Author Archives: Frank Schäfer

Lebiasina cf. multimaculata

6. February 2023

For the first time we could import large (10-12 cm), beautiful Lebiasina tetras from Colombia. The species identification is not completely sure. The animals originate from the Choco region in the south of Colombia; from there e.g. the emperor tetras Nematobrycon lacortei and N. palmeri are exported regularly, between which also young individuals of Lebiasina are found from time to time. In the Choco region there are seven Lebiasina species, namely L. astrigata, L. aureoguttata, L. chocoensis, L. festae, L. narinensi and L. multimaculatus. Of these species, L. astrigata, L. chocoensis, L. narinensi and L. multimaculatus have a similar color pattern. Without more detailed research, only after optical comparisons, our animals come closest to L. multimaculatus. But since all other species are only known from alcohol preparations, we are rather cautious and add a small “cf. ( = confer, so compare with) between genus and species name.

In any case they are beautiful fishes. The sexes can be easily distinguished by the anal fin, which is much larger in sexually mature males of comparable size than in females. Unfortunately, these animals are incredibly incompatible with each other and also the photo session could be carried out only under greatest precautions with a pair. With their impressive teeth these animals cause heavy damage very fast in case of conflicts! The second attribute that distinguishes them is the incredible voracity. It took less than 30 seconds after the release and the two fish were greedily searching for the remains of a food tablet that was still in the tank from the previous session. One gets the impression that part of the incompatibility is also due to them trying to eat each other. Adding a large batch of Tubifex was supposed to distract the fish and did. The more dominant specimen, the male, ate the Tubifex immediately and then left the somewhat shyer female largely alone.

Lebiasina are undoubtedly highly interesting and beautiful fish, but because of their characteristics they are only suitable for (predatory fish)  specialists. By the way, the animals are obligatory air breathers. About a possible brood care with Lebiasina nothing is known; they are – systematically seen – relatives of the pencil fish (Nannostomus and Co.). Also with these there is the sex difference with the enlarged anal fin of the males.

For our customers: the fish have code 265184 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Scatophagus argus

3. February 2023

The Scat is one of the fish species known to science almost from the beginning of scientific naming. Scatophagus argus was already described in 1766. This first description refers to a red scat. The name “rubifrons” for red scats that is always bandied about in the hobby is a purely fanciful name with no scientific value. We have now received quite adorable red scats from Indonesia, which are about the size of a 1 Euro coin. As small juveniles red scats are vertically striped, as you can see on the pictures. It is not until they are 4-5 cm long that the striped pattern changes to a dotted pattern.

Scats use virtually any food source, they are opportunists. Studies in nature showed that larvae (scats spawn in the sea, this is also where larvae develop) eat mainly plant microplankton near the water surface. Juveniles migrate to the mangrove. Here they eat small particles both free-floating and bottom-dwelling. These are diatoms, animal plankton, aufwuchs and mulm. Adults will eat anything that fits in their relatively small mouths, but especially aufwuchs and mulm. But the absolute favorite food is filamentous algae. Scats prefer these to any other food. In the aquaristic literature one often reads that scats are herbivores. However, they are not stricly herbivorous, but omnivorous!

As euryhaline fishes, scats can be kept in fresh, brackish or marine water. The fish do not care. But the pH should never drop below 7.5 for long periods of time, this is very important. Otherwise scats will get seriously ill and may even die. The maximum size of scats is about 30 cm, a size that is usually not reached in nature or in the aquarium. Usually they stop growing at about 15-20 cm in both habitats. Then you can also distinguish the sexes: Males are more high-backed and have a steeper forehead, they also grow larger than females. Scats are free spawners without brood care. They do not spawn in freshwater, for this you need a marine aquarium.

For our customers: the animals have code 454800 on our stock list. Please note that we supply only wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Glossamia aprion

3. February 2023

The cardinalfishes (Apogonidae) are a species-rich (ca. 370 species), mainly marine group of mostly small-bodied, mouth-breeding perch-like fish. Very well known species are the Kauderni or Banggai Cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) or the Pyjama Cardinalfish (Sphaeramia nematoptera), several other species belong to the standard assortment of marine aquaristics. Only very few species have made it into freshwater. The most important freshwater genus is Glossamia with currently 11 recognized species. All of them originate from New Guinea and Australia. Since hardly any ornamental fishes are exported from there – and if they are, they are rainbow fishes – Glossamia remained almost unknown in the aquaristics of the western world until now. This is a pity, because they are not colorful, but highly interesting species, all of them usually do not grow larger than 8-10 cm, whereas the largest specimen of G. aprion ever caught measured 18 cm.

In the wild, Glossamia often form a very substantial portion of the biomass of the waters they inhabit. The fish are attached to dense underwater vegetation. Without it, they do not feel safe and are shy and skittish. This changes immediately when they have “herbage” in the tank. Their diet consists of aquatic insects, crustaceans (shrimp) and small fish. In Australia, the species has a funny popular name: mouth almighty!

Among themselves and towards fish that do not qualify as food, the mouths almighthy are completely peaceful. They are, as with all cardinalfish, mouthbrooders in the male sex. At first we thought the females are very plump and a bit smaller than the males, because otherwise there are no external sex differences visible. But then we observed a brooding animal, a small fat one! Apparently the smaller ones are the males and eat themselves really big and round before they take care of the brood!

We have now received for the first time a nice, larger shipment of Glossamia aprion from New Guinea.

For our customers: the animals have code 417043 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Xiphophorus meyeri (update)

3. February 2023

The Marble Platy (Xiphophorus meyeri) is one of the rarest species on earth. It was known only from a small area in Mexico, where it was found only in very few places. The species is already considered extinct in the wild. As with its close relative, the Monterrey Platy (X. couchianus), it was the increasing water consumption in the region that caused the few occurrences to dry up.

So it is very good that some aquarium fish enthusiasts breed and propagate this – compared to the colorful cultivated forms – less attractive fish and thus at least preserve it for posterity. From time to time a few specimens come to us in this way. Our now offered fish are German offspring. This wild platy grows to about 3 cm (male) and 4 cm (female). Care and breeding are roughly similar to the well known parrot platy (Xiphophorus variatus), but X. meyeri is not very productive.

There is a conservation breeding program for X. meyeri, also known as Northern Platy. The head of the program wrote to us:

I just thought it might be interesting for you to know that Xiphophorus meyeri is extinct in the wild (last seen in 1997). This was published in the IUCN Red List in 2019. Just in case you want to update your information.

I am coordinating a conservation breeding programme for northern platyfish since 2018 and we are working hard to reintroduce the species one day – with major help from hobbyists. But that’s not relevant, it only explains why I care. I believe that people should know when they keep a species which is extinct in the wild…

Best regards,

Markéta

Markéta Rejlková

Curator of aquarium/terrarium

Zoo Ostrava

Michálkovická 197

710 00 Ostrava

Czech Republic

Many thanks for this info! This is – also against the background of a planned EU-wide positive list, which wants to prohibit the private keeping of wild animals in principle – very interesting! The EU would decide with a positive list by law the eradication of X. meyeri, because this relatively inconspicuous and demanding species would certainly not be included on the positive list!

For our customers: the fish have code 476532 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in small numbers only!

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Poecilia reticulata Guppy Galaxy Koi

30. January 2023

A splendid new breed from Sri Lanka are the Guppy Galaxy Koi, in whose males the hereditary red head and tail markings have been combined with the body color of a Snakeskin. They are beautiful, very vital animals!

For our customers: the animals have code 418563 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Panaque sp. L191

27. January 2023

The large wood-eating Panaque of the relationship around P. nigrolineatus are fantastic fishes. Juveniles are almost splendidly colored, so also L191, a species which is still not described scientifically. L191 originates from Colombia. According to the available information the native area is the Rio Caguán in Caquetá. Particularly splendid is with young L191 the green shimmer, which the animals show.

L191 is exported again and again mixed with a quite similar species, the L190. This is probably the “real” P. nigrolineatus, but the experts are still bickering. Easiest distinguishing feature in juveniles is eye color: red in L190, yellowish, grayish or blackish in L191. The pattern of both species is very variable. By the way, they do not occur together, L190 comes from another area in Colombia (drainages of the Rio Meta and the Rio Orituco). The two species are mixed only at the exporter. Mostly they are sold as a mix, you should know this if you want to build breeding groups.

Among themselves the large Panaque – they become consistently over 40 cm long, see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/we_can_big_too_l191_en/) are to some extent compatible, but they fight with each other and demand individual free space. Large aquariums must therefore be planned for if they are to be cared for, also because of the considerable amounts of feces that are produced when caring for these fish. An essential food component of the animals is soft wood. This has hardly any nutrients and therefore a Panaque eats a lot. And who eats a lot, the sh…, um, also puts down a lot of excrement.

For our customers: the animals have code 274404 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Apistogramma sp. Amaya

27. January 2023

New catch areas bring immediately new species! That these are also wonderfully colored animals, as in the case of the bright red Nannostomus or the Apistogramma sp. Amaya (also called A. sp. Cenepa II) presented here, is surprising. Because Peru is really well collected! But let’s not be surprised, but enjoy the beautiful new imports! The Rio Amaya in Peru is a tributary of the Rio Morono, which in turn is a left bank tributary of the Amazon, which there, in its upper reaches, is called Marañón. Both the Rio Amaya and the Rio Morono flow not far from the border of Peru with Ecuador. 

The photographed males of Apistogramma sp. Amaya are 4-5 cm long (including caudal fin) and obviously sexually mature. With their bright yellow chests and two-tipped, red-fringed caudal fin, they are truly beautiful. Among themselves the males are quite aggressive, at least clearly more aggressive than other Apistogramma, but more reserved towards the female. Naturally, there is no long-term experience with this novelty, but for the time being we recommend keeping them in pairs or one male with several females rather than keeping them in a group of both sexes.

For our customers: the fish have code 614963 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale. Unfortunately, the animals are already sold out, but we did not want to deprive you of this unusual beauty.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Corydoras sterbai WILD

25. January 2023

The splendid Corydoras sterbai probably knows every aquarist child. As one of the most beautiful corydoras at all it belongs to the standard offer of the pet trade and is bred in large quantities; there is also an albino breeding form, which does not occur in the wild.

Wild Corydoras sterbai from the Rio Guaporé in Brazil are rare to get and therefore definitely worth a mention once they are here.

For our customers: the animals have code 246003 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Labidochromis sp. “Mbamba”

23. January 2023

At first sight one could think Labidochromis sp. “Mbamba” (the species is not yet scientifically described) is a typical mbuna of Lake Malawi: blue ground color, zebra stripes. But in reality Labidochromis sp. “Mbamba” is quite different. It is not a mbuna in the real sense, which are known to be algae/Aufwuchs eaters and aggressively defend their relatively large territories, because algae growth is sparse there, but a small animal picker. This can also be seen by their single pointed, forward facing teeth, which are not at all suitable for scraping off algae/Aufwuchs. L. sp. “Mbamba” thus specifically picks up small food particles. It is considered one of the most peaceful Malawi cichlids, but this should always be seen relatively. Disheveled fins can also be found in this species from time to time.

