Author Archives: Frank Schäfer

Wakin goldfish Hoe Kim

27. January 2020

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.

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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.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Nannostomus anduzei

24. January 2020

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/

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For our customers: the animals have code 271352 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Dianema urostriatum

24. January 2020

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.

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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.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Ancistrus leucostictus

22. January 2020

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.

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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.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Steatogenys elegans

20. January 2020

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. 

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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.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Parosphromenus paludicola

17. January 2020

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.

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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.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Channa sp. Laos Fireback

17. January 2020

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.

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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.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Datnioides quadrifasciatus

15. January 2020

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.

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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.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Apistogramma rubrolineata

20. December 2019

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.

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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

Xiphophorus hellerii “Tiger”

20. December 2019

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.

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For our customers: the animals have code 420409 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Benitochromis riomuniensis

18. December 2019

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).

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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.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Corydoras crypticus and Corydoras cf. crypticus CW 157

16. December 2019

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. 

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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.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Corydoras serratus

13. December 2019

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.

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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.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Betta apollon

13. December 2019

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.

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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.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Aplocheilus lineatus RED

11. December 2019

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.

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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.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Pipa parva

9. December 2019

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.

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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.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Dicrossus maculatus xxl German Bred

6. December 2019

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.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Hypancistrus spec. L 401

6. December 2019

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.

Text: Klaus Diehl, photos: Frank Schäfer

Astronotus ocellatus Oscars 12-15 cm Mixed Colour

4. December 2019

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

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Trigonopoma pauciperforatum

2. December 2019

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.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Afruca (formerly: Uca) tangeri

27. November 2019

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.

Photos: F. Schäfer, text: K. Diehl

Hemiodus thayeria

25. November 2019

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.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Corydoras elegans “Peru”

22. November 2019

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.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Gambusia hurtadoi

22. November 2019

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.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Chaetostoma sp. L455 Tiger

20. November 2019

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.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Serrasalmus cf. sanchezi “Pará”

18. November 2019

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

Gnathocharax steindachneri

15. November 2019

In the natural habitat of the cardinal tetra food sources are very scarce. So it is really astonishing how many species can exist there. However, many of them stay very small. Good luck for the aquarium hobby, for they all make very good ornamental species!

Even a predatory species of that biotope is such a dwarf: Gnathocharax steindachneri. It attains a maximum length of only 5 cm and belongs to the closer relationship to the freshwater barracudas (Acestrorhynchus), what is clearly visibly by the structure of the fangs and teeth. However, Gnathocharax is not dangerous for other fishes larger than approx. 1 cm. Most probably the species feeds on fish and insect larvae in the wild.

Currently we were able once more to import this most interesting, sadly only rarely offered species of tetra. It is perfectly suitable for community tanks with cardinals and other tetras. Here Gnathocharax loves to swim along with conspecifics in the upper third of the water column. The fish feed readily on any type of usual fish food, even dry food is taken from the very first day on, despite the specialized dentition.

For our customers: the fish have code 254653 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Gymnogeophagus caaguazuensis

15. November 2019

We have received beautiful wild collectes animals of this larvophile maternal mouth-breeding cichlid from Paraguay (i.e. the female incubates the larvae in her mouth, while the animals spawn on stones etc. and take care for the eggs here like open-breeding cichlid until they hatch). With only scarcely 9 cm of standard length (with tail fin thus at most 12 cm in total length), Gymnogeophagus caaguazuensis is one of the smallest species of the genus. We can offer it in two sizes: 5-8 cm (hardly sexually mature), 8-12 cm (showsize).

For our customers: the fish have code 676752 (5-8 cm) and 676754 (8-12 cm) on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Laetacara dorsigera Wild

11. November 2019

Finally, after several years, we received again beautiful wild collected specimens of this charming dwarf cichlid from Paraguay. Males become around 8 cm, females about 6 cm long. The species is very pretty even in “normal” mood, but when they come in breeding condition they get a lilac colored throat that makes them even more attractive!

For our customers: the animals have code 605002 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Argonectes longiceps

8. November 2019

We could import a quite unusual tetra for the first time in some specimens from Colombia: Argonectes longiceps. Although the species is inconspicuously colored, it looks quite attractive with its black and white tail fin pattern. They are peaceful animals which, in contrast to the closely related Hemiodus species, have a normal, i.e. horizontal swimming posture, while Hemiodus typically swim with their heads upwards. With their small mouths Argonectes pick up food particles from the ground, the feeding with frost and dry food does not cause any problems. The maximum length given in the scientific literature is approx. 25 cm standard length (without caudal fin).

For our customers: the animals have code 208094 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers. Only available in small quantities!

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Betta simorum

8. November 2019

We can just offer wonderful, full-grown German offspring of the largest bubblenest building fighting fish: Betta simorum. The animals reach a standard length (without caudal fin) of over 7 cm with a very slender body, i.e. almost 9 cm with caudal fin. Betta simorum occurs in the black water swamps of the province Jambi on Sumatra, in Riau province, and in West Kalimantan (Borneo) near Pontiak. The species is very closely related to Betta bellica, which also occurs on Sumatra (although in the Medan area), but whose main distribution area is in Malaysia. Both species can hardly be kept apart optically.

Betta simorum needs soft and acidic, ideally slightly brownish water and temperatures of 26-28°C in order to develop optimally and show beautiful colours. Among each other these fighting fish, like most wild forms, are relatively peaceful. In a well-structured aquarium with a lot of dead wood, dead leaves on the bottom and rich vegetation the fish are a show. The Rasbors living in such biotopes, like the harlequin barb (Trigonostigma heteromorpha), Rasbora kalochroma etc., are particularly suitable for community tanks with B. simorum. Pearl gourami (Trichogaster leerii) are also very suitable.

For our customers: the animals have code 387813 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Xiphophorus maculatus “Belize Purple”

6. November 2019

The wild type of the “normal” Platys (Xiphophorus maculatus) is cared for as good as never in the aquarium. This is partly due to the fact that “the” wild type of the Platy does not exist at all, but a large number of colour variants, which partly only occur locally, but partly also in different populations. Already between 1912 and 1934 different such colour variants were imported and bred in the aquarium, so “pulchra” (= the beautiful one), “rubra” (= the red one), “nigra” (= the black one) or “cyanellus” (= the blue one). The fact that these are not independent species, but only colour variations, is made clear by the fact that several variants often occur at the same locality. These colour variants form the basis for the many Platy breeding forms that exist today in the aquarium.

Despite the many breeding forms, wild types are desirable and interesting fish, because they show us the breeding choice of nature, not the taste of human breeders. One such wild form is the Belize Purple, which Harry Grier collected in 2003 at a place called “Kate´s Lagoon” on the Belize River.  There do occur four colour variants: body red (br), which are the “Belize Purple”, but also spotted dorsal (sd), iridescent blue (blue) and wild type body (+). The abbreviations in brackets indicate the genetic code used internationally by Platy researchers.

Belize Purple is pure breeding, both sexes show the unusual red coloration, but it is more intense in the males. According to our breeder, the colours of older fish become even more intense!

For our customers: the animals have code 476568 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Trigonostigma heteromorpha

4. November 2019

What can we say about the harlequin barb (Trigonostigma heteromorpha) that hasn’t been said 1,000 times already? It is simply one of the most beautiful and proven aquarium fish of all. And also when looking at it 1.001 times is a pleasure to see it. If they didn’t exist, they would have to be invented! We have especially pretty German offspring in stock right now.

For our customers: the animals have code 452503 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Tanichthys breeding form linni veiltail XXL

1. November 2019

The white cloud mountain minnow (Tanichthys albonubes) has not disappeared from the aquariums since its discovery in 1932. In nature, however, the species is threatened with extinction. Since no wild fish are collected because of its easy breeding ability, nobody noticed this for decades. The reason for the danger in nature is, as always, the destruction of the habitat, in this case the deforestation of the forests.

A particularly pretty, long-finned breeding-form is called “Tanichthys linni” in the trade, a pure fantasy-name without scientific meaning. One of our suppliers breeds this form for us and occasionally supplies it in XXL size. These are really magnificent animals!

For our customers: the fish have code 458004 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Apistogramma atahualpa

1. November 2019

Before its scientific description this beautiful species of dwarf cichlid from Peru was known in the hobby as the „Sunset-Apistogramma“. And in fact the body coloration of a female during brood care reminds one in a sunset. The scientific name, atahualpa, refers to the last great ruler of the Inka empire: Atahualpa. He was captured by the Spain Pizarro in 1532 and in 1533 executed; this was the sunset of the Inka empire.

Currently we obtain beautiful wild collected specimens of A. atahualpa.

For our customers: the animals have code 614913 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Corydoras polystictus and C. albolineatus

31. October 2019

We currently have two rarely available species of Corydoras in stock, which look very similar to each other: Corydoras polystictus and C. albolineatus. The former has a wide distribution in southern South America, while the latter was discovered comparatively late and described from the Rio Itanez in Bolivia. However, our specimens come from the Brazilian side of the same river called Rio Guaporé in Brazil. The only well recognizable difference between C. polystictus and C. albolineatus lies in the whitish, vertical line below the dorsal fin in C. albolineatus, to which the name also refers (albus: white, lineatus: striped).

Coryd

Both types reach approximately 4,5 cm of length, are very pretty and peaceful fish, that one should not care too warmly (22-24°C, occasionally calmly also somewhat cooler).

