This beautiful and interesting loach, which can attain a maximum length of about 12 cm, originates from Thailand. This type of loach is said to be sometimes very aggressive. Y. eos is considered as one of the most aggressive species of all. However, in most cases this is a mistake of the keeper. Y. eos is an extremely social animal. As soon as a group has been put in a new tank they animals fight out a hierarchy. These fights are performed by strong pushes with the body and by producing loud clicking sounds. The dominant alpha animal can be recognized by the bright red fins. Inside the social group of these loaches hardly ever serious injuries appear; only the finneage becomes a bit tattered, but this recovers fast.
If this type of loach is kept in only small groups or as individual animals they try to get the social contact from other tankmates. All these loaches (genera Botia, Chromobotia, Sinibotia, Yasuhikotakia) have a razor-sharp, erectible, sickle-shaped thorn under the eye. If that thorn is used against other fish it can produce very serious injuries. So one should keep this type of loach always in larger groups of 8-12 individuals.
For our customers: Y. eos has code 400512 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Yasuhikotakia: Dedication name for the Japanese scientist Yasuhiko Taki. eos: after the Godess of dawn, due to the bright coloration of body and fins.
From the Rio Tocantins in Brazil we received wonderful, 11-14 cm long Serrasalmus rhombeus. This species grows 35 cm, maybe even 50 cm long, making it one of the largest piranha species of all. One can recognize adolescent S. rhombeus quite well by the combination of ruby red eye, a shoulder spot which is not substantially larger than the eye diameter, the yellow anal fin and two dark bands in the tail fin, one of which is at the tail root and one limits the fin behind. Adult animals are uniformly black, see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/gigantic_black_piranha_arrived__en/
The population from the Rio Tocantins is particularly colourful. In contrast to many other piranha populations, which are currently still assigned to Serrasalmus rhombeus, these animals have a beautiful red band on the gill cover.
These piranhas are solitary fish and feed in nature mainly on fins of other fish.
For our customers: the 11-14 cm long animals have code 292806 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers. Only available in small quantities!
Genetic investigations have shown that there is not only one harlequin barb, but several similar forms, which still need to be scientifically investigated.
We have been importing beautiful wild collected specimens from southern Thailand for several years. Their colouring differs significantly from “normal” harlequin barbs: a blue line above the wedge, an orange spot on the base of the tail, and the absence of the typical black vertical stripe behind the gill cover clearly show that these harlequin barbs are a different species.
This southern Thai species has now (May 2020) been formally described scientifically as Trigonostigma truncata.
For our customers. the animals have code 452953 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Literature:
Tan, H.H.(2020): Trigonostigma truncata, a new species of harlequin rasbora from Malay Peninsula (Teleostei: Danionidae). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 68: 421-433.
The Croaking Gourami (Trichopsis vittata) is perhaps the most common small fish in South East Asia. It grows to 4 – 6.5 cm long. It can be found almost everywhere, except in strongly flowing waters and in the mountains. Freshly caught, the Croaking Gourami is usually very attractively coloured and shimmers in different shades of blue-green, red and violet, but this quickly fades away in the aquarium. Most likely this is due to the fact that in nature the fish usually live in very turbid water where the underwater visibility is only a few centimetres. In this “dirty broth” (the cloudiness usually comes from clay and is hygienically harmless) the fish need strong colours to be able to communicate with conspecifics. In crystal-clear aquarium water, however, the fish feel naked and defenceless and therefore switch the colouring to camouflage mode. Only during reproduction do the magnificent colours reappear.
Croaking Gourami are called that because they can produce easily audible creaking sounds. These sounds are produced when the fish strokes a bone over tendons that run across the air-filled swim bladder. Croaking Gouramis play the guitar, so to speak. The croak itself is powerplaying. The fish croak and the one who croaks the loudest wins. When mating, the males also show by croaking that they are very strong and great. But also the females croak in this species and are very emancipated.
Everywhere the Croaking Gouramis look a bit different. Probably it’s not just one species, but a lot of species that just look very similar to each other. But because there are so many of them, no one has ever dared to split them.
Our Croaking Gouramis come from Thailand and there from the Ratchaburi area. You should not mate them with Croaking Gouramis from other collecting sites, but always breed them pure, otherwise there is the danger of unintentionally breeding bastards that lose their reproductive ability after a few generations.
For our customers: the animals have code 471003 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Currently we have very nice zebra loaches, Botia striata, in stock. The animals have an ideal size, 3-4 cm. The maximum length the species can reach is about 6-8 cm. In many species of loach the generic name has changed in the past years. The Clown loach, formerly known as Botia macracanthus, is now Chromobotia macracanthus, the tiger loaches are now placed in the genus Syncrossus, the checkerboard loaches are now Ambastaia and most of the remaining southeast Asian species are placed in Yasuhikotakia. Only the Indian species (India in the broad sense, including Burma etc.) stayed in Botia. B. striata is one of them.
Zebra loaches are comparatively peaceful loaches. Several other species are known to be quite quarrelsome. So the zebra loach is a good inhabitant for community tanks. One should keep them always in groups (starting from 6-8 animals, more are possible), for these loaches are very social animals. Like all loaches of the former catch-all genus Botia the zebra loach is a good snail-hunter.
The zebra loach is a pretty common look for hobbyists, but one should reflect that it is classified as an endangered species (see Dahanukar, N. 2013. Botia striata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T168591A6521075. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T168591A6521075.en). The species is known only from a comapartively restricted area in the south of India. Here it inhabits exclusively hillstreams with clear water. Deforestation an recreation activities in the mountains lead to erosion and pollution of the water. Collecting the animals for the ornamental fish trade is no threat for the species. On contrary: as long as collecting zebra loaches from the wild is at least a small local buisiness there is still hope that the ongoing destruction of the natural habitat may be stopped.
For our customers: the animals have code 405502 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Apistogramma bitaenata is one of the most beautiful species of the genus. And it is known for a very long time in the hobby already. Elder hobbyists will know the species maybe under the name of A. kleei, other, well known synonymys are A. klausewitzi and A. sweglesi. The species has a very wide distribution in Amazonia. It is known from Colombia, Peru, and Brazil. Most often wild collected fish come from Peru. A great number of local varieties is known.
We obtained now very beautiful wild collected A. bitaeniata from Brazil. These fish are not only very pretty but show a very unusual pattern in the caudal fin. This feature is rather known so far from the two close relatives of A. bitaeniata, namely A. paucisquamis and A. mendezi.
For our customers: the fish have code 615103 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
The tiger pleco was already imported and presented in 1988; since then, unfortunately, no scientist has yet taken a closer look on the beautiful animals imported from Rio Tocantins in Brazil for the hobby; therefore, this relatively small, maximum 12 cm long, peaceful loricariid catfish still has no “correct” name, but has to be content with “L2”; the occasionally used names “Panaqolus vermiculata” or Peckoltia vermiculata are wrong and denote a different species.
The care of L2 is easy, the animals are well suited for community tanks, but one has to keep in mind that wood is an important food component for the fish. Large amounts of faeces are produced, therefore a relatively strong filtration of the aquarium is necessary. Possible roommates must like this.
Apart from wood, these fish also eat food tablets and vegetables, meaty food should be avoided, as it can lead to life-threatening fatty deposits. Algae are not eaten, plants are only damaged if not enough green food (zucchini etc.) is given.
L2 is a typical cave-breeder with father family, but is not bred very often, because usually enough wild catches are available and the breeders therefore tend to occupy their always too scarce space with rare species, because they are not available from imports.
For our customers: the animals have code 26480-L 002-2 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
The glass goby, Gobiopterus chuno, is a fascinating small fish (2-3 cm), which was originally described from the estuaries of the Ganges. Now we have received glass gobies from Thailand under the name G. chuno; they look slightly different from those we know from India (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/gobiopterus_chuno_en/); it may be G. brachypterus, a species originally described from Java, but also found in Sri Lanka. There are other Gobiopterus species in the Philippines, China, Australia, New Guinea and the Nicobar Islands, but there is no current revision known that would allow to distinguish these species. We therefore keep the name G. chuno for our current imports. The photos to this post show animals from Thailand.
For our customers: the animals have code 418133 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
One of the most beautiful squeaker catfish (Synodontis) comes from the Congo: Synodontis decorus. The slender species grows about 20-30 cm long and is relatively peaceful. One must always consider that all squeaker catfish have a hierarchy among each other, where “social biting” is absolutely necessary and not alarming, since it only comes to superficial, quickly healing wounds. One should therefore care for squeaker catfish in groups if possible; individual animals can (but don’t have to) become a plague for other fish if they try to take these as substitute partners. Small fish that fit in the mouth are also seen as food supplements by omnivores, so possible tankmates should not be too small. In the wild, adult S. decorus typically live in groups of 10-50 individuals, while juveniles up to about 8 cm long are solitary. Synodontis decorus is a diurnal species, which makes it particularly recommended for aquarium keeping. The animals live in rivers, but not in areas with strong currents.
The conspicuous pennant, i.e. the extended dorsal fin ray, and the very contrasting striped caudal fin are, it is assumed, a signal to conspecifics and serve the swarm cohesion. Small young animals under 8 cm length do not yet have an extended dorsal fin ray. In the Congo, larger Synodontis decorus are so common that they became a preferred prey of fin-eating characins of the species Eugnathichthys eetveldii. The Eugnathichthys have even developed an almost identical coloration as mimicry, which allows them to sneak up on the squeaker catfish unnoticed. On the Congo’s edible fish markets one rarely finds larger S. decorus with intact caudal fins, that’s how effective the Eugnathichthys are. Conversely, Synodontis juveniles are almost always undamaged, so hunting these loners is probably not worthwhile for the fin-eaters.
Externally recognizable sex differences are not known for Synodontis decorus, females are only more corpulent at spawning time. The spawning behaviour has not been reported so far, they are probably free-spawners without further care for their brood. In the aquarium, which should be a large one according to the final size of these animals, the animals are easy to care for, they do not make any special demands on the water composition and eat any commercial ornamental fish food. The water temperature should be between 22 and 26°C, occasionally a little above or below does no harm. Even if the animals are diurnally active, they should have as many roots etc. as possible at their disposal where they can seek cover.
For our customers: the animals have code 176502 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
We just have a tank full of fully grown rosy tetra (Hyphessobrycon rosaceus) of the breeding form “White Fin” in stock. These magnificent fish are a real feast for the eyes. Read more about this form of fish, which is also known as H. bentosi or H. ornatus in the hobby here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/hyphessobrycon-ornatus-white-fin-2/
For our customers: the animals have code 262014 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
For the first time ever we can offer this dwarf swordtail rarity. Our animals are German offsprings. At first sight the small, only 2-3 cm long animals remind of the also dwarf X. pygmaeus, but they are not so closely related to this species. Only in 1990 X. continens was formally described, first collected in 1984.
They are very pretty fish, which require attentive water care. They are inhabitants of running water and want low-germ, oxygen-rich water. Medium-hard water with a pH between 7 and 8 is best suited for care, temperatures can be between 20 and 24°C (occasionally a little below or above). Every common fish food is eaten when it is small enough. Without live food (2-3 times a week) the dwarf swordtails will wither; Artemia nauplii have proven to be very useful as supplementary food.
For our customers: the animals have code 476542 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Now in Indonesia, where several Polypterus species have been successfully bred for years, it has been possible to “crack” this species. We can offer very charming youngsters of this animal.
For our customers: the fish have code 162413 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Right now we have German offspring of Red Jewel Cichlids – probably Hemichromis guttatus – in stock, which have a very interesting history. They are descendants of wild catches from Hungary! In Hungary, more precisely in the Hévíz region, there is a thermal lake fed by natural hot springs. It is not known by whom and when, but Red Jewel Cichlids have been released there and they reproduce excellently here. Our breeder brought some animals from there in 2017, which is the origin of the strain we can offer now.
Originally these Red Jewel Cichlids come from Western Africa. However, there have been feral populations of Hemichromis guttatus in artificial and natural thermal waters in several places in Europe for over 40 years, e.g. near Villach in Austria, in the Gillbach near Cologne or in Hungary.
These red cichlids with their numerous blue spots (“Iriodophores”) are already very attractive in a neutral mood, but when they get excited – for example when defending their territory or caring for their brood – they turn a wonderful red and seem to glow from the inside out, fiery like the paprika in their Hungarian homeland!
For our customers: the animals have code 536412 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
This tetra originates from Brazil (Rio Sao Francisco and Itapicuru). It reaches a maximum length of about 7 cm. Currently we can offer German bred specimens of this attractive schooling fish.
For our customers: the fish have code 268613 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
The genus Crenicichla is with about 100 species one of the most species-rich cichlid genera at all, and yet there are numerous forms that, if we see them alive, do not really want to fit the described species. On the other hand, there are also described species of which we already doubted about their existence, as only similar but not identical fishes are exported from the area from which they were described.
One of the latter is Crenicichla notophthalmus, a dwarf Crenicichla from the Rio Negro near Manaus, which was described as early as 1913 and is easily recognizable. The males (not the females!) have long pointed first dorsal fin rays, which is not found elsewhere in the genus. The otherwise identical C. regani does not have this. Now Manaus is the main market for ornamental fish in Brazil, so it should be no problem to get these beautiful fish, which are only up to 8 cm long (females remain smaller), regularly? Puff pieces, almost always when we order them, come instead of C. notophthalmus C. regani!
But now we have finally got the “real” C. notophthalmus. The females may have one or two of the cherry red bordered eye spots in the dorsal fin, this is a variable feature. One should not be deceived by the small size of these cave breeders with parental family, they really have fire in their bodies and should therefore ideally be kept in aquariums of at least 80 x 50 cm floor space.
