, we were only able to illustrate this post with pictures of the somewhat inconspicuously colored juveniles (https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fisharchive/nandopsis-haitiensis-2/).
However, we have set a few animals aside and they have now developed so well that they are already preparing to spawn. In the course of this, the most active female has already taken on the black coloration typical of sexually active females. The males also show the typical dress of the species, namely a black pattern on a silver-grey background.
For our customers: the animals have code 649202 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Maylandia callainos Blue/Blue
The zebra cichlids of Lake Malawi (genus Maylandia, synonym: Metriaclima) are still very popular due to their bright colors. In nature, many species are polychromatic. This means “multi-colored” and means that highly differently colored individuals can occur within a population. In M. callainos, the males are cobalt blue (“cobalt zebra”) and develop an intense, brilliant coloration during courtship. The females, also blue, always remain significantly paler.
However, there are also white females and white males, which are then referred to as “Pearl Zebra”. There is also a population near Chitande Island, where the males are cobalt blue and the females are white. Overall, M. callainos colonizes the northwest coast of Lake Malawi between Kande Island and Ngara, and there is also a population near Maleri Island that has been settled by humans.
The blue/blue zebras in the trade are all captive bred, which have been selected for intensive coloration for generations. All zebra cichlids grow to a length of 10-12 cm in the wild, but in the aquarium they can easily reach a length of 15 cm due to the abundant food supply and (in comparison to nature) hardly any stress. In order to keep intra-species aggression within limits, it is recommended, as with almost all Mbunas (the name given to the rock-dwelling cichlids of Lake Malawi), to keep them in the largest possible groups in correspondingly large aquaria.
For our customers: the animals have code 573402 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Oreichthys crenuchoides
The Hifin barb is a very unusual representative of its kind. The original home of this small species, which only grows to 3-4 cm long, is in the north of India, in Assam and northern Bengal. There it inhabits slowly flowing waters. The males of O. crenuchoides develop a huge, sail-like dorsal fin. This fin remains small in the females and has a pretty yellow-black pattern. Some males disguise themselves as females and their dorsal fin remains small. This allows them to approach the spawning sites and spread their genetic material without being involved in competitive fights with the larger males. This behavior is mainly known from cichlids; it is called “sneaker” behavior.
In contrast to almost all barbs in the usual sense, O. crenuchoides spawn on the underside of leaves with their belly facing upwards.
These small barbs are completely undemanding in terms of water composition. They eat all commercially available ornamental fish food. In their homeland, at the foot of the Himalayas, it gets very hot in summer, but during the monsoon season the water temperature drops to 14°C! You don’t have to keep O. crenuchoides that cool, but it is a good idea to unplug the heating for a few months of the year and keep them at room temperature. This keeps the fish fit and you can enjoy them for a long time. O. crenuchoides behaves completely peacefully towards conspecifics, other fish, shrimps, snails and plants.
For our customers: the animals have code 440782 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Mesoheros festae (formerly: Cichlasoma festae)
The magnificent, large (males up to 35 cm, females up to 30 cm) tiger cichlid (Mesoheros festae) used to be a fairly frequent guest in the aquarium. Together with Andinoacara rivulatus (formerly: Aequidens rivulatus), it was one of the top exports from the Pacific side of Ecuador. M. festae was called “Red Terror”, A. rivulatus “Green Terror”, which already indicates the not inconsiderable assertiveness of both species.
Nowadays, M. festae has almost become a rarity in the hobby. The large-scale breeders in Southeast Asia do not have it in their program, but the similar Mayaheros urophthalmus (see: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/25-perchlike-fishes/25e-perchlike-fishes-5-remaining-cichlids-from-south-and-central-america/cichlasoma_urophthalmus_en/). Apparently there is no room for two such similar (and always confused) species in the international trade. So we have to rely on German offspring. These are rare, as a single clutch of cichlids of this bull class contains up to 1,000 eggs. Where to put so many offspring, which also need plenty of space and good care to grow to a certain sales size? That’s why the few keepers only breed them occasionally. Accordingly, M. festae rarely appears in the trade.
Apart from their size and temperament, Mesoheros festae are wonderful aquarium fish and very intelligent by fish standards. It is almost impossible to tell the sexes apart in juveniles; females generally have fewer blue highlights in their fins.. If you decide to keep this cichlid, it is advisable to buy about 10 juveniles, from which you wil surely get a pair. The rest should be disposed of. Mesoheros festae is a typical open-breeder with a parent family. Provided there is enough space, it can be easily kept with other cichlids of the bull class.
For our customers: M. festae has code 647014 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text: Frank Schäfer, photos: Frank Schäfer and Uwe Werner
Hyphessobrycon pyrrhonotus JUVENILE
There are three species of the so-called bleeding heart tetras. They all have a pink to cherry-red spot in the middle of the front half of the body. Adult specimens of Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma (upper Amazon, imported from Peru, see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/09-characoids-tetra-relationship/hyphessobrycon-erythrostigma-2/), H. socolofi (Rio Negro catchment, Brazil, see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/09-characoids-tetra-relationship/hyphessobrycon-socolofi-var-green-2/) and H. pyrrhonotus (also Rio Negro catchment, Brazil, see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/09-characoids-tetra-relationship/hyphessobrycon-pyrrhonotus-2/) are relatively easy to tell apart based on differences in coloration. But what about juveniles?
Unfortunately, the most reliable distinguishing feature of the three species, namely the anal fin coloration, is not yet recognizable in juveniles. In this respect, all three species look identical at this age. The species-typical red dorsal coloration of H. pyrrhonotus is also not yet pronounced in juveniles. The distinction between H. socolofi and H. pyrrhonotus is therefore particularly dependent on the reliability of the exporter, as these two species come from areas close to each other.
We have taken a close look at a recent import of juvenile H. pyrrhonotus and found that there are at least two features that make it possible to distinguish juvenile H. socolofi from H. pyrrhonotus: only H. pyrrhonotus has red lips (overall the head appears very red) and shows a silver-colored glitter pattern when light falls on it at an oblique angle. However, both features are also found (albeit less pronounced) in H. erythrostigma. However, as the latter comes from Peru, this is not a major problem.