In any case Labidochromis sp. “Mbamba” is a very shy fish. And he is very exciting to watch, because he changes his colors all the time. This is how these fish communicate. In neutral dress they are light blue, the vertical stripes rather indistinct, the fins nice yellow. Strongly disturbed they become dark blue. And the boss in the ring turns black in the head area, the vertical stripes stand out intensely. Females are very light blue, going into brownish. Males that are low in the rank order turn the same color as females. One can spend hours watching a troop of perhaps 15 or 20 specimens and studying their communication!

So far this species is only known from Mbamba Bay in Tanzania, hence the name, where the species exists in four known populations. In the aquarium the usual rules of Malawi cichlid care apply: as large as possible, well-structured aquariums (i.e. many rocks, caves, hiding places), clean water, temperatures around 24-28°C, pH not below 7.5. As far as nutrition is concerned, these fish are less sensitive to the “normal” ornamental fish diet, which for many growth-eating Mbunas is nevertheless too nutrient-rich, which is why they grow significantly larger in the aquarium than in nature. A good brand flake food and frozen food in the form of small crustaceans (Artemia, Daphnia, Cyclops) ensure healthy, colorful Labidochromis.

For our customers: the animals have code 541402 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Symphysodon aequifasciatus “Royal Green Tefé”.

20. January 2023

The kings of the discus fishes are the “Royal” varieties. A discus is called Royal if green or blue pattern elements are spread over the entire body surface.  Among the green discus the Royal from Tefé in Brazil (which is also one of the type localities of S. aequifasciatus, i.e. the locality from which the specimens on which the scientific description is based were collected) is the legendarily most beautiful. Here one finds particularly many Royal fishes, which additionally have orange-red spots on the flanks.

However, it should be clear to every discus lover that there are royal fish in (almost) every discus population and that this is not a species or race characteristic, but an individual color variation. In nature royals and “normal” color varieties, which are far less attractive in our eyes, live together and form a reproductive community with them. Only in the export stations the animals are sorted by color. Just like the royal coloration, the eye coloration is not a race characteristic. There are always specimens with yellow and red iris ring among the wild fish.

We have very nice Royal selections of Tefé in the stock right now. Each fish is – seen for itself – a gem. Currently the animals have a length of 12-15 cm.

For our customers: the fish have code 733095 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Sturisomatichthys sp. Colombia II

20. January 2023

The whiptail catfishes belong to the popular and well breedable loricariids. For example, the Real Royal Farlowella (Sturisomatichthys festivus) has been in continuous breeding for almost 50 years, wild catches of this species are very rare. For other species, wild catches and offspring coexist in the hobby. 

In former times Sturisomatichthys was considered to mainly one species, the relatively small S. leightoni, while the other, larger species were counted to Sturisoma. Today it is different, almost all aquaristic important species of these catfishes are in Sturisomatichthys. The designations Sturisomatichthys sp. Colombia I and S. sp. Colombia II originate from the earlier times. At that time it was found that S. leightoni was almost never exported from Colombia, but two very similar other species, which have not yet been described scientifically. In respect of coloration Colombia I and Colombia II hardly differ. Colombia II, however, already as a relatively small fish, has many skin teeth (odontodes), i.e. bristles. In the import trade are mostly animals of the species Colombia I, which is also much bred.

We have now received German offspring of the original strain Colombia II from a breeder. The pretty animals have indeed already in the relatively small size, in which we can offer them (6-8 cm, the final size is around 10-15 cm) clear bristles, which can be seen best in the photo of the animal sucked at the front glass.

For our customers: the fish have code 294452 on our stock list. Please note that we supply only wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Corydoras condiscipulus

18. January 2023

Only very rarely this beautiful, long-snouted Corydoras reaches us, because the catch areas are far away from the usual routes. The species was scientifically described only in 1980, but it is known much longer. Because already in 1972 during the examination of the Corydoras material of the species Corydoras oiapoquensis it was noticed that beside round-nosed animals (these are the “real” Corydoras oiapoquensis) there are also long-nosed fish. At first it was thought at that time that this was the natural variability, but in 1980 it was decided to separate the long-nosed as a separate species Corydoras condiscipulus.

These two armored catfishes occur together in the Rio Oyapock in French Guyana; the species name condiscipulus means „schoolmate” because the two species swim together. There are hardly any ornamental fish exports from French Guyana; it is usually too expensive. But fortunately the Oyapock also flows in neighboring Brazil (state of Amapa) and so specimens from there come to us from time to time. By the way: we also received C. oiapoquensis, maybe more about that later…

For our customers: the animals have code 226105 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Lamprologus brevis

16. January 2023

Snail cichlids are fascinating animals. They have chosen empty snail shells – in Lake Tanganyika there are large accumulations of empty shells of snails of the genus Neothauma – as their center of life. Neothauma snails are with a diameter of 4-5 cm relatively large snails from the relationship of the mystery snails. However, in the aquarium snail cichlids are also satisfied with other snail shells of comparable size, e.g. Roman snail shells, which can be bought in the grocery store at any time. Here in the photo session we used the house of an Asian apple snail (Pila sp.).

There is disagreement about the genus of Lamprologus brevis. Some scientists assign only the species of the lower Congo to the genus Lamprologus and put all species of Lake Tanganyika in Neolamprologus (and other genera), others think this is nonsense and leave especially the snail cichlids (there are several species) in Lamprologus. For us aquarists it doesn’t matter, you should just know that Lamprologus brevis can also be found under the name Neolamprologus brevis. Both are the same species.

Lamprologus brevis was already described in 1899 from the area of Albertville, Congolese shore of Lake Tanganyika. Males grow to about 5 cm long, females remain somewhat smaller. Both partners inhabit the same snail shell. The area around their home snail shell is vigorously defended, but otherwise these small fish need little space because of their “house-hopping” habits. They will eat any common fish food. Both parents take care of the brood and often there are floor broods where the fry of several clutches live together with the parents in the same snail shell until the parents eventually chase the offspring away.

For our customers: the animals have code 542001 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Pseudomugil luminatus „Blue“

13. January 2023

From Indonesia have received once again Neon Blueeye under the name Pseudomugil paskai. The first Neon Blueeye, the “Red Neon” (P. luminatus), was a sensation (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/pseudomugil_cf_paskai_red_neon_en/) and also the yellow variant is beautiful (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/pseudomugil_cf_paskai_en/).

Now we have obtained a third variant, which this time best corresponds to the “real” P. paskai, also a beautiful little animal. However, experts agree that this is also a color variant of P. luminatus, which we call P. luminatus “Blue” on our stock list. In contrast to the two previously imported forms, the Blue is much more surface oriented and almost always swims just below the water surface.

For our customers: the animals have code 446463 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Soon available: Rineloricaria aurata

13. January 2023

From Paraguay we regularly receive shipments of the small whiptail catfishes of the genus Rineloricaria. No less than 65 species are currently recognized, which makes identification in many cases almost impossible without knowledge of the origin. But in the case of Paraguay, there is a recent revision of the species known from this river system by Vera-Alcaraz et al. (2008), so at least trying to determine the exact species name is not just a waste of time.

Mostly, whiptail catfishes destined for export are collected from Paraguay not far from the capital Asunción. From there three species can be expected: R. aurata, R. lanceolata and R. parva. R. lanceolata and R. parva we receive regularly, see hhttps://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/rineloricaria_lanceolata_en/ and https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/rineloricaria-parva-2/, R. aurata however (still) never – until some months ago.

Then we received a larger consignment of “Otocinlus negros”, which in reality is called Otothyropsis piribebuy. And with these animals were two whiptail catfish by-catches, which even developed to a pair, which belongs perfectly to the species Rineloricaria aurata! Why R. aurata comes so rarely to us is unknown. The species will probably not be rare in nature. But its behavior gives a hint: more than the other two species R. aurata tends to burrow. That’s why on all our photos there are always a few grains of sand on the animals. Without sandy bottom these fishes do not feel well! But in Paraguay they don’t bother to sift sandy areas to catch ornamental fish.

The pair went, after the animals had grown up and we had taken photos, to our proven breeder Kurt Jülich. What is almost unbelievable: the first juveniles are already swimming and most likely we will be able to offer Rineloricaria aurata, the Golden Witch Catfish, for sale for the first time soon! What a nice Christmas present…

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Danio nigrofasciatus

11. January 2023

The spotted danio (Danio nigrofasciatus) originates from Burma (Pegu and Mulmein) and is a close relative of the zebra danio (Danio rerio), to which it is completely similar in behavior. However, the spotted danio remains somewhat smaller with a maximum total length of 4 cm.

The cute schooling fish come from subtropical regions; in winter they are kept at 18-22°C, otherwise at 24-26°C, for breeding they are kept at 2°C higher.  They are absolutely peaceful and do not eat plants.

Like all Danio species, Danio nigrofasciatus is a free spawner, which likes to lay the eggs over fine-feathered plants. The parents care for the spawn only insofar as they like to eat it. Not every male harmonizes with every female and vize versa. Therefore breeding should be done best in a shoal. The spotted danio is by far not as productive as the zebra danio. In the trade are therefore mainly wild collected specimens.

For our customers: the fish have code 407642 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Pimelodus pictus

9. January 2023

Among the large antenna catfishes (Pimelodidae) Pimelodus pictus belongs to the dwarfs. Scientifically proven are 11-12 cm length, but in the aquarium, where these fish can become very old, also 25 cm are said to have occurred. In nature these fishes probably do not live longer than 2-3 years, the keeping record in the aquarium is 18 years. 

Anyway, P. pictus is a very attractive fish, if kept correctly. This includes a lot of swimming space, because the catfish is highly active, and company of at least 5, better 10 or more conspecifics. Individually kept specimens are shy. P. pictus, also known as Angel Catfish, is a diurnal catfish. Older specimens become calmer and appreciate retreats (roots and caves). Aquaristically, the species, which was scientifically described as early as 1876 and is very widely distributed in Amazonia (Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela), was not discovered until 1968. Aquaristic expeditions to Colombia led to the fish being initially imported into the United States. The fanciful name “Pimelodus angelicus” (i.e. “Angel-like Pimelodus”), which promoted sales, certainly contributed to its popularity, but also the fact that in the USA less importance was traditionally attached to planted aquariums. People preferred to keep relatively large, herbivorous, representative fish like the Silver Dollars (Metynnis and Myleus) and cichlids. There the Pimelodus pictus fitted well to it.

Pimelodus pictus leaves plants and even relatively small fish completely alone. However, to be on the safe side, by-fish should not be much smaller than about one third of the body length of the Pimelodus. No one has tried to breed these fish so far, which are free spawners without brood care, at least no breeding reports have become known.

For our customers: the fish have code 279804 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Ancistomus cf. sabaji L75 offspring

6. January 2023

We have received very nice offsprings of L75, which are currently 6-8 cm (26480-L 075x-2) and 10-12 cm (26480-L 075x-4) long. Here the report of the breeder, for which we thank very much:

hdrpl

Breeding report Ancistomus cf. sabaji L75

Until breeding L75 was a long way. I tried it for seven years with two groups. It turned out: patience is always the key to success with difficult plecos.