For our customers: the animals have code 671502 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
From Thailand we have received pretty snails under the name Neritina coromandeliana. Whether such names are correct, we usually cannot decide, as we have only ichthyologists (= biologists specialized in fish) in our team. Many German snail experts believe that these animals, which are characterized by their zigzag pattern and yellow triangles on a dark brown background, are a colour form of N. turrita, the zebra racing snail, others call them Neritina variegata. Our Thai friend Kamphol U., a studied biologist, who is in constant exchange with the zoologists of the university in Bangkok, however, believes that our snails belong to the species Neritodryas cornea, and we trust in Kamphol.
This question is not that important, what is important is how to care for the snails. And there is the good news: the care of the various „racing snails“ does not differ much from each other. They are euryhaline animals that live in the mangrove along the coast and are exposed to pure seawater at high tide and pure freshwater at high and low tide. Many animals can also be found far inland in pure fresh water. However, the tidal influence is always noticeable, because the larvae of these snails can only develop in the sea.
The water in the aquarium should be not too soft, the pH should be around 7 (rather a little above than below), otherwise you cannot do much wrong. The snails are eager algae eaters, but can eat neither blue nor filamentous algae, only the algae films of green and brown algae that grow on the glasses and decoration. They also accept fish food (flakes, tablets). In the beginning these snails tend to “emigrate”, which is still an adaptation to ebb and flow in nature, therefore the aquarium must be covered very well and absolutely gapless.
For our customers: the animals have code 485481 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
The Panda Dwarf Cichlid (Apistogramma nijsseni) was an absolute sensation when it was first introduced at the end of the 1970s. The breeding was successful right away, but it took several years before it was understood that the – often extreme – male surplus observed in the offspring came from too high water temperatures during breeding.
Since this problem has been solved, the panda dwarf cichlid is almost always available as offspring and only very seldom wild caught cichlids come to us. Our animals currently in the stock are German offspring and very lively and stable.
For our customers: the animals have code 625003 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
We receive only very rarely imports of one of the unusual and stress-prone Leptodoras species. These thorny catfish are extraordinarily elongated and apparently live in flowing waters, while many other thorny catfish – think of the Platydoras, Agamyxis etc. which are common in the hobby – are more at home in dead wood or leaves in shore areas.
Leptodoras cf. cataniai originates from the Rio Nanay in Peru. The species probably reaches a length of about 20 cm, but our current imports are only about 7 cm long. Except for the area of origin – the species L. cataniai was described from the Rio Casiquiare, the connecting river of Orinoco and Rio Negro, the appearance fits very well to L. cataniai.
We recommend for maintenance a large aquarium with sandy bottom, little decoration and good filtration and current. The water temperature should be around 24°C. The chemical composition of the water is not important, but extreme values should be avoided. Any usual fish food of suitable size is eaten. The peaceful and sociable animals are a bit nervous and should therefore be kept in the company of some Corydoras or Brochis, whose calmness is transferred to the Leptodoras and takes away their shyness.
For our customers: the fish have code 266051 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Until recently, two genera of closely related whiptail catfish were distinguished according to anatomical features: the relatively short-nosed Sturisomatichthys with four described species and the relatively long-nosed Sturisoma with over 15 species. All species are popular aquarium fish because they are attractive and easy to breed. Unlike most other loricariid catfish they do not breed in caves, but lay their eggs openly (usually on one of the vertical aquarium panes). After spawning the male guards the clutch until the young hatch. As a rule of thumb one could say that Sturisomatichthys remain smaller (10-12 cm), while Sturisoma can be expected to be 15-30 cm (depending on the species).
But a recent study by Alejandro Londoño-Burbano and Roberto E. Reis showed that all species from Colombia, Venezuela and Panama are so closely related that they belong to the same genus – i.e. Sturisomatichthys -, while the species from the entire Amazon basin and further south to Paraguay remain in Sturisoma.
Regardless of this, the short-nosed Sturisomatichthys in the narrower sense are difficult in species identification. The first species to be imported and bred was S. leightoni in 1985. It disappeared again from the hobby, while two very similar species, which Evers & Seidel called S. sp. “Colombia1” and S. sp. “Colombia2″, were imported and bred more frequently from Colombia from the 1990s onwards. Then also “real” S. leightoni came into the trade occasionally. Since all three species are highly variable in colouration, and therefore it is not always possible to determine them, and since shipments from Colombia often contain several species mixed together, these three forms are usually not distinguished from each other in the trade and are referred to as S. leightoni – even in our company.
At the moment we have very well accustomed, adult, strong and mature animals in stock. Most of them correspond best to Sturisomatichthys sp. Colombia1, but for the above mentioned reasons they are listed as S. leightoni in our stock. In well acclimatized animals one can recognizes in S. sp. Colombia1 numerous spots and worm lines on the front body, which are missing in S. leightoni. Unfortunately these colour features fade to unrecognizability in stressed animals. The species S. guaitipan from the upper and middle Rio Magdalena in Colombia, newly described in December 2019, is very similar to S. sp. Colombia1, but the unique feature for S. guaitipan is that it has only 10 branched fin rays in the caudal fin, while both animals photographed for this post have 12 branched rays in the caudal fin.
For our customers: the animals have code 294403 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Literature: Londoño-Burbano, A. & R.E. Reis (2019): A Taxonomic Revision of Sturisomatichthys Isbrücker and Nijssen, 1979 (Loricariidae: Loricariinae), with Descriptions of Three New Species. Copeia 107, No. 4, 2019, 764–806
The corona crisis has delayed the start of the pond fish/cold water season, but now we have at least a few native biotope fish in stock. The name “biotope fish” should not hide the fact that these are bred fish, which are intended for aquarium and garden pond keeping and must not be released into the wild under any circumstances!
The rudd is one of our most common so-called white fish – and one of the prettiest! The body colouring is silver, often with a nice touch of brass yellow, the fins are usually vermilion; the older the fish, the more intense the fin colouring. The rudd is the native fish with the highest proportion of vegetable food. This is why it is the only native fish species that is suitable for setting limits to the spread of filamentous algae and duckweed in garden ponds. But you should not expect miracles from it.
Usually the rudd grows to a length of 15-20 cm, the maximum size is about 50 cm. As the species is temperature tolerant and can also tolerate water temperatures up to 26°C without damage, it is very suitable for keeping in aquaria. Of course you should not heat your aquarium, but you don’t have to be afraid if the thermometer shows more than 20°C in midsummer – for some cold water fish already a critical temperature range. In the aquarium you should give flake food on a vegetable basis as staple food, plus frozen and live food of all kinds.
Rudd are schooling fish and very peaceful. They reproduce as egg layers, the spawn is released into finely feathered plants. Rudds do not care for their brood. Outer sexual characteristics are largely absent, males of the same age are smaller and more delicate than the females.
For our customers: the animals have code 878503 on our stocklist. Please note, that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Right now we can offer a very special delicacy for the friends of livebearers: a scientifically still undescribed wild molly!
It is a F1 offspring of a wild collected species from the Poecilia sphenops relationship. The parent animals were collected on a scientific expedition. The description of the species is in progress, so we have committed ourselves not to give any further information about the animals, in order not to endanger the scientific work. We have received about 50 specimens from our breeder. They are currently 4-5 cm long, but will probably grow a bit larger.
For our customers: the animals have code 280577 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Again and again we receive imports of Corydoras from the upper Rio Negro area, which differ in details from the well known Corydoras adolfoi, C. duplicareus, C. imitator, C. serratus & Co. It is difficult to classify them in such cases. Are these only colour variations that occur in large numbers somewhere? Are they geographically isolated populations? Or are they simply sorted out from the above mentioned species that occasionally occur in large numbers and thus give the impression that they are something independent? As a rule, we cannot decide that.
In the case of C140, things are such that these long-nosed animals, which fall into the variance of C. imitator except for the red spot behind the gill cover, have been appearing once and again for years. This is also the case now; by the way, the red spot is not always equally visible in every individual. It is not a red coloured zone, but an unpigmented spot through which the blood vessels shimmer.
For our customers: the animals have code 232305 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
The gudgeon, Gobio gobio, is one of the smallest native fish. It usually grows to 8-12 cm, rarely over 15 cm long. The record is said to be 21 cm, but such giants are as rare as people over 2.20 m long. Because of its small size and pretty colouring (compared to the mostly silvery other native species) it has been kept in aquariums since the beginning of aquarium science, where it thrives very well. The water temperature can be in the range of 15-25°C, which can be easily realized in living rooms even today, avoiding long lasting temperatures above 22°C and aiming for a cool hibernation at around 8°C and 6-8 hours of light.
The gudgeon is a bottom fish that likes to swim in a troop with its own kind and is completely peaceful against other fish. It needs open bottom areas of sand and gravel where it looks for its food, which consists of small animals of all kinds (in the aquarium any usual fish food that sinks to the bottom). Vegetable food does not play a big role and is rather accidentally included. In nature, gudgeons are mainly found in clear, often flowing water. The aquarium should therefore be well maintained and have only a little mulm on the bottom.
The gudgeon is only suitable for the garden pond if it fulfils its requirements for clear, clean water and free ground surfaces with sand and gravel. The gudgeon cannot live in fully grown swamp ponds.
Gudgeons spawn in gravel; they do not care for their brood.
For our customers: the animals have code 819502 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
We have very nice and stable wild catches of the Orange Bushfish from the Congo in our stock. The bubblenest-building species grows to about 6-8 cm, currently the animals are 3-4 cm long.
The Orange Bushfish is a very interesting species. It becomes already half grown and sexually mature. With increasing age the fish becomes more highbacked. Males and females are best distinguished by the shape of their ventral fins. The ventral fins of the females are considerably shorter. Other fin development is also lower in females, but males of lower social rank can reduce dorsal and anal fin development, which makes them look similar to females and reduce their exposure to attacks by dominant males. However, the ventral fins always betray them.
The colour change ability is phenomenal. Neutrally mooded animals are reddish-brown with a greenish shimmer, dark vertical bandages run over the body. Sometimes the fish show a light longitudinal band along the entire body. With increasing excitement, the basic body colouring becomes brighter and brighter, the vertical bands appear intensively. The light red in the vertical fins is not affected by this colour change and can be seen well in every mood.
The fish are cared for in tanks with a rich structure at temperatures between 20 and 24°C. Only for breeding the temperature should be increased by 2-3°C, then the water should be soft and slightly acidic. Microctenopoma ansorgii is a bubblenest builder, the reproduction is similar to that of paradise fish.
It is important to know that these fish have a high feed requirement. They are not particularly demanding, but frost and live food is preferred.
For our customers: the animals have code 115501 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
For a long time it was believed that there were only two species of electric catfish, namely the widespread Malapterurus electricus and the Congolese M. microstoma. Then two independent revisions of the genus appeared practically at the same time, one by Roberts (2000) and one by Norris (2002), which drastically increased the number of species, but for a long time it was tricky to clarify which of the doubly described species were exactly meant.
The most frequently imported species of electric catfish from Nigeria is still mostly called M. electricus in the trade, even here in Germany. In reality, however, it is M. beninensis, a species described by Murray from the Old Calabar River in Nigeria as early as 1855. For electric catfish conditions the species remains relatively small with about 25 cm final size and has the advantage of being not quite as incompatible as other electric catfish. In the literature therefore the individual keeping of electric catfish is recommended in principle. Sufficient space, good feeding and plenty of hiding places do not make this necessary for M. beninensis. And so M. beninensis could be a suitable candidate to study the still completely unknown reproductive behaviour of electric catfish. Shortly before his death, the excellent aquarist and eminent ichthyologist Joachim Knaack was apparently close to succeeding, in any case, in a telephone call he promised a breeding report in the near future. Things turned out differently, but this should serve as an incentive for others to try.
The care of M. beninensis is easy, any frozen and live food of suitable size is willingly accepted, most specimens will eat granules sooner or later. The catfish do not make any special demands on the water composition. M. beninensis is generally indifferent to other fish that are not suitable as food.
Beware of touching these fish. Even the electric shocks given from specimens that are only 4-5 cm long are very painful, although not dangerous for healthy people. It is said that the electric shocks of electric catfish can reach 350-450 volts.
For our customers: Due to the lack of imports because of the worldwide corona crisis, electric catfish are unfortunately not available at the moment.
Currently we managed once more to import one of the cutest loaches from Borneo. Barbucca diabolica is despite its terrifying name a totally peaceful animal. Sadly almost nothing is known about the species. In nature, it lives in small forest streams in the Kapuas system on Borneo. Our animals have already almost the size of the largest specimen mentioned in the original description, which had about 2,5 cm.
It is very interesting to observe the behaviour of the fish. They are scooting along the surface of a root, rock or whatever without ever leaving it with the belly. This is why the are called „scooter loaches“. They feed on any fine food. It is very important to know that this loach will never pick food from the water column. They only feed on food which they come across during their restless „scoots“.
Lexicon: Barbucca: means „with a bearded cheek“; this refers to the tuberculate cheek patches of the males. diabolica: diabolical; refers to red shining eyes of the species.