For our customers: H. pyrrhonotus (md) has code 261653 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Annamia sp. (= Vanmanenia sp.) Vietnam
From time to time we receive the beautiful, large hillstream loaches Annamia normani (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/annamia_normani_en/) from Vietnam. Recently we received again a shipment of very similar specimens, but they differ clearly from the A. normani we know well by the very contrasting tail fin. Since all specimens (over 50) show this feature, it cannot be a coincidence. The attempt of a determination turned out to be difficult, because important determination characteristics – above all the mouth and lip form) are not recognizable at the living animal without aids. The only hillstream loach of the region with similar body shape and marked caudal fin, for which useful picture material exists, is Vanmanenia crassicauda. But also this species is clearly different from our animals, so that we first decided to call them Vanmanenia sp. Vietnam.
Now we finally got the chance to photograph the animals in peace. The shape of mouth and lips proves: the species is a member of the genus Annamia. From this genus there are only two described species, namely the already mentioned A. normani and a species described in 2005, A. thuathienensis (River Bô, Thua Thiên Province, Huê, Vietnam). However, this species is so poorly described that even proven specialists do not feel confident to evaluate it. Therefore we prefer to call our new Giraffe Hillsteam Loach Annamia sp. (= Vanmanenia sp.) Vietnam.
The care of the animals is pleasantly simple. They like strong currents and oxygen-rich water, but are otherwise undemanding. Among themselves and against other fish they are very peaceful. They eat all common fish food of suitable size, but we have no experience with flake food. Our largest animals are about 10 cm long (incl. tail fin).
For our customers: the animals have code 473134 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Helostoma temmickii GREEN
The kissing gourami (Helostoma temmickii) is a very popular ornamental fish for larger aquaria due to its unusual “kissing” behavior. Almost exclusively the pink-colored breeding form is available in the trade (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/25-perchlike-fishes/helostoma-temmickii-2/), as this variant is bred in huge quantities as an edible fish. The pink form is much easier to see than the natural form in breeding and fattening ponds, which have very turbid water because kissing gourami require a high nutrient density as plankton filter feeders. For the first time in a long time, we are now able to offer the natural form, which is referred to as “green” in the hobby.
In reality, the fish is not green, but has a silvery olive sheen, slightly darker on the back than on the flanks, the throat is silver-colored, the dorsal and anal fins have a sooty sheen and there is an oval, dark spot on the root of the tail. Fine black lines can sometimes be seen along the flanks – depending on the mood. In terms of care and breeding, the natural form is no different from the pink-colored cultivated form, although the Green Kissing Gurami is much more attractive in the aquarium when viewed from the side.
For our customers: Helostoma temmickii GREEN has code 421316 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Hemiodus immaculatus
Caught! In the past, a few feather tetras of the species Hemiodus immaculatus came to us as bycatch together with the very rarely imported species Argonectes longiceps (https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/09-characoids-tetra-relationship/argonectes-longiceps-2/). Both fish look very similar and apparently form a symbiotic relationship in nature. How exactly this symbiosis works, however, is still completely unexplored. Now we have once again received a shipment of “Argonectes longiceps”. The typical horizontal swimming style (Hemiodus species usually swim at an angle, like Thayeria spp.) and the coloration were a good match for Argonectes, so we booked the animals as such.
As Argonectes is a real rarity, they were placed in the photo tank after acclimatization. A close-up of the teeth showed: these are not Argonectes, but Hemiodus!!! The imitation of the two species is truly phenomenal. If you know about them, you can of course see other differences: Hemiodus immaculatus has comparatively larger scales and a dark V-pattern in the caudal fin with a transparent fin margin, whereas in Argonectes longiceps the caudal fin (which is relatively smaller, by the way) has a dark margin and the dark pattern elements are mainly confined to the caudal fin lobes.
Hemiodus immaculatus is widely distributed in the two large rivers Amazon and Orinoco and their tributaries in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela. However, there are indications that some of these species are cryptic (= externally unrecognizable but genetically distinct). Our specimens come from Colombia.
Hemiodus immaculatus reaches a length of about 25 cm. The species is not quite as skittish as its prettier conspecific H. gracilis. The peaceful animals therefore fit well in larger community aquariums.
For our customers: the fish have code 258254 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Apistogramma bitaeniata “Putumayo”
Apistogramma bitaeniata is already one of the most beautiful Apistogramma species of all, but the local variant from the Rio Putumayo in Peru goes one better. The males with their huge fins are truly breathtaking. The females look almost underdeveloped in comparison. And yet all this splendor serves only to impress the delicate sex…
The coloration of the dorsal fin in the males is typical of this locality variant. It has a dark base, followed by a yellow or orange stripe. Above this, the fin has a smoky tinge, the free fin filaments are again bright yellow-orange from fin ray 3 onwards.
For our customers: the animals have code 615353 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Parotocinclus haroldoi
Perhaps the prettiest and at the same time most suitable otocinclus for aquaristics is Parotocinclus haroldoi. Concerning the coloring – yellow-white, shining spots on black underground – the species resembles the adonis pleco (Acanthicus adonis), remains however with maximally 4 cm (male) and at all-highest 5 cm (female) much, much smaller. Until now this species, which only occurs in a river system in eastern Brazil in the state of Piaui, has only been available very sporadically in the hobby, as there are hardly any exports from this corner of South America. The species has nevertheless been available among specialists through offspring from time to time. The reproduction is similar to the armored catfishes (Corydoras), the eggs are laid on plant leaves etc. and left to their own devices.
Currently we can offer this nice, but by no means delicate beauty in larger numbers, as offspring from Brazil! It is the ideal algae eater for small and medium sized community aquariums.
For our customers: the animals have code 276573 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Rubricatochromis exsul ( = Hemichromis exsul)
The red jewel cichlids (Rubricatochromis, formerly classified as Hemichromis) are without doubt among the most beautiful fish in the world, at least some of them. If they weren’t such excellent parents, who regard every other fish in the aquarium as an enemy of their young and beat them up as a precautionary measure during the breeding season (and breeding season is actually all year round for these fish, as soon as they reach sexual maturity at a total length of 4-5 cm), there would certainly be a pair of red cichlids swimming in every aquarium. However, they are more a case for specialists. Identifying the species is often impossible. Rubricatochromis exsul is a welcome exception, this red jewel cichlid can hardly be confused because of its strikingly dark fins and the almost always missing lateral spot.