L75 is a pleco that has fascinated me for some time, so I was happy when I got three adults (two males and one female) in 2014. I had no success with this group, but six years later, in 2020, I bought seven more. Things went very quickly with this group. Several of the males showed interest in the caves, and I was happy to soon find one on a large clutch. The fight for the cave with other males stressed the brooding animal quite a bit, and after 3 days he threw the clutch out of the cave. 

I managed to recover about fifty eggs, but because of a fungus, only six hatched, all of which fortunately survived. Later I removed four adults, so I ended up with the breeding male and two presumed females. Further reproduction now went very well, with the male mating with both females and taking care of the eggs and young, this time without disturbance.

The adults are 20-25 cm and are fed an insect-based diet with some fresh fish and mussels. Soft, neutral water, 28-30 degrees Celsius. The number of eggs per clutch was 150-250, depending on the size of the female. The fry grow very well on a varied diet under the same conditions, are gray at first and get the leopard pattern at about 3 cm. All in all, due to its more active behavior compared to other plecos, L75 is a very entertaining species whose care and breeding can only be recommended. 

Knut Hatteland Sømme 

Parotocinclus bahiensis and P. cearensis

6. January 2023

The genus Parotocinclus currently exists in a kind of shadowy existence in aquaristics. In contrast to their cousins of the genus Otocinclus, hardly anyone knows these equally small loricariids, which are, however, equally zealous algae exterminators. We have received from the Northeast region (Região Nordeste), more precisely from the states of Cereá and Bahia of Brazil two species of Parotocinclus, which have not come to us before, at least not recognized: Parotocinclus bahiensis and P. cearensis.

Honestly we have to admit that the species identification of these animals is extremely tricky and therefore we simply rely on the expert judgement of our supplier in this case. There are at least 30 species of Parotocinclus! The care of our new imports is without any problems. They behave as you would expect from small sucking catfish, they are lively and not very shy. The expected final size is 4-5 cm for the females, which are significantly larger and more plump than the males.

For our customers: The animals have code 276462 (P. bahiensis) and 276472 (P. cearensis) on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Corydoras kanei

4. January 2023

This pretty, at most 5 cm long corydoras wandered for many years under different names through the aquariums, until it was finally described in 1997 by Steven Grant as an independent species: Corydoras kanei. Unfortunately the description is flawed by the fact that the type specimens came from the trade and therefore the type locality is not exactly known (probably from the area of Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil, maybe Rio Branco). This is a pity with this group of taxonomically complicated armored catfishes, but it cannot be helped.

Corydoras kanei is relatively easy to distinguish from all other spotted Corydoras with round, short snouts by the following combination of characteristics: a distinct eye mask is present; the first rays of the dorsal fin are usually black; there is no sharply defined saddle patch below the dorsal fin; a fine banding of the caudal fin composed of dots. Not everything is always pronounced in a perfect, textbook manner in every individual, but on the whole the species is readily recognizable, which, incidentally, Grant named after his sick son.

In the aquarium C. kanei is a pure joy, because it is a lively, hardly shy armored catfish, which is easy to maintain and also to breed.

For our customers: the animals have code 232802 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply only wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Oranda Red Cap

3. January 2023

One of the most popular goldfish breeds is the Oranda Red Cap. Its name is a Japanese corruption of the word for “Dutchman”, because the first Orandas came to Japan via a Dutch trading post in 1800; however, the animals were bred in China. The hood, called “wen” in technical jargon, is – technically speaking – a fat growth, as it occurs in nature, for example, in the minnow species Pimephales promelas. “High heads” are so particularly popular in Asia because the Chinese god of longevity (shou xing gong) is depicted with an elongated head.

Everything about the goldfish is symbolism. The coloration of the Oranda Red Cap reminds Asian enthusiasts of the crane with its red head plate, and the crane in turn is another symbol of longevity. It is believed that this breeding form originated around 1590. The ideal “Tancho” should have a compact hood, as high as possible, which does not reach the eye or mouth. A red ring around the eye is desirable. The body should be compact and silvery white in color, and the caudal fin should be large and as long as the body. Because of the huge genome of the goldfish, it is impossible to manifest the ideal form by breeding. Therefore, only a few individuals out of thousands are top animals.

In Europe, it is childhood memories that these fish awaken in people receptive to them. As the German name “Rotkäppchen-Oranda” says: the Brothers Grimm, whose folk tales have become general cultural heritage, cause associations to the fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood when we see Red Cap Oranda.The compact goldfish breeding forms with their spherical head and the relatively large googly eyes also correspond to the so-called Kindchenschema, which arouses affection and protective instincts in humans. The colors red and white are festive colors, especially now, at Christmas time. 

Like all goldfish, these animals are gregarious and should be kept in a troop. The temperature of the water may be in the range of 10-30°C, admittedly sudden temperature changes should be strictly avoided. Part of the substrate must consist of fine sand, because all goldfish like to dig. Vegetable food – preferably duckweed – should not be missing on the menu, which otherwise may consist of dry and frozen food. Usually this breeding form reaches a body length (without fins) of about 15 cm, so it needs a corresponding water volume, because goldfish eat a lot. Year-round garden pond keeping is rarely possible in our latitudes, and in any case requires years of adaptation and careful observation of the animals. Keep in mind that many goldfish nowadays are bred in tropical areas where the water temperature hardly ever drops below 20°C.

For our customers: the animals have code 814501 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Glossolepis spec. “Gidomen Village”.

30. December 2022

In 2010 this beautiful rainbowfish was discovered on a private expedition in eastern West Papua. It lives there in the Taritatu River (former: Idenburg River). At first it was thought to be a Chilatherina species, but genetic studies rather point to Glossolepis. The species could be brought back alive and propagated in the aquarium. Nowadays captive bred specimens even appear in the regular trade (eg not only among spezialised hobbyists), so good was the success to establish the species in the hobby.

This slender Glossolepis becomes about 12 cm long, females remain smaller. The photographed specimens are 8-9 cm long. A particularly striking feature of this species is the red anterior dorsal stripe, which the females also show, although much weaker than the males. In the high courtship (in this mood the animals come naturally in the photo tank hardly) the body ground coloration darkens to a wonderful blue.

For our customers: the fish have code 417603 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum

30. December 2022

Similar to rainbowfishes, hardyheads (Craterocephalus) are exclusive elements of the Australian fauna. That is, they are found only on the Australian continent and offshore islands (including New Guinea) that formed the large landmass called the Sahul during the Ice Age. Craterocephalus have two separate dorsal fins and, like rainbowfishes, belong to the mullet relatives, but in a different lineage called silverside relatives.

Aquaristically Craterocephalus hardly appeared outside Australia so far. We have now received from Indonesia – probably from the Indonesian part of the island of New Guinea known as Papua – hardyheads that are most likely Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum. This species grows to 9 cm long and there is also some aquaristic experience with it. It is considered to be very durable and peaceful. Concerning the water composition there are no special demands, a temperature between 24 and 28°C suits it. They will eat any common ornamental fish food, including dry food. The fish spawn on fine plants, they do not practice broodcare. There are hardly any external sex differences, females become a little more plump and the yellow coloration of the belly is less pronounced.

All in all Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum is a pretty, if not very colorful fish, but because of its unusual body shape it enriches a community aquarium very much. Craterocephalus should always be kept in a group, single individuals do not feel well.

For our customers: the animals have code 412453 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Schistura cf. quasimodo

28. December 2022

A funny name for a funny loach! In 2000, Kottelat assigned it to a loach from Laos when describing it scientifically. Quasimodo was the hunchbacked bell-ringer in a world-famous novel by Victor Hugo. And the loach from Laos has a hump – hence the name. However, the loach from Laos has a second characteristic that is extremely unusual for loaches. Loaches are bottom-dwelling fish and eat from the bottom. Accordingly, the mouth slit is directed downwards (underslung). Not so with Schistura quasimodo. Here the mouth fissure is almost horizontal (subterminal).

We have now received for the first time a loach from northern Thailand, which also has a clearly terminal mouth. It differs from Schistura quasimodo from Laos by the absence of the hump – but this may be a matter of age – and coloration. S. quasimodo is striped (juveniles up to 10 stripes, 6-8 in adults of 5-6 cm length), ours are monochromatic. Therefore we assume that our fishes are a scientifically undescribed species.

At present our animals are 4-6 cm long, it is expected that they will grow another 1-2 cm. Among themselves they are peaceful, but it is obvious that we have no long-term experience with the animals yet.

For our customers: the fish have code 454862 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Dear ornamental fish friends around the world,

23. December 2022

an emotional and eventful year 2022 lies behind us. And the coming year 2023 certainly holds many challenges for all of us in view of the world political situation and the still raging pandemic. That’s why this Christmas, even more than usual, we hope that you and your loved ones will be able to find a few days of peace and quiet and wish you strength, happiness and health for the New Year!

The team of Aquarium Glaser

Rubricatochromis: a new genus name for the red jewel cichlids

23. December 2022

Red jewel cichlids are among the most popular aquarium fishes of all. For over 100 years, they have delighted aquarists around the world with their blaze of color and wonderful breeding habits. There is disagreement about the number of species, because these fish are very variable. Until now the red jewel cichlids were known under the generic name Hemichromis.

It has always been known that Hemichromis consist of two very different groups of species, namely the so-called five-spotted cichlids and the already mentioned red jewel cichlids. The five-spotted cichlids were recently (November 2022) subjected to a scientific revision by A. Lamboj and S. Koblmüller. One of the results was that the red jewel cichlids and the five-spotted cichlids are not as closely related as previously thought, but represent different evolutionary lineages. Accordingly, they must be in different genera. Type species of Hemichromis is a five-spotted cichlid (H. fasciatus), so the five-spotted cichlids remain in Hemichromis, while for the red jewel cichlids a new generic name had to be coined: Rubricatochromis. This means nothing else than “red coloured perch”. Type species is Rubricatochromis guttatus.

The following species are now in the new classification: 

Hemichromis Peters, 1858, with four species:

Hemichromis angolensis Steindachner, 1865

Hemichromis camerounensis Bitja-Nyom, Agnése, Pariselle, Bilong-Bilong & Snoeks, 2021

Hemichromis elongatus (Guichenot, 1861)  

Hemichromis fasciatus Peters, 1858 

The species H. frempongi Loiselle, 1979, has already been synonymized with H. fasciatus by Bitja-Nyom et al., 2021.

Rubricatochromis Lamboj & Koblmüller, 2022, with nine described species:

Rubricatochromis bimaculatus (Gill, 1862). 