For our customers: the fish have code 368702 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Rachow´s Nothobranch (the species has been named to honour Arthur Rachow, thus the common name must end on a “w”), also called the bluefin notho, belongs not only to the longest-serving, but also to the timeless most beautiful species of killifish at all in our aquaria. Most often the orange colour morph is kept, which has been collected in 1958 near Beira and never disappeared since then, because enthusiastic hobbyist preserved them by breeding. For more informations, please see also http://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fishes/killifish-en/nothobranchius-pienaari-en/
In the wild, these beautiful fish usually live for only a few months, after which their home waters dry up. But in the aquarium they can get much older, about one year. Important for the successful care is a very nutritious food (best worm food like Tubifex etc.), because the fish have a very fast metabolism. In nature, strong temperature fluctuations of the water of more than 10°C often occur in the day-night change. A daytime temperature of 24-25°C is favourable, at night the temperature may drop to room temperature (i.e. about 18°C). This temperature fluctuation is achieved quite simply by switching off the heater with the light at night. Even though the fish, which by the way become about 5 cm (males) and 4 cm (females) long, are rather indifferent to the chemical composition of the water, they are less susceptible to Oodinum in harder water.
Nothobranchius species are best kept in single-species tanks, they are hardly competitive against other fish.
For our customers: the animals have code 338003 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade. Only available in limited quantities!
Lexicon: Nothobranchius: Ancient Greek “nothos” = fake and “branchion” = gill; refers to the structure of the gills. rachovii: dedication name in honour of the German aquarist Arthur Rachow (1884-1960).
The blue-eyes Pseudomugil furcatus, relatives of the rainbow fish, originate from the island of New Guinea. However, there are never wild catches of the maximum 6 cm long, peaceful schooling fish on the market, but only offspring, all of which go back to a single collection in 1981. Since then they have been bred continuously. The natural distribution area is relatively small; the species occurs, as far as known, exclusively in the Sufia Valley, Papua New Guinea, where it lives in flowing waters. Together with P. furcatus the beautiful goby Tateurndina ocellicauda can be found (https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/tateurndina_ocellicauda_en/). The water there is neutral to slightly alkaline (pH 7-8) and 24-29°C warm; accordingly, P. furcatus is suitable for care and breeding in most common tap waters.
The nutritional requirements of Pseudomugil furcatus are easy to meet, a good dry food is completely sufficient as a basic diet, in addition fine live and frozen food of all kinds can be provided.
The aquarium for blue-eyes should contain a lot of free swimming space so that the fish can swim out and the males can fight out their harmless show fights, but also have a good background plantation of fine-grained plants (e.g. Myriophyllum), in which they spawn almost daily. The young fish are very small, but apart from that they are easy to raise. Pseudomugil do not exercise brood care, but they usually do not significantly feed on spawn and juveniles. Males and females can be easily distinguished by their different colouring and fin shape.
For our customers: the animals have code 444001 (sm) and 444002 (md) on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
The Indonesian Tiger Fish (Datnioides microlepis) is without any doubt the most beautiful species of Tiger Perch. These large growing predators can reach a maximum length around 50 cm and are wonderful show fish for large aquaria. But the photographed fish are still young, 4-6 cm long.
There are two populations of this perch, one originating from the southeast Asian mainland (the Chao Phraya and Mekong basins, this population is sometimes regarded as a separate species, D. pulcher) which has invariably 5 bars, while specimens from Indonesia have an individually variable number of bars. Both have in common the double bar on the tail.
It is fascinating to observe how fast the fish can change their coloration. When the fish are in a cool mood, they show the typical dark bars on a light ground. When the fish are upset – for example on hunt – they become very dark within a glimpse. Even small tiger fish prefer other fish as food. The feeder fish are hunted by swimming after them or by lying in ambush. When the latter tactic is chosen, only the light blaze discloses the hunter. The remaining body melts optically with the background.
For our customers: the fish have code 414002 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Datnioides: means “similar to Datnia”; Datnia is another genus of fish. microlepis: means “with small scales”. pulcher: means “beautiful”.
The up to 15 cm long becoming freshwater pipefish Doryichthys martensii is widespread in southeast Asia, one knows it from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. In nature, it is mainly found in flowing waters (streams, small rivers), where the animals can be found in the undergrowth of riparian vegetation. As with all pipefish, the male takes care of the brood and carries the eggs in the large and easily recognizable brood pouch until the young animals hatch. In other words: the males of D. martensii have, as with us humans, the thick belly, the females are always slim.
The adult pipefish live exclusively in freshwater, but it is not known whether the freshly born young animals may spend a period of their life in brackish water or in the sea. D. martensii lives more bottom-orientated than many other long-nosed pipefish species, but also often swims in open water. The species can easily be confused with Hippichthys spicifer, which looks very similar and also occurs in the same area. In H. spicifer the dorsal fin starts behind the anus (in Doryichthys before the anus) and H. spicifer has 9 caudal fin rays, Doryichthys 10.
Freshwater pipefish are care objects for advanced aquarists, which can especially meet the high food requirements of the animals. The needles only eat live food, such as Artemia nauplii, Cyclops, small water fleas etc. The water temperature can be between 22 and 28°C, the chemical composition of the water is not important, but the pH-value should be above 7 if possible.
For our customers: D. martensii has code 414301 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
The genus Guianacara currently comprises seven described species, all of which originate from the Guiana shield in South America. The genus was only established in 1989 and only one species – G. geayi – was known before; Pellegrin described it in 1909. From this one can already conclude that the species look quite similar. Before the genus Guianacra was established, the only known species G. geayi was listed in the genera Aequidens and Acarichthys. The aquarists who were lucky enough to get such animals speculated even then whether the different “colour forms” might not be independent species after all. Guianacara dacrya was described in 2011 and originates from the tributaries of the rivers Rio Branco and Essequibo.
Apart from minor anatomical differences, the species differ mainly in their colouring. This makes a determination quite difficult, because there are only a few cichlids that change their coloration as drastically as the Guianacara species, and that within seconds! The determination of our G. dacrya, which we are currently able to offer, was nevertheless easy, because they are bred ones and the breeders of such “special fish” usually know exactly which species they are looking after.
Guianacara are high backed, medium sized cichlids (12-15 cm), which reproduce as cave breeders with parent family. For cichlid conditions they can be considered peaceful, as cave breeders they do not dig excessively and plant food is not on their menu. This makes them ideal cichlids for larger community aquariums.
For our customers: the animals have code 682783 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Within the African labyrinth fishes, the so-called bushfishes, one can roughly differentiate between two groups: those that do not care for their brood and those in which the males build a foam or bubble nest, into which they are spawned and which is guarded by the male until the young fish are independent. The latter group was separated from the other bushfish (Ctenopoma) as a second genus Microctenopoma. At present 12 species are scientifically known, but only four of them are occasionally kept in the aquarium, including Microctenopoma fasciolatum, which is actually widely distributed in the Congo basin. We have now once again received very nice wild catches from the area around Lac Mai Ndombe in Central Congo.
This beautiful bushfish grows about 8 cm long. Males and females differ mainly in the colouring of the fins: Males have spots in the caudal, dorsal, and anal fin which are missing in the females. In behaviour M. fasciolatum can best be compared with paradise fish (Macropodus). Like these they like to be quite rough with each other, which usually shows in fin damage. Also our new imports all have slight fin defects, but these heal quickly and without complications.
You should offer bushfish well planted, richly structured aquariums. It is best to keep them in the company of medium sized barbs or congo tetras. In the single species tank they are often shy and you will not see them often. The water temperature for maintenance should be not too high, preferably between 22 and 26°C, for breeding the temperature should be increased by 2-3°C. All usual fish food is eaten, preferably frozen and live food. Plants are neglected by bushfish.
For our customers: the animals have code 117002 (4-6 cm) and 117003 (6-8 cm) on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
216 scientifically described Corydoras species, of which 163 are generally accepted as valid (this number is, of course, constantly changing, as of March 2020), 159 C-numbers and 160 CW-numbers: one should think that gradually all Corydoras are sufficiently known. But there are still several species which are known only because of their scientific description and which are difficult to assign to living imported specimens.
One of these species is Corydoras orphnopterus which has been described in 1970. This long-nosed Corydoras catfish has the following unique combination of colour characteristics: it has a dark eye mask, a black spot in the dorsal fin, which is most intense at the front edge of the centre of the fin, a pattern of relatively small dots, which form three parallel lines on the caudal peduncle in the middle of the body, in the space between which the basic colour of the body – whitish – is lighter than on the rest of the body, resulting in two light bands and a pattern of approximately 6-7 thin bands in the caudal fin, which are dissolved into individual spots. C. orphnopterus has been described on the basis of three specimens collected by an unknown collector at an undocumented time in Ecuador (at the lower Rio Bobonaza between Montalvo (2°06’S, 76°59’W) and Chicherota (2°22’S, 76°38’W, province of Pastaza). The Rio Bobonaza belongs to the catchment area of the Rio Pastaza, which in turn flows into the Amazon in Peru.
For some years now, Corydoras orphnopterus from Peru has been offered, although comparatively rarely and at relatively high prices. Initially, the location where these animals were found was not known. For this reason, and because details of the colour pattern were coarser than in the holotype of C. orphnopterus, and because literally nothing is known about the colour variance of C. orphnopterus, these animals were called CW58 in the hobby as a precaution.
Now we succeeded in importing 40 specimens of this form. The exporter gave us the Rio Tigre as the collecting place. This river originates in Ecuador, also in the province of Pastaza, and flows into the Amazon in Peru. Our current import shows the large individual range of colour patterns typical for long-nosed corys. You can recognize each individual by its pattern of drawings. Among our animals there are some that correspond almost in every detail to the holotype of C. orphnopterus, as well as roughly patterned specimens of type CW58. In between there are all conceivable transitions. From the similar, also highly variable Corydoras leopardus, C. orphnopterus and CW58 are always distinguished by the dark eye-band, which is missing in C. leopardus.
Taking all the facts together, CW58 is a variant of Corydoras orphnopterus originating from the Rio Tigre according to current knowledge. There are still some doubts, because there are still no known living specimens from the Rio Bobonazo, but all in all it can be said that thanks to aquarium science a white spot on the map of knowledge about Corydoras could be filled with content.
For our customers: C. cf. orphnopterus from em Rio Tigre has code 238205 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
This brackish water fish – adult Terapon jarbua usually live in the sea, juveniles in brackish water, but the species is euryhalin and can be found both in the sea and in freshwater – is widespread along the coasts of South East Asia to Australia and East Africa. From the Red Sea, T. jarbua has even migrated into the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal. However, this attractive fish, which can reach a length of up to approx. 35 cm, is only found comparatively rarely in trade. We have now once again received charming 2-3 cm long juveniles from Singapore.
Terapon jarbua changes its behaviour several times during its life. Small juveniles, like the ones we imported, are lively schooling fish that roam the shallow water. With a length of 5-6 cm they become sedentary and occupy small territories in sand pits. In this phase they are very quarrelsome against conspecifics. With the onset of sexual maturity, i.e. with 8-10 cm length, T. jarbua become swarm fish again and migrate together through the free water.
Little is known about the reproductive behaviour of the animals, they are said to spawn in the sea and the spawn is guarded by the male. The fish are very greedy and always need plenty of food. Well fed they are also less quarrelsome. The chemical composition of the water should always be considered: while the salt content may vary in a broad range, the pH-value should never drop below 8, otherwise T. jarbua will quickly show discomfort. The water temperature should be between 24 and 28°C.
For our customers: the animals have code 468001 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
With the import of Hemimyzon nanensis we were once again able to fill a white spot on the map of fishes that have become known in the aquarium with content. At least for us it is a first import. Hemimyzon belongs to the family of hillstream loaches (Balitoridae) and is closely related to the genus Jinshaia. Both genera differ quite well from the other Balitoridae in that in Hemimyzon and Jishaia the pelvic fins are not merge together to form a sucking disc, but are still separate from each other. In Hemimyzon the caudal fin is straight cut off or slightly emarginated, in Jinshaia it is deeply forked.
The particularly interesting thing about H. nanensis is that all other species of the genus originate from China or Taiwan. H. nanensis, on the other hand, is found in the upper reaches of the Chao Phraya basin in northern Thailand. Like all hillstream loaches, H. nanensis loves strong currents and prefers to feed from solid substrate. The animals are very variable in colour and are peaceful among each other. You should not keep them too warm, 16-22°C are ideal. Very important is clear, oxygen-rich, bacteria-poor water, whose composition is otherwise rather secondary. A good lighting is favourable to promote algae growth. Many microorganisms live in the algae film and are used by H. nanensis as food.
Hemimyzon nanensis grows 6-8 cm long. Since these are fish for specialists, we have imported only a few specimens, all of which have already been sold.
Currently three species of the genus Tanichthys are known in the hobby: the White Cloud Mountain minnow Tanichthys albonubes, the Jewel Minnow, T. micagemmae, and T. kuehnei, which was termed T. sp. „Vietnam“ prior to its scientific description. The White Cloud is available exclusively as bred specimens, wheras the Jewel minnow is also imported as wild collected fish. The Jewel minnow has been discovered in 2001 in Central Vietnam.
The maximum size of the Jewel minnow is less than 3 cm, so the species is an ideal fish for the so-called nano-aquaria. Males and females can easily become distinguished by the shape and colour of dorsal and anal fin, which are much larger and more colorful in males.
The Jewel minnow should be kept and bred in schools. The fish are completely peaceful among any other fish. If they are kept in a one-species tank no additional heater is necessary in indoor aquaria. The species spawn in fine plant material. The offspring swims close under the water surface. If the parental are fed properly and with a good variety of food, usually some of the young survive even in the community tank (surface plants are necessary, especially Riccia).
Tanichthy micagemmae is a real jewel and every fishkeeper should have tried it.
For our customers: the fish have code 459002 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply to the wholesale market.