For our customers: C. polystictus has code 241002, C. albolineatus code 221533 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Moenkhausia celibela

28. October 2019

For over 150 years a small tetra is known in science, that is placed due to the scaltion of the tail fin at present into the genus Moenkhausia, under the name M. lepidura. The species differs from all other Moenkhausia species, it was thought, by the coloration of the tail fin, in the upper half of which there is a black spot, while the lower half is colorless.

Only in 2016 Marhino & Langeani showed that there are several species with this pattern. They found out that the “real” M. lepidura can be recognized by a special feature in the scalation. On the back of M. lepidura the edges of the scales of the flanks meet directly against each other (like in a house of cards), while in other, similar species an additional row of scales forms a ridge, so to speak. On a photo of this post, in which the fish is taken frontally, this can be seen well.

We have now received from Colombia a Moenkhausia species of this species complex, which cannot be M. lepidura due to back scalation. If one follows the identification key of Marhino & Langeani, it is most probably M. celibela, but there is also much similarity to M. mikia. Of course, we can never completely rule out that this is a scientifically not yet recorded, new species. By the way, our fish are extremely similar in colour to a scientifically undescribed Bryconops species from the Rio Xingu in Brazil. However, Bryconops species have long anal fins, comparatively larger eyes and a completely different swimming behaviour.

For our customers: the animals have code 268663 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Literature:

Marinho, M. M., & F. Langeani (2016). Reconciling more than 150 years of taxonomic confusion: the true identity of Moenkhausia lepidura, with a key to the species of the M. lepidura group (Characiformes: Characidae). Zootaxa, 4107 (3), 338-352.

Satanoperca lilith

25. October 2019

This beautiful cichlid from Brazil is only very rarely imported. Currently we can offer some specimens in perfect size.

Despite the frightening name o the fish Satanoperca lilith is a very peaceful and reserved species, it can be even a bit shy. Maximum length reported for the fish is around 20-25 cm, our specimens are currently 8-10 cm  and not yet sexually differentiated.

All species of Satanoperca are closely associated to sandy bottom. The tank for these fish should contain fine sand under all circumstances. This substratum is chewed through the whole day for food particles. S. lilith lives in black water, so it prefers soft and acidic milieu, which must be poor in bacteria.

To the best of our knowledge Satanoperca has not been bred in aquaria yet. However, it is very likely the the fish are hollow breeders like their closest relative, S. daemon. The sexes look alike in respect of coloration. The best way to distinguish the sexes are the ventral fins which are in males much longer (in specimens of comparable size). Moreover, the attractive filaments of the dorsal fin are more developed in males.

For our customers: the fish have code 687564 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in very limited numbers only.

Lexicon: Satanoperca: means “Devil perch”. lilith: this is the name of a female demon, the companion of the devil. demon: means “demon”.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Hyphessobrycon hexastichos

25. October 2019

This pretty tetra is a double of the very similarly colored species Moenkhausia agnesae. It remains however with 5,5 cm length smaller than M. agnesae, which becomes nearly 7 cm long. In addition, H. hexastichos, which occurs exclusively in the upper catchment area of the Rio Tapajós in Brazil, is not as quarrelsome as M. agnesae.

We have now received again a small number of German offspring of this beautiful rarity. 

For our customers: the animals have code 261153 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Microglanis carlae

23. October 2019

Usually the „typical“ catfish with long barbels become quite big and are therefore also called “predatory catfish” in the hobby. The lovers of these animals therefore have really large aquariums to care for their favourite fish. However, there is a species from South America, more precisely from Paraguay, which is truly also suitable for nano aquariums, since so far no specimens have been known from the wild that were larger than about 4 cm: Microglanis carlae. With about 2.5 cm length (without tail fin) the little animals are already sexually mature.

We could just import a number of these pretty catfish from Paraguay.

For our customers: the animals have code 268132 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Tropheus duboisi

21. October 2019

Tropheus duboisi are the “somewhat different” Tropheus. While the remaining species of the genus Tropheus are hectic, in groups living, always quarreling swimmers, T. duboisi are at least in the nature rather singulary living fish, who are found occasionally also in pairs. They are clearly calmer and also considerably less aggressive than the other Tropheus. Adult animals are blue-black with a cream-colored or yellow, vertical bandage. The young are quite delightful and often let also non-cichlidiots become weak. They look like little goblins, pitch black with a white starry sky pattern. Like all Tropheus species, this one also originates from Lake Tanganyika.

For our customers: the animals have code 580502 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Metynnis fasciatus

18. October 2019

This beautiful fish, a serrasalmid and thus a relative of piranhas a pacus, is still enigmatic for scientists. The species Metynnis fasciatus has been described on the basis of a young fish from Brazil (Rio Capiru). The type specimen is regarded as lost. The species is identical with M. hypsauchen in all respects exept the coloration in young specimens. In M. fasciatus a pattern of regular and bold stripes exist which is lacking usually in M. hypsauchen. Until now no adult specimens with a regular stripe pattern is known to scientists and it was thought that M. fasciatus represents only a rare juvenile phase of M. hypsauchen.

However, we were able to import again comparatively large (8-10 cm) specimens of this extraordinary silver dollar from Brazil. Each specimen shows an individual pattern, but all were sexually differentiated already and thus definetly no juveniles anymore.

All Metynnis feed on plant material and most species become around 15 cm long. Males and females can be told apart by the shape of the anal fin. A member of our staff has acquired some specimens for his home aquarium so maybe we can give you more informations on the topic in one or two years when the fish are fully grown.

For our customers: the fish have code 267754 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Metynnis: ancient Greek, means “in between the share”; this refers to the spine before the dorsal fin. fasciatus: means “striped”.

Common name: Striped silver dollar

Text & photo: Frank Schäfer

Pseudohemiodon sp. Peru II German Bred

15. October 2019

Floundercatfish are very popular with catfish lovers because they combine an interesting appearance with the interesting mouth brood care. Some species become quite big, so P. laticeps from Paraguay, that can become well and gladly 35 cm long, but there are also smaller species. Among the latter are two scientifically seemingly not yet described species from Peru, one rather drawingless and one with a dot and worm line pattern on the head. The first is called in the hobby as P. sp. Peru I (it has, apart from the coloring also particularly large ventral fins) the second as P. sp. Peru II. Both types become 12-15 cm long, in addition comes a well body-long filament at the upper end of the tail fin. We can currently offer some almost full-grown specimens of P. sp. Peru II as German offspring.

For our customers: the animals have code 284564 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Colisa chuna

14. October 2019

Colisa chuna

The coloration of the honey gurami, Colisa chuna, is unique among the freshwater fish of the world and also among the labyrinth fish, to which the honey gurami belongs. All other Colisa species have a pattern of vertical stripes, only the honey gurami has no such pattern. In neutral mood the animals are beige with a dark longitudinal band. Males in breeding mood, on the other hand, become bright orange on the body, the throat deep black and the dorsal fin lemon yellow. With regard to these striking colours, the honey gurami can certainly be counted among the most beautiful freshwater fish of all.

The honey gurami originates from India and Bangladesh. However, it is not as widespread there as the other members of the genus, which is probably the reason why the species was imported for aquaristics only in 1962. 

For our customers: the animals have code 411104 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Glossolepis incisus

11. October 2019

The red rainbow fish, Glossolepis incisus, is one of the magnificent classics among the rainbow fish. One can well understand that this fish caused real storms of enthusiasm in the 1970s, when only two relatively inconspicuous species of this group of fish were known in the hobby. The home of Glossolepis incisus lies in western Papua New Guinea, where it inhabits Lake Sentani and its surroundings. Due to the increasing pollution of the lake, the species is considered endangered. In the hobby, only bred ones are represented.

The red rainbow fish becomes 15 cm long in the male sex, females remain smaller. Regarding the coloration, the red glittering splendour increases with every centimeter that the fish grows. But also our usually traded, 6-7 cm long animals are already very nicely colored.

For our customers: the animals have code 417303 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Batanga or Dormitator lebretonis BRED

10. October 2019

This is one of the gobies imported as an ornamental fish shortly after the beginning of the 2nd century (1905) already. Since then she has always found her friends, but was never very popular in the hobby. This is probably due to the quite impressive size that this goby, which is widespread along the West African coast, can reach (up to 15 cm are given in the literature) and the fact that it is believed to have to be kept in brackish water. As with most brackish water fish, however, it is not the salt but the pH value that is important: in principle, the pH value should not fall below 8 in such animals, even at pH 7 many specimens show discomfort already. This is known from marine aquariums, where the pH must be permanently above 8.

 

Already in the earliest literature it is reported that the species spawns readily and the young brood is very numerous and tiny. While the old authors state that spawning takes place in plants, newer authors also describe spawning in caves (common in sleeper gobies). In nature, the gobies migrate a bit upstream during the rainy season and spawn in flooded areas in pure fresh water.

Because of the smallness of the offspring, most sleeper-gobies are hardly bred at all. We were quite surprised to be offered offspring in good size (4-5 cm). We are even more surprised, however, that these animals are obviously already sexually mature. The males have strong bulging heads, as known from Tateurndina ocellicauda, black throats and ventral fins and much larger fins than the females. In addition, they are constantly performing courtship display. Maybe our Batanga gobies originate from a dwarf form not yet documented, who knows?