Rubricatochromis cerasogaster (Boulenger, 1898) 

Rubricatochromis cristatus (Loiselle, 1979) 

Rubricatochromis exsul (Trewavas, 1933)

Rubricatochromis guttatus (Günther, 1862) 

Rubricatochromis letourneuxi (Sauvage, 1880) 

Rubricatochromis lifalili (Loiselle, 1979) 

Rubricatochromis paynei (Loiselle, 1979) 

Rubricatochromis stellifer (Loiselle, 1979)

and at least four scientifically not yet described taxa:

Rubricatochromis sp. „Gabon“

Rubricatochromis sp. „Guinea 1“

Rubricatochromis sp. „Guinea 2“

Rubricatochromis sp. „neon“

Literature:

Lamboj, A. & S. Koblmüller (2022): Molecular phylogeny and taxonomic revision of the cichlid genus Hemichromis (Teleostei, Cichliformes, Cichlidae), with description of a new genus and revalidation of H. angolensis. Hydrobiologia, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-022-05060-y

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Hoplocharax goethei

23. December 2022

Do you know this tetra? The species is unusual in several respects! First of all there is its strange species name, goethei. Was the species named after our poet prince and universal genius, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe? Unfortunately no. It was dedicated to the controversial eugenicist Charles Matthias Goethe (1875-1966). But that is rather beside the point. The little fish – it grows to only 3-4 cm in length – looks at first glance like perhaps the most common tetra in Amazonia, Hemigrammus bellottii, but it belongs to a completely different family and is actually a closer relative to predatory tetras such as the freshwater barracudas of the genus Acestrorhynchus. What you can’t see with the naked eye is that the dentition of Hoplocharax goethei is not made up of jagged incisors like Hemigrammus bellottii but of needle-sharp fangs! Nevertheless, this miniature predator is a peaceful animal that will not harm any of its equally sized tankmates. Maybe the fish prefers to eat fish larvae in nature, who knows? In the aquarium it accepts any common fish food, including dry food. By the way, the bright red eye of Hoplocharax goethei is much more brilliantly colored than in any other tetra species.

Until recently Hoplocharax goethei was imported rather accidentally as cardinal tetra bycatch from Colombia and Brazil; these were mostly single specimens. For some years we have been able to import a somewhat larger number of animals from Venezuela from time to time. Maybe one day we will even succeed in breeding them? 

For our customers: the animals have code 258853 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Corydoras “punctatus” Nanay

21. December 2022

There is a saying: “The Internet forgets nothing”. This may be true, but books are even more durable, especially if errors have been printed in them. These are often so stubborn that one could almost despair. This is what happened to a very pretty armored catfish that occurs in huge numbers in the tri-border area of Peru-Colombia-Brazil, i.e. in the upper Amazon. Because it is so common, it was also brought to Europe early, to Germany in 1935, when it was misidentified as Corydoras punctatus (which is a completely different species that looks similar to C. julii), an error that was carried over into the most important identification book on exotic ornamental fishes at the time, the “Arnold-Ahl”, in 1936. Since then, this error has apparently stuck, and exporters still send this species (and some close relatives that look very similar) under this misnomer. In reality it is a species from the close relationship of C. agassizii and C. ambiacus. Since this group of species is scientifically very poorly researched, nothing can be said for sure, but it is very probable that this particular Corydoras is scientifically still undescribed and best named Corydoras sp. aff. agassizii.

The species is, as already mentioned, widespread in the entire upper Amazonas drainage up to at least Manaus in Brazil and appears here in huge swarms. A particularly nice variety comes from the Rio Nanay in Peru, which we currently have in stock. The Rio Nanay is a left bank Amazon tributary and about 450 km long. It is considered a blackwater river. Concerning the water values and the care Corydoras “punctatus” Nanay is however everything else than demanding. Only breeding has not been successful yet, which is probably due to the fact that the animals spawn at night and are strong spawn predators, which is why the egg blessing has already landed in the stomach of the parents before the breeder notices anything.

For our customers: the fish have code 242053 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Brachyhypopomus brevirostris

19. December 2022

Knifefishes are found in Africa, Asia, and South America, with Old World and New World species not closely related. As aquarium fishes, knifefishes are particularly attractive because their elegant swimming style, created by the long anal fin extending over the belly and tail, is fascinating to watch. Like ghosts, the animals glide forward as well as backward through the water.

We currently have a very rare imported knifefish in the stock. Brachyhypopomus brevirostris is a species that grows to about 20-40 cm in length but only as thick as a thumb. It is a representative of the family Hypopomidae. B. brevirostris is widespread in South America, our animals come from Peru. Males and females clearly differ in head shape, males also grow larger and in uninjured specimens they also have a small caudal fin, which females lack. However, in their native habitat, many fish apparently specialize in biting off part of the tail of knifefish. Therefore, South American knifefishes are the only fishes that can regenerate the tail including the spine.

Among themselves Brachyhypopomus are pleasantly peaceful. They are small carnivores, easy to feed with frozen and live food. Like all South American knifefish, they possess a weakly electrical organ that they use much like bats use their ultrasound. This allows South American knifefish to move in complete darkness without ever bumping into anything.

For our customers: the animals have code 210803 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Tetranematichthys wallacei

16. December 2022

At present three species of the strange genus Tetranematichthys are distinguished. None of them comes more frequently or even regularly into the trade, because their hidden way of life makes their catch a pure matter of luck. So we were particularly pleased to be able to import the species T. wallacei from Colombia. We are even more pleased that sexually mature males and females are included in the import.

As in the closely related genus Ageinosus, male Tetranematichthys develop a huge dorsal fin at breeding time. The male uses the heavily spined dorsal fin spine to clamp the female during mating. Fertilization occurs internally with a penis-like structure formed from the anteriormost rays of the anal fin. After the reproductive period, both sexual characteristics are said to regress and then become almost indistinguishable from that of the female.

T. wallacei differs from the identically colored species T. quadrifilis by the profile of the underside of the head. The cheeks of T. wallacei run almost parallel on the left and right side, while in T. quadrifilis the distance between left and right head edge increases clearly recognizable towards the abdomen. 

These highly interesting and rare catfishes reach about 20 cm total length. They feed predatorily, preferred food being small fish. An aquarium for Tetranematichthys should contain a fine sandy bottom, be dimly lit and contain plenty of root wood for hiding. During the day the animals often lie on their sides sleeping, this is quite normal and need not worry the keeper. Among themselves Tetranematichthys are completely peaceful.

For our customers: the fish have code 296415 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale. 

Lexicon: Tetranematichthys: means “fish with four filaments”, referring to the barbels. wallacei: dedication name for Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913).

Suggested common name: Wallace’s root dolphin catfish.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Datnioides polota

16. December 2022

From India (Orissa) we have received quite adorable tiger perch babies of the species Datnioides polota. Most of the only 1-2 cm long babies still have the dark baby dress, which is only interrupted in the front third of the body by a bright band. But single animals change already into the adult dress, which is silver-colored with vertical dark bands. Cheeky as Oskar they roam the aquarium and are incredibly curious.

Tiger perch (Datnioides) are large, magnificent fish. As predatory fish, they develop significantly more behavior that seems intelligent to us humans than most other fish. Datnioides species grow up to 30 cm long. Accordingly, they need large aquariums, not so much for swimming space as for water stress. Such a large tiger perch eats quite a lot during a meal and everything that disappears through the gullet in the body (live and frozen food of all kinds), comes converted back into the water. And that’s why you need volume, otherwise there will be a water chemical catastrophe.

But true tiger perch fans provide large aquariums for the animals anyway. In the many years that a tiger perch accompanies its keeper through life, the animal becomes tame and develops into a real pet! Among themselves tiger perch are relatively compatible, other fish that do not come into question as food, they ignore. Datnioides polota is a brackish water fish that is also commonly found in pure freshwater. Aquaristically, it has been found to be best to make sure that the pH does not drop below 8 on a permanent basis.

For our customers: the animals have code 414051 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Cyphocharax multilineatus

15. December 2022

This interesting species, which we obtained from Venezuela, belongs to the Curimata-relationship. At the first glimps it reminds one strongly to the well known headstander (Chilodus punctatus), but it can be easily recognized by the black stripe through the eye. Moreover, Cyphocharax swims in a “normal” horizontal way.

Cyphocharax feed on Aufwuchs and look the whole day through on stones, roots, and plants for algae and the small animals inside them. Against each other C. multilineatus are very peaceful. Maximum length reported for the species is about 10 cm.

We have also made a small film about these fish, which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uaKiKAcnTI

For our customers: the fish has code 251353 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Cyphocharax: from ancient Greek, means “Charax with a hump”; Charax is another genus of tetra. multilineatus: Latin, means “with many stripes”. Chilodus: ancient Greek, means “with teeth on the lips”. punctatus: Latin, means “spotted”.

Suggestion of a common name: Golden Mascara Tetra

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Channa marulius

12. December 2022

Which species is the largest snakehead fish? Unfortunately, this question cannot be answered unambiguously, because the expression “angler’s lingo” has already become proverbial for uncertain statements. Anglers (and not only them!) like to exaggerate a little. But indisputable is: Channa marulius from India belongs to the top candidates for the race. The largest documented catch of a Channa marulius was a specimen about 120 cm long that weighed 13.6 kg, but allegedly there has also been a 183 cm long specimen weighing a good 30 kg. Nevertheless, the normal size of the species is “only” about 50 cm, which is also quite decent!

In India, its homeland, there are huge, tame C. marulius that live in ponds in sacred temple precincts and are worshipped and fed by believers. These animals are so tame that they will take rice balls from your hand. However, rice is not an adequate food for these animals, which are predatory fish.

In the aquarium, Channa marulius are pleasant contemporaries, but they are reserved for owners of very large aquariums, zoos and display aquariums because of their size. Their aggression potential is low compared to that of other snakeheads. This changes at breeding time. Then these giants form pairs, which build a nest around the numerous brood sustainably defend. Nobody wants to be attacked and bitten by a 50 cm snakehead, because they have quite decent teeth and are really fearless! 

The young animals, as we can offer them now once again after many years, are completely different colored than adult animals. As long as they wear the juvenile dress, they are schooling fish. However, when they lose the yellow longitudinal stripe they come into puberty, in which every conspecific is seen as a food competitor. Only when they reach sexual maturity do they become interested in conspecifics again. These phases are typical for large predatory fishes, especially during puberty it is impossible to keep more than one specimen in the aquarium. But with Channa marulius everything runs moderately and manners, why primarily the possible final size is a restriction for the suitability as an aquarium fish. 

We have also made a small film about these fish, which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auSKklvgyZI&t=4s

For our customers: the animals have code 409102 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Ancistrus sp. Bushmouth LDA 72

9. December 2022

Ancistrus species belonged to aquaristics long before one even thought of the term L or LDA number. Unfortunately, the systematics of the group is complex, there have been and still are misidentifications and – this is especially unfortunate – the species can apparently often be crossed, so that aquarium hybrids have been created unintentionally. Such hybrids have no scientific name. The well-known Aquarium Ancistrus is such a hybrid. Aquarists with a deeper scientific interest therefore prefer to breed with defined strains and wild caught specimens. With LDA 72 we succeeded in importing a species from Colombia, in which the males develop particularly impressive nose ornaments and the females are also bearded.