Kuhlii loaches (Pangio) are very popular aquarium fish. They are cute, small and often colourful. In community aquariums the small water snakes act as a cleaning crew, which reliably prevents food residues from being left lying around. The animals are completely peaceful and love the company of conspecifics. Kuhlii loaches become restless before thunderstorms and then often swim hectically through the aquarium, thus indicating the weather; therefore, an aquarium with Kuhlii loaches must be covered absolutely gaplessly, otherwise the fish will emigrate.
It is important for the Kuhlii loaches care that the aquarium has been in operation for a while and that there are small accumulations of debris in it, which serve as an indispensable food supplement for the Kuhlii loaches.
As simple as their care is, as complicated is their species identification. This is due to the fact that it is mainly colour characteristics that distinguish the species, but the colouring is extremely variable. In some species there are hardly two individuals with exactly the same pattern.
Pangio alternans, a 6-7 cm long species from Borneo, also belongs to this category. In trade, hardly ever a distinction is made between the different species. We also buy them as “Kuhlii Loach” and sell them again under that name. In contrast to the “real” Pangio kuhlii, P. alternans does not have a white belly, but pyramid-like spots come up from the belly side. At least that’s the case with typical specimens. But there are also individuals which are striped like P. kuhlii and which can only be distinguished from P. kuhlii by the fact that P. alternans does not have a massive dark spot at the base of the caudal fin (P. kuhlii always has such a spot), but only a diffuse vertical strip in the otherwise colourless caudal fin.
To make things a bit more complicated: loach specialists believe that the animals shown here are not P. alternans at all, but a scientifically still undescribed species they call Pangio sp. PAN03.
The pike cichlids (Crenicichla) are one of the most species-rich cichlid genera with 94 valid species at present. Many species grow to well over 20 cm in length and thus belong to the large cichlids, but there are also dwarf cichlids. The latter include the beautiful, slender C. regani, which according to literature should grow 15 cm long in the male sex and 8 cm in the female sex. Wild catches, as we usually have in stock, are however considerably smaller. The larger of the photographed animals, for example, which are already sexually mature, have a total length (i.e. with caudal fin) of 7 cm (males) and 5 cm (females), while the slightly smaller specimens from our current stock, which do not yet show any differences in colour, are only 1-2 cm smaller.
The species Crenicichla regani is widely distributed in Amazonia. Similar to the Tropheus cichlids in Lake Tanganyika, they form numerous geographical colour variants, of which it is unclear in individual cases whether they belong to the species C. regani, to the closely related species C. notophthalmus, C. wallacei or to a new species yet to be described.
In this category belong the beautiful animals that we regularly import from Venezuela and Colombia and call Crenicichla sp. “regani-Orinoco”. Characteristic for this species/population is the cherry-red edge around the eye spot (ocellus) in the dorsal fin of the female, which by the way is a sure sex difference; however, among the currently in our stock, about 45 specimens (4-7 cm long), not a single one shows a dorsal fin spot. As it is very unlikely that these are only males and that there are clearly animals with a “female figure” (i.e. a clearly rounder, reddish belly), we assume that the females probably still have to train the ocellus in the dorsal fin and are currently a little too young for this.
It is not difficult to keep these beautiful animals. But you should not put them in too small aquaria, they are very quarrelsome there. They eat coarse frozen and live food of all kinds. In nature the animals can be found in soft, very sour water. In the aquarium this is not so important, but you should keep the animals warm (27-32°C). All Crenicichla are cave breeders with parent family.
For our customers: the animals have code 672712 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Crenicichla: ancient Greek, means “Cichla with comb”; Cichla is another genus of cichlid. regani: dedication name for Charles Tate Regan (1878 – 1943), a famous ichthyologist at the British Museum in London.
Once more we have this beautiful species of shark in stock. Of course it belongs to the barb family, but species of several barb genera that have a similar body shape, are commonly called “shark” in the hobby. In our fishhouse it got the nickname “top-model-barb”, for it is very pretty, but looks also a bit skinny. However, Cyclocheilichthys janthochir is neither fastidious regarding food, nor uptight in any other way.
The species originates from the island of Borneo, where it occurs in typical black water. The maximum size reported is around 20 cm. Currently our specimens are 10-12 cm long. Each centimeter the fish grow they become more beautiful, for the fins become more and more red.
Cyclocheilichthys janthochir is a schooling fish and for sure an enrichment for any large community tank. The care temperature should be 24-28°C, delicate plants are in danger of being eaten. Any common fish food is accepted by the peaceful animals without any problems.
For our customers: the animals have code 412834 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
This pretty little fish is a challenge for experienced hobbyists. The species originates from Borneo. In contrast to the widespread prejudice halfbeaks of the genus Hemirhamphodon do not appear in brackish water; they are strictly bound to very soft and acidic water! These fishes are commonly found along with chocolate gouramis and small rasboras.
The other species of Hemirhamphodon are livebearers. Not so H. tengah: this is an egg-laying species. Breeding H. tengah is in most respects similar to breeding killifishes of the Apyhosemion-type. The females like to spawn in java moss, peat or in artificial breeding mops made of wool.
The fish are strictly surface-dwellers. They are not very demanding regarding food, but never take food from the bottom. So they should be fed with flakes and different types of live food. Small fruit flies (Drosophila) are a delicacy for Hemirhamphodon. Maximum length of the fish is about 6 cm.
For our customers: the fish have code 421552 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Lexikon. Hemirhamphodon: from ancient Greek, means about “with teeth on the halfbeak”. tengah: after the province Kalimantan tengah on Borneo, where the species has been collected initially.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
In order to inform you continuously about beautiful and interesting aquarium inhabitants, we have prepared some posts for later publication. This is one of them. Unfortunately the shown animals are already sold out, sorry.
From Peru we have received some specimens of this very rarely imported catfish. The animals are in top condition and currently 10 – 12 cm long. Brachyplatystoma platynemum used to be placed in a separate genus, Goslinia, which is now a synonym for Brachyplatystoma. B. platynemum is distributed throughout the Amazon and Orinoco region and grows to about 1 m long in the Amazon, while the largest known B. platynemum from the Orinoco even measured 117 cm. As it is a popular food fish, one is well informed about average sizes. Males usually grow to about 65 cm and females to about 75 cm.
The special feature of this predatory catfish are the flattened barbels (platys = broad, nema = thread), which the fish always orientate perpendicular to the water current. They are lurking hunters, which usually rest on the large pelvic fins and hunt for prey fish of suitable size with their head pointing upwards and against the current. Like most predatory catfish, they are largely indifferent to each other and are also peaceful towards other fish that are not suitable as food. As a white water inhabitant B. platynemum does not make any noteworthy demands on the water composition, any common tap water is well suited for maintenance. The water temperature should be in the range of 24 to 28°C, but occasionally the fish tolerate higher or lower temperatures well.
For our customers: the fish have code 254782 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
The unusual genus Triportheus contains very interesting, somewhat larger species. Depending on the species these fish attain a length of 15-25 cm. Currently 16 species are distinguished that inhabit all major river systems of South America. From time to time we import members of the genus from Paraguay. Two species can be found there, namely T. nematurus and T. pantanensis. Both species can be only told apart for sure by using a method that cannot be observed in live fish: the count of the gill rakers on the first gill arch. However, T. panatanesis is more deep-bodied than T. nematurus (although the measurements that express this overlap to a certain degree). This is why we suppose that our fsh belong to T. nematurus, this view is encouraged by the counts of the lateral scale row and details of the coloration.
T. nematurus becomes about 20 cm long. Like all species of Triportheus it has mighty pectoral muscles. This shows that the tetras – much alike the hatched fishes – jump out of the water when hunted by a predator and „fly“ for a short distance. The way this species feeds is also very interesting. In contrast to most other tetras, which are pickers, Triportheus slurps with many fast openings of the mouth the water surface and swirls small food particles in the mouth by doing so.
As a subtropical species it tolerates a relatively wide temperature range, which can be between 16°C (rarely even less) and 28°C during the season. Regarding the chemical composition of the water, these animals are undemanding, any drinking water is suitable for maintenance.
Breeding in the aquarium has not yet been reported, it has probably never been tried. As far as we know the animals are free spawners without brood care.
Adult narrow hatchetfishes have fold-out skin flaps on their lower lip, with the help of which they can survive in oxygen-poor waters. In such cases, the animals, which live close to the surface anyway, swim just below the water surface and swirl the air with the uppermost layer of water with rapid mouth movements. The skin lobes are able to absorb the oxygen that gets into the water in a way that is usable for the fish.
Triportherus are omnivores; in nature, insects that fall into the water should make up an important part of their diet. In the aquarium they take every usual ornamental fish food, big specimens become dangerous even for small mouth-sized fish.
For our customers: the fish have code 298401 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Once more we were able to import the most peculiar species of glass perch: Parambassis pulcinella. This freshwater fish originates from clear streams in the border region between Thailand and Burma. The maximum size reported so far is about 10 cm. Against conspecifics the species is rather peaceful. They tend to tease each other sometimes over a short period, but this is harmless. It is best to keep this fish in groups of 8-10 specimens. In our experience, a strong current is very beneficial for the well-being of the animals. Like all glass perches, this species needs live and frozen food as food, dry food is usually refused.
Nobody knows what the odd hump is good for. But the males have a larger hump than the females, so the hump may have do something with the sexual life of the animals. However, nothing about the sexual life of Parambassis pulcinella is known yet.
For our customers: the fish have code 441294 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in limited numbers only!
Many fish scientists (ichthyologists) currently reject the concept of the subspecies. They argue that either there are definable characteristics, in which case it is a species, or there are no characteristics, in which case the form cannot be named. However, this concept has only limited relevance to reality; in the case of the large striped loricariid catfish from the relationship group around Panaque nigrolineatus, the Royal Plecos, it has been known for a long time that there are different looking populations in different river systems. They were given the L-numbers L 27 (Brazil: Rio Tocantins), LDA 63 (Brazil: Rio Xingu), LDA 77 (Brazil: Rio Tapajós = Panaque armbrusteri), L190 (Colombia/Venezuela: Rio Meta), L191 (Colombia: Rio Caqueta), L330 (Colombia: Rio Guaviare), L418 (Peru: Rio Tingo Maria), L488 (Brazil: Rio Aripuana); there is also the “Golden L27” from the Rio Araguaia in Brazil without a L-number.
L330 differs from L190 in age in that it develops a dot pattern instead of the longitudinal stripes (small young animals cannot be distinguished) and has considerably larger sensory papillae on the lower half of the mouth disc (compared to L190). L190 is considered to be the “typical” Panaque nigrolineatus, a species which was scientifically described as early as 1877. The occurrences of both L190 and L330 are in the upper reaches of rivers that belong to the Orinoco system, while the third Colombian, L191 (the “green” one, probably belonging to the species Panaque titan) comes from a river that drains towards the Amazon.
Due to the commercial importance of L330 and also because recent molecular studies have shown that L330 and L190 are probably not identical at species level, Armando Ortego-Lara and Nathan K. Lujan have decided to go against the trend and describe the population of the black stripe loricariid from the river system of the Rio Guaviare (L330) as a subspecies of Panaque nigrolineatus. L330 is now correctly named Panaque nigrolineatus laurafabianae, L190 Panaque nigrolineatus nigrolineatus.
The authors explicitly point out that there are specimens of P. n. nigrolineatus which show characteristics of P. n. laurafabianae as well as vice versa, but these are exceptions.
Both subspecies grow very large, well over 40 cm, and feed mainly on wood. As this is a very low-nutrient diet, the animals defecate abundantly. Larger specimens are also often incompatible with each other. One should therefore only buy Panaque nigrolineatus (no matter which form) if one has aquariums of an appropriate size.
Text: Frank Schäfer, photos: Frank Schäfer and Erwin Schraml
For the first time ever we have received a very attractive Corydoras (called „Moriocha“) from Peru (unfortunately not more details), which looks very similar to Corydoras atropersonatus (this species also comes from Peru – Rio Nanay basin – and we have received this at the same time), but is even more attractive.
Corydoras atropersonatus has been described by specimens from Ecuador (Rio Tigre basin). These show a few spots in the dorsal fin, which are located on the fin rays. The remaining fins show no spots. The muzzle is not dotted.
The C. atropersonatus (Rio Nanay) imported from Peru since years have no spots in the fins or on the muzzle.
The now imported “Morocha” (unknown catching place) have distinct spots in the dorsal fin, often on the fin rays, but also on the fin membranes, some animals have spots in the caudal fin and all have clearly dotted muzzles. In “Morocha” the spots on the body are also particularly numerous and contrasting.
For our customers: Corydoras cf. atropersonatus “Morocha” have code 222513 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
One of the unfortunately very rare black water rasboras on offer is Rasbora cephalotaenia. The species is quite widespread on the Malay Peninsula to southern Thailand and on the large Sunda Islands (Borneo, Sumatra), presumably it is also found on smaller islands of the Sunda archipelago in suitable habitats. However, as peat swamps are drained all over South East Asia and used for oil palm plantations, this beautiful species is also endangered by environmental destruction.
As far as the water composition is concerned, Rasbora cephalotaenia are undemanding in themselves, at least as long as one does not want to breed; however, the beautiful colour marks, which are needed in the dark black water (practically no hardness, pH between 4 and 5) due to the poor underwater visibility to identify conspecifics, shine considerably more intensely in soft water tinted brownish by peat, dead leaves and alder cones.
Rasbora cephalotaenia grows to over 10 cm in length and is ideal for community aquariums, e.g. with harlequin barbs, labyrinths or catfish, given they are also blackwater inhabitants. The peaceful animals like to swim in a swarm with their conspecifics. They are free spawners without brood care. They eat all usual fish food. The water temperature should be between 24 and 28°C, for breeding 2-3°C higher.