Rubricatochromis exsul is found exclusively in Lake Turkana (formerly Lake Rudolf) in Kenya. The species was already scientifically described in 1933, but was later regarded as a synonym of another red jewel cichlid, R. letourneuxi.It was only when Lothar Seegers was able to catch a specimen and bring it back to Germany alive for further observation (he reported on this with a color photo in 1998) that it became clear that this assessment was probably wrong.The Lake Turkana Rubricatochromis differs so much in color from the variably colored species R. letourneuxi that a equality of both species can be ruled out. Because there are no commercial ornamental fish exports of freshwater species in Kenya, it took another 20 years before the animals became available for aquariums (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/25-perchlike-fishes/hemichromis-exsul-2/). Since then, this wonderfully colored fish has enjoyed great popularity (at least by Rubricatochromis standards). For practical reasons, there is always a selection for relatively peaceful animals under aquarium conditions, even if this is not necessarily desirable. However, this can hardly be avoided. And so today’s aquarium exsuls are already much more peaceful than their ancestors that arrived from Kenya in 2018.
For our customers: the animals have code 536351 (3-4 cm) and 536352 (4-6 cm) on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Silurus glanis
The Wels catfish or Sheatfish (Silurus glanis) was originally widespread from Eastern Europe to Central Asia, but was artificially introduced by humans as a food fish over large regions. It is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. The current records that are reported speak of animals up to 3 meters long and then weighing 150 to 250 kg. To our knowledge, the largest catfish ever mentioned in scientific literature (Kessler, K. T. (1856): Zur Ichthyologie des südwestlichen Russlands. Bulletin de la Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou v. 29 (pt 1): 335-393.) came from the river Dnieper near Kremenchug, was 4.875 m long and weighed about 295 kg.
Of course, most Wels catfish remain smaller throughout their lives; nevertheless, the animals are wonderful showpieces for display aquariums or ponds. All commercially available catfish are bred. In the wild, the males breed and guard the numerous spawn (up to 20,000 eggs per kg live weight of the female) and the young, which resemble tadpoles.
Sheatfish are predatory fish; juveniles eat frozen and live food of all kinds, even granules are readily accepted. Larger animals eat fish and amphibians, adult Wels catfish also prey on water fowl, rats etc..
Wels catfish are completely hardy. However, it is interesting to note that the physiological optimum temperature of these animals, which are often referred to as “cold-water fish”, is 25-27°C. In this respect, the temporary care of young fish in indoor aquariums is not a problem at all; the fish do not need aquarium cooling. In this context, we would like to point out that it is strictly forbidden to release aquarium fish (including native species!) that you no longer want (e.g. because they have grown too large) into the wild, as this can cause considerable damage.
For our customers: the fish has code 881004 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Hoplisoma knaacki ( = Corydoras knaacki)
Hoplisoma knaacki originates from the Madre de Dios region in Peru and belongs to a group of armored catfishes that are very close to the type species of the genus Hoplisoma Swainson, 1838 – H. punctatus (Bloch, 1794). Aquarists are best familiar with the two species H. julii and H. trilineatus from this group, which are very common and offered in different color variants in the pet trade. H. knaacki can be easily distinguished from all described species of the Hoplisoma group by the massive longitudinal stripe in the middle of the body, which begins at about the level of the posterior edge of the dorsal fin and ends at the caudal fin, in combination with the species-specific dorsal fin pattern, in which the first fin ray and the membrane to the spine are darkly pigmented and the remaining fin rays are dotted, as well as the significantly black and white banded caudal fin. Prior to the scientific description of the species in honor of Joachim Knaack, this armored catfish was referred to as Corydoras sp. “Morse” or Corydoras sp. CW 32.
There are at least two other species from the Madre de Dios that look almost identical but are still scientifically undescribed. Corydoras sp. C120 (see Datz 12/2003), CW 62 and CW 109 are referred to by Peruvian exporters as Corydoras sp. “Manu4” and differ from H. knaacki in approximately the same way as various populations currently assigned to H. trilineatus differ from each other; probably all these forms belong to the genus Hoplisoma. Another, practically identically colored species is Corydoras sp. “Manu2 Semi Longnose”, which to our knowledge does not yet have a C or CW number and has a longer snout (a longer mesethmoid); it should – with reservations – be assigned to the genus Brochis.
We can now offer the beautiful Hoplisoma knaacki as a German offspring.
We have also made a small film about these fish, which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUQYNZvoej8
For our customers: the species has code 232862 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Epiplatys chaperi „Angona“
The panchaxes of the genus Epiplatys are species-rich in tropical Africa. In the most recent scientific overview by Huber (2024), 54 species are recognized. Only two of these species are regularly found in the trade, namely E. annulatus (clown killifish) and E. monroviae (red chinned panchax, this species was previously regarded as a subspecies of E. dageti). We can now offer the beautiful species E. chaperi from Angona in Ghana as German offspring.
Epiplatys chaperi has a large distribution area in western Africa (Ivory Coast, Ghana and Togo), covering a good 600 km. Until now, five subspecies (chaperi, samborskii, schreiberi, sheljuzhkoi and spillmanni) have been distinguished within this large area, but Huber has elevated all of them to the rank of full species. The locality variant „Angona” has been widespread among Killians for several decades. It can be distinguished from other E. chaperi by its orange-red fins. Over the decades, the “silent post effect” occurred from time to time and Angona became Angola. However, the African state of Angola is located 4,500 km south of Ghana – there are no Epiplatys chaperi there.
Epiplatys chaperi is just as suitable for community aquariums with calm, select companion fish as the closely related species E. monroviae. According to the literature, E. chaperi grows to around 6.5 cm long (including fins). However, these are extremely large specimens. Our specimens are sexually mature and measure only 4 cm in total length. They eat all commercially available ornamental fish food, but preferably from the water surface. No requirements are placed on the water composition. The water temperature should be in the range 22 – 28°C. The spawn of this species does not require a dry phase. The life expectancy of Epiplatys chaperi is 2-3 years, which is the same as for comparably sized livebearers (e.g. platies or mollies).
For our customers: the animals have code 322402 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Literature: Huber, J. H. (2024): Taxonomic reappraisal and rearrangement of genus Epiplatys and its generic and specific components, with 2 new subgenera. Killi-Data Series 2024: 4-60.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Gymnotus carapo occidentalis
The banded knifefish (Gymnotus carapo) is one of the first species to be recorded in modern science and was described as early as 1758. It has – according to traditional opinion – an enormously wide distribution in South America, but one should bear in mind that many earlier reports of the species are probably based on incorrectly identified animals. Size information must also be judged with corresponding skepticism. According to the literature, G. carapo is one of the larger species and is said to be able to reach lengths of around 75 cm and a weight of 1.2 kg. On the other hand, Gymnotus species have recently been described that probably only grow to a length of 15-20 cm. A current scientific overview of Gymnotus carapo is available (Craig et al., 2017). It divides the species into seven subspecies, of which Gymnotus carapo occidentalis occurs in Peru. The largest specimen of this subspecies available to the authors was 45 cm long. So you have to reckon with such dimensions if you want to keep these animals. The specimens photographed for this post come from Peru.