The Ancistrus species of the area from which our animals must originate have only recently undergone a scientific revision (de Souza et al., 2019). If one follows the identification key in this paper, our imports come to Ancistrus triradiatus, a highly variable species described already in 1918 by Eigenmann. Probably the species name Ancistrus triradiatus hides – so de Souza et al. assume – several species, because the animals look quite different depending on their origin. Therefore in the hobby one should not dissolve the number LDA 72, but keep it until this question is clarified. Typical for LDA 72 of our current import is the following combination of characteristics: a small black spot at the base of the dorsal fin just behind the dorsal fin spine, a regular dot pattern on the fin rays of dorsal and caudal fin, an indistinct honeycomb pattern on the back of the forebody, a light vertical band at the end of the caudal peduncle, a unicolored, unspotted abdomen and a total of three bright dots on the tips of the dorsal and caudal fin even in fully adult animals. Our fish are currently 9-12 cm long.

For our customers: the fish have code 26480-LDA 072-4 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Literature: de Souza, L. S., Taphorn, D. C. & J. W. Armbruster (2019): Review of Ancistrus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the northwestern Guiana Shield, Orinoco Andes, and adjacent basins with description of six new species. Zootaxa 4552: 1-67.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Schistura cf. balteata

9. December 2022

There is a very great number of scientifically described species of Schistura – more than 300. About 200 of them are currently considered as valid. Only very few species have been imported so far as aquarium fishes. One of the most spectacular of them Schistura cf. balteata, a species collected in the region of Ranchaburi. This population can be recognized by the spotted dorsal fin. Another colllecting site is near Kanchanaburi. Here the fish have only one band on the base of the fin.

The biotope is said to be a small rivulet, the water never deeper than 20 cm. The water is fast running, cool, and rich of oxygen. The rivulet is running through a wood.

We obtain these fishes about 5-6 cm long. At that size the sexes are recognizable (males have a proportionally broader head). We have heard rumours of about 10 cm long specimens in the internet, but have never seen such large animals ourselves.

Schistura balteata has been described from Birma in 1948. The species has a vertical double band over the middle of the body. Specimens imported from Birma always showed a beige body color, while in Thai specimens the frontal portion of the body can become dark olive and the tail bright red or yellow with dark bars. It is unknown wether the red ones (which are currently imported) and the yellow ones occur together. They have been imported together in the past occasionally. Specimens that do not show the red or yellow tail pattern (this is mood depending) look the same. These loaches can change their coloration drastically and very fast. It is very interesting to observe their behaviour.

These types of Schistura are territorial fish and defend their territory against other fish. So it is necessary to keep these loaches in tanks with a lot of hiding places.

For our customers: the fish have code 454933 on our stocklist. Please note we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Chlamydogobius eremius 

8. December 2022

The desert goby (Chlamydogobius eremius) is a wonder of nature in terms of temperature adaptability. Originally it comes from the desert of South Australia. There it can be very hot during the day, but very cold at night. The high heat capacity of the water prevents the fish from having to endure sudden temperature changes, but the temperature range that the Desert Goby can tolerate is between 10 and 35°C!

Under no circumstances should this tempt the fish to be exposed to sudden temperature changes. They cannot tolerate this at all and may even die in extreme cases. For maintenance hard rather than soft water is recommended, in any case the pH should be above 7.5, better in the range of 8-8.5. Acidic water is bad for the animals. However, they are very tolerant to salinity.

The sexes are easily distinguished by coloration; in addition, the males have a much thicker head. They are cavity breeders with brood care in the male sex. Within the territory a male does not tolerate a conspecific of the same sex, it is essential to take this into account when caring for them. If you want to keep several males of the usually 4-5 cm long species (in the literature you can also find 6 cm as final size, but this seems a bit exaggerated to us), you need an aquarium with a lot of structure, i.e.: many stones, caves and roots. Desert gobies are bottom fish. A sandy bottom is recommended. They are peaceful towards other fishes.

For our customers: the animals have code 411002 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Symphysodon wild Nanay Green

5. December 2022

The Rio Nanay is a large, left-bank tributary of the upper Amazon River. It is considered a blackwater river. The Rio Nanay is home to Green Discus, which have always been sought after in the hobby. In the past, in the 1950s and 1960s, these precious animals came to us via the Colombian city of Leticia, which is still a major hub for South American ornamental fish. This is because Leticia is located in the triangle of Peru, Colombia and Brazil. In fact, the Colombian city of Leticia and the Brazilian city of Tabatinga are one municipality and you can get from one to the other without border controls.

Discus are and have always been relatively expensive fish, which is partly due to the fact that they have to be packed and transported individually and therefore there is only room for a few animals per box. This results in a high freight price. In addition, however, discus of all varieties and locality forms are also sorted in the country itself. Depending on rarity and demand, different prices for animals from the same locality arise. In the case of green discus from the Rio Nanay, specimens with many spots on the flanks are particularly sought after and therefore significantly more expensive than their cousins in which these spots are less numerous or missing. The number of spots says nothing about the sex and is not necessarily inherited. And, of course, the animals with numerous spots are, according to their status, a bit more reserved towards the paparazzo in front of the glass who wants to photograph them, than their bourgeois cousins …

For our customers: the animals are 10-14 cm long and have code 749944 (spotted) and 749934 (few spots) on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Auriglobus modestus

2. December 2022

The golden pufferfishes – the genus name Auriglobus means roughly “golden globe“ – are pure freshwater pufferfishes. For a long time it was thought that there was only one species, A. modestus, which was placed in the genus Chonerhinos. Then it was discovered that there are actually five species, darn similar to each other.

We have now received from Sumatra, more specifically, from the Indragiri River, a nice shipment of Golden Puffers. In all probability it is A. modestus. This is supported by anatomical characteristics (snout and caudal peduncle shape) and also by the locality, because the last reviser of the genus (Roberts, 1982) identified specimens from the Indragiri as A. modestus.

This golden pufferfish reaches a length of about 10 cm. It is a restless swimmer and, like all pufferfishes, very curious. What is true for almost all puffers also applies to this species: there are peaceful specimens and those that can be classified in their behavior between insolent and pushy. The latter also like to bite off pieces of fin. Under no circumstances should keep gold puffers along with quiet, shy species. Larger barbs, catfish, perch, knifefish, spiny eels and the like, on the other hand, are usually fine. If you are unlucky enough to obtain a downright troublemaker gold puffer, solitary keeping is usually required. What applies to other fish species also applies to conspecifics. Usually gold puffers get along well with each other, but there are also loners that attack each conspecific violently with bites.

Nothing is known about the reproductive behavior of the Golden Puffers. They eat very gladly live food of all kinds and accept also frozen food well. They are by no means food specialists, in nature they eat mainly insects. Vegetable material is ignored.

For our customers: the animals have code 366593 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Geophagus steindachneri

2. December 2022

The redhump eartheater (Geophagus steindachneri) from Colombia has had a regular place in the aquarium since it was first imported to Germany in 1972. There are numerous reasons for this. First of all it is very attractively colored. The males develop a red colored forehead hump, which varies very much in size. Over all: the size. In fact, G. steindachneri can grow up to 25 cm long! But sexual maturity starts already with 6 -7 cm length. 

Geophagus steindachneri is considered to be the most specialized mouthbrooder of South America, because the eggs are taken into the maternal mouth immediately after spawning. Instead of egg spots in the anal fin, as found in many African mouthbrooding cichlids, G. steindachneri have orange spots in the corners of the mouth, which achieved the same effect.

We have at the moment nice offsprings of the species in the stock, where the males have as a special feature green-golden areas in the area of the gill covers.

For our customers: the animals have code 678212 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Corydoras sodalis (incorrect as agassizii).

30. November 2022

There are four species of beautiful corydoras, which are practically without exception available as wild collected specimens from Brazil, because even experienced breeders have a hard time with them. In addition, these species occur in masses and can therefore be offered in large numbers and very cheaply, so there is little incentive to breed them. After all, sustainable natural harvests make more ecological sense than captive breeding and provide local people with an environmentally sound, secure income.

These four species we are talking about here are Corydoras agassizii, C. ambiacus, C. schwartzi and C. sodalis. Unfortunately, they are repeatedly given wrong names. A portrait of Cordoras schwartzi can be found here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/corydoras-schwartzi-2/

This post is about Corydoras sodalis. For reasons that go back to a mistake in the 1960s, this actually hardly to be confused armored catfish is traded again and again as C. agassizii. This is especially difficult to eradicate, because C. sodalis and the “real” agassizii often occur together and are therefore often imported mixed. C. agassizii on the other hand is – also wrongly – mostly called C. punctatus, as well as C. ambiacus, which is furthermore difficult to distinguish from C. agassizii. A real name drama!

Concerning care there is not much to say about C. sodalis, the fish will do practically everything, if you fulfill the basic requirements of Corydoras: no sharp-edged substrate, preferably soft river sand, low-germ water and specific feeding. Corydoras are not scavengers! The water temperature should be between 22 and 28°C, pH and hardness are irrelevant.

The reason why these catfishes evade breeding lies in their natural history. The mass occurrences are most likely nothing more than spawning migrations that take the fish to small, shady tributary streams where they spawn. In the aquarium, they spawn only at night, in complete darkness. And because they are strong spawn predators, there is nothing left of the egg splendor the next morning.

For our customers: the animals have code 221504 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Bhavania australis

28. November 2022

Along the west coast of India runs a mountain range known as the Western Ghats. There is a hotspot of biodiversity. An unusually large number of species of freshwater fish are endemic there, i.e. only found there and nowhere else in the world. These include the two species of the genus Bhavania, namely B. annandalei and B. australis. We were now able to import the latter for the first time.

If you look at our currently about 3-4 cm long animals, they look like many other hillstream loaches. It will be exciting when they reach 8-9 cm, their final size. Then they develop an attractive, contrasting leopard pattern.

Genetic investigations showed that behind the name Bhavania australis probably 7 different species are hiding, which however cannot be distinguished by external characteristics. For aquaristic practice this means that specimens from different sources should never be used for breeding. Otherwise the danger of unintentionally producing hybrids is very high.

For our customers: the animals have code 396001 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Astroblepus from Colombia

25. November 2022

The L-catfishes or Loricariidae from South America belong to the most popular and most desired catfishes for the aquarium. However, even experienced aquarists have hardly ever had the opportunity to see a living representative of the genus Astroblepus.

It is the only genus of the family Astroblepidae, the closest relatives of the Loricariidae, distinguished from the latter by their naked body. In contrast, the Loricariidae have a bony carapace that encases the body. Nevertheless, the Astroblepidae were still listed by Regan (1904) only as a highly specialized subfamily to the Loricariidae, so strong are the other similarities of the two catfish groups.

There are currently (as of November 2022) 71 generally accepted species of the genus Astroblepus and they have not been comparatively scientifically studied for over 100 years. In the last 11 years alone, Colombian scientist C. A. Ardila Rodriguez has described 27 new species from Colombia and Peru! It is easy to see that the identification of a species is very difficult, especially since there is practically no aquaristic literature about these fishes.