For our customers: the fish have code 451602 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
From Venezuela we recently received „feather tetras“. This is what we used to call tetras that have a striking black stripe in the anal fin, accompanied by a white line in front of it. In general, however, the term “feather tetra” is alternatively used to species of the genus Hemiodus or Hyphessobrycon copelandi. Our “feather tetra” was first identified by us as Hemigrammus unilineatus.
Hemigrammus unilineatus is the type species of the genus Hemigrammus. It has a double, namely Moenkhausia hemigrammoides. The only externally visible difference between these two species is the lateral line, i.e. the sensory organ running over the flanks of the fish. In Hemigrammus this sideline runs over half the body length (Hemi: half, grammus: drawn), in Moenkhausia it runs over the whole body length. This feature can be seen on sharp photos.
Until recently, Moenkhausia hemigrammoides was thought to occur only in the Guyana countries, while Hemigrammus unilineatus occurs there and also in large parts of Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia and Bolivia; this explains why we first called our new imports H. unilineatus without much thought. But now we found the time to take a closer look at them and lo and behold: they have a complete lateral line, so it must be Moenkhausia hemigrammoides!
By chance, a study has just been published – in September 2019 – which for the first time describes the occurrence of M. hemigrammoides in Colombia (rivers Ariari and Inirida, both tributaries to the Rio Guaviare in the upper Orinoco basin), which makes the occurrence of the species in Venezuela very likely.
Moenkhausia hemigrammoides are very lively fish that constantly play with each other and rush through the aquarium in lightning-fast turns. The fish grow to about 4 cm in length (in nature the size of adult animals is between 2.1 and 3.3 cm, measured without caudal fin) and are therefore a real enrichment of the aquarium, even if they are not very conspicuous in colour.
For our customers: the animals have code 268653 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Literature:
Géry, J.(1965): Notes on characoid fishes collected in Surinam by Mr. HP Pijpers, with descriptions of new forms. Bijdragen tot de Dierkunde 35 (1): 101–126.
Méndez-López, A. & A. Urbano-Bonilla (2019): Moenkhausia hemigrammoides Géry, 1965 (Characidae, Stethaprioninae) in Colombia: new records and comments on morphology. Check List 15 (5): 867-874
From the Rio Ventuari in Venezuela we have received this extraordinarily beautiful Hypancistrus, which is very similar to H. inspector, H. contradens and L201, but has considerably larger spots, which also appear slightly yellowish. At least wild collected L471 seem to remain much smaller than the other mentioned Hypancistrus and hardly grow beyond 6 cm. Of course this makes them especially attractive for owners of smaller aquariums. However, offspring – the species is, like all Hypancistrus, a cave-breeder – can grow slightly larger (by 8 cm).
Important for the successful care of these otherwise undemanding animals are comparatively high water temperatures, which should be in the range of 26-30°C, and good filtration. Hypancistrus are not algae eaters, but prefer to eat frozen and dry food. A piece of raw potato, carrot or zucchini is also gnawed, but one should use these foods sparingly, as they pollute the water considerably when they start to rot.
For our customers: the animals have code 26480-L 471-1 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
The rice fish (Oryzias) have been in the focus of aquarists for several years. First the fantastically colored O. woworae were discovered on Sulawesi, then the Japanese Medakas (O. latipes) experienced a renaissance, because many interesting new breeding forms developed. Most species of the genus, which comprises more than 30 species, occur quite locally. Two species, however, have a wide distribution because they are so salt-tolerant that they can even tolerate pure seawater: Oryzias dancena and O. javanicus. They are therefore found in nature not only in fresh water, but also in brackish water and along the coasts of South and Southeast Asia.
We were able to import a nice number of wild Oryzias from Sumatra, which must have been one of the two species. Oryzias dancena and O. javanicus are very similar, females can hardly be distinguished. In O. dancena the males have silver-white fin seams, but lack the yellow stripes in the caudal fin that distinguish the males of O. javanicus. In both species the males develop long, free fin rays in the anal fin, the edge of which is smooth in the females. Our current imports could be identified as O. javanicus based on the above mentioned characteristics.
Basically it doesn’t matter which of the two species you care for, both are very pretty, peaceful, small (3-4 cm) and easy to care for. They are also easy to breed, the females carry the eggs in the form of grape-like bundles for a while before they shed them in plants etc., as is common with Oryzias. But as both species can crossbreed, the hybrids often have many deformations and are not breedable in the long run, it is better not to mix the two species in the aquarium.
For our customers: Oryzias javanicus has code 339703 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
From the catchment area of the Rio Negro these interesting, rarely traded characins reached us. Brittanichthys axelrodi is a true black water fish, which should be kept at pH 4.5 – 6 and low hardness.
Filtering via peat can be very helpful here. In addition to improving the chemical parameters, the bactericidal effect of peat also reduces the bacterial pressure in the aquarium. These small treasures grow to a maximum size of 4 cm.
During the acclimatisation period, small live food such as Artemia nauplii or sieved pond food should be fed, frozen food is also accepted, a change to dry food can also be tried.
There are indications of internal fertilization: during scientific research sperm have been found in females. The males can be recognized by the strange glandular scales in the caudal fin, whose meaning is unknown.
Peter and Martin Hoffmann published a detailed breeding report in the German magazine DATZ (Issue 3/2010, page 18)
For our customers: the animals have code 211903 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
After several years we finally were able again to import this very beautiful tetra from Colombia once more. This species attains usually a length of about 5 cm, the largest one reported had about 8 cm in length. In respect of the general look and the behaviour Pseudochalceus kyburzi can be best compared with the emperor tetras (Nematobrycon). By the way: the species name – kyburzi – was chosen to honour the discoverer of the emperor tetra, William A. Kyburz of Colombia, at the time a famous exporter of ornamental fish.
We have received some fully grown animals in the current import. The large male, which serves as model here, measures a stately 6.5 cm. Among themselves these fish are always out for quarrels. If you look into the mouth of the big male, you know why the fins of most of the specimens make a slightly disheveled impression, very similar to what you know from many blood tetras: there is an impressive battery of teeth! But a plenty of food keeps damage within limits and the fins heal quickly.
For our customers: the fish has code 283802 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
The loricariids of the genus Pseudorinelepis are the most heavily armored loricariids at all. They are widely distributed in the basins of the large South American rivers Amazon and Orinoco. The imported animals often look a little bit different, but scientifically only one species, P. genibarbis, is recognized at present. The coloration varies greatly individually, geographically and also depending on the aquarium’s setup.
Aquarists agree that L95 from the Rio Negro, there again from the Rio Demini, is the most attractive form of the complex and that it is probably a species to be distinguished from P. genibarbis. The animals are unfortunately only available comparatively rarely and so we are very happy that we have once again succeeded in importing them. Besides some 10-12 cm long animals (we obtained for the first time animals in that handy size!) we also have a 25-30 cm long specimen in stock.
L95 grows up to half a meter long and large specimens are extremely incompatible with each other. So if you want to take care of these beautiful animals, you have to provide a really big aquarium. Concerning water composition and food supply (the animals feed mainly vegetable) L95 are undemanding, but the water temperature should not fall below 24°C for long periods of time.
For our customers: the animals have code 26480-L 095-2 (10-12 cm) and 26480-L 095-7 (25-30 cm) on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
These large barbs differ from all other barb relatives by an easily recognisable external feature, namely a strong ossified anal fin spine, which can be smooth or serrated. Within the Cyprinidae in a broader sense only carp and crucian carp show this anatomical feature, but these two genera are not barbs.
So while the genus Puntioplites can be easily recognized, the species is quite different. Usually four species are recognized, two with serrated anal fin spines (P. falcifer and P. proctozysron) and two with smooth ones (P. bulu and P. waandersi). P. falcifer is probably the most attractive species, it has long, orange fins, those of P. proctozysron are said to be dark. P. bulu has a vertical banding and P. waandersi does not. All species grow 30-50 cm long and have a high amount of vegetable food on the menu. Not much can be said about the care of the currently 12-15 cm long animals, but they are attractive fish that are also interesting for public aquariums. In behaviour they are rather to be classified as calm, they completely lack the headless panic-mongering that many other larger barbs show during the acclimatisation phase. P. falcifer occurs in the large southeast-asian streams Mekong, Xe Bangfai and Nam Theun.
For our customers: the animals have code 447554 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
With a length of 7 mm the females of the smallest fish species in the world, Paedocypris progenetica, become sexually mature. And also the two other scientifically described species, P. carbunculus and P. micromegethes, grow only a few mm longer. All species occur in very acidic black waters in Indonesia and Malaysia. The genus name “Paedocypris” means something like “child carp” and wants to suggest that these dwarfs become sexually mature as larvae, because even fully adult Paedocypris show anatomical features that are otherwise only found in fish larvae.
We could finally import these interesting dwarfs in good numbers and condition, after occasional attempts in the years before could not satisfy. The key to success lies in the catching technique. These tiny creatures should not be exposed to the air if possible. If you catch them with a scoop, i.e. always leave them under water, they are by no means sensitive.
What species we actually have is not entirely certain. Males that are active in mating are crystal red and have a red mark on their head that is used as a blinking light to lure the females to the spawning ground. They spawn in a belly up position, the eggs are attached to the underside of plant leaves. Usually this Paedocypris species is referred to as P. carbunculus, which we neither exclude nor want to confirm with certainty, since we do not know the exact origin, without which a reliable determination is not possible. It is assumed that there are still a number of scientifically undescribed Paedocypris species.
For our customers: the animals have code 441268 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
With 73 species generally regarded as valid, the genus Betta has become rather confusing and without knowledge of the origin, even specialists find it difficult to identify the species. We have just received very beautiful mouth-breeding Bettas from Sumatra, including Betta raja.
Betta raja belongs to the closer relatives of Betta pugnax. The most reliable identification feature are the extremely long ventral fins of the males, which almost reach the caudal fin when put on. The pelvic fins are also the best distinguishing feature of the sexes, because those of the females are usually much shorter than those of the males. Additionally the males have a blue-green face mask and a wonderfully long caudal fin.
So far Betta raja, which by the way was only scientifically described in 2005, has been confirmed on Sumatra by the following sites: Lowland swamp forests of the Batang Hari Basin in Jambi, the northern part of Sumatra Selatan, the Indragiri Basin in Riau and the eastern part of Sumatra Barat in Sijunjung. Before the scientific description of the species, it was often confused with the species Betta schalleri, which was already described in 1994. Betta schalleri looks extremely similar, but only occurs on the relatively small island of Bangka off the coast of Sumatra.
With a body length of 6-7 cm (without fins) Betta raja belongs to the medium sized Betta species. They are peaceful, somewhat shy animals that are best kept in company with conspecifics and other calm and peaceful fish. They go down in rough company. Betta raja are undemanding in terms of water values, except for breeding. Then you should offer soft and slightly acidic water to the mouth breeders in the male sex. The care temperature should be 24-26°C, for breeding 2-3°C warmer.
For our customers: the animals have code 387564 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Algae eaters do not have to be pretty, they should eat algae. This basic motto also applies to Garra lissorhynchus, for which the name “chocolate algae eater” was coined to promote sales, but which is mainly dressed by friendly grey tones. The 1-3 cm long juveniles of this species, which comes from India, or more precisely from the Khasi Hills on the edge of the Himalayas in northeastern India, are among the best algae eaters of all that are available for the aquarium. In this size the fish are very adaptable; in nature the pH-value of the waters fluctuates between pH 4.5 and 9 throughout the year and the water temperature can be 16-28°C, depending on the season. A fish that lives there must be correspondingly adaptable.
Unfortunately only the young are really good algae eaters. Adult specimens of practically all algae eaters need only little energy (young animals need a lot, they want to grow and algae are a low-nutrient food, therefore the diligence) and therefore adult algae eaters usually cover their nutrient requirements with the food of the other aquarium fish.
Our shipments of Garra lissorhynchus almost always contain other species of algae eaters as by-catch, mostly Garra gotyla and Tariqilabeo latius (formerly Crossocheilus latius). We cannot sort them without risking damage to the animals, so we leave that alone. Since all three species are equally excellent algae eaters, it doesn’t matter.
For our customers: Garra lissorhynchus has code 416261 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
After our excursion to the Rio Guaviare we went by boat in direction to Rio Inirida, up the river of the same name up to the Caño Bocón. The Caño Bocón is a small tributary of the Rio Inirida that carries black water. Leonell catches his fish here, which we later keep in our aquariums in Germany. But until the time comes, the fish are kept about three hours upstream at a collecting point in large outdoor ponds with fresh water supply. Many of the fish we know swim here in 26°C warm water with a pH value of 4.2 and 21 microsimens, such as Paracheirodon simulans (GERY, 1963), the blue neon or Crenuchus spilurus GÜNTHER, 1863, a magnificent tetra.
Puerto Inirida – harbourBoulengerella lateristriga (BOULENGER, 1895), Rio IniridaHydrolycus armatus (JARDINE, 1841), Rio Inirida
We used our stay at Caño Bocón to fish a smaller inflow, the Caño Jota in the estuary area. This small inflow had everything what one imagines from a small jungle creek, if …yes, if there were not an infinite number of small blackflies that could make the life hell. Since we arrived here in the early afternoon, we only had to dress up thick until sunset to avoid being completely bitten. During the night and the following morning we had the opportunity to look for fish without blackflies. Since such places with lots of blackflies are not really popular, we drove down the Caño Bocón again towards Rio Inirida around noon.