Batanga (in most current literature this genus is placed in synonym of Dormitator) lebretonis is an open water fish that, unlike most gobies, swims everywhere in the middle water layers. If these gobies are constantly on the ground, something is wrong. Then the health of the animals and the pool equipment should be subjected to a critical examination.

For our customers: the animals have code 128302 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Lamprologus brevis Kapampa

7. October 2019

Many cichlids from Lake Tanganyika have different local populations that also look more or lress different. The snail cichlid Lamprologus brevis (sometimes also called Neolamprologus brevis, the species belongs neither to one nor to the other genus, but to a genus still to be described) has a lake wide distribution and therefore it has become common among cichlid lovers to indicate the location – in this case Kapampa at the western shore of the lake, quite far in the south of the DR Congo.

In L. brevis males and females live in the same snail. The females are clearly smaller and always swim into the house before the male. They have in the relation quite generally the trousers on, what they indicate through guidance-swimming and active courtship display.

For our customers: L. brevis Kapampa has code 542112 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Erythrinus erythrinus PERU

13. September 2019

According to the current state of science, the predatory tetra species Erythrinus erythrinus is widespread throughout practically all of South America: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Paraguay, Bolivia, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. However, they look somewhat different everywhere, so that one must assume that in case of a modern revision of the animals some species will have to be renamed. The probably most colorful Erythrinus come from Peru, from where we received again an import.

With a maximum length of 25 cm – usually are lengths of 12-15 cm – this predator remains comparatively small. It has an auxiliary respiration organ, whereby it can breathe atmospheric air and still survives even in practically oxygen-free mud holes. If they dry out completely, Erythrinus try to wander over country and find a new open water. They are excellent jumpers, who purposefully find even the smallest holes in the aquarium cover; presumably they feed on land insects in nature to a large extent, which would explain the jumping ability.

We usually keep such predatory fish individually, but they are not so badly incompatible with each other. For photo purposes we looked for a splendid male from the current import, it measures 16 cm with tail fin. Unfortunately all females – recognizable by the considerably less extended dorsal and ventral fins – were clearly smaller. So we took an approx. 10 cm long female out of necessity. This small animal had no fear of the big man, but threatened the large one. The whole thing reminded of a Pinscher, who barks a Great Dane. The big male was a gentleman and let the lady go without resistance… There were no mutual biting attacks, although the photo tank is relatively small by nature.

For our customers: The animals have code 253404 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

L134 Peckoltia compta

13. September 2019

The L-number catfishes are like us humans. There are pretty, very pretty and extraordinarily pretty specimens. To the latter group belong the L134 (Peckoltia compta) from the Rio Tapajós, which we currently have in stock. P. compta belongs to the most recommendable L-catfishes at all and unites all desired characteristics of this group in ideal way: small size (maximum 12 cm with tail fin), splendid coloring, little shy nature and comparatively easy breeding. However, the distinguishing of the sexes is tricky and often ends in annoying way unsatisfactory for the aquarist. Although sexual active males are always easy to recognize, boyish females are not and males, which are ranked far below, cannot be distinguished from females at all. 

For our customers: the animals have code 26480-L 134-2 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Ancistrus patronus and Ancistrus sp. “Rio Tocantins”

13. September 2019

In small numbers we received German bred specimens of these pretty bristle-noses. Ancistrus patronus is one of the numerous white dotted, black species and was known in the hobby as Ancistrus sp. “Puerto Ayacucho” and A. sp. “Rio Parucito” before its scientific description in February 2019; the numbers L125 and L150 were given to imported animals without exact knowledge of their origin; it is assumed in catfish circles that they are also A. patronus.

The second species, Ancistrus sp. “Rio Tocantins”, strangely enough never received a L-number, although it is very strikingly coloured. This species, which is easily recognizable by its honeycomb pattern, occurs in nature together with the Ancistrus species L156. Apart from the different coloration, Ancistrus sp. “Rio Tocantins” is also much flatter than most other Ancistrus species.

Care and breeding of both species is unproblematic and corresponds to that of the well-known Ancistrus species.

For our customers: A. patronus has code 204573, Ancistrus sp. “Rio Tocantins” code 204963 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Ageneiosus lineatus (= sp. III Green Stripe)

12. September 2019

Update: es handelt sich um die Art Ageneiosus lineatus Ribeiro, Rapp Py-Daniel & Walsh 2017

The dolphin catfish were only recently revised and divided into two genera: Ageneiosus and Tympanopleura. Tympanopleura are the smaller species. They are characterized by a circular structure immediately behind the edge of the gill cover, which looks like a tympanum.

Unfortunately, the pretty dolphin catfish imported from Peru from time to time, which is called “Green Stripe”, is not included in the revision and apparently belongs to a scientifically undescribed species. We would classify it also rather in Tympanopleura than in Ageneiosus, especially since it reaches with – as far as known – only 15-20 cm length (usually over 40 cm with Ageneiosus). Among catfish friends this species is also known as sp. III. It has been (and still is) confused with Ageinosus vittatus, but this is a large species with a much rounder head profile and a different pattern.

For our customers: the animals have code 203264 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Betta splendens Pla Kat Halfmoon Galaxy Candy

9. September 2019

Sometimes you don’t know what to admire more: the breeding skills of Betta freaks or their creativity in inventing new names. However, these candies are real beauties; each animal is individually patterned and spotted, so they are unique! Our dear friend Kamphol has sent us an exclusive collection of these beauties from Thailand.

For our customers: the animals have code 390070 on our stick list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Cyprinodon variegatus

6. September 2019

The pupfish of the genus Cyprinodon live, so to speak, in the limbo for fish. Once the area, which today represents the desert regions of the western USA and northern Mexico, was a huge lake plate, the fish there lived in paradise. But the lakes gradually dried up over the millennia. Today, some species of pupfish can only be found in a single small water hole in the desert, such as the Devils Hole Pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis). Some of the 49 currently recognized Cyprinodon species are therefore acutely threatened with extinction, some are even extinct, because if the groundwater sinks or the pond is polluted, it was.

But some species, such as Cyprinodon variegatus, are widespread and in no way threatened. All these survival artists can endure one thing: strong temperature fluctuations (up to 20°C in the day-night-change) and rapid changes in the salt content. C. variegatus also occurs in hypersaline waters (where the salt content is higher than in the sea), on the other hand there are also pure freshwater populations.

The Cyprinodon variegatus, which we can currently offer, come from a garage roof in southern Germany. They have been living there for many years now and reproduce happily. It doesn’t matter to them whether the sun is burning or the rain is crackling, they do everything. They are only not allowed to freeze, not even pupfish can stand that.

For our customers: the animals have code 321503 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Inlecypris auropurpureus

6. September 2019

The Inle Lake in Burma has a high proportion of endemic fish species, i.e. fish that occur exclusively there. One of them is Inlecypris auropurpureus, a Danio with vertical stripes on a golden band. The number and shape of the stripes are slightly different for each individual. Inlecypris is closely related to the species placed in Devario and has at times even been declared a synonym for Devario; however, most scientists do not follow this at present. 

Regarding the aquarium care, Inlecypris auropurpureus is very undemanding. It is a very peaceful schooling fish, that should not be cared for in too small aquariums, so that its swimming-arts can be observed. The maximum-length of the species amounts to 8-10 cm, however only rarely animals over 5 cm of length are found in nature.

For our customers: the fish have code 421822 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Corydoras venezuelanus “Orange” and C. sp. “Venezuela Black”

6. September 2019

Such a pretty little fish and such an ugly confusion about the name! Corys, which look like the bronze cory, Corydoras aeneus, appear in whole South America. However, these are certainly different species, there is general agreement. Only – how to name them correctly? Whether the cory, which is currently called Corydoras venezuelanus “Orange” in hobby and trade, really represents this species is more than questionable. Because C. venezuelanus was scientifically described in 1911 from the Río Cabriales, which originates in the very north of Venezuela and flows into Lake Valencia. From there no living corys have become known so far. The cory, known as Corydoras venezuelanus “Orange”, however, can be traced back to animals that Hans-Georg Evers and Ingo Seidel collected in 1992 in the Llanos of the Orinoco in Venezuela and brought to Germany. This does not necessarily mean that this is not the species C. venezuelanus, but the experience with the geographical distribution patterns of other bronze corys makes this rather unlikely. In Venezuela/Colombia there are several species of bronze corys. This makes it necessary to distinguish species with a certain commercial relevance.

Unfortunately, an armored catfish, which does not exist in the wild, has been called C. sp. “Venezuela Black”. In reality, the animal has nothing to do with Venezuela, but originated as a breeding form at the beginning of the 1990s in Germany. Because this breeding form also has orange fins and the very beautiful Corydoras, which Evers and Seidel brought with them from the Llanos of Venezuela, also has orange fins, there was confusion – and great trouble if the “wrong” species was delivered after an order. At some point someone came across the species name C. venezuelanus, which was synonymous with C. aeneus for a long time, and used it for the fish from the Llanos. Since the fish from the Llanos is certainly something else than the “ordinary” bronze cory, the proposal met with great approval in the hobby, even if from a scientific point of view it is very questionable and with high probability wrong.

But, one must also say this quite clearly, the ornamental fish trade is not a natural history museum and sometimes names develop their own dynamics. More important than a scientifically correct name – especially if one is not available – is that the customer knows what he is ordering.