The largest species of Astroblepus known so far is A. grixalvii from Colombia (Rio Magdalena basin), which can grow to about 30 cm in length. However, most species seem to remain much smaller. No matter if big or small: the flesh of the Astroblepidae is considered to be very tasty and in their areas of occurrence they are therefore eagerly pursued.

Quite recently we succeeded after 2011 (then from Peru) the second larger (thus more than one fish) import of these interesting animals. This time they came from Colombia, but without any indication of origin. This means that they do not even have to be caught in Colombia, because the Colombian city Leticia at the Amazon is located in the border triangle Brazil-Peru-Colombia and is one of the main transshipment points for ornamental fish of all three countries. 

Purely optically one can distinguish four color forms with the new import, but whether these are also different species? We are still at the very beginning with our research and do not know yet where the way will lead. One thing is for sure: a very important characteristic for the identification of Astroblepus species is the structure of the adipose keel (upper dorsal edge behind the dorsal fin) and the adipose fin. All four Columbians have a tiny, free adipose fin, but it has a spiny ray and in front of it is a long, flat adipose keel. Differences can be seen in the dentition, the two contrasting phenotypes have red, small teeth in the upper jaw, the solid yellowish fish has small white teeth in the upper jaw and the solid brown has much larger, again red colored teeth. So it all points to at least three species, maybe four. The size of the fish is currently 5-6 cm.

For the care you should consider that Astroblepus need a strong current and cool water (18-22°C). Otherwise the care is similar to Ancistrus species. Astroblepus are peaceful among themselves and against other fish. Our animals are still very shy, which makes photography very difficult. When they get the chance, the catfish hide under root wood.

For our customers: the fish have code 208773 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Blue Dempsey Cichlids

25. November 2022

The Blue Dempsey is a beautiful blue variant of the normally rather dark colored Rocio octofasciata (formerly: Cichlasoma or Nandopsis octofasciatum). In the youth Blue Dempsey still have relatively many black color parts, the extremely intensive, then almost solid blue coloration develops only with increasing age. 

Presumably the animals are descendants of a mutant, which originated in Argentina (however, the fish is not native there, the ancestors of the Blue Dempsey were commercial aquarium fish) and was stabilized by backcrossing to “normal” Rocio octofasciata. 

According to various keepers, the animals also seem to be significantly less aggressive than the wild form, which makes them particularly valuable for the aquarist. They do not make special demands on the water chemistry, according to their final size of about 20 cm the aquariums should not be chosen too small. 

For our customers: the animals have code 657021 (2-3 cm) and 657022 (3-4 cm) on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Photos: Frank Schäfer, Text: Klaus Diehl

Horadandia brittani: A Dwarf from India

23. November 2022

At the moment we can again offer Horadandia from South India (Kerala). This miniature fish is also known as the dwarf fire rasbora, as they are closely related to the fire rasboras of the genus Rasboroides. Horadandia reach only a length of 1,5-2 cm.

For a long time it was believed that there was only one species, Horadandia atukorali. It was discovered in 1943 on Sri Lanka, later Horadandia was also found in South India. The South Indian population was described as subspecies H. a. brittani in 1992, but this subspecies was initially not accepted by the scientific community and declared synonymous. It was not until 2013 that another revision of the genus revealed that brittani was not only valid, but even an independent species. With the naked eye no differences are to be recognized however, so in the trade mostly no distinction is made between H. atukorali and H. brittani. Our animals belong to H. brittani.

Despite their small size, Horadandia are robust and easy to care for fish, which are ideal for nano aquariums. They should be kept in shoals. The water values (pH-value and hardness) are insignificant for the care, every drinkable water is suitable. The water temperature can be between 22 and 28°C.

For our customers: the animals have code 121673 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Aspidoras raimundi “Ceará”

18. November 2022

The representatives of the genus Aspidoras are popularly also called loach armored catfishes, which is quite a good description. Because the animals are slimmer and more scurrying, than one is generally used to from Corydoras. With 25 species recognized so far, the genus is quite species rich. Their identification is difficult for non-specialists, because species diagnoses are often based on skeletal features, which are not visible without elaborate preparation of preserved specimens. That is why there was quite a lot of confusion about the correct naming for a long time. Just now, when we have received wild catches of an Aspidoras species again for a long time, a revision of the genus came out as well. With this the identification of the animals sent as Aspidoras rochai from the Brazilian state of Ceará should be possible without any problems – we thought!

Unfortunately we thought wrong. First a short overview, how the genus is represented after the current revision. Tencatt et al. accept only 18 species, among them one newly described. A. pauciradiatus was (provisionally) transferred to Corydoras, C. virgulatus to Scleromystax. The aquaristic – at least by name – known species A. eurycephalus and A. taurus were declared synonyms of A. albater. A. albater now also includes the “Black Phantom” or C35. A. menezesi and A. spilotus now belong to A. raimundi, A. microgaleus and A. marianae to A. poecilus.

Our fish from Ceará corresponded quite well to the preserved specimen of A. rochai from the Amsterdam Museum illustrated in the book by Evers and Fuller “Identifying Corydoradinae Catfish”. But in the revision by Tencatt et al. one learns that at the time of manuscript publication only two doubtless specimens of A. rochai were known, namely the almost completely decolorized type specimens from the Zoological Museum of the University Sao Paulo. So what are our fishes now? In my distress I turned to Hans-Georg Evers and he wrote me: “You have Aspidoras raimundi. In Ceará there are two species, besides A. raimundi from the Parnaiba drainage also A. rochai from the Jaguaribe drainage, mountain range of Guaramiranga (type locality of A. rochai). …. Your animals are imported regularly, sometimes as A. spilotus, sometimes as C125, both synonyms to A. raimundi. The elongated body is typical, the pattern is highly variable.” A thousand thanks to Hans for the valuable information!

Aspidoras raimundi is an easy to care, very cute catfish, which grows 3,5-4,5 cm long and deserves the rating “highly recommended”!

For our customers: the animals have code 208713 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Literature:

Tencatt LFC, Britto MR, Isbruecker IJH, Pavanelli CS. Taxonomy of the armored catfish genus Aspidoras (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae) revisited, with the description of a new species. Neotrop Ichthyol. 2022; 20(3):e220040. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-2022-0040 

Paracanthocobitis botia

18. November 2022

From India we could import again this pretty loach. With its 5-7 cm final length it is an ideal bottom fish for moderately tempered (16-22°C) community aquariums with fish of this region, like zebra danios (Danio rerio), rosy barbs (Pethia conchonius), dwarf gourami (Colisa lalia) etc..

In nature, all these species are also occasionally found together, e.g. in the shore area of rivers and lakes over sandy-stony substrate, but only P. botia colonizes streams with stronger currents. In the aquarium, P. botia are adaptable and undemanding. In contrast to many Schistura species, which occasionally become quite aggressive towards other fish, Paracanthocobitis are completely peaceful fellows.

For our customers: the fish have code. 360803 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Charax cf. michaeli

16. November 2022

There is a conspicuous group of tetras in South America, which we will call “humpback tetras”. They have attracted the interest of researchers since the beginning of fish science (ichthyology), but proved to be a very difficult group in terms of their relationship classification. There are three genera of humpback tetras, which can hardly be distinguished purely visually, according to external characteristics: Charax (18 species), Cynopotamus (12 species), and Roeboides (22 species). The most important feature to distinguish them are the teeth. Cynopotamus are the most specialized fish eaters with long, tusk-like teeth, followed by Charax, which probably eat mostly small fish in nature and also have tusk-like but much shorter teeth, and finally Roeboides, which appear to be small animal and scale eaters and have small teeth suitable for rasping. Of course, this is highly simplified, but gets to the heart of the matter. However, some species are so ambiguous in their characteristics that they have already been placed in all three genera over the last 150 years …

We were able to import interesting humpback tetras from Colombia, which of course presented us with identification problems. The animals are of a nice orange coloration, slightly transparent like glass. They are currently 5-7 cm long. They are attractive animals, peaceful among themselves. After many attempts we had a sufficiently sharp identification photo, in which the teeth were reasonably well visible. According to the tooth structure it had to be a Charax species. Some animals had a black shoulder spot, others a black tail root spot , some both, some neither. Close observation revealed that the fish can switch this feature on and off, apparently due to mood.

There are currently (2022) 9 Charax species described from Colombia. We found the most similarities with Charax michaeli, a species described only in 1989, which is widespread in the Amazonian drainage of Brazil, Colombia, Peru and probably also Ecuador; of course we cannot be completely sure because of the described situation, therefore the “cf. ( which means: confer, so: compare with) between genus and species name.

Charax michaeli becomes about 20 cm long according to the available publications. We warn against keeping them with small fish (less than a quarter of the length of Charax), they could end up as food, but otherwise the fish proved to be peaceful, somewhat shy contemporaries with us.

For our customers: the animals have code 216313 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Rhadinocentrus ornatus

14. November 2022

An absolute rarity among the rainbowfish relatives is the ornate rainbowfish Rhadinocentrus ornatus. Within the genus Rhadinocentrus there is only one species, of which however several local variants exist. The reasons for the rarity of this fish in the hobby are that it is a subtropical species, so in the long run it needs certain seasonal variations in temperature (16-17°C on the one hand and 26-28°C on the other) and the water chemistry in its natural habitat, which is unusual for rainbowfish. There, the water is usually soft and acidic. Of course, the animals do not die if they are kept in normal tap water at the usual 25°C, but in the long run this is nothing and the reason why strains of the beautiful fish are lost again and again. Since there are no exports from Australia, its home country (it occurs from Fraser Island (southern Queensland) southward to Evans Head (northern New South Wales)), it can take many years before animals are available again for the hobby once a strain has become extinct.

These very slender, somewhat nervous fish absolutely must be kept in a group of at least 10, preferably 20 or more specimens. They grow to a length of 6-7 cm, are absolutely peaceful and do not harm plants. As plant spawners they show their full color only in well planted tanks and this most likely early in the morning when the sun rises; in our photo tank we cannot realize this well; of course we have the ambition to provide you with pictures of courting males yet, but this may take some weeks; by then we have probably already sold the fish. That’s why we decided to present them here already.

For our customers: the fish have code 453401 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Micropoecilia picta Red Surinam

11. November 2022

At first sight the Micropoecilia species resemble the Guppy; however, they are not closely related. Nevertheless Micropoecila picta is often called “swamp guppy” in Surinam, because the species is not only very common in general, but also very common in swampy habitats.

Now one could think, the care of such fish of slightly disreputable origin (in the swamp it stinks properly!) can not be particularly difficult. This is true, but only for adult fish. The opposite is true for breeding: only very experienced aquarists manage to breed M. picta healthy over generations. Who thinks swampy origin saves water changes, is wrong! Fortunately we have a breeder who masters this difficult species and so we are very happy to be able to offer this lovely livebearer in good numbers and squeaky clean.