Caño BocónHemiodus immaculatus KNER, 1858Brycon amazonicus (SPIX & AGASSIZ, 1829)
Dicrossus gladicauda SCHINDLER & STAECK, 2008Microglanis iheringi GOMES, 1946Caño JotaCrenuchus spilurus GÜNTHER, 1863 from the Caño JotaCollecting station at Caño Bocón, Roland Rietsch measuring water chemistryWater parameters at Caño BocónParacheirodon axelrodi (SCHULTZ, 1956)The catch of a fisherman on the Caño Bocón is examinedPterophyllum altum PELLEGRIN, 1903Monocirrhus polyacanthus HECKEL, 1840Chelonoidis denticulatus (LINNAEUS, 1766) a forest turtle in the village of Comunidad RemansoRoland Rietsch films in a clear water tributary to the Rio Inirida
The following day we reached the Comunidad Remanso at the Rio Inirida, there are the last foothills of the Guyana Shield. Three round granite rocks, the Cerro Mavicure, Mono & Pajarito form a natural obstacle for the Rio Inirida, with a big rapids. Here it was also possible to stay for three days to explore the surrounding area. We circumnavigated the Cerro Pajarito in a day trip and in the evening we fell in our hammocks from the manifold impressions of the day. A little above the rapids there is a small black water inflow of the Caño San Joaquin, which turned out to be an interesting fishing water for us. On the way back to Puerto Inirida, we made a short stop to climb the Cerro Mavicure and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the breathtaking landscape of the Guyana Shield. In Puerto Inrida we visited the export station of Leonell and accommodated our self-caught fish there.
View from Cerro Mavicure to the Cerro Mono & PajaritoView from Cerro Mavicure to the rapids of Rio IniridaCaño San JoaquinMesonauta insignis (HECKEL, 1840)Brycon falcatus MÜLLER & TROSCHEL, 1845 a common tetra in the regionApistogramma lineata MESA & LASSO, 2011, maleLonchogenys ilisha MYERS, 1927, a typical blackwater fish with large eyes from the Caño San JoaquinExport station in Puerto Inirida by Leonell, we get to choose fishExport station in Puerto Inirida, fish bags for the weekly transport to Bogota and Europe are preparedBryconops caudomaculatus (GÜNTHER, 1864) a common inhabitant of the Orinoco systemCollecting fishes at the Caño CocoHemiloricaria formosa (ISBRÜCKER & NIJSSEN, 1979)Dekeyseria scaphirhyncha (KNER, 1854)
We took the opportunity to look for interesting fish in Leonell’s ponds, which we could have sent to Germany with the fish we caught ourselves. The end of the really great fishing tour was at Caño Coco, which is a tributary of the Rio Atabapo and of course also hosts some of the species that are found there.
Our tourguide and fish collector Leonelland his son Camillo
A big thank you to Aquarium Glaser, as well as to Leonell, his son Camillo and our Indian boatman Kortez, without whom this tour would not have been possible.
The Burmese Dwarf Stickleback or Paradox Fish, Indostomus paradoxus is a tiny species, it becomes only 2-3 cm long and originates from the northern parts of Burma. The charming creature should be kept in single species tanks, so called nano-tanks fit perfectly. Indostomus are very peaceful against conspecifics, but they are too weak to compete with other species. The Paradox Fish feeds exclusively on small live food.
The species should be kept best at room temperature (18-22°C), the water should be medium hard to hard and the pH should be around 6.5 – 8. Despite its diminutiveness the fish is rather hardy and can live for a long time in aquaria. It has been bred occassionally already, females become larger than males, otherwise the sexes are difficult to distinguish. The Burmese Dwarf Stickleback breeds in caves like bamboo stems etc..
For our customers: the fish have code 421713 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Indostomus: means about “with a very tiny mouth”. paradoxus: means “very strange, paradox”.
For the first time we can offer a good number of German offspring of the freshwater stingray Potamotrygon orbignyi. Because of the extreme variability in colour this species, which was already scientifically described in 1855, is difficult to determine. The type specimen that Castelnau had at hand came from the Rio Tocantins in Brazil. As there are rays of this type in practically the whole of tropical South America east of the Andes, the question now is whether they all represent the same species, or whether they are in fact not just similar-looking but different animals.
The offsprings now show very nicely that the high colour variability, which is observed in imports, also occurs in the offsprings. From strongly patterned to almost monochrome ochre-coloured animals everything is represented. As a constant colour feature, a dark line behind the spiracle (i.e. the gill opening on the backside) shows up; possibly this inconspicuous detail plays a bigger role in the determination than was previously thought. After all, this colour feature is also visible in the drawing of the type specimen from 1855, which, as a dry preparation, hardly shows any colour features.
We got one single specimen of an extremely unusual ray from Peru; it is a female. In terms of colour, it is completely similar to a ray that is called P. sp. Mantilla and that we previously received from Paraguay (https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/potamotrygon-sp-mantilla-ray-en/). It may be a rare colour variation of the Potamotrygon tatianae, which was described in 2011 (this species was usually assigned to P. castexi before it was described and exported from Peru as “Otorongo” or “Tigrillo” ray). In any case this beautiful animal is a fish for people with a thirst for research and a very large aquarium, because it can be expected that the animal will reach a good 60 cm disc diameter.
Potamotrygon orbignyi belongs to the comparatively smaller species and reaches “only” about 35 cm disc diameter.
For our customers: the offspring of P. orbignyi have code 282673 and the Mantilla Ray code 282534 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
The genus Nimbochromis is probably best known to aquarists through the “sleeper”, N. livingstonii. All Nimbochromis species have a camouflage pattern of irregular brown spots. N. livingstonii uses this to imitate a decaying fish, because fish carrion look very similarly spotted. So the sleeper lies on his side on the ground and plays dead fish. Unsuspecting young fish that want to eat from the carrion are thus attracted and land in the stomach of the sleeper.
The animal received the name “sleeper” from the fishermen of Lake Malawi, who were able to observe the unusual lying around of the perch, which grows to over 20 cm in length, through the often crystal clear water of the lake. The sleeper is found seawide, local forms are not known in the hobby. Among each other the animals are quite aggressive, therefore they should be kept in as large groups as possible and with (robust and sufficiently large!) accompanying fish, but not with other Nimbochromis species, as the animals can hybridize.
Very interesting is that each sleeper has an individual spot pattern, possibly this prevents the prey fish from adapting to a certain enemy image, which would reduce the hunting success. In other Lake Malawi cichlids the body pattern is usually so constant that it can be used as a species characteristic.
For our customers: the animals have code 530003 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
This Corydoras belongs with 9-10 cm of total-length to the biggest and most splendid species of the genus at all. Both sexes develop, when they are sexually active, long dorsal fins. The males can be recognized by the additional long ventral fins. At the moment we have wonderful, fully grown, well settled animals in stock. More photos of sexually active animals can be found here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/corydoras_robustus_en/.
For our customers: the fish have code 244106 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
In the south of India and on the opposite island of Sri Lanka there is a small group of barb species that look very similar. All three are wonderful aquarium fish, one of them, the black ruby barb Pethia nigrofasciata, was already known and loved by our aquaristic grandfathers.
A second species, Pethia narayani, is so to speak the black ruby barb barb in orange and pinbk. Although it was scientifically described as early as 1937, this species, which is only known from the Cauvery River, Western Ghats, southern India, has always remained a rarity in the hobby.
The third species, P. bandula, which like B. nigrofasciata originates from Sri Lanka, is even rarer in the aquarium. This is a great pity, because this species is threatened with extinction in nature. It would therefore be desirable if more of these beautiful fish would be sold to ensure the survival of the species at least in the aquarium.
In nature the species inhabits an area of only 4 km2. Until recently, the main threat was the accumulation of pesticides from the rice fields in the area where the species occurs, now drought events due to climate change are added to this. It is to be feared that the species will become completely extinct in nature.
For a long time now, we have once again had Bandula barbs on offer, European bred ones. As they only give a hint of the beauty of adult animals, Ingo Seidel kindly (fame and honour for Ingo!) gave us a picture of an adult male.
For our customers: P. bandula has code 368903 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Species of Pseudacanthicus are also known under their popular name “cactus catfish”, for the species are very spiny and it is no good idea to catch a larger specimen with bare hands. Some species of Pseudacanthicus can reach one metre in length, but there are other species that grow up only to 25 cm. As a rule one must be aware that Pseudacanthicus become bigger than many other common aquarium fish. Larger specimens are quarrelsome against congeneers and so spacy tanks with a lot of hiding places are needed for Pseudacanthicus. On the other hand there are reports of successful breeding of some species in the aquarium. The fish are typical cave brooders. Male are more robust than females (they have especially a broader and heavier head) and have more spines during breeding season.
One of the most popular Pseudacanthicus is L114 which originates from the middle Rio Negro basin in Brazil. This cactus cat was thought to represent the described species Pseudacanthicus leopardus for a long time. However, the real P. leopardus originates from the border region of Brazil and Guyana. There are only very few catchers of ornamental fish in that region and so we are very proud that we were successful in importing a good number of the real P. leopardus in different sizes now. They were collected in the Takutu river that belongs to the system of the upper Rio Branco.
Compared with L114 the fish are much flatter and have a slighly different coloration.
Almost simultaneously the numbers L114 and LDA7 were given for the same fish in different magazines. Both numbers refer to the Pseudacanthicus from the middle Rio Negro. However, when the „real“ Pseudacanthicus leopardus appeared in the ornamental fish trade, the number LDA7 was used for that fish from then on. Despite this is „technically“ wrong, the number LDA7 as a popular name is very well established among hobbyists for Pseudacanthicus leopardus to distinguish it from the similar L114.
For our customers: the fish have code 26480-LDA 007-3 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply to the wholesale market.
The pygmy sunfish, Elassoma evergladei, is a real classic among the dwarf fish. Many generations of hobbyists already enjoyed keeping and breeding the tiny species. It is best kept in a small single species tank that should not be heated.
For our customers: the fish have code 404603 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
The dwarf-fish of the genus Sundadanio become only 1,5-2 cm long. They are strongly adapted to black water and require careful acclimatisation. Especially the parasite Piscinoodinum makes life difficult for the tiny fish and is also very difficult to detect on the small fish bodies. Once successfully acclimated, Sundadanio are surprisingly tough fellows that you can enjoy for many years.
For many years only one species was known, which found its way into the aquarium as Rasbora axelrodi, and in which different colour varieties were distinguished. In the meantime, there is a consensus that these are not variants, but independent species. Sundadanio retiarius of Borneo (Central Kalimantan) was known in the hobby as Rasbora axelrodi “Red” before its scientific naming. The males can be recognized by the black front anal fin rays, they also grow larger than the females. We currently have a good number of this rarity in stock.
For our customers: the animals have code 450513 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
In the past, the genus Cichlasoma included practically all the larger Central and South American cichlids, more than 200 species; currently there are only 16 species in the genus, all were cultivated and valued in the early days of aquarium science as Aequidens portalegrense. It is rarely possible to distinguish the 16 scientifically described Cichlasoma species with certainty, as they form numerous colour and local variants. If – as in the present case – the original location is unknown, one can only roughly indicate to which species the animals are closest.
The very beautiful Cichlasoma, which we can offer as offspring from a German breeder, were discovered by him in a pet shop; these animals were probably already bred. They are obviously the closest to the species Cichlasoma boliviense.
All Cichlasoma species in the narrower sense are comparatively tolerable, calm cichlids; the larger the aquarium, the less important are occasional digging and the very rare tantrums. C. boliviense grows to about 14 cm in length, but is already capable to breed when half grown. The species is temperature tolerant (20-28°C) and can be kept in any water that is suitable for drinking. The animals are open spawners and form a parent family. If a pair leads their offspring, there should be plenty of hiding places available for possible tankmates, because C. boliviense are very good parents who do not allow other fish to eat their cubs…
For our customers: the animals have code 641102 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
The small cichlid Biotodoma cupido – the species can attain a maximum length of about 12-15 cm, but is sexually mature already at 6-8 cm total length – is probably the species of cichlid with the widest distribution in Amazonia. However, experts are merrily discordant wether all the different looking populations represent only varieties of the same species or represent different species on their own.
May that be as it is: the specimens originating from the vicinity of Iquitos in Peru can be easily recognized by the large, bronce- or copper-colored spot that is exhibited by the male and that makes the fish very attractive. Females lack this spot and sometimes have also a differently-shaped dorsal spot. We have a video of our current import online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZFRAksTFew
The fish are very peaceful – except when they start breeding. Then the openbrooding species becomes very aggressive against tankmates. These fish prefer water with some current in the wild. Otherwise they are very adaptive and some populations of Biotodoma can be found even in tidal zones.
For our customers: the animals have code 634005 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Biotodoma: means “house of life”; formerly scientists believed the species would be mouthbrooding. cupido: after a Roman God of love.
Finally we have once again this beautiful killi as German offspring in our stock. The species grows 4-5 cm long.
Unfortunately, this magnificent killi is offered only very rarely. At the moment we have some of these offspring from the population Ijebu Ode (Nigeria, state of Ogun) in stock, fully colored and very colorful. This species is well suited for community aquariums with peaceful small fish (characins, barbs, catfish etc.).
For our customers: the fish have code 305312 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale. Only available in limited quantities!
If ichthyologists were superstitious, they would surely believe that Serrasalmus geryi was sent to them so that they would not despair. No other species of piranha can be identified at all stages of its life as reliably and unequivocally as this endemic (i.e. it occurs exclusively there) of the Rio Tocantins in Brazil. The reddish-brown eel-stripe makes S. geryi, which grows 20-25 cm long, unmistakable.