Despite their size, banded knifefish would actually be really great aquarium fish, because as swamp dwellers they are equipped with auxiliary respiration (they breathe air that they inhale at the water surface), so they are very undemanding in terms of water quality, attractively marked and, like all knifefish, they fascinate with their incomparably elegant swimming style. Unfortunately, however, they are usually extremely incompatible with each other, which is why even keeping them in pairs is sometimes difficult. It is interesting to note that our current import from Peru is remarkably peaceful with each other. The two specimens photographed for this post are around 15 cm long. As the coloration of banded knifefish is very variable, we chose the lightest and the darkest animal of the import, whereby there are also differences in the shape of the head. It is possible that they are a pair. They were housed together for several days in a relatively narrow photo tank and there were only completely harmless hierarchy disputes. This is really worth mentioning, as we remember only too well severely damaged specimens from previous imports and how extremely incompatible these animals were with each other. Incidentally, knifefish have an almost fabulous ability to heal wounds and regenerate. Even parts of the spinal column can be rebuilt if they are lost in a piranha attack, for example! This is why knifefish are also the subject of medical research.
Gymnotus are predatory fish that need strong frozen and live food. They regard small fish as food. They are peaceful towards other fish species that are not suitable as food.
For our customers: the animals have code 255204 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer
Literature:
Craig, J. M., W. G. R. Crampton & J. S. Albert (2017): Revision of the polytypic electric fish Gymnotus carapo (Gymnotiformes, Teleostei), with descriptions of seven subspecies. Zootaxa 4318 (no. 3): 401-438.
Synodontis nigriventris
By far the most popular squeaker catfish (Synodontis) is the upside-down catfish (Synodontis nigriventris). The species comes from the Congo, where it colonizes the central section of the river (including Pool Malebo, the former Stanley Pool); the settlement area also includes the basins of the Kasai, Ubangi and Kouilou-Niari rivers. It is not the only species of the genus that often (by no means always) swims on its back, but it remains small by squeaker standards (under 10 cm) and is one of the most peaceful members of the genus. It is important to keep them in groups of preferably more than 10 individuals, as this species is very social. These fish even communicate with each other by making creaking noises, which they also make in a loud protesting voice when they are caught and lifted out of the water with a net.
The large eye indicates it: these catfish like it dim. The aquarium should therefore not be lit too brightly, otherwise the fish will hide.
In terms of food and water values, blotched upside-down catfish are unproblematic, they eat any common fish food and feel comfortable in any tap water suitable for drinking. The water temperature should be between 22 and 28°C. There are hardly any external sex differences. In animals of the same age, the females are larger and fuller once they reach sexual maturity (at 5-6 cm in length). Upside-down catfish spawn hidden, they are free spawners and do not practise brood care.
For our customers: the animals have code 183402 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer
Leiarius pictus
Leiarius pictus is one of the most attractive predatory catfish of all. The large, sail-like dorsal fin in combination with the light-colored band that starts at the base of the dorsal fin and runs diagonally backwards to the belly make it unmistakable. The species is extremely widespread in South America. It has been reported from practically the entire catchment areas of the Amazon and Orinoco rivers. We usually import this up to 60 cm long species from Peru.
Juvenile specimens of this catfish form large schools in the wild, while older specimens are more solitary. Although the animals are basically carnivorous, the species is opportunistic and tends towards an omnivorous diet. All common types of food are accepted in the aquarium. Leiarius pictus is also kept as a food fish in aquaculture due to its easy habituation to artificial food. Artificial fertilization is used to breed hybrids with Brachyplatystoma species and Phractocephalus for meat production.
We can currently offer some very nice specimens in the sizes 16-20 cm and 20-25 cm.
For our customers: 16-20 cm have code 265304 and 20-25 cm code 265305 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Maylandia emmiltos
The very first Lake Malawi cichlids came from the group of rock-dwelling cichlids, called Mbuna after a local name, in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including a fish identified as Pseudotropheus zebra in 1964. Today we know dozens of species from this zebra complex, which are often only distributed very locally, but sometimes also lake-wide and differ essentially in their coloration. Lake Malawi, we should remember here, is an inland sea 580 km long, so it really is huge!
It is generally agreed that the zebra complex represents an independent evolutionary line within the Mbuna. The genus Pseudotropheus, typically represented by species such as P. williamsi, is another independent lineage. Consequently, the “zebras” therefore belong to a separate genus called Maylandia. There is a complicated dispute as to whether the genus Maylandia has been formally described correctly. Some authors are of the opinion that this is not the case and therefore use the alternative name Metriaclima. Internationally, however, a majority in favor of Maylandia has prevailed so far.
It is often extremely difficult to distinguish between variants and species in mbuna. Often “variants” of the same species look more different than two zebras considered to be different species. Maylandia emmiltos, described in 1997, looks almost exactly the same as M. pyrsonotos, M. sandaracinos and M. thapsinogen described in the same year by the same authors in the same paper. In fact, the last three species mentioned are combined by Konings into one – M. pyrsonotos. They can all be distinguished from the actual M. zebra by their yellow or orange dorsal fin (blue in M. zebra).There are other Maylandia populations that have a blue-black zebra dress and yellow or orange dorsal fins, but they have not yet been scientifically examined for their species affiliation and are therefore usually referred to as “sp. zebra” plus some addition.
Maylandia emmiltos is only found on a small range in the Chilumba district near the Mpanga Rocks. If you decide to keep these beautiful mbuna, you should not keep any other species or variant of Maylandia together with them.
The risk of them hybridizing is too great. The genetically pure species would then be lost in the hobby. This is not only a great pity from a scientific point of view, but experience has also shown that zebra hybrids are poorly colored, large fish that are not worth keeping. In the wild, M. emmiltos hardly grows larger than 8-10 cm, in the aquarium, like most mbuna, it grows 2-5 cm more, probably because of the more nutritious food. Otherwise, all the rules that apply to other mbuna also apply: Keep in groups as large as possible in aquaria with as much structure and hiding places as possible, clean water, pH above 8, temperature from 26°C.
For our customers: M. emmiltos has code 550982 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Brochis sp. “Super Schwartzi Hifin Longnose” ( = Corydoras sp. “labrina” or “labrea”)
The characteristics of Brochis sp. “Super Schwartzi Hifin Longnose” are identical to Hoplisoma sp. “Super Schwartzi Hifin CW28”, except that Super Schwartzi Hifin Longnose is a longnose and Super Schwartzi Hifin CW28 is a roundnose.