For our customers: the animals have code 268443 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Biotodoma cupido Peru

11. November 2022

The small cichlid Biotodoma cupido – it reaches about 12-15 cm total length, but is already sexually mature at 6-8 cm – is probably the most widespread cichlid species in Amazonia. Among experts there is cheerful disagreement whether all the different looking animals are only local color variants or independent species.

Be that as it may: the animals from the area of Iquitos in Peru can be easily recognized by the large bronze to copper colored spot that the males show and which makes the fish very attractive. We have also posted a video about these animals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZFRAksTFew

These extremely peaceful fish are open breeders with parent families. Only when they get into breeding mood their behavior changes and they become very rabid. In nature they prefer to live in moving water, otherwise they have few demands and some populations of Biotodoma can even be found in tidal areas.

For our customers: the animals have code 634005 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Lexicon: biotodoma: means “house of life” (these fish were once thought to be mouthbrooders). cupido: after a Roman god of love.

Common name: cupido cichlid.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Badis pallidus

9. November 2022

The flood of newly discovered Badis species does not stop. It is astonishing that 23 new species of these fishes have been scientifically accepted in the last 20 years and only four in the 200 years before! Badis pallidus was only described in 2019; it belongs to the immediate relationship of Badis badis and cannot be distinguished from it without intensive research. The native country of B. pallidus is Bangladesh.

We can now offer German offspring of this pretty little chameleon fish for the first time. Because of the great similarity to Badis badis no great aquaristic career can be predicted for this animal, but who knows? After all, since there are no significant commercial ornamental fish exports from Bangladesh, the opportunity to get this fish in the future should be very rare.

For our customers: the animals have code 368382 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Channa aurantimaculata WILD

7. November 2022

We have the probably most beautiful of all snakeheads once again available in limited numbers. This species grows up to 50 cm long in the aquarium, but normally they reach only 20-25 cm in the wild; our currently stocked fish are 14-18 cm long. The species is endemic (i.e. only found there) in northern India. They are mouthbrooders in the male sex.

For breeding, which is quite possible, the distinct annual rhythm of the fish must be taken into account. A hibernation at reduced temperatures, shortened photoperiod (i.e. the time when the tank is illuminated, it should be only 6-8 hours during hibernation or omitted altogether, depending on the location of the hibernation tank; in nature the animals hibernate in caves, there it is always gloomy) and without food. Feeding is the critical factor. Animals fed all year round become obese, animals that are too lean do not hibernate well; in both cases the sexual organs are degenerated, the animals then cannot reproduce.

The sexes differ in color and head shape, but these differences are of limited use, since by no means every male and female together form a harmonious pair; in this species the females are often very dominant. In case of serious breeding intentions, the acquisition of a group of specimens from which pairs can be formed is therefore strongly recommended.

For our customers: the animals have code 409013 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Pseudacanthicus sp. L600

4. November 2022

We have received fantastic leopard cactus plecos L600. They are german bred ones. One specimen is as beautiful and flawless as the other! We are extremely enthusiastic about the quality of the animals. They are currently 6-8 cm long.

For our customers: the fish have code 26480-L 600-2 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Sundadanio cf. axelrodi Blue ( = Rasbora sp. aff. axelrodi BLUE)

4. November 2022

The tiny dwarfs of the genus Sundadanio were listed in the genus Rasbora until 1999. At that time only one species was known, namely S. axelrodi. Later other species were imported. They were still nameless, but clearly differed in color. Thus, there were blue, green and red Sundadanio. In 2011 the genus was revised and now it includes 8 species. Unfortunately, two blue colored of them can be distinguished only microscopically: S. axelrodi from Bintan and S. gargula from Bangka. Bangka is located off the west coast of Sumatra, Bintan off the coast of Singapore. 

Sundadanio males are clearly distinguished from females by their intense black zone in the anal fin. These miniature fish grow to only about 1.5-2 cm in length and live in nature in very soft, dark colored black water with a very acidic pH (pH around 4.5, no hardness detectable). In the aquarium, however, they are quite undemanding in this respect. In our show room they have been swimming in normal tap water for many years. However, breeding in such water is not successful, it requires near-natural conditions.

For our customers: the animals have code 450504 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Parancistrus sp. Rio Araguaia L56n / LDA46

2. November 2022

The genus Parancistrus includes only two scientifically accepted species, the Golden Parancistrus (P. aurantiacus), which was erroneously also assigned L-number 56 (this is incorrect) and P. nudiventris, which was assigned L-numbers 31 and 176; this is a black catfish with very fine white spots. In addition, we know L258 from Rio Iriri, a black catfish with small white dots, L300/LDA48 from Rio Xingu, which is very similar to L258 and probably the same on species level (it just has slightly larger dots) and L332, also from Rio Xingu, olive green with light fin fringes.

The Parancistrus we have now been able to import in various sizes from the Rio Araguaia in Brazil is completely different in color from all these species. It has a bright worm pattern on the body and dots on the head. This species has been given the LDA number 46. For a long time LDA46 was thought to be the juvenile of P. aurantiacus, but this is wrong. Very special about LDA46 is, that the markings become more and more intense with larger animals – the species probably grows to about 15-17 cm long. With most loricariids it is the other way round, the juveniles are the more beautiful.

LDA46 is in any case an independent, scientifically probably still undescribed species. The designation L56n was additionally given, because Parancistrus aurantiacus is still called L56 in the trade. This is objectively wrong, but nobody cares about that. The letter “n” in this context simply means “new” and indicates that the fish is similar to P. aurantiacus, but something different.

For our customers: the fish have code 26490-L 056N-3 (8-10 cm) and 26490-L 056N-5 (14-16 cm) on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Neocaridina denticulata Hulk orange

31. October 2022

The Hulk is a comic character from the Marvel universe, a strong, green colored fellow with high destructive potential. We assume that the new dwarf shrimp Neocaridina denticulata Hulk orange, which we could now exclusively import from Taiwan for the first time, is called Hulk because of its green main coloration, because you can hardly imagine anything more harmless and peaceful than a dwarf shrimp.

Under the green main color an orange second color emerges. According to our supplier, “This shrimp is very special that its body color is variant according to the environment.” 

Fancy!

For our customers: the animals have code 485447 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text: Frank Schäfer, Photos: Sophie Ho

Apistogramma panduro

28. October 2022

In Apistogramma panduro from Peru (drainage of the Rio Ucayali, east of Jenaro Herrera) the females are absolutely emaciated. They are at least as beautiful as the males, if not more so; they fight as if they were males, and they show marked polychromatism. Polychromatism, or multicolorism, is when animals are individually, not species-specifically, differently colored. 

The phenomenon of polychromatism is found among Apistogramma in males of many species. There are e.g. red, blue or yellow morphs, which all live together at the same locality. In A. panduro on the other hand all males look more or less the same, but each female can be recognized by its individually distinctive black markings.

At the moment we can offer A. panduro in splendid wildcatches and as beautiful offsprings.

For our customers: the animals have code 626203 (wild catch) and 626213 (offspring) on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Rocio octofasciata

28. October 2022

The beautiful cichlid Rocio octofasciata from Mexico is still known by many older people as Cichlasoma biocellatum. But all over the world young and old know him also under the popular name “Jack Dempsey”, although you have to be quite old to have experienced this legendary heavyweight boxer still in his active time: Jack Dempsey’s fights for the world championship took place in the 1920s.

R. octofasciata got its popular name from its combative nature. However, one must keep in mind that in the 1920s a 60-cm aquarium was considered quite large. In such small tanks, many cichlids actually behave very aggressively against tankmates, because they claim the entire space as their territory. In today’s common, much larger aquariums the Jack Dempsey can be classified as rather peaceful.

In the photo tank, we had used one male and four females for this session; after all, the real Jack Dempsey was married four times. One of his wives was silent film star Estelle Taylor, considered one of the most beautiful women of her time. And the cichlid females are really very fancy, too. Hardly in the aquarium, they dyed themselves almost black and fenced a hierarchy among themselves, while the well double so large gentleman observed the happening unimpressed and drew measured his courses…

Rocio octofasciata is an open breeder with parent family. Breeding usually succeeds without problems with a harmonizing pair, which is best found from a group.

For our customers: the animals have code 657002 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Hypostomus sertanejo

26. October 2022

For the first time we can offer this very nice Hypostomus from the Rio Jaguaribe (Cerea State, Brazil). It is a species that was described scientifically only in 2017, although 19 specimens of this species were found in the scientific collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, U.S.A., which had been collected and deposited there by R. von Ihering already in about 1936. Sometimes it takes a little longer…

Hypostomus sertanejo becomes about 20-25 cm long. It is a typical representative of its genus and a diligent algae exterminator. The nice juvenile markings with large white spots remain for a long time, even about 10 cm long specimens still show them. In fully adult fish the spots are much smaller. Our animals are currently 4-5 cm long and very lively little fellows, which are active also during the day a lot in the aquarium. Among themselves they are peaceful, and also against other fish no aggressive behavior is to be expected. In nature, the fish lives in clear water, the bottom consists of boulders and sand, sometimes with underwater vegetation. Fish species, with which the species lives together in nature, are e.g. Parotocinclus jumbo (LDA25), Moenkhausia costae and Tetragonopterus argenteus.

For our customers: the fish have code 263741 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Nannostomus eques Peru

24. October 2022

The tetras of the genus Nannostomus, called pencil fish because of their somewhat stiff swimming style reminiscent of traveling zeppelins, have been among the most popular ornamental fish for decades. They are very beautiful, usually peaceful and remain small. Three species swim at an angle with their heads up: Nannostomus eques, N. britzkii and N. unifasciatus. While N. britzkii has never been imported in numbers, the other two are commonplace in the ornamental fish market. They are extremely widespread (Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Guyana states) and occur in large numbers. However, there are distinct color differences locally. The variant of N. eques from Peru, which we present here, differs clearly by the coloration of the anal and caudal fin from the conspecifics exported from Brazil (Rio Negro drainage) (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/nannostomus-eques-and-n-unifasciatus-two-odd-birds/).

Nannostomus eques is a very peaceful species, which is always a real eye-catcher due to its unusual swimming style. You should always keep these fish in a group of 10-20 specimens, because they are very social and always stay close to conspecifics in the aquarium.

For our customers: the animals have code 271804 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Colisa lalia now Trichogaster fasciata?!

21. October 2022

For almost 20 years, ichthyologists have disagreed on which rule of the International Rules of Zoological Nomenclature is more important for the gouramis of South and Southeast Asia: the prime directive, according to which everything else must be subordinated to the stability and universal applicability of scientific names, or the various rules that regulate which names are valid in synonyms (i.e. multiple names of the same genus or species).

Those who want stability use Colisa for western gouramis and Trichogaster for eastern gouramis, those who see rules more like lawyers use Trichogaster for western gouramis and Trichopodus for eastern gouramis. In this, the two camps are quite irreconcilably opposed to each other, a sad example of how things should not go in the scientific naming of animals and plants.