In nature this species, like probably most Serrasalmus species, is a rather solitary fin-eater. But there are some aquarists who successfully keep this piranha in groups and even breeding has been successful.
So a Piranha-fan known to us has maintained a functioning group S. geryi for several years, which was gradually brought together. The eight animals first swam together for about 2 years in a 1,000 litre, very elongated aquarium. Swarm behaviour could not be observed. Afterwards the animals were between 17 and 24 (!) cm long.
Spawning occurred when the fish had to be temporarily transferred to a much smaller tank for four weeks due to a hospital stay, in which NO water change was carried out over the period of four weeks. Apparently these piranhas spawn in nature under dry season conditions. Only one pair was involved in spawning (no external sex differences could be seen), no brood care was exhibited and the fish acted as free spawners.
Currently we have some very nice wild catches of this species of 10-12 cm length in stock.
For our customers: the animals have code 291904 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
The approximately 300 km long Nhamundá River, one of the smaller left hand tributaries of the Amazon, forms the border between the Brazilian states of Amazonas and Pará. Near the mouth of the Nhamundá River into the Amazon lies the city of Nhamundá. The estuary is basically a large lake district. One of these estuary lakes is Lago Tureré.
The Nhamundá discus have long been famous and sought-after aquarium fish. They differ from the majority of the other brown and blue discus in that males and females are often of different colours. There are especially many females here, which correspond more to the type of the brown discus and – especially in the front third of the body – show an intensive red coloration. Many males, however, correspond to the blue discus, often they are so-called Royal Blue. Although this distinction is not very sharp (there are also females of the blue type), it is striking and characteristic.
We currently have wonderful wild catches of the Nhamundá discus from Lago Tureré in our stock. The animals have grown perfectly and look like painted – a dream!
For our customers: the fish have code 731444 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
There is no „official“ paper that states in which genus this popular species from Venezuela should be placed in, but the catfish community agrees that it most probably is a member of the genus Hemiancistrus. Currently we have very nice youngsters of 3-4 cm length in stock, and some smaller as well as some larger specimens, too. The species attains a length over 25 cm. The fish have an individually differing pattern.
Keeping L128 is not difficult at all. However, one should use not too small tanks, as the fish attains a respecatble length. It is important to keep these suckers at comparatively high temperatures. The Orinoco river always has 28-33°C where they are collected. So water temperature should not fall below 25°C for longer periods.
For our customers: the fish have code 26480-L 128-1 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Within the genus Uaru only two species are scientifically distinguished at present: U. amphiacanthoides and U. fernandezyepezi. However, there are different local variants of U. amphiacanthoides, which differ in the size and position of the lateral spot. Right now we can offer wonderful, large and three-quarter sized wild catches from the Rio Negro in Brazil.
Additionally we have juvenile Uaru amphiacanthoides offspring. Only few cichlids change their colouring so drastically during growth as the triangle cichlid, Uaru amphiacanthoides. By the way, Uaru are close relatives of the discus cichlids and are very similar in behaviour. However, Uaru are mainly vegetarians.
For our customers: the offspring (4-6 cm) have code 688502, the wildcatch 12-15 cm have code 688516 and the wildcatch 16-20 cm have code 688518 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Banjo catfish (Bunocephalus) are very common in nature. That is why we always have them on offer. Mostly we call them Bunocephalus coracoideus, which may be correct in many cases. But if you look into such a swarm of banjo catfish you will notice that there are always other species in between. Usually they cannot be determined with reasonable effort and certainly not sorted, but it is very exciting to raise and observe a group of maybe 20 of these animals in the aquarium. Then you notice how variable in colouration these animals are, that there are clear differences in anatomy (especially the bone ridges along the middle of the back in front of the dorsal fin) and also that some species prefer much more to burry themselves in the sand in than others.
We currently have very nice banjo catfish from Colombia and Venezuela in stock.
For our customers: the animals have code 212903 (4-6 cm) and 212904 (5-8 cm) in stock. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Channa melanoptera from Indonesia belongs with a maximum length of 65 cm to the large Channa species from the species group around Channa marulius. Like all species of this group, C. melanoptera undergoes a drastic colour change from youth to adult. Right now we have lovely young animals of about 4-5 cm length in stock.
When buying them, you should consider the attainable final size. Even if in nature usually “only” 30-40 cm length is reached, the fish in the aquarium can grow up to record sizes because of the considerably longer life time in the aquarium, the better food supply and the good medical care. Juveniles in baby pattern are schooling fish, later they are solitary. However, Channa melanoptera, even as a semi-strong and sexually mature fish, is much less quarrelsome towards conspecifics than is known from many considerably smaller species.
For our customers: the animals have code 409141 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
One of the earliest fin changes to occur in goldfish is a doubling of the caudal fin, a mutation that occurs exclusively in the species „goldfish“. Simple goldfish with a double caudal fin are called Wakin.
The red-and-white fish is one of the most common and most beautiful colour variations of the goldfish. One calls red-white-colored animals Sarasa. The Sarasa-Wakin is also called Wakin Hoe Kim.
Wakin goldfish are also completely winter hardy here. One must consider however that the animals are bred in tropical Asia and are used to higher water temperatures (18-24°C). Therefore, they should be kept indoors until the water temperature in the pond is permanently above 16°C, unless the pond is heatable. In the autumn, the fish kept during the warm season in the pond will get used to the gradually sinking temperatures without any problems.
Wakin goldfish, just like the basic form, usually grow to 15-20 cm long, with a maximum length of approx. 30 cm.
For our customers: the animals have code 808702 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
Finally we could import one of the smallest fish species of the Amazon basin again: Nannostomus anduzei. They stay – including the tail fin – usually smaller than 2 cm. Our current import came via Manaus, so they are Brazilian animals; the specimens on which the original description was based came from the department Amazonas in Venezuela. Optically there is no difference between the Venezuelan and Brazilian animals. A detailed breeding report about these minature fish can be found here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/nannostomus-anduzei/
For our customers: the animals have code 271352 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
The most beautiful species of the Callichthyinae relationship is undoubtedly Dianema urostriatum. The striking black and white striped caudal fin indicates its origin: water coloured dark brown by humic substances. Here, fish that prefer to live in groups need signals that allow them to recognize themselves even in poor visibility. Cardinal tetras, which live in the same biotope, have their neon stripe, Dianema urostriatum the striped tail fin.
They are peaceful journeymen, that hardly become dangerous to other fish despite the stately size (over 10 cm); they have only a small mouth. They feed on every usual dry, frost and live-food for ornamental-fish; plants are not bothered. In contrast to most other related species, D. urostriatum much is on the move in the free water. The males build a foam-nest in the bredding season, similarly like the labyrinth-fish, and guard the spawn until the free-swimming of the young.
For our customers: the animals have code 251705 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
From the Guyana states (French Guiana, Guyana and Surinam) there are for various reasons hardly any commercial ornamental fish exports. The ornamental fish originating there, e.g. the glow-light tetra, are therefore practically exclusively traded as bred specimens. This is also true for Ancistrus leucostictus, which was brought back from a tributary of the Mazaruni River near its confluence with the Essequibo River by traveling aquarists in 2000.
In the same year the breeding of the comparatively small species (10-12 cm total length, the bristle-bearing males on the photos are about 6 cm long) succeeded and since then the animal is maintained and bred in aquaria. Also our specimens are German offspring. Usually, this bristlenose catfish shows up with uniformly black basic coloring and white points. Excited specimens (in our pictures slightly annoyed by the obtrusive photographer) show bright zones and a pattern in the form of a lying 8 on the front back. These patterns disappear when the animals dream away the day in their favourite hiding place…
For our customers: the animals have code 204452 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
From Peru we have received extremely pretty knife fish of the species Steatogenys elegans. The genus Steatogenys comprises three species, which are all zebra-like striped. With a total length of approximately 20 cm, they remain comparatively small, only S. ocellatus clearly becomes bigger with 30 cm. The three species are very similar in color. One can distinguish them best on the basis of the anal-fin-coloring. S. elegans has a largely colourless anal fin, this fin is strongly marbled in S. duidae and dark in S. ocellatus with light spots along the belly.
Steatogenys are considered comparatively peaceful among each other and against other fish. They mainly feed on small invertebrates such as mosquito larvae, crustaceans or worms.
Around the mouth the animals show extremely pronounced sensory pits. With this, they can still perceive the electrical activity of the muscle activity of a wriggling worm. The eyes are overgrown with a fine skin and not very functional. This clearly shows that these knife fish, which are found in nature in the Terra firme forests of the entire Amazonas and Orinoco river basin, do not seek and find their food optically but sensory.
For our customers: the animals have code 293804 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
The magnificent licorice gouramis (Parosphromenus) are among the most threatened fish species on earth. This is due to the extensive destruction of the environment in their habitats. Most of the currently 20 scientifically described species have only been discovered in the last 40 years thanks to aquarium science, as the licorice gouramis differ mainly in colour. A determination of most species is hardly possible without the breeding colouration of the males.
An exception in this respect is the P. paludicola from the Malay peninsula, which was described as the second species of the genus in 1952. This species is anatomically and ecologically so clearly separated from other licorice gouramis that it could almost be placed in a subgenus of its own. In contrast to all other Parosphromenus species, which are adapted to extremely acid black water with pH values between 3.5 and 4.5, this species also occurs in almost neutral water. Due to its comparatively low requirements, the species P. paludicola is also recommended for beginners in Paro care and breeding.
At the moment we have very nice wild catches of this species from the surroundings of Narathiwat in Thailand in stock. The trade with wild catches of such species does not endanger the wild stocks, as scientific studies clearly show. If at all the trade has only a positive influence on the natural populations, because the endangered habitats of the animals are possibly protected, if a certain income of the local human population can be obtained from it; otherwise the swamps are drained and oil palm plantations are created, which leads to the complete extinction of the original fauna and flora there.
Wild catches also provide insights into the variance of such species, an important prerequisite for species conservation programmes. Among the animals we currently imported are a few with a spot on the flank, which is so far unknown to P. paludicola; we are documenting this phenomenon here for the first time.
For our customers: the animals have code 441139 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
For the first time we received this splendid snakehead in the year 2011. It obviously represents a species unknown to science so far. I reminds one strongly to the far spread and variety rich species C. gachua, but the “Fireback” is much bigger, reaching 15 -20 cm (some sources give even 25 cm), it lacks the stripes in the pectoral fins, which are so characteristical for gachua and of course the “Fireback” has the broad, bright orange seams in the dorsal and the caudal fin that are responsible for its popular name. The geographical part of the popular name is misleading, the species originates from northern Thailand.
This species is – like all members of the C. gachua relationship – a mouthbrooder with biparental broodcare. Males and females can be distinguished best by a look from above. The males have a much broader head than the females.
With the exception of the breeding season these snakeheads are strictly solitary fish and keeping them together with other fish – it does not matter whether these fish are conspecifics or belong to a completely different group of fish – is always a high risk. Channa sp. Laos Fireback are large, predatory fish that need substantial food, like feeder fish, earthworms, mealworms, crickets and so on.
For our customers: the fish have code 409394 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Channa: ancient Greek, means “snapper”, probably referring to the airbreathing. gachua: after a native name for the fish in Bengal.
Some aquarium fish are more of a pet than just an observation object. They grow larger than usual and communicate with their keeper. It is often not clear who is observing whom more intensively: the vertebrate in front of the aquarium or the one behind it. Datnioides quadrifasciatus clearly belongs to this category of fish. With a maximum length of 30-40 cm (although most specimens in nature only grow to around 20 cm) they are large fish for large aquaria. The water for this species should be hard and above all, the pH-value should be above 8, as these tiger perches also often occur in brackish water and tolerate soft, acidic water only very badly.
These predatory fish become so tame that they take food (preferably frozen, whole fish of suitable size) from the forceps. They also eat them from the fingers, but with larger specimens this can be painful…
More recently, D. quadrifasciatus, which we import from Vietnam, has been synonymized with D. polota from India. We do not follow this view, because Datnioides polota from India differs significantly in colour from our Vietnamese. However, the name D. quadrifasciatus is not available in a scientific sense due to the current zoological nomenclature rules, so that it has to be assumed that in case of a revision of the tigerfish a name change will be necessary.
For our customers: the animals have code 414104 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
The Bolivian dwarf cichlid Apistogramma rubrolineata is one of the true rarities in the trade. The species was only discovered in 2001 and scientifically described in 2002. The scientific name of the species refers to the seven brown-red longitudinal stripes that this species has. However, they are to be seen in full expression only in certain moods in dominant males. In the normal case, these fish look like on the photos. They are very pretty animals, which we can offer currently as German offspring in excellent quality.
For our customers: the animals have code 628053 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
Text Frank Schäfer, photos Frank Schäfer & Dieter Bork
Breeding marbled swordtails with red basic colour is a challenge. With the “Tiger”, which we can offer for the first time, this goal has succeeded. In every “tiger” the body spotting is individually different. So far that type of swordtails were offered almost exclusively with whitish body-basic-coloring (then one calls them Marble). Many of the black scales have a blue glimmer (in breeder circles one calls that the “mirror”) what shines splendidly and glitters with lateral incident light. In the age, the black coloring of these sword-bearers increases more and more. They are beautiful animals, which a German breeder could deliver to us.