Brochis sp. “Super Schwartzi Hifin Longnose” has usually only appeared in single specimens mixed with the other species from the Rio Purus. However, when reviewing our photo material, we found that the species had already been exported in 2017 under the name “labrina” or “labrea”. At that time, however, we only considered it to be a color variant of B. pulcher and therefore did not create an article number for it. The maximum length is 6-6.5 cm (standard length without caudal fin).
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Brochis sp. “CW28 Longnose” ( = pulcher variant)
The characteristics of Brochis sp. “CW28 Longnose” are identical to Hoplisoma sp. “CW28”, but Brochis sp. “CW28 Longnose” is a longnose, CW28 a roundnose.
This species is usually sent mixed with CW28, but occasionally also mixed with Brochis pulcher. We have often received this species purely sorted as Brochis pulcher. In the aquarium literature, Brochis sp. “CW28 Longnose” is usually referred to as a color variant of B. pulcher. The maximum length is 6-6.5 cm (standard length without caudal fin).
For our customers: Brochis sp. “CW28 Longnose” has code 241713 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Hoplisoma sp. “Super Schwartzi Hifin CW28”
The characteristics of Super Schwartzi Hifin CW28 are: Round snout; two thin longitudinal bands, sometimes resolved to dots, running parallel, one above and one below the midline; usually two more thin longitudinal bands are present, so usually four in total; the dorsal fin spine is conspicuously cream-colored; the dorsal fin is conspicuously high in males in breeding condition. The maximum length is 6-6.5 cm (standard length without caudal fin).
This armored catfish is usually traded in adult specimens, as juveniles can hardly be distinguished from Hoplisoma schwartzi with certainty. The most reliable distinguishing feature from H. schwartzi is the strikingly colored dorsal fin spine. Occasionally there are specimens with somewhat broader longitudinal bands, which cannot be reliably distinguished from Hoplisoma sp. CW28. Hoplisoma sp. “Super Schwartzi Hifin CW28” is occasionally exported mixed with H. sp. CW28, with Brochis pulcher and B. sp. “CW28 Longnose”.
For our customers: Hoplisoma sp. “Super Schwartzi Hifin CW28” has code 244565 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Hoplisoma sp. CW28 ( = cf. pulcher)
The characteristics of CW28 are: Round snout; two broad, parallel longitudinal bands on the bony plates, one above and one below the midline; the dorsal fin spine has a conspicuous cream color. The maximum length is 6-6.5 cm (standard length without caudal fin).
CW28 has been known in the hobby since the 1960s. A specimen of CW28 was already depicted in the original description of Corydoras schwartzi (today: Hoplisoma schwartzi). At that time it was assumed that the animals with the broad bands could be a variant of C. schwartzi.
Later, this round snout was classified as a variant of Corydoras pulcher (today: Brochis pulcher), which is doubly confusing, as B. pulcher is clearly a long-snouted species, whereas CW28 is a round-snouted species. Nevertheless, the term “cf. pulcher”, i.e. “similar to pulcher”, was used for a long time (also in our stocklist). The coloration of CW28 is fairly constant, but there are occasional specimens with narrow bands that cannot be reliably distinguished from Hoplisoma sp. “Super Schwartzi Hifin”. CW28 is occasionally exported mixed with Brochis pulcher and Hoplisoma sp. “Super Schwartzi Hifin”.
For our customers: CW28 has code 241715 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Brochis pulcher
The Rio Purus is one of the major tributaries of the Amazon. Its length is over 3,200 km. The source and upper reaches of the Rio Purus are in Peru, the middle and lower reaches are in Brazil. The Rio Purus is home to numerous ornamental fish, including various armored catfish. A species flock of armored catfish from the Rio Purus always causes great confusion when it comes to identification. Of the six species in the species flock, only two have been scientifically described to date (Brochis pulcher and Hoplisoma schwartzi), the rest have only auxiliary names. These armored catfish are often sent mixed, which increases the confusion even more, which is why we want to try to establish a uniform naming system here, at least for our fish.
These are the species:
Hoplisoma schwartzi https://www.aquariumglaser.de/fischarchiv/corydoras-schwartzi/
Hoplisoma sp. „Super Schwartzi Hifin CW28“ (hier Link)
Hoplisoma sp. „CW28“ ( = cf. pulcher) (hier Link)
Brochis pulcher, this post
Brochis sp. „CW28 Longnose“ ( = pulcher Variante) (hier Link)
Brochis sp. „Super Schwartzi Hifin Longnose“ (hier Link)
Common to all six species is a black longitudinal stripe pattern on a light background, an eye band is present, the caudal fin is banded. The dorsal fin spine is strikingly cream-colored (only in H. schwartzi are there also specimens with gray or blackish dorsal fin spines), the rest of the dorsal fin without a distinct pattern.
The characteristics of Brochis pulcher are: Long-snouted; three broad, parallel longitudinal bands, which can sometimes be broken up into dots, one above, one on and one below the midline; the dorsal fin spine is conspicuously cream-colored; the dorsal fin is conspicuously high in males in breeding condition. The maximum length is 6-6.5 cm (standard length without caudal fin).
This armoured catfish is well characterized by its three longitudinal bands. Similar are C141 (origin unknown, https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/10-catfishes/corydoras_sp_c141_en/) with significantly narrower bands and Brochis ornatus from the Rio Tapajos, which also has three significantly narrower longitudinal bands. B. ornatus also does not have the striking cream-colored dorsal fin spine (C141 does).
For our customers: Brochis pulcher has code 241704 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Hoplisoma schwartzi (= Corydoras schwartzi)
This well known, but still beautiful Hoplisoma originates from the Rio Purus system in Brazil. It was named in honor of the exporter Willy Schwartz. In Hoplisoma schwartzi, which belongs to the stocky, round-headed members of the genus, the dorsal fin is marked very slightly differently in each animal, the coloration of the spine ranges from bright white-cream to gray; there are sometimes spots on the membranes. Usually Hoplisoma schwartzi has a widened black spot just below the dorsal fin, also its size and shape varies individually.
H. schwartzi grows to a length of about 5 cm and is a typical corydoras in terms of care, so it wants to be kept in a group, likes fine sand as substrate in places and eats any ornamental fish food. Because of their origin they like it warm (26-30°C), therefore they fit well as bottom fish in aquariums with Discus fish.