We have both very beautiful Corydoras venezuelanus “Orange” (code 248492) and C. sp. “Venezuela Black” (code 221212) as offspring in the stock. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Channa aurantimaculata GERMAN BRED

4. September 2019

Currently we can offer beautiful offspring of one of the most beautiful Channa species: Channa aurantimaculata. The species originates from the north of India, where it can sometimes get quite cool. Therefore the summerly care of the up to 50 cm long animals (normally they become in the nature, however, only 20-25 cm long) in the garden pond especially prepared for it, above all escape-safe, is recommended. Please keep in mind that these animals in nature also migrate over land when it rains. They do the same here, if they are allowed to, so watch out!

The young animals are currently 5-7 cm long and not yet quite as spectacularly coloured as the adults, but also very, very pretty. 

For our customers: the animals have code 409018 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Brachygobius doriae

2. September 2019

Brachygobius doriae has been confused with B. xanthozonus for decades. We also received the fish under that name and stocked it so, because almost all aquarium books and websites depict B. doriae, but name it B. xanthozonus. However, B. xanthozonus has more than 50 scales in the horizontal row (our fish have somewhat more than 30); it is very questionable if the “true” B. xanthozonus has been ever kept in aquaria. Our current stock originates from Thailand.

Brachygobius doriae becomes only 3,5 cm long and fits perfectly for small aquaria. We currently have gorgeous fish in showsize in stock. Adding some salt to the water (1-2 grams per litre) is much appreciated, but not necessary. Bumblebee gobies are broodcaring fishes. The males take care for the eggs that become attached on the wall of caves etc.. As soon as the fry swims free the broodcare ends.

For our customers: the animals have code 403703 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Brachygobius: Latin, means “short goby”. doriae: dedication name for the collector of the the fish, the Marquis J. Doria. xanthozonus: Latin, means “with yellow bands”.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Macrognathus zebrinus

2. September 2019

All spiny eels of the currently 24 species of the genus Macrognathus are recommended aquarium fish. They remain relatively small (10-15 cm, only very rarely larger specimens are reported) by spiny eel standards and are peaceful to fish that are not suitable for food. In addition, most are still pretty colored.

Perhaps the prettiest is Macrognathus zebrinus from Burma. It inhabits the basins of big rivers Irrawaddy, Sittang and Salween. In addition, the species is also found in Nepal and allegedly also in Indonesia, but is imported from Burma or as bred ones. The largest specimen documented so far measured about 17 cm, but this is the exception. Our current imports with their length of 10-12 cm are already sexually differentiated, the females are clearly fuller and somewhat paler colored.

For the care of spiny eels, a substrate consisting at least in part of sand is important, because the animals like to burry themselves in. The feeding can be done with all kinds of frost and live food, as long as it is adapted to the body size of the fish. Acclimatized specimens also often accept granules. The aquarium for spiny eels must be covered absolutely escape-proof, and also the openings of filters must be secured against an intrusion of the fish, otherwise it can come to fatal accidents.

For our customers: the animals have code 425343 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Nimbochromis venustus

30. August 2019

The genus Nimbochromis is probably best known to the aquarists through the “sleeper”, N. livingstonii. All species of Nimbochromis have a Camouflage pattern from irregular, brown spots. N. livingstonii uses this to mimic a decomposing fish, because fish carrion looks very similarly patchy. So the sleeper lies on his side on the ground and plays dead fish. Unsuspecting young fish, who want to eat from the carrion, are attracted and end up in the stomach of the sleeper.

The beautiful giraffe cichlid (N. venustus) is also a predator and lurks for prey in a very similar way, but it does not lie on its side but only sinks to the ground and remains motionless here. It swims only an attack, if a prey comes into its immediate proximity.

With almost 25 cm of final-length, the giraffe cichlid belongs to the bigger cichlids from Lake Malawi, besides, it is one of the most aggressive. One can recommend it therefore only for really big aquariums where these characteristics don’t fall so much into the weight. Nimbochromis venustus is, like almost all cichlids from Lake Malawi, mouth-breeder in the female sex.

For our customers: the animals have code 534303 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Ancistrus sp. Paraguay

28. August 2019

After Paraguay had closed its doors for half a year for the export of ornamental fish, now imports from the southern country in South America reach us again. Among them also various Ancistrus species, which are often sent mixed. It has become common practice in the trade to call these animals Ancistrus tamboensis, which is objectively wrong, because A. tamboensis comes from the upper Ucayali basin in Peru, but nobody is actually bothered by it; one knows what is meant.

We have just received another import of such Ancistrus from Paraguay, among them also about 50 specimens in show-size (11-14 cm). Some males of these animals have such a huge “antlers” as we have hardly seen it even under wild collected animals so far! By the way: What this “antler” of the Ancistrus-males serves at all for is still unknown…

These “tamboensis” cannot be assigned to a certain species. In the catfish atlas volume 2: 274 top this species is called Ancistrus sp. Paraguay.

For our customers: the animals have code 205106 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Liosomadoras oncinus

26. August 2019

The Jaguar catfish (Liasomadoras oncinus) belongs to the rarities in the aquarium. Also in the large museum collections of the world the species is only sparsely represented, so that the knowledge about these animals is small. In the aquarium, they belong to the very sensitive species that only experienced aquarists should dare to approach. The species tends to fungal diseases and bacterial diseases. One can counteract both only with optimal water care, the care is favorable in a soft, slightly acid environment (pH 5.5-6.5), both like neither fungi nor disease-causing bacteria.

The maximum length of the jaguar catfish is about 20 cm (including the caudal fin), usually they become 12-15 cm long. The males of this species, which belongs to the group of the driftwood catfishes, can be recognized by the fact that they have a tubular mating organ at the beginning of the anal fin, which is used for internal fertilization.

Very interesting is the individually very different pattern of the fish. The 5 speciemens illustrated here are all in approximately the same size (9-12 cm). On the underside of the head, the animals (both sexes) have a sucking structure, whose function is unknown.

Jaguar catfish are not very demanding when it comes to feeding, but it is to be assumed that they feed on insects from the water surface in the wild at dusk, just like other driftwood catfish. We currently have some specimens of this catfish from Brazil in stock.

For our customers: the animals have code 266304 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Symphysodon discus

23. August 2019

The real or Heckel discus is maintained considerably more rarely in the aquarium than brown, blue or green discus and their sports and becomes as good as not at all bred. It is therefore only regularly available as a wild collected fish. At the moment we have some very nice, well-adjusted Heckel varieties in our stock.

The Heckel is just as color-variable as the other discus-types also, basically it looks like a Royal Blue with a broad center vertical bar. The animals are of course not beginner fish, but do not pose any unsolvable problems for advanced aquarists. They should be cared for in shoals of at least six, better eight to twelve animals. The aquarium must not be too brightly lit and should at least have fine sandy soils in places, so that the discus can pursue their typical search for food, the “blowing out” of food animals from the sand. Very important are humic substances from peat, alder cones, dead leaves etc., which strengthen the immune defense of the fish enormously. 

For our customers: we currently have Heckel from Rio Negro (code 73400), from Suncunduri (code 73406), blue-headed heckel from Rio Nhamunda (code 73408), from Mari Cross (code 73506), from Rio Madeira (code 73508) and Nova Olinda (code 73510). 

Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Amatitlania sajica

23. August 2019

From the many Central American cichlids, that were grouped in the gigantic collective-genus Cichlasoma earlier, most species are cared for only by the experienced “old hares” among the aquarists, who don’t want any more a colorful  community aquarium but prefer a preferably big aquarium with few, characterful fishes. The Central American cichlids are perfect for that: character-fish, that don’t make any compromises and show a complex and varied behavior.

But also among these character fish there are some relatively peaceful and comparatively small species, which show the exciting behaviour of their bigger and rougher cousins, but can also be cared for in a well chosen community of other fish, such as catfish, barbs, tetras and livebearers, especially as they treat the plants rather gently. 

Among these species is Amatitlania sajica from the Pacific side of Costa Rica. These beautiful cichlids have not been imported for a long time, all specimens present in the hobby are bred ones. They are productive open breeders. It has often been the sight of such a pair cichlids, leading babies, which turned community tank aquarists into breeders…

Amatilania sajica can become in the male sex up to 12 cm, in the female up to 9 cm long and is regarded as one of the smallest species of the genus.

For our customers: the animals have code 660002 (4-6 cm) on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Paracanthocobitis rubidipinnis

21. August 2019

This beautiful loach comes from Burma, where it is found in the Irrawaddy system. They are exceptionally lively animals that are constantly in action with each other. For this reason, it is not acceptable to combine fish that love peace with Paracanthocobitis rubidipinnis. The animals – they become about 6-7 cm long – are however also entertaining enough, in order to be cared for alone in a species-specific tank. Then it is best to keep them in a small group of 3-7 specimens. The tank should have a sandy and gravelly bottom and some flat, hand-sized stones should lie on the bottom. Underneath, the animals dig caves, which they defend against other animals.

In neutral mood, the species, that differs from all other members of its genus through the especially long back-fin with 13 1/2 to 15 1/2 divided fin-rays, already looks pretty enough pretty enough. But when the animal comes in reproductive mood, it becomes very dark and the fins and barbels intensively red. The females (recognizable by the stronger stomach-circumference and different shape of pectoral fins) color more intensively than the males.

We can currently offer this beautiful fish, which is best kept at room temperature (18-22°C) except for breeding, in sexually mature bred specimens.