For our customers: the animals have code 420409 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Benitochromis are closely related to the Pelvicachromis species and can be compared regarding the aquarium biology quite good with these peaceful and colorful cichlids. In contrast to Pelvicachromis, which are cave brooders, Benitochromis are biparental, ovophilous mouthbrooders. This means that both parents take care for eggs and fry; eggs and fry are given from parent to parent several times per day. The eggs are taken in the mouth immediately after spawning (= ovophilous).
There is no common name for this species – which originates from Cameroon, our fish are German bred ones – so far; due to the pretty yellow lips and throat we suggest “Golden Throated King Cichlid”.
For our customers: the fish have code 503062 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
The high number of varierties of Corydoras in the upper Rio Negro is very confusing and even Corydoras experts in some cases have great difficulty in addressing the very similar species. A controversial species from the beginning is Corydoras crypticus, which was described together with C. amandajanea in 1995. The main difference between C. crypticus and this species is the shorter body and the lack of spots.
Recently we have received one of the very rare consignments of C. crypticus. On closer inspection, two types of different appearance can be distinguished, namely saddle-nosed, slightly slimmer fish and long-snouted, slightly higher-backed animals. The research revealed that the latter were recently assigned the CW number 157. However, the differentiation between CW 157 and C. crypticus is tricky and rather a matter of feeling, as we had to find out during sorting.
For our customers: Corydoras crypticus has code 226604, CW 157 code 226634 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
One of the most coveted Corydoras is the saddle-nosed Corydoras serratus from the upper Rio Negro area in Brazil. Because the saddle-nosed Corydoras are rather loners in contrast to the long- and round-nosed Corydoras, they cannot be collected in larger numbers. This and the fact that these fish were sometimes paid incredible prices in Japan made them top rarities in the ornamental fish market for a long time.
There are some breeders of these beautiful fish. It is interesting to note that the offspring are quite different in colour. Although the breeder breeds exclusively with animals that visually correspond to the ideal of C. serratus (with a broad dorsal bandage from the base of the dorsal fin to the tail), there are also specimens among their offspring that have a vertical strip under the dorsal fin instead of a continuous dorsal bandage.
Such a variance has also been observed in wild catches, but the uncertainty remained as to whether these were not other, closely related species. This question could be clarified clearly by the offspring.
We have now once again received fully grown wild catches of this beautiful catfish. They show the already mentioned variance in colouring, but most of them have the wide and long back strip.
For our customers: the animals have code 245614 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
The number of known mouthbrooding fighting fish has virtually exploded in the last 30 years. From around 10 species known in the early 1980s, the number has risen to well over 70. It is hardly possible to keep track of all of them, especially as many variants are already known in the hobby, but not scientifically determined.
Betta apollon was named in 2006 and comes from forest streams in the hilly country west of Narathiwat in Thailand. It belongs to the immediate relationship of Betta pugnax. The species was named after the Greek god Apollon, who stands for beauty and elegance among other things – an aptly chosen name for the only 4-5 cm (standard length without tail fin) long, peaceful species, which we can now offer as a wild catch.
For our customers: the animals have code 376503 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
The striped panchax (Aplocheilus lineatus) from South India has been inspiring generations of aquarists for over 100 years. Its magnificent coloration compensates for its sometimes quarrelsome temperament. One should not keep the striped panchax together with too tender fish, very small fish are also eaten by the up to 10 cm long animal. But with medium-sized barbels, catfish and labyrinth fish the care is problem-free and here the striped panchax is a perfect tankmate for the upper water layers.
In the last years mainly the golden cultivated form of the striped panchax was in the trade, we have now once again received wild-colored fish, which are really beautiful and for better differentiation from the golden ones are called “Red”.
For our customers: the animals have code 303603 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
The dwarf Surinam toad (Pipa parva) from Venezuela is a real rarity in the aquarium. We have a breeder who can occasionally offer us some of them. At first sight the nice animals remind us of dwarf clawed frogs (Hymenochirus), but you can always tell them apart from them by the branched fingertips – typical for all Pipa species.
The eggs of all Surinam toads develop, after they have been laid and fertilized, in the back skin of the female, which completely grows over the eggs. In the case of the Great Surinam toad (Pipa pipa and closely related species), fully developed young frogs hatch from the back skin, while in the case of the dwarf Surinam toad it is tadpoles that break through the mother’s back skin and begin an independent life. The tadpoles have a broad mouth and feed on plankton animals (freshly hatched Artemia nauplii in the aquarium).
One should maintain and breed Pipa parva with water-temperatures between 26 and 28°C. The dwarf Surinam toad is easy to feed with all kinds of frozen food for ornamental fish, many specimens also get used to granulated food. Very important is the complete covering of the aquarium, otherwise the Surinam toads go sooner or later on wanderings, which usually ends fatally in an apartment.
For our customers: the animals have code 485964 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
The checkerboard dwarf cichlids (Dicrossus) belong to the most beautiful of all dwarf cichlids. However, they are very demanding concerning the chemical water composition, at least when it comes to breeding. Then they need almost distilled water with a pH value around 5. Any bacterial load is only poorly tolerated. For this reason, Dicrossus are only very rarely reproduced by professional breeders, for the high amount of work required is hardly rewarded in the trade.
Now, however, we have received truly wonderful, fully grown German offspring from D. maculatus. Of course the animals are not cheap, but their colourfulness justifies the price. The males are more than twice as big as the females. One should keep this species, as in nature, in a harem association, i.e. per male with 3-7 females.
For our customers: the fish have code 668514 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
This in the DATZ 12/05 newly introduced very beautiful Hypancistrus variant is currently available in small quantities. The animals remind in their habitus of L 333 and are sometimes confused with them.
All in all L401 are more dainty, somewhat more stretched and reach only a total-length of maximum 12 cm, while L 333 can reach 16 cm of total-length. However, the most conspicuous difference is to be seen in the golden-yellow ground-color on which a dark brown line-pattern looms. In the English-speaking area and in Japan, they are known under the name “golden mega clown zebra” due to this coloring.
In respect of maintanace, they hardly differ from other Hypancistrus species. They like a diet with a carnal emphasis, but are not averse to occasional cucumber or courgette gifts. With good water hygiene, temperatures above 27°C and a high oxygen content they can be well cared for. They make no special demands on the chemical-physical properties of the water. They could be bred by the author at pH 7,9, DGH 12, KH 6 and a conductivity of 350mS. The young fish grow slowly and seem to be somewhat more sensitive than young L 333.
For our customers: the animals have code 26480-L 401-2 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
Why the Oscar is called the Oscar? Honestly, we don’t know that for sure. But what is certain is that the name originated in the USA. In 1936, an essay by E. W. Clarke about Astrontus appeared in the journal “The Aquarium”. In 1949 Gene Wolfsheimer reported in „The Aquarium Journal“ that the aquarists in California called Astronotus cichlids Oscars (Wayne Leibel, Aquarium USA Annual 2001). But it is also conceivable that the word “Oscar” is a corruption of the scientific name (Astronotus) or the Tupi word for all possible larger cichlids “Acara”. Tupi is the language of the people living in Brazil before the Europeans arrived in America.
The Oscar is despite its stately size – it can become over 45 cm long and 1,5 kg heavy, although such giants are very rare; usually, Oscars become 25-30 cm long – a popular aquarium-fish. Only few species of fish unite so splendid colors and so much charisma, besides, Oscars, at least for fish-continuances, are rather intelligent and are clearly more pet than aquarium-fish sometime.
We have just some very beautiful, 12-15 cm big Oscars of different colors in the stock, that spent their youth in a garden-pond in Southern France and grew up to powerful adolescents. We have no information whether they became special friends of the film “Oscar” with Luis des Funes during their time in France.
For our customers: the animals have code 632906 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers
In the black water of Sundaland (Indonesia, Malay Peninsula) you will find many wonderful aquarium fish like chocolate gouramis, harlequin barbs and kuhli loaches. However, these are only the best known; the numerous species of small and colourful barbs and rasboras, for example, are only known by a few.
Among them is Trigonopoma pauciperforatum (formerly Rasbora pauciperforata), which we have once again received from Indonesia, one of the prettiest. In fact, the fish, usually up to 4 cm long (some literature say up to 7 cm), looks like a twin species of the glow-light tetra (Hemigrammus erythrozonus) from the Essequibo River in Guyana, although the muzzle of T. pauciperforatum is much more pointed and the adipose fin is missing.
For our customers: the animals have code 452602 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
The eastern Atlantic from Portugal to Angola, is the origin of the fiddler crab Afruca tangeri, where it inhabits sand and mangrove coasts. We obtain the animal from Nigeria. The to an enormous size grown major claw of the males is remarkable. It is used for attracting the females and for the fight between rivaling males.
In their periodically flooded habitat they inhabit muddy burrows, which they leave at ebb-tide for the intake of food. As omnivores they are not discriminating anything and feed on nearly each organic matter the sea is offering them. With the domestic care, frosted and granulated food can be fed, also different fruits and vegetables. For maintenance it should be tried to imitate their habitat, i.e. a land part with sand and gravel and a water part filled with brackish water should be present in the aquarium. Some hiding places give them retreat possibilities.
For our customers: the animals have code 489603 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Shortly after the first import of Argonectes longiceps we were able to import another feather tetra, which has not yet been seen, at least by us: Hemiodus thayeria. This beautiful, elegant fish comes from the border area of Brazil and Colombia at the Rio Negro. The type specimen was already collected in 1925 by Carl Ternetz, but only in 1955 by James Böhlke worked on and named it, because the feather tetras are – from a systematic point of view – a quite complicated group. Very similar to H. thayeria are H. tocantinensis and H. ternetzi, but in both the dark longitudinal stripe begins directly behind the eye.
In the aquarium, H. thayeria show up as very peaceful and amazingly calm representatives of their genus, whose species are known to be somewhat shy and sometimes even tend to panic reactions. The very big eye and the reddish zone over the nose-back are remarkable. Obviously, both characteristics serve the species-recognition, because in the photo tank, both specimens were very interested in their mirror-picture; in the photo tank, a small pocket-mirror is installed in order to animate cichlids to mirror-fights; other fish, above all tetra and barbs ignore their mirror-picture usually, Hemiodus thayeria are a very noteworthy exception in this context.
Our animals are currently between 5 and 8 cm long, according to literature the species becomes about 9 cm long without the caudal fin, which is a total length of about 11 cm.
For our customers: the animals have code 258223 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
There are several species of Corydoras, which even pronounced specialists are not able to distinguish. In such cases it might be useful to speak of species groups instead of species. One such example is the species group around Corydoras elegans in the narrower sense, which includes C. elegans, C. napoensis, C. nanus and several C- and CW-numbers. What they all have in common is that the males and females are completely different in colour during the breeding season. In addition, these species swim more frequently in open water than other Corydoras.
In wild catches, a distinction is usually made between Corydoras elegans (widespread in Amazonia), in which the sexually active males have bands in the dorsal fin, and C. napoensis (Peru, Rio Napo), in which the sexually active males have a black dot in the dorsal fin; there are usually no imports from the distribution area of C. nanus (Suriname) and the various C- and CW-numbers. Based on the characteristic of the dorsal fin coloration, the beautiful Corydoras we have currently in our stock from Peru are C. elegans.
For our customers: the animals have code 229054 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
Gambuses don’t have a good reputation in aquaristics. They are considered grey, quarrelsome and difficult fish. This is not completely wrong, especially when it comes to the worldwide plague Gambusia holbrooki. But few aquarists realize that there are 45 different species of Gambusia and it is very unfair to use the same comb for all of them.
Gambusia hurtadoi is a pretty and quite peaceful species. Unfortunately, it belongs to the endangered fish species, because it only exists in a single area of less than 4 km2 in Mexico. There it colonizes a pond called El Ojo de Haicenda Delores and its drains. The pond is used as a recreational area and swimming pool. In addition, too much groundwater is taken in the area, which can quickly lead to the disappearance of this animal forever.
There are still quite good aquarium stocks of this Gambusia, but of course such a fish is not for common aquariums, but belongs to the attentive care of connoisseurs and experts who appreciate the pretty creature.
For our customers: the little fishes have code 416211 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
After longer time we could import again the beautiful Chaetostoma sp. L455 Tiger from Peru. Generally speaking, Chaetostoma species do not stand out because of their attractive colors, but this species makes a clear exception – at least the males. The females are colored considerably simpler. Some specimens show a red coloration in the tail fin, whose intensity seems to be mood-dependent however.
For our customers: the animals have code 26480-L 455-4 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
When trying to identify piranhas, one often pokes in the dark. The differences between juvenile and adult forms are dramatic, both in terms of physical and color characteristics. Over the decades that we have imported young piranhas from all parts of South America, some characteristics have proved to be quite reliable in combination: 1- is a dark pigmented shoulder spot (= humeral spot) present or not? 2 – Are dark bands present in the caudal fin and where do they run (e.g. at the edge of the fin, through the fin or at the base); 3 – the colour of the iris (red or brass). With these few characteristics the species can be limited quite well.
Serrasalmlus sanchezi was only scientifically described in 1964. The type was found in Peru (“Caño yarina”, on the bank of the River Pacaya, tributary of the Puinahua Canal, arm of the lower Rio Ucayali). Now we have received 5-8 cm long piranhas from the Brazilian state of Pará, which best correspond to S. sanchezi in their combination of characteristics. However, since the region of origin is quite far from Ucayali (approx. 2,000 km), we have decided to call them S. cf. sanchezi “Pará”. S. hollandi has a very similar pattern, but has a much duller head profile. S. hollandi comes from the river system of the Rio Madeira.
With about 15 cm final size (this information comes from the scientific literature) S. sanchezi remains quite small; it is a very aggressive species, which is best cared for individually.
For our customers: the animals have code 292863 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
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