For our customers: the animals have code 244503 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply to wholesalers.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Ancistrus sp. L107
One of the most beautiful Ancistrus of all is certainly L107, which – as far as we know – has still not been scientifically studied. It is a pitch-black Ancistrus with snow-white spots, which is also known as the “brilliant Ancistrus” due to its striking contrast. In contrast to many other similar Ancistrus, this species hardly tends to turn pale when disturbed.
The tail fin pattern can be considered the most reliable species characteristic. Only L107 has such a white triangle on the upper tip of the caudal fin (the lower one is black). Unfortunately, this disappears in older animals; however, the upper tip of the caudal fin then grows into a kind of filament, which is not the case with other Ancistrus. In addition, there is the general body structure, L107 is a relatively flat-built species. The spot size, on the other hand, is variable, which is why L107 was given a second L number, L184. The breeder can even select relatively easily for larger or smaller points in offspring. However, we are currently offering L107 as a wild catch.
The species is widespread and common in the tributaries of the middle Rio Negro, but is rarely offered for sale. The gender difference typical of the genus – strong beard growth in males – already sets in in relatively young animals. In L107 the females also have beards, but not as much. Apparently L107 becomes sexually mature at a length of about 6 cm. Specimens up to 15 cm long have been found in the wild, but they rarely grow over 10 cm in the aquarium.
Due to its origin, this catfish requires higher water temperatures (from 27°C). Good water hygiene should be a matter of course. L107 is a less robust, somewhat shy catfish species that should only be kept with calm and peaceful fish.
For our customers: the animals have code 26480-L 107-1 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Pseudanos trimaculatus
The genus Pseudanos was separated from Anostomus in 1980 due to numerous differences in the skeleton. At that time, the scientist in charge, Richard Winterbottom, assigned two already known species to the new genus – P. gracilis and P. trimaculatus – and another, which he described as new: P. irinae. The differences between P. trimaculatus and P. irinae are essentially in the coloration: P. irinae has a dark spot on each scale, P. trimaculatus a light one. P. irinae comes from the upper and middle Orinoco and the Essequibo River in Guyana, P. trimaculatus is found throughout the Amazon region. Despite the clearly recognizable differences, P. irinae is currently not recognized by most scientists and is listed as a synonym of P. trimaculatus. Two more species have been added since 1980: P. winterbottomi and P. varii. Both have no horizontal stripes on the back. P. winterbottomi has a broad, dark longitudinal band, P. varii looks like P. irinae without dorsal stripes.
Pseudanos trimaculatus and P. irinae are, as already mentioned, easily distinguished from the other Pseudanos species by their horizontal dorsal stripes, which are missing in the latter. We have now once again received P. trimaculatus from Peru. They are very beautiful animals that can reach a length of about 12 cm. In contrast to other headstanders, which tend to be somewhat quarrelsome among themselves, the great peacefulness of P. trimaculatus is striking. According to the literature, delicate plants are part of the diet of these headstanders, so this should be taken into account when feeding them.
Obvious sexual differences are hardly recognizable, the presumed females are somewhat larger and fuller. Breeding reports on Pseudanos trimaculatus are still lacking, just as they are for any other Pseudanos species. Presumably, however, breeding has simply not yet been seriously attempted. It is to be expected that they are free spawners without brood care.
For our customers. P. trimaculatus has code 206103 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Epiplatys chevalieri
A killifish jewel reached us from the central Congo: Epiplatys chevalieri. Although this species was introduced into the aquarium hobby as early as 1950 and was even given a popular name (German: Zierhechtling, which means ornamental panchax) at the time, which is by no means common for killifish, it has not become established on a broad basis. This is probably due to the fact that, like the butterfly barb (Enteromius hulstaerti), which originates from the same waters, it requires relatively low water temperatures (18-22°C) and low-germ water. Long-term care and breeding are only possible if these two basic requirements are met.
It goes without saying that successful maintenance is not possible in heavily stocked community aquariums with a motley assortment of fish. On the other hand, Epiplatys chevalieri are a real feast for the eyes in well-planted jungle aquariums with hand-picked companion fish. The fact that these fish prefer room temperature is very trendy and saves energy. E. chevalieri are unproblematic when it comes to food. They will take any ornamental fish food that is suitable in terms of size. However, like all Epiplatys species, the fish are surface-oriented and are reluctant to forage in the lower water layers. Males and females are best distinguished by the shape of the anal fin, which is pointed in males and rounded in females. Both sexes can show a dark longitudinal band depending on their mood, but especially when they are under stress. E. chevalieri is a typical adhesive spawner that lays its eggs in fine aquatic plants, roots of floating plants, etc. The maximum length of E. chevalieri is given as 6 cm (total length, i.e. including caudal fin).
For our customers: the animals have code 323003 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Synodontis eupterus
Synodontis eupterus inhabits the White Nile, the Niger and Chad basins and the Volta River. There it is found over mucky and sandy substrate. Nowadays, however, practically all animals in the trade are captive-bred. A striking feature of this catfish, which can grow up to 25 cm long, is its magnificent dorsal fin with elongated rays, which earned it the German name Schmuckflossen – Fiederbartwels ( = Ornament-Fin Squeaker).
In its natural environment, S. eupterus feeds mainly on insect larvae and algae. In the aquarium, the animals eat almost all types of food such as flake food, tablet food, mosquito larvae, shrimps and much more. A wide range of food is the key to keeping them fit and healthy. They can become quite tame and await the keeper at the front glass some time before feeding. They are long-lived fish that you can enjoy for well over 10 years.
They can be quite quarrelsome with each other at times, at least that’s how it seems. In reality, these very social animals fight out a hierarchy within which the animals even know each other individually (at least in the aquarium). They should always be kept in groups; five individuals are recommended as a minimum. To avoid mutual stress, aquaria for S. eupterus should always contain numerous hiding places.
For our customers: The animals have code 178002 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Photos F. Schäfer, Text K. Diehl
Rhadinoloricaria andaki
It’s been a while – April 2016 – since we were able to proudly report the first import of a Rhadinoloricaria species from Venezuela. Although the genus was already described in 1974, the only species assigned to it in 2016, R. macromystax from Peru, is considered to be very rare. Since our first import, the Rhadinoloricaria from Venezuela has sailed under the names R. macromystax, R. cf. macromystax “Caqueta” and R. sp. “Caqueta”. They all refer to the same fish.