For our customers: the animals have code 360832 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Giuris margaritacea

19. August 2019

When one sees these sleeper gobies from the Indo-West Pacific region, where they are very common, for the first time, one spontaneously thinks of an oversized Australian spotted goby (Mogurnda). The main difference between Giuris and Mogurnda is – aquaristically speaking – that the tiny larvae of Giuris develop in the sea, while the much larger ones of Mogurnda develop in freshwater. 

In literature, Giuris margaritacea is described as a euryhaline fish that can live equally well in fresh, brackish or salt water. But at least the colourful population from Indonesia, which we have just been able to import, is probably a freshwater fish.

The extremely wide distribution of the species from the East African coast, the Indonesian islands, the Philippines, the western Australian coast and along the coast of Southeast Asia stands in strange contradiction to the rarity of these really magnificent fish in the hobby. G. margaritacea even seems to be a quite compatible animal. At least in the photo basin the couple (the female can be recognized by the clearly smaller and shorter first dorsal fin; the colour differences are rather mood-related) got along very well. By the way, aquarium observations indicate that this up to 40 cm long goby feeds mainly on insects and is not a fish-eater like the marble goby (Oxyeleotris marmorata). Nevertheless, one should be careful with community fish, all fish that fit into the mouth are endangered.

We could now import some 15-20 cm long, quite splendid specimens of this goby, which is also called Ophieleotris aporos (Manila goby) in the older aquarium literature.

For our customers: the animals have code 418124 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

• 

Colombia, a journey to the habitats of our fishes

16. August 2019

Every aquarist probably wants to visit the habitat of his fish once. We were 6 aquarists from the Berlin area as well as from the south-southwest of Germany. Through Roman Neukirchen from the company Aquarium Glaser we got the opportunity to have a look at the transport routes from the catch of the fish in the rivers of Colombia to the transport to Germany in our domestic aquariums.

Daniel welcomes us in Bogota

The flights were quickly booked. Meeting point were the airports in Berlin and Munich, in January 2019. After a 12 hour flight from Munich we landed in Bogota, the capital of Colombia. The next day Daniel, one of the owners of Acuario Norte, who supplies Aquarium Glaser with freshwater fish from Colombia, welcomed us in the centre of Bogota. He gave us the opportunity to have a look at one of the fish export facilities.

Aquarien und Kunstoffbehälter zum Zwischenhältern der Fische bis sie zum Export gehen

Aquarien und Kunstoffbehälter zum Zwischenhältern der Fische bis sie zum Export gehen

eine zusätzliche Heizung um die Raumtemperatur in der Aquarienanlage zu erhöhen

The city Bogota lies on 2.650 m height, its temperatures vary in the night between 7 – 10 °C and reach on the day approx. 20 °C. This requires the heating of the aquarium system to pleasant temperatures for the fish of 24 to 26 °C for the period of their intermediate holding, of up to three days.

In order to keep this time for the fish as short as possible, Daniel runs a catching & collecting station in the Llanos, where he keeps fish from various fishermen from all over Colombia until they are shipped.

Artesanias, hier bekommt man indigenen Handwerksprodukte aus Kolumbien zu kaufen

Handwerkskunst im Goldmuseum in Bogota

After our very informative meeting with Daniel we took the opportunity to see some of the sights in Bogota and a crater lake outside the city.

At the end of our meeting Daniel gave us a contact in Puerto Inirida from one of his fishermen.

In Puerto Inirida, arriving after a 1 1/2 hour domestic flight, Leonell, our local contact and fisherman, welcomed us. With Leonell we planned our first tour. We were accompanied by his son Camillo and the Indian boatman Kortez. The next morning we drove the Rio Inirida some kilometres downstream, there the Rio Inirida flows into the Rio Guaviare, a white water river.

wir Angeln und genießen den Sonnenuntergang am Rio Guaviare

Triportheus cf.orinocensis Malabarba, 2004 im Rio Guaviare geangelt

Tetragonopterus argenteus Cuvier, 1816 im Rio Guaviare geangelt

Aphanotorulus cf.emarginatus (Valenciennes, 1840) im Rio Guaviare geangelt

Leiarius marmoratus (Gill, 1870), im Rio Guaviare geangelt

Ageneiosus inermis Linnaeus, 1766, im Rio Guaviare geangelt

Brycon whitei Myers & Weitzman, 1960, im Rio Guaviare geangelt

Panaque nigrolineatus (Peters, 1877) am Flußufer in einer Senke vertrocknet

We drove the Rio Guaviare by boat upstream. In order to get good photo and film shots under water, however, we had to switch to clear & black water tributaries. With our local Indian boat guide Kortez the chance to meet such biotopes increased, which also resulted in several hours of foot marches at 35 degrees in the shade on land to find these streams and residual water depressions in the dry season. In some places the shore landscape in the middle of the dry season had partly steppe-like character, which made the search an adventure for us and brought us bubbles on our feet.

Farm on the bank of Rio Guaviare

Rio Guaviare

Myleus cf.torquatus (KNER, 1858) attracted by a corn cone

(to be continued)

Text: Thomas Große, Photos: Roland Rietsch

Zebra Otocinclus

15. August 2019

Currently we have two forms of very attractive Zebra-Otocinclus from Peru in stock. 

The first species, Otocinclus cocama, is more commonly available. It shows a rather dense pattern of vertical black stripes on a light background and has the code number 274154 (see also http://www.aquariumglaser.de/de/otocinclus-cocama_de_1342.html_de_1342.html). 

Only in small quantities and very rarely we get a very attractive Zebra-Otocinclus with broad stripes, which has the code number 274174 (“Zebra Yarapa”) and which we can now offer again. 

Both forms are beautiful and robust aquarium fish.

Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

A white Corydoras sp. C124

15. August 2019

We get the rare long nosed Corydoras sp. C124 occasionally under the names C. cortesi (that is another species from Colombia) or Corydoras “Huangana” (so one calls the wild pigs of the species white-lipped peccary) from Peru. C124 has a very variably pattern, each individual can be recognized by his special pattern. But this time the shipment contained something very special: an almost completely white specimen! It is not an albino; in the close-up you can see that black pigment cells (melanophores) are present, furthermore the pupil is black. It is simply a whim of nature. The whiting recognizes normally colored C124 as conspecifics and seeks their company, especially if he is worried. 

For our customers: the animals have code 225215 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Macropodus spechti

13. August 2019

Once again we managed to import a Macropodus form from Vietnam which cannot be clearly assigned. Unfortunately nothing can be found out about the original location. Some years ago we had been able to import similar animals, also from Vietnam, but they had a strong bronze shine on their body, which is missing in the current imports. The animals imported in 2015 can be seen here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/macropodus_spechti_en/

In contrast to “normal” Macropodus spechti, the current import animals are lighter in colour, have longer ventral fins and a rather yellow (instead of red) iris. Since the black paradise fish prefer running water, it could be a specially adapted form living in brooks. We are very curious to see what the offspring of these unusual black paradise fish will look like. They should definitely be kept, cared for and bred separate from other populations of Macropodus spechti, because it is by no means out of the question that they represent another species.

For our customers: the animals have code 425604 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Mesonoemacheilus triangularis

9. August 2019

The loaches of Asia are an enormously species-rich fish group. Similar to the cory catfish in South America, a great part of the species has not yet been scientifically described. 

A well recognizable species is the Zodiak Loach, Mesonoemacheilus triangularis, from South India; here it occurs endemically in the Western Ghats. The genus Mesonoemacheilus differs from Nemacheilus only in some minor anatomical details.

This pretty loach becomes approximately 6 cm long and is easy to maintain. As with other loaches, there are again and again contradictory reports about its behavior. Most aquarists experience it as peaceful, although very lively and constantly with conspecifics interacting fish. Others report, the loaches are very quarrelsome. We have known them so far only as peaceful.

For our customers: the animals have code 438312 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Trachelyopterichthys taeniatus

9. August 2019

Among the driftwood catfishes are some quite attractive coloured species. This is a bit astonishing, for these catfishes are usually strictly night active and hide during daytimes in caves or crevices. However, well settled animals usually come out of their wholes at feeding times in the aquarium.

Trachelyopterichthys taeniatus belongs to the really attractive species. It is not a small fish, but attains a total length of about 15 cm. This is worth knowning, for small fish, like cardinals, are among the common food items of the catfish. Otherwise it is peaceful against tankmates. In T. taeniatus an internal insemination appears. For that reason in males the first rays of the anal fin are modified. The eggs are laid later without the males. As far as we know this pretty fish has not been bred yet under aquarium conditions, but this may simply be due the fact that it is only very rarely offered. Currently we have some very nice about halfgrown specimens from Venezuela in stock.

For our customers: the fish have code 297503 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Macropodus opercularis Albino

9. August 2019

About 80 years ago, a German breeder found by chance an albinotic paradise fish among  a brood of normal siblings. The breeder was successful in rearing the fish and this animal became the ancestor of all albinotic paradise fish known today. However, breeding albinotic paradise fish is not that easy and so they always were rare in the trade. Nevertheless obviously there were enough people who found them worth keeping and breeding, for otherwise the sport would not have survived such a long time.

Currently we have breeders who are able to supply us continously with high quality albinotic paradise fish, so we can offer the beautiful fish on a regular basis.

For our customers: the fish have code 426002 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Leporinus friderici

7. August 2019

One of the longest known Leporinus species is L. friderici. It was already described in 1794 under the name Salmo friderici. The author, Marcus Eliser Bloch, writes: “This fish is a resident of Surinam’s waters. I received it from the present governor, the Lord of Friderici, along with several other fish. He has an excellent meat, and belongs to the tasty fish of Suriname.”

At the moment we have very nice bred ones of these up to 40 cm long tetras from Indonesia in the stock. The animals are currently 5-7 cm long. In the behavior, one can compare them best with cichlids. They form – quite rough – a ranking among themselves, why one hardly ever sees a specimen with completely undamaged fins. However, these injuries are harmless. If they feel threatened, however, they join together immediately to a dense swarm. One can characterize these tetras therefore best as social fish, who estimate the society of conspecifics, but doesn’t treat them necessarily peacefully.

In nature Leporinus feed mainly on fruits, seeds and insects, in the aquarium they reliably destroy all plants. They are ideal fish in large aquariums with silver dollars, large cichlids, catfish, etc.

For our customers: the animals have code 265923 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Corydoras robustus BRED

5. August 2019

The magnificent Corydoras robustus belongs to the biggest species of its genus. Up to 95 mm standard length (i.e. without caudal fin) have already been measured in females of this species. Females become somewhat bigger than the males. Both sexes develop long  dorsal fin rays, what looks very nice. For more pictures of adult animals see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/fischarchiv/corydoras_robustus_en/

This catfish comes from Brazil, where it is found in the drainage of the Rio Purus. As far as we know, there have been no reports on a successful breeding in aquaria so far. Therefore, we are especially pleased to be able to offer bred specimens of the wonderful catfish now. In comparison to the adult animals the body spots of the young are still clearly larger. They are very lively, social animals.

For our customers: the fish have code 244093 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Boraras urophthalmoides (formerly Rasbora urophthalma)

2. August 2019

As early as 1914 the then very prominent German aquarist J. P. Arnold illustrated a new species of Rasbora in a German aquarium magazine, imported by the company Scholze & Pötzsche and said to originate from Sumatra. In 1922 E. Ahl from Berlin Museum described this species scientifically as Rasbora urophthalma and since these days this charming dwarf rasbora is known as R. urophthalma (common name: Least rasbora) in the aquarium hobby. In 1991 M. Kottelat found when re-examining Ahl´s specimens in Berlin Museum that they were not identical with what is well known in the hobby. Thus the name Rasbora urophthalma was not available anymore for the Least rasbora and Kottelat gave a new name on them: Rasbora urophthalmoides. He also stated that the Least rasbora is not known from Indonesia.

Today the scientific name for the Least rasbora is Boraras urophthalmoides. It is known from Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. For the aquarium hobby, it is imported mainly from the latter country.

Like all dwarf rasboras this species is best kept in small aquaria in a one-species tank. The water should be soft and acidic. Due to it´s origin for regular keeping temperatures of 20-22°C are enough, but for breeding the temperature should be raised to 26-28°C.

For our customers: the species has code 453001 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply to the wholesale market.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Microphis deocata BRED

2. August 2019

The probably prettiest freshwater pipefish is Microphis deocata from India. In its homeland it lives in clear running waters at the foot of the Himalaya. Unfortunately this pipefish is very sensitive to transport. It neither tolerates water deterioration nor can it starve for long. As a food specialist it also requires living food, this species prefers to eat mayfly larvae (which are also the closest to natural food), but also differnt mosquito larvae. A habituation at frost-food succeeds only exceptionally and should never be regarded as possible if one considers the acquisition of such animals.

Due to their high demands, M. deocata is imported only very rarely. But the species can be bred quite well. The females have a fantastic, colorful belly sail, which is carried during the day, however, indented under the belly. The animals become sexually mature already half grown, with approximately 8 cm of length. Then, however, they are not yet as colorful as full-grown, approximately 15 cm long specimens, which often have a wonderful green shimmer. It is advisable, by the way, to maintain this subtropical species occasionally in the open air (balcony-aquarium, special garden pond). The natural food and the sunlight are very good for the animals.

Usually offspring of this species are not sold, but are passed on directly from the breeder to other lovers. That is why we are very happy to be able to offer some young German offspring that have just reached sexual maturity. 

For our customers: the animals have code 430123 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Etroplus suratensis

2. August 2019

After a quite long time we were able to import the Indian Pearl Spot, Etroplus suratensis, once again. Of the three species of Indian cichlids this one is the largest. Record dimensions of up to 40 cm were reported. But normally this fish becomes only about 15 cm long, it is sexually mature from about 8 cm.

Etroplus suratensis occurs in nature along the south coast of India and in Sri Lanka. It is often found in pure fresh water, but likes to live in a brackish environment and also tolerates pure sea water. A slight addition of salt is recommended in the aquarium, but much more important is the pH value, which should not fall below 8 if possible. 

Plants are part of the diet of this species and planting the aquarium is therefore usually doomed to failure. The Indian Pearl Spot is a sociable animal that is best cared for in the company of some specimens. With its smaller cousin, the Indian cichlid (Pseudetroplus maculatus), it is associated with a cleaning community that can also be observed in the aquarium. If E. suratensis wants to be cleaned, he stands very conspicuously with his head up on the caudal fin. P. maculatus understands this instinctively and cleans his larger cousin. This behaviour is inherent and can also be observed in animals that were born in the aquarium and never had the opportunity to observe this behaviour.

Our 4-5 cm long youngsters of E. suratensis are already very nice to look at in their stripe pattern; adult animals look quite splendid, as if they are covered with diamond splinters.

For our customers: the animals have code 415902 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Devario annandalei

1. August 2019

Until quite recently all species now placed in Devario have been placed in Danio and most of them were considered to be varieties of a single species, D. malabaricus. But even earlier a good number of species has been described scientifically, most of them became forgotten later. One of these species is Devario annandalei from Burma. The pretty fish has been described as early as 1908 scientifically. We currently have wild collected ones in stock.

Very obvious is the red skin between the rays of the caudal fin. This led to the trivial name „blood tail“ for the beautiful schooling fish.

In respect of keeping and breeding there are no essential differences to the very well known Devario malabaricus. The only exception is water temperature. D. annandalei originates from subtropical regions, so it is recommended to keep it a bit cooler (room temperature) at times. Devario annandalei becomes about 10 cm long.

For our customers: the fish have code 414278 on our stcklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Polypterus endlicherii bred (2)

30. July 2019

For some time now we have been able to offer offspring of this big bichir (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/fischarchiv/polypterus_endlicherii_nachzuchten_en/). With the current delivery we noticed the bizarre outer gills, which have young animals of all Polypterus species. They give these primeval fishes a very peculiar appearance.

For our customers: the animals have code 163312 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

“Cichlasoma” loisellei

26. July 2019

In their Central American home countries, the predatory colorful cichlids, that are classified currently in the genus Parachromis – before this, they were placed in Cichlasoma or Nandopsis – are called “Guapotes“. That means “the big pretty ones”. And actually, these species, some of which can reach up to 50 cm in length, are very attractive.

The smallest of them has so far been called Parachromis loisellei. It becomes “only” 25-30 cm long and only the males and in exceptional cases. Usually one can count on sizes up to 20 cm, they become sexually mature with 10 cm. 

Particularly P. loisellei is besides regarded as most peaceful species, that in contrast to some other species of the genus. They only becomes “soggy” if the animals feel molested. However, a large aquarium is still a basic prerequisite for fish and aquarists to enjoy each other without restriction.

It was not until 2018, during the follow-up examination of the type specimen of P. friedrichsthalii, a species described as early as 1840, that it turned out that this specimen is actually identical to P. loisellei described as late as 1989. Thus P. loisellei became the synonym of P. friedrichsthalii. The fish that has been common in the hobby as P. friedrichsthalii is another species, which is now called P. multifasciatus. The exact background can be read here: 

Morgenstern, R. (2018): Fishes collected by Emanuel Ritter von Friedrichsthal in Central America between 1838-1841. Vertebrate Zoology v. 68 (no. 3): 253-267.

We have the smallest of the “big pretty ones” as German offspring in the stock; until the current naming in the trade and among the hobbyists has prevailed, it will probably still take some time, on our stock list it is to be found until further notice still as Cichlasoma loisellei.

For our customers: the animals have code 652803 on our stocklist. Please note that we only deliver to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Thoracocharax stellatus, Gasteropelecus maculatus JUMBO, Carnegiella myersi, Carnegiella strigata

26. July 2019

The platinum hatchetfish, Thoracocharax stellatus, is regarded as biggest species of the hatchetfish. In the scientific literature, up to 6.8 cm of standard length (without tail fin) are indicated for the species. However, much smaller animals are always imported. The specimens that we currently offer as “large” have a standard length of about 3.5-4 cm.

Thoracocharax stellatus is mostly imported from Colombia. From there we have now received Gasteropelecus maculatus, which can compete in size with Thoracocharax. They have about 6 cm standard length, so with caudal fin almost 7 cm. G. maculatus is very similar to Thoracocharax, mainly because of the dark base of the dorsal fin and was placed at times in the genus Thoracocharax, indeed.

From Peru we have the smallest of all hatchet belly fish in stock, the glass or dwarf hatchet Carnegiella myersi. Large females of this species reach only 2.2 cm standard length, males are even smaller. 

If you read these numbers, the differences may not seem so big, but if you can see the animals together – wow! It’s especially funny when a tiny male Carnegiella is displaying in front of a specimen of G. maculatus, which must appear to him as a “super woman”…

For this post we have also made pictures of the probably most famous and popular of all hatchet fishes, the marble hatchet (Carnegiella strigata), together with the jumbo maculatus. The marble hatchets are already fully grown.