In the meantime, the genus Apistoloricaria was assigned to Rhadinoloricaria, whereby the latter grew by four species and the two Crossoloricaria species living east of the Andes were also assigned to Rhadinoloricaria; so now there were 7 species. In 2020, Rhadinoloricaria stewarti was described from the Rio Napo drainage in Peru. The species Rhadinoloricaria papillosa, which was only newly described in 2023, was transferred to the new genus Cheilonimata in the same year and in June 2024 (so the work is still warm from the printing press, so to speak) the form from the Caqueta drainage was given the status of an independent species: Rhadinoloricaria andaki. This means that 9 species are now united in Rhadinoloricaria. The two thick, almost horizontally protruding upper jaw barbels and the very dense labial barbels are a common feature that is easily recognizable for us aquarists. This is because these witch catfish usually lie on their bellies.
Very clean water and a sandy substrate are important for the care of these sensitive animals. It is better to do without decoration. The fish remain within a manageable size range, you should not expect them to grow much larger than 15 cm, they usually tend to be smaller. Of course, this does not include the long tail fin filament. Rhadinoloricaria are male mouthbrooders. The male carries the disc-shaped clutch of eggs around with him until they hatch, attached to the specially modified lower lip, which is why this form of brood care is often referred to as lip brood care instead of mouth brood care.
For our customers: the animals have code 287255 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Pethia nigrofasciata
The black ruby barb (Pethia nigrofasciata) is one of the most popular ornamental fish of all. This beautiful fish, which grows to around 5-6 cm long, is endemic to Sri Lanka (i.e. only found there). There, the species prefers to colonize flowing waters in the southwest of the island, from the catchment areas of the Kelani to the Nilwala. Since its first introduction in 1935, this beauty has not disappeared from aquaria.
Virtually all animals in the trade are captive-bred; there is hardly a breeding company in the world that does not have this species in its range. The aquarium population is very uniform in appearance. The males of the aquarium population in breeding mood all have a black caudal fin (transparent in the female). In nature, however, there are also populations in which the males develop red caudal fins. Perhaps now that we are able to obtain wild-caught fish from Sri Lanka from time to time, we will also be able to import such red-tails. The pictures show offspring of European origin.
For our customers: the animals have code 370203 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Erythrinus sp. Madre de Dios
This magnificent Erythrinus comes from the drainage of the Madre de Dios, which is around 1,100 km long, lies between Bolivia and Peru and is the largest tributary of the Rio Madeira. The genus Erythrinus is in great need of revision. Nobody knows how many species there are and how they can be distinguished from each other. Only two species are currently “officially” recognized, namely Erythrinus erythrinus, which is said to be distributed over practically the whole of South America, and E. kessleri from Bahia in Brazil. This is obviously wrong, there are many more species. However, as species of these common and conspicuous animals have been repeatedly described over the centuries on the basis of museum specimens and later synonymized again, a full-time employee would have to spend at least 6-8 years working exclusively on this genus in order to bring order to the chaos of names and possibly reclassify species that have never been described before. However, this is unlikely to happen at present.
However, Erythrinus sp. Madre de Dios is unmistakable due to its deep orange underside. Large males, recognizable by their elongated dorsal fin, are truly magnificent animals. Juveniles are not yet so beautiful, which is why sexually mature animals of 9-12 cm in length are preferably exported. The largest specimens of this species that we have seen so far have been 12-15 cm long. It is completely unclear why a predatory fish that specializes in low-oxygen waters as a hunting ground has to be so colourful. But the aquarist is happy!
For more information on Erythrinus from Peru, see here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/09-characoids-tetra-relationship/erythrinus-erythrinus-peru-2/ and here https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/09-characoids-tetra-relationship/erythrinus_sp_tahuayo_river_en/
For our customers: the animals have code 253394 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Schistura notostigma
With one of our first Sri Lanka imports of wild-caught fish after a long time, we also received Schistura notostigma. Until recently this species was thought to be the only Schistura species from the island, but recently two other species have been described from there, S. madhavai and S. scripta. The easiest way to distinguish the three species is by the stripes on the forebody. S. madhavai is unstriped in front of the dorsal fin, S. notostigma has 6-7 broad stripes in front of the base of the anal fin towards the head and S. scripta has 7-13 narrower stripes. S. notostigma also differs from S. scripta in having a complete lateral line (incomplete in S. scripta, ending below the dorsal fin). Unfortunately, this can hardly be seen in live animals.
All three loaches remain small, around 5-6 cm. They are peaceful contemporaries, but create a small territory around a cave. This can be under a stone, a root or something else. A pair likes to move in here. In the wild, these animals usually live in shallow water (around 3 cm) in running waters with a pebble bottom. Our animals are obviously in a spawning mood. The males are strongly yellowish in color, the females have a red belly.
Schistura notostigma is a problem-free omnivore that has no special requirements in terms of water composition. The temperature can be between 22 and 26°C. The species is adaptable and does not need a strong current, but a certain flow in the tank should be a matter of course for such fish. S. notostigma should always be kept in a group so that the exciting social behavior of these fish can be observed.
For our customers: the animals have code 454952 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Trichogaster microlepis ( = Trichopodus microlepis)
Fish for romantics – does that exist? Occasionally! One of them is certainly the moonshine gourami, Trichogaster microlepis. Its popular name says it all. Although the animal is only silvery-white, its tiny scales give it a very peculiar appearance, as if wrapped in silk.
Color always means: communication with conspecifics and bright colors are very often associated with territorial claims in fish. This is no different with gourami. Sexually active males of other gourami species are very rich in contrast and/or brightly colored and react very aggressively to similarly colored conspecifics. Not so the moonshine gourami. It peacefully goes about its rounds, happily in the company of its own kind. Males and females of the maximum 15 cm long species are difficult to tell apart. However, experienced observers can see the delicate yellow shimmer in the anal fin of the males, which is missing in the females. If the light falls at a lateral angle, a delicate hint of a dot pattern can also be seen in the fins of the males.
The original home of the moonshine gourami is the catchment areas of the Mekong and Chao Phraya rivers in Cambodia and Vietnam, but the species has been widely introduced or colonized as a food fish in tropical parts of Asia since ancient times. In the aquarium, the animals should always be kept in groups of five or more, otherwise they are shy. They are very peaceful towards all conceivable tankmates and will not damage plants. They will eat any common ornamental fish food of a suitable size and have no special requirements regarding the water composition. The water temperature should be in the range 22-30°C.
Moonshine gouramis are typical bubble nest builders with a father family. Spawn and larvae are cared for by the male until they swim free, after which the brood care ends.