For our customers: T. stellatus “lg” has code 297003, G. maculatus “Jumbo” 254207, C. myersi 214102 , and C. strigata 214203 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Leiodon cutcutia THAILAND

24. July 2019

The first tropical freshwater puffer fish, which was imported in 1903 for aquaristics and soon bred, was the common or emerald puffer fish, at that time still known as Tetraodon cutcutia. The species remains quite small with a maximum length of 9 cm, is attractively colored and easy to keep, but unpredictably biting against conspecifics and other fish, which is why it is only rarely on offer.

L. cutcutia was described scientifically from the Ganges in India, from where the imports usually also take place. Since this is a pure freshwater species that even avoids brackish water, it is amazing that L. cutcutia also occurs in Thailand, although India and Thailand are separated by mountains that are insurmountable for freshwater fish by land. According to Thai nature guides, L. cutcutia only occurs in the extreme south of the country in the Malay Peninsula.

We have now received a nice number of this puffer fish from Thailand. As typical for the glow-eye puffer fish, the animals can change their colouring drastically. 

For our customers: the animals have code 461403 on our stocklist. Please note that we only deliver to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Tatia gyrina

22. July 2019

In spite of their largely nocturnal nature, the driftwood catfishes have meanwhile gathered a small fan community behind them, which enthusiastically cultivate and breed them. Surely it contributes to the fact that these catfishes have an internal fertilization, whereby the females can produce a fertilized clutch sometime without direct intervention of a male, since the fertilization already took place days or weeks before. This behaviour fascinates many breeders.

Currently we were able to import the very rarely offered species Tatia gyrina from Peru. This is a rather small species. In total our largest specimens are about 5 cm long (including the caudal fin). The males are recognizable by the modified anal fin, which has been transformed into a mating organ. In addition, they are clearly slimmer and somewhat bigger than the females. 

For our customers: the animals have code 295682 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Apistogramma iniridae

19. July 2019

Sadly this beautiful dwarf cichlid is only occasionally available, but currently we were able to import once more beautiful, fully grown specimens. The fish display all the behaviour that makes the keeping of these fish so desirable. Like its close relative A. uaupesi, which differs from A. iniridae mainly due to the lyra-shaped caudal fin in the former species, the males are displaying their sailfin-like dorsal fins in harmless hierarchy fights – a wonderful look.

As in most Apistogramma species, the coloration is quite variable. There are specimens with much orange (mainly in the caudal fin), others look rather blueish. This does not represent different populations, but the different colour varieties live side by side.

This up to 7-8 cm long species (females always stay 2-3 cm smaller than the males) should be kept in soft, acidic and warm water (26-30°C). They feed readily on any type of frozen and live food. The females can become very aggressive against the males during broodcare, so it is best to keep the fish in well planted tanks that have a lot of hiding places.

For our customers: the fish has code 622554 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Apistogramma: ancient Greek, means “with unreliable line”. It is not known whether the lateral line organ or the pattern is meant. iniridae: after the type locality, the Rio Inirida. uaupesi: after the type locality, the Rio Uaupes.

Common name: Inirida dwarf cichlid

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Allenbatrachus grunniens

19. July 2019

Nobody would keep this fascinating frogfish from South East Asia due to its coloration. The bizarre shape and the expressive eyes nevertheless make it a desirable species for the aquarium.

This frogfish lives in the wild in river mouths; although it is possible to keep the fish in pure freshwater, it is better to add some salt (5-15 g/litre). The broad mouth characerizes A. grunniens as a predatory species. Among each other and against fish that do not fit as food the species is completely peaceful. This frogfish attains a length of approximately 30 cm.

One should be very careful when catching the fish, as the dorsal spines and probably also the spines on the opercle are poisonous. Generally speaking, the venom is not very strong, but painful and there is also always the danger of allergic reactions.

For our customers: the animals have code 373105 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Allenbatrachus: combined from the Name Allen (dedication name for George Allen from Humboldt State University) and the genus name Batrachus, another genus of toadfish. grunniens: means “the grunter”.

Common name: Grunting toadfish

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Hemigrammus cf. bellottii “Venezuela”

17. July 2019

One of the most common tetras from the Amazon and Orinoco is Hemigrammus bellottii. The species is easily recognizable by the golden longitudinal stripe and the red eye; other pattern elements (tail spot, fin coloration etc.) are usually missing. Only a shoulder spot can be present from time to time – depending on the mood.

Now we have received tetras from Venezuela, which differ in some points from the “normal” H. bellottii. On the one hand dorsal and anal fins show pretty, white seams, the dorsal fin and tail fin have beautiful orange-red color portions and on the other hand a (albeit small) tail spot is present. Possibly our current “bellottii” from Venezuela represent a scientifically not yet recorded species.

For our customers: the animals have code 256033 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Cherax snowden “Irianto Red” and Cherax holthuisi

15. July 2019

These intensively colored crayfish originate from Papua New Guinea, where they are found on the Vogelkop Peninsula. „Irianto Red” is a colour variant of the Cherax snowden, which was only scientifically described in 2015, while Cherax holthuisi already received its scientific name in 2006; before that, C. holthuisi was known as “apricot crayfish“, while C. snowden was known in the hobby as Cherax sp. “Orange Tip” before its scientific description. Pictures of the “normal” colored C. snowden can be found here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/fischarchiv/31-krebse-garnelen-krabben-muscheln-schnecken/cherax_sp_orange_tip_en/

Both species occur in nature in the neighbourhood, but are ecologically differently positioned, since C. holthuisi is rather living underground. Therefore the two crayfish species live – scientifically expressed – sympatrically (i.e. in the same occurrence area) but not syntopically (i.e. in the same biotope). We receive both species mostly mixed as wild catches, because they really look extraordinarily similar. The easiest way to distinguish them is by eye size, the eyes of C. holthuisi are much smaller than those of C. snowden. 

The bright orange colouring of C. snowden “Irianto Red” is – as far as we know – pure in offspring. However, when putting together breeding pairs you have to be careful not to put together mixed pairs (snowden/holthuisi), in the aquarium Cherax species can hybridize with each other. Cherax holthuisi is quite colour-variable, besides the orange ones there are also grey, whitish, yellow or bluish individuals.

For our customers: C. snowden “Irianto Red” has code 481490, C. holthuisi code 483052 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Pyrrhulina spilota

12. July 2019

The tetras belonging to the genus Pyrrhulina combine the advantages of two basic groups of ornamental fish. The first group are the schooling species that are always visible and swim merely in the open water: tetras and barbs. The second group has a fascinating behaviour and takes care for the brood: the cichlids and the labyrinth fish. 

One of the most attractive species of Pyrrhulina is P. spilota. We were able once more to import it from Peru. The males of the up to 7-8 cm long species can be easily distinguished from the females. Males have silvery scales in the first third of the body and a contrasting marked anal fin. Both features are missing in the smaller females.

Usually P. spilota behave like „regular“ tetras and swim in the open water. They prefer the upper third of the water column, but can be found anywhere in the tank. Like most tetras they feed happily on any type of usual fish food – even dried food items – and don´t damage any plants. So far their behaviour is much alike other tetras.

But when the breeding season comes everything changes. Now the males occupy territories, preferably around a plant with broad leaves, but if this is not availble a stone or a root will also do. For this is the substrate the fish spawn on. Most tetras are egg scatterers that take no care for their spawn at all. In contrast to them Pyrrhulina produce a pretty compact spawn that looks much alike the spawn of a cichlid. In Pyrrhulina, the male alone takes care for the eggs, like in labyrinth fish. And it is very serious with that! Possible tankmates have to take good care not come too close to the spawning site! When the offspring hatches and leaves the leaf the male´s job is done and it turns back to the behaviour of a regular tetra…

For our customers: P. spilota have code 286782 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in limited numbers only!

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Trachelyopterichthys taeniatus

12. July 2019

Among the driftwood catfishes are some quite attractive coloured species. This is a bit astonishing, for these catfishes are usually strictly night active and hide during daytimes in caves or crevices. However, well settled animals usually come out of their wholes at feeding times in the aquarium.

Trachelyopterichthys taeniatus belongs to the really attractive species. It is not a small fish, but attains a total length of about 15 cm. This is worth knowning, for small fish, like cardinals, are among the common food items of the catfish. Otherwise it is peaceful against tankmates. In T. taeniatus an internal insemination appears. For that reason in males the first rays of the anal fin are modified. The eggs are laid later without the males. As far as we know this pretty fish has not been bred yet under aquarium conditions, but this may simply be due the fact that it is only very rarely offered. Currently we have some very nice about halfgrown specimens from Venezuela in stock.

For our customers: the fish have code 297503 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Leporacanthicus triactis VARIETIES

8. July 2019

Currently we received an import from Venezuela, which included small, only 3-4 cm long specimens of Leporacanthicus triactis, also known as L91. Among them are an unusually large number (approx. 10) of unusually beautifully drawn variants. 

Normally small L91 do not look much different than the adults, only a little lighter in basic tone. But the color variations are really a show in bright orange and black. Such colour variations of L. triactis have been known for a long time, but are only rarely available and therefore highly sought after. At least we haven’t seen so many at once.

For our customers: the animals have code 26480-L 091Y-1 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Brochis multiradiatus BRED

5. July 2019

The big emerald-corys of the genus Brochis clearly differ from all species of Corydoras through the long back-fin, that contains essentially more fin-rays. While Corydoras have 7-8 rays in the back-fin, Brochis have 10-18. The care of all Brochis is easy and hardly differs from that of the remaining corys, however, the breeding succeeds only rarely. Merely B. splendens is bred in southeast-Asia in good numbers and an undescribed species from Bolivia, CW 035, was successfully bred by Hans-Georg Evers. He reported on that in the magazine “Amazonas” No 50.

The young of Brochis splendens look completely different than the adults. From the remaining Brochis-Arten, the youth-form is unknown – until now!

A breeder from Hungary, Pasaréti Gyula (he is also editor of the Hungarian aquarium magazine “Akvarium Magazin”, “cracked” Brochis multiradiatus and achieved an extensive brood from a group consisting of 10 males and 4 females. The breeder fish were imported by us and originate from Peru. The young we can offer at the moment are only 2 months old and already 3-6 cm tall! They are very attractively colored and so one wonders, how come, that such beautiful armoured catfish never appeared in the trade before?

Male breeder

Female breeder

A pair of the breeders

The answer is probably to be found in the fact that Brochis species spawn exclusively in the rainy season, when ornamental fishing is impossible, and the young grow so fast that at the beginning of the dry season, when the catchers can collect again, they already look like adults.

For our customers: the animals have code 212212 (3-4 cm) and 212213 (5-6 cm) on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer and Pasaréti Gyula

Barbodes lateristriga

5. July 2019

The black banded barb or spanner barb is an old friend in the aquarium, although it is somewhat out of fashion. In former times it was called Barbus or Puntius lateristriga, at present it is assigned to the genus Barbodes.

The pretty, peaceful animals are widespread in Southeast Asia, where they mainly inhabit clear waters, such as shallow sections of lakes and ponds or small rivers. Here, they roam in loose troops of usually 5-10 animals. There are numerous variants of the species, some of which can be assumed to be separated one day as independent species. Therefore, it is important to breed only with animals of one locality in order to avoid unintentional hybrids. The animals we can offer at the moment are wild catches from Thailand.

When feeding these barbs, which are usually 6-8 cm long in nature, but can easily double that size in an aquarium, you have to make sure that they also get plant food components, otherwise the aquatic plants are in danger. Tender plant species should generally not be used in aquariums with larger barb species. 

Barbodes lateristriga is a productive free spawner. They have no special demands on the water composition, however, the middle body spot can shine in soft, acid water instead of white splendidly yolk yellow. The water temperature should be in the range of 22-28°C.

For our customers: the animals have code 369853 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Flexipenis vittatus

5. July 2019

Once more we are able to offer a beautiful dwarf livebearer that proofed to be a bit problematical in respect of breeding – not keeping! – in a long time sight under traditional aquarium conditions. However, under the open skies of Southeast Asia they breed pretty well.

Flexipenis vittatus is also often placed in Gambusia. Males become 2.5 – 4.5 cm, females 4 – 6 cm long. In nature, this livebearer inhabits Mexico (Atlantic slope).

In contrast to Gambusia Flexipenis has a highly developed courtship display, meanwhile the males present their pretty yellow-black dorsal fins in a very attractive way. It is wise not to keep these fishes year-in year-out at too high water temperatures. In living rooms no extra aquarium heater is necessary. Temperatures may lie between 18 and 26°C.

For our customers: the fish have code 415073 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Gambusia: derived from the Cuban term “Gambusino” for something unimportant. Flexipenis: means “with pliant sexual organ”. vittatus: Latin, means “Striped”.

Suggestion of a common name: Small flag livebearer, Blackline mosquitofish

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Danio feegradei

3. July 2019

Danio feegradei was first described by the famous Indian ichthyologist S. L. Hora in 1937 by a single specimen originating from the Thandwe river in Myanmar (former Burma). Since then no reports have been published about new findings in the same river nor in other areas.

Only in 2007 this beautiful barb fish has been imported and is now available for the dedicated aquarium hobbyist. As with all representatives of the Danio family, D. feegradei is a schooling fish and therefore should be ideally kept in a group of minimal 6 individuals of the same species. It is a beautiful, peaceful and fast swimming fish. 

Text: Izaak den Daas, photos: Frank Schäfer

Hoplias malabaricus “Venezuela”

1. July 2019

We have already mentioned it: currently we have three species of the genus Hoplias from Venezuela in our stock. The common wolf tetra (Hoplias malabaricus) has a huge distribution area, but it is very likely that this “species” proves to be a species complex consisting of several, at least partially undescribed species. 

With the “Hoplias malabaricus” from Venezuela we noticed for the first time that males and females are very easy to distinguish. For the photo session we simply have chosen two presumable couples due to the belly circumference. When they were to be brought back to their conspecifics after the shooting, we saw that the tail of the two suspected females behind the dorsal fin is considerably shorter than that of the suspected males. These Trahiras are, by the way, relatively tolerable among each other – provided there is enough food.

For our customers: the animals have code 258703 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Tropheus sp. “Phoenix”

28. June 2019

The cichlids of the genus Tropheus are widespread around the gigantic Lake Tanganyika in numerous locality-variants. The sometimes very different looking animals testify to rising and sinking water levels over the millennia. As strict Aufwuchs eaters, Tropheus cichlids are not able to migrate over larger sandy areas and so the stone reefs of the lake quickly become geographically isolated, resulting in different colour variations.

The Tropheus “Phoenix” is however not a naturally occurring form, but a breeding product. The bright blue eye and the golden yellow body colour are reminiscent of the population found near Namansi, Tanzania, on the eastern shore of the lake. They are very attractive fish, which we can offer in limited numbers at the moment.

For our customers: the animals have code 586303 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Hoplias curupira

28. June 2019

Right now we have three Hoplias species from Venezuela in our stock. Hoplias curupira belongs to the real rarities and is accordingly sought after among predatory fish fans. With a final length of about 40 cm the stocky species remains relatively small. It belongs within the genus Hoplias to the so-called H.-lacerdae group, which besides H. curupira also includes H. lacerdae (Rio Ribeira de Iguape and Rio Uruguay), H. intermedius (Rio Sao Francisco, upper basin of the Rio Paraná, and Rio Doce), H. brasiliensis (from rivers of the Atlantic coast from Rio Paraguaçu to Rio Jequitinhonha) and H. australis (Rio Uruguay). 

Hoplias curupira has a quite wide distribution in the north of South America, it occurs in the upper Orinoko basin, in coastal rivers of Guyana and Surinam and in tributaries of the Amazon (Rio Negro, Trombetas, Tapajós, Xingu, Tocantins and Capim). Within the group, the blunt, almost round head profile is characteristic of H. curupira.

Since H. curupira was only scientifically described in 2009, there was often confusion with the large and highly aggressive H. aimara (synonym: H. macrophthalmus), which we will introduce to you shortly. The colouring is an unreliable characteristic of Hoplias species, since the animals can change it in a flash, but H. curupira is often very darkly coloured, which is why the species is also called “Black Trahira”. As the pictures show, they can also be bright with long stripes.

For our customers: the animals have code 258606 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Trichogaster leerii

26. June 2019

The Pearl Gourami (Trichogaster leerii) is an absolute classic among the ornamental fish. The species is always available in the petshops all over the world and they are usually quite cheap. These traded fish are bred ones. Wild collected ones are hardly ever offered; the species is endangered in the wild, because the habitats become destroyed in a very great amount. Sadly the quality of the bred fish sometimes is not as good as it should be. This is due to the low price the breeders get for the animals. But currently we have obtained wonderful, fully coloured specimens from a local breeder.

For our customers: the fish have code 469504 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Garra sp. Red Tail

24. June 2019

After many years we were finally able to import some full-grown (8-10 cm long) specimens of this as rare as beautiful and interesting sucking barb species. Garra sp. Red Tail is still scientifically undescribed, although the collecting site (the Kasat river in the west of Thailand) is well documented. For the history of discovery of this species please see https://www.aqualog.de/blog/garra-sp-rotschwanz-godzilla-kommt-vom-kasat-river/

The article also documents the impressive fighting behaviour of this species, in which the males open their forehead processes (scientifically: proboscis) like horns and then wrestle with each other like bulls.

The next related species in Thailand is Garra fuliginosa Fowler, 1934, from which Garra sp. Red Tail differs clearly in color.

Of course, this Garra species is also a good algae exterminator, but it is more adviced to be kept for its own sake and to promote algae growth for the benefit of the fish than to degrade the animal to a stone cleaner.

For our customers: the animals have code 416484 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers. Available in small numbers only!

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Centrodoras brachiatus

19. June 2019

In two large specimens (they are currently 20-25 cm long) we have received the extremely rarely imported Centrodoras brachiatus from Peru. The up to 40 cm long catfish are widely distributed in the Amazon system and also occur in Brazil and Colombia.

Typical is the form of the lateral bone row, whose shields are very big directly under the dorsal fin and then quickly become much smaller towards the tail.

Although the species was described scientifically as early as 1872 and has a large distribution area, practically nothing is known about its wild life. The large tooth cushion in the lower jaw indicates that the animals may graze on growth.

What is striking about our specimens is that they often “hold their breath”. After strong breathing movements they stop breathing again and again for a longer time (at least you don’t see anything of it). This is a behaviour that we have not yet observed in fish! 

For our customers: the animals have code 214616 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.