For our customers: the species has code 469703 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Apistogrammoides pucallpaensis
The dwarf among the little ones: Apistogrammoides pucallpaensis from the upper Amazon in Colombia and the Rio Ucayali in Peru is one of the smallest cichlid species of all. We obtain our animals from Peru. In the literature, the maximum sizes given are 5 cm for males and 4 cm for females. However, these must have been very old aquarium specimens. Wild-caught specimens are already sexually mature at 3 cm (males) and around 2 cm (females). We measured the wild-caught specimens photographed for this post. The male is 3.5 cm long, the female 2.5 cm. All sizes given here are total lengths, i.e. including the caudal fin.
Juvenile males and females are very similar; the males can be recognized by a kind of honeycomb pattern with bluish spots in the caudal fin. There is hardly any doubt about fully adult animals (see photos).
Wild-caught specimens of this species very often have more or less pronounced black pigment accumulations. This is completely harmless and comparable to freckles in humans. As these pigment accumulations (“black spots”) are not inherited and only occur in wild-caught specimens, it is very likely that these are skin reactions to parasite infections that have been overcome. In any case, specimens with black spots differ neither in their vitality nor in their life expectancy from animals without these black spots.
The genus Apistogrammoides differs from Apistogramma mainly in the high number of spiny rays in the anal fin. In terms of behavior, A. pucallpaensis differ from Apistogramma in that these animals love to stay in dense floating plant cover. The water values for breeding this species are in the pH range of 6-7 in soft water. They therefore do not tolerate strongly acidic black water, as is necessary for many Apistogramma. In the wild, water temperatures are usually in the 21-27°C range. Reproductive behavior is similar to that of Apistogramma, i.e. cave breeders with a mother family. Only when the young are swimming freely may the male take part in caring for the brood.
For our customers. The animals have code 626712 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Gastromyzon sp. SK2 Red Tail
Recently we were able to introduce you to the new Gastromyzon “Bloody Mary” (one of our readers recommended calling it “Lamandau” after the collecting area): https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fisharchive/gastromyzon-sp-bloody-mary-2/
As mentioned in the above post, we have received further species, a “Red Tail” and a “Bluel”. The “Red Tail” has been known in the hillstream loach community for some time and was given the code number SK2. SK numbers are an attempt, similar to L and C numbers for catfish, to create standardized names for species that have not yet been scientifically recorded but are available in the trade.
According to our supplier, SK2 originate from the area of the sacred mountain range Meratau in South Kalimantan ( = Kalimantan Selatan), an Indonesian province on Borneo. Unfortunately, this mountain range is severely threatened by illegal logging. It is isolated in the rainforest, so that even two endemic bird species have been able to develop there. “Endemic” means that they only occur there and nowhere else. The collector from SK2 informed our supplier that there are 8 other Gastromyzon species in the Meratau area, but that their occurrence is in the sacred zone, which is why he does not trap them.
We have also made a small film about these fish, which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr9CElQO7sI
For our customers: SK2 has code 416599 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Nannacara anomala
Here’s another animal from the “been in the aquarium forever but still beautiful” department! Nannacara anomala, the Golden Dwarf Cichlid from Guyana, has already delighted our grandfathers. We currently have exorbitantly colored animals in stock, which we call “Red”. They come from a breeder who has really put a lot of love and ambition into an animal that – from a commercial point of view – will never pay off. But an aquarium hobby doesn’t have to be profitable, it should be fun. And there’s no question that these beautiful animals are a joy!
“Normal” Nannacara anomala are also very beautiful fish, but the well-known aquarium strains tend to have blue-green fins. In 2011, we were able to import wild-caught fish from Guyana that resembled the “Red” presented here to some extent, i.e. they also had the beautiful orange-red zones in the anal and caudal fins, albeit considerably weaker. The “Red” was obviously developed from such wild fish through selective breeding.
For our customers: the animals have code 683512 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
L27 Xingu Panaque cf. armbrusteri
The fine systematics of the large (over 30 cm) black-striped Panaque is still only unsatisfactorily studied. Panaque nigrolineatus (L190) from Colombia and Venezuela is certainly the best known by name, and in 2020 a subspecies, usually rather spotted, was described from the upper Rio Guaviare in Colombia (P. n. laurafabianae, L330 see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/10-catfishes/l330-scientifically-described-panaque-nigrolineatus-laurafabianae/). Aquarists recognized early on (1989) that the black-striped Panaque from the large tributaries of the Amazon, namely Tapajós, Araguaia/Tocantins and Xingu, clearly differ in colour from the “true” P. nigrolineatus and designated them as L27.
In 2010, one of these forms, namely the one from the Rio Tapajós basin, was scientifically described as Panaque armbrusteri. Unfortunately, the scientists apparently did not have any material from the Araguaia/Tocantins and the Xingu, they do not mention anything about it. These two populations can certainly be distinguished from the Tapajós population in terms of color, but it is questionable whether these differences are sufficient to establish independent species. For this reason, all panaques formerly grouped under L27 that do not come from the Tapajós are referred to as P. cf. armbrusteri. With the abbreviation “cf.” (this is Latin – confer – and means “compare with”) expresses that there is uncertainty as to whether the present animals are actually the same species as the described species, but that there is a very close resemblance.
We have just received very pretty L27s from the Xingu in two sizes, namely 8-10 cm and 12-15 cm. The smaller ones come in two colors, a somewhat finer striped one with reddish-brown, barely striped pectoral fins, and a broader striped one with striped pectoral fins. As they grow up, however, these differences in fin coloration disappear again, and in the 12-15 cm long animals there is nothing more to be seen, they all have striped fins. However, the individual differences in the striping of the body remain, in fact each animal has its own personal striping pattern. Fully grown animals, such as the 40 cm long male in one of the pictures in this post, have beautiful golden-black stripes.
Like all large panaque, these also need soft wood as a staple food, as well as vegetables of all kinds. Frozen, granulated and flake food, including food tablets, are readily accepted, but should only be given as supplementary food, not as the main food, in order to prevent fatty degeneration of the organs. Very (!) good filtration is important, the wood food is very low in nutrients, resulting in large quantities of excrement. Adult L27s can become incompatible with each other. Large aquaria in which the fish grow up together usually prevent serious conflicts. Nevertheless, males that are ready to spawn can, under certain circumstances, harass the weaker females to an extreme, which in extreme cases can lead to the death of the oppressed animal. Anyone deciding to keep a group of these magnificent catfish should therefore have alternative tanks to separate specimens in case incompatibilities are observed.
For our customers: the animals have code 26480-L 027-3 (8-10 cm) and 26480-L 027-5 (12-15 cm) on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