The species Colisa/Trichogaster fasciata, which belongs to the western gouramis and was described by Bloch & Schneider in 1801, has always been a problematic case in zoology. The specimen on which the description is based was lost, the drawing to the species is inaccurate and where the fish is supposed to come from (Tranquebar in India, nowadays Tharangambadi) no gouramis of any species could be found until recently, although intensive searches were made.

Until now Colisa/Trichogaster fasciata was considered to be either the large gourami of the Ganges-Brahmaputra system, which was described in 1822 and for which the name Colisa/Trichogaster bejeus is available or (my humble self counts to this) for a South Indian species, which has not been found again as a wild form so far, but which should rather originate from the west coast (Tranquebar and Pondicherry (= Puducherry), from where also a gourami is described, are both located at the east coast; the area was a French colony from 1673 until Indian independence, which is why both Bloch & Schneider and Cuvier & Valenciennes were able to obtain naturalia via ports there; this does not mean, however, that the fish were also caught there). 

Now new life came into the matter. A team of authors around J. D. M. Knight believes that the fish described by Bloch & Schneider is our well-known dwarf gourami. They support their thesis with the fact that preserved dwarf gouramis can have a round-appearing caudal fin and that Bloch’s description of Trichogaster fasciatus explicitly mentions a round caudal fin. However, in reality NO gourami species has a round caudal fin and the dwarf gourami Colisa lalia/Trichogaster lalius was not found in southern India until 1999. It is extremely likely that the dwarf gourami there are due to abandoned or escaped ornamental fish which were not found there in Bloch & Schneider’s time. Nevertheless, Knight et al. are so certain that they declare Colisa lalia/Trichogaster lalius to be an invalid synonym of Trichogaster fasciata.

So now the dwarf gourami has three “official” names, depending on the personal opinion of the scientists involved with it, and five spellings: Colisa lalia, Colisa lalius, Trichogaster lalia, Trichogaster lalius, and Trichogaster fasciata. Whether one writes lalia or lalius depends on whether the name lalius, chosen by the first describer Hamilton in 1822, is an adjective or a noun; Hamilton did not comment on this. In the former case, the fish is called lalia (Colisa and Trichogaster are female (femininum), in which case the Latin word ending for adjectives is -a); in the latter, i.e., if lalius is a noun, it remains unchanged no matter what the gender of the generic name is. With fasciata/fasciatus (Latin for striped) this question does not arise, this is indisputably an adjective and must be adjusted in the gender of the genus. The striped gourami, previously called Colisa/Trichogaster fasciata, should be called Trichogaster bejeus according to Knight et al.

In our stock list, the dwarf gourami and its breeding forms continue to be called Colisa lalia. This has technical and economical reasons, but at the same time we are out of this name mess. The pictures for this post show Colisa lalia „Neon Colour“, Code 411605, „Flame Red“, Code 411705, „Cobalt“, Code 411555, and wild coloured, Code 411505 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Literature

Knight, J. D. M., Nallathambi, M., Vijayakrishnan, B. & P. Jayasimhan (2022): On the identity of the banded gourami Trichogaster fasciata with notes on the taxonomic status of Trichopodus bejeus (Teleostei: Perciformes: Osphronemidae). Journal of Fish Biology: [1-5].

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Poecilia (Mollienesia) sphenops Marble Ancient

19. October 2022

The livebearers are the backbone of aquaristics. The hobby would be unimaginable without Guppy, Platy, Molly and Co. We notice two trends in the breeding of these fish: one deals with the wild forms, which were very rare or not available at all in the trade; and the other develops new, colorful breeding forms, but without the fin enlargement that used to accompany them, so that the charm of the wild fish is preserved, just in colorful. Breeders in Asia refer to these wild-type-like animals as “ancient”, meaning “original”.

The short-finned Molly (the correct spelling would actually be Mollie, as the genus was named after a Mr. Mollien), which we can currently offer, is a prime example of a successful breeding form. The beautiful animals are insensitive and show the diverse behavior of the wild forms. The position in the rank order is shown in the males in the form of the yellow and black portion in the coloration. The higher the rank, the more contrasting the coloration of the fish!

For our customers: the animals have code 432182 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Lexicon: Mollienesia: dedication name in honor of Monsieur Mollien; the genus is currently generally considered a subgenus to Poecilia. sphenops: ancient Greek, means “pointed head”.

Suggested common name: Antique Molly

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Astronotus sp. NEW ZEBRA/Tapajos

17. October 2022

We have received an incredibly beautiful pair of wild caught Oscars from the Rio Tapajos. At least the male absolutely competes with the breeding form “Red Tiger Oskar” in color, but as we said, they are wild-caught!

The sexes are difficult to distinguish externally in Astronotus, but the striking color difference and the expression of the dorsal, anal and ventral fins make it very likely that our animals – they are 20-25 cm long – are indeed a pair. However, for safety reasons we have housed the precious animals individually and therefore cannot say whether they get along.

For our customers: the animals have code 633427 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Curimatopsis evelynae

14. October 2022

The tetras of the genus Curimatopsis are widely distributed in South America. The prettiest species is C. evelynae. Nevertheless, this attractive fish has hardly found its way into aquariums so far.

C. evelynae grows to a maximum length of 4 cm. The males can be recognized by their clearly higher caudal peduncle, furthermore the females always have a strong black caudal spot, which is usually superimposed by the red coloration in the male. This means any animal with a red tail root patch is a male, but not every individual without this patch is a female. Socially weak males show the red coloration likewise not or only indistinctly!

C. evelynae is a very peaceful fish, ideal for a community aquarium. It is most beautiful in water slightly colored yellow by peat or foliage, then a neon green stripe shines along the body flank, during courtship this green stripe turns into red in the male.  

We were able to import Curimatopsis evelynae, which occurs in the Amazon and the Orinoco, currently from Venezuela.

For our customers: the fish have code 251314 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Apistogramma eremnopyge

14. October 2022

When this beautiful Apistogramma first arrived in January 2003, we were thrilled. At that time we wrote: 

„King Barbarossa lives!

A new, wonderful dwarf cichlid has now been imported from Peru for the first time. The species is still unknown both scientifically and aquaristically.

The species is collected in the Tapiche river, a tributary of the Ucayali river, near Requena. Mr Edgard Panduro named the species Apistogramma “BARBAROJA”, i.e. “red beard”, because of the conspicuous red spots on the face. While in the last time mainly new species and new variants around Apistogramma cruzi and A. nijsseni made the hearts of the dwarf cichlid fans beat faster, this Apistogramma is from a completely different site. It reminds in various respects of A. bitaeniata, which is also one of the most beautiful Apistogramma species. At first sight, however, the new “Redbeard” can be distinguished from all known Apistogramma species by the large tail spot, which has not yet become known from any dwarf cichlid in this form.“

Then, in July 2004, Ready and Kullander described the species as Apistogramma eremnopyge based on specimens collected two years earlier by Oliver Lucanus in the Rio Pintuyacu (drainage of the Rio Itaya), 48 km on the road from Iquitos to Nauta (Loreto Province in Peru).

Since then, unfortunately, it has become quite quiet about this pretty little fish. Sexually mature wild specimens are usually not larger than 5 cm, females always stay smaller, but it is of course possible that the species grows a bit larger if kept in aquaria for a long time. In any case, it is a true dwarf cichlid.

We are very happy to have this species in our fishhouse again after a long time. Currently it is called Apistogramma “Diamond” in the trade, in the past it was sometimes called Apistogramma sp. “Fresa” or “Strawberry” (both mean strawberry).

For our customers: the animals have code 628792 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Corydoras cf. brevirostris CW 27 Highfin

12. October 2022

We received a limited number of this extraordinary Corydoras from Colombia. The overall appearance is very much alike Corydoras brevirostris (formerly known as Corydoras melanistius brevirostris), but CW 27 has a much much higher dorsal fin and the “glowspot” on the nape is much brighter.

For our customers: the animals have code 224954 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Apionichthys nattereri

10. October 2022

When we think of flatfishes like flounders, plaice, butts and tongues, we actually think of the sea and edible fishes. However, it is little known that several species are also purely freshwater dwellers. Among the Achiridae (American sole) in South America, for example, 26 species are known from freshwater, but many of them are euryhaline, i.e. they live in the sea, brackish water and freshwater. Among the species living exclusively in freshwater is Apionichthys nattereri, which we were able to import from Peru.

The animals were sent to us as Apionichthys finis, a closely related species, which also occurs only in freshwater and is also reported for Peru; a first comparison on the day of import with the original description of A. finis from 1912 did not raise any concerns at first. One week later we found time to study the animals more intensively. The revision of the genus Apionichthys by Ramos from 2003, which we consulted, quickly showed that our animals must be A. nattereri. In contrast to A. finis, the dorsal, caudal and anal fins of A. nattereri are clearly distinguishable from each other, but nevertheless connected. In A. finis the three fins are separated from each other. The identification became unambiguous when an animal attached itself to the front glass of the photographic aquarium. The black border on the blind side of the flatfish is characteristic for A. nattereri and does not occur in any other species.

Quite droll are the tiny eyes sitting on stalks and the no less tiny mouth. However, you don’t often get to see the pretty spotted pattern of the animals in a properly set up aquarium, because like all flatfishes, these animals spend a large part of the day buried in fine sand.

Apionichthys nattereri grows to about 25 cm in length, making it one of the largest members of the genus. The species is found throughout the Amazon basin. There is no information about the reproduction. The animals are certainly egg-layers without brood care, but how, where and when the fish spawn and the larvae develop is unknown. Examination of the ear stones (otoliths) of two related freshwater species, namely A. finis and Hypoclinemus mentalis, revealed that these two species probably spawn in freshwater and never live in the sea, even as larvae (Matsushita et al., 2020).

For our customers: the animals have code 207075 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale. Only a few specimens available!

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Literature:

Eigenmann, C. H. (1912): The freshwater fishes of British Guiana, including a study of the ecological grouping of species, and the relation of the fauna of the plateau to that of the lowlands. Memoirs of the Carnegie Museum v. 5 (no. 1): i-xxii + 1-578, Pls. 1-103.

Matsushita, Y., Miyoshi, K., Kabeya, N., Sanada, S., Yazawa, R., Haga, Y., Satoh, S., Yamamoto, Y, Strüssmann, C. A., Luckenbach, J. A. & Yoshizaki, G. (2020): Flatfishes colonised freshwater environments by acquisition of various DHA biosynthetic pathways. Communications biology, 3(1), 1-9.

Ramos, R. T. C. (2003): Systematic review of Apionichthys (Pleuronectiformes: Achiridae), with description of four new species. Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters v. 14 (no. 2): 97-126.

Hypomasticus julii

7. October 2022

In 1996, ichthyologists Santos, Jegu, and Lima described an unusual Leporinus from the Rio Xingu and Trombetas as L. julii. The new species is closely related to L. pachycheilus, an extremely color variable Leporinus species. Unique to L. julii, which was named in honor of Júlio Garavello, is the completely underslung mouth and teeth position. In 2008 the subgenus Hypomasticus, which was already established for Leporinus mormyrops in 1929, was elevated to generic rank and 12 species from the large collective genus Leporinus were assigned to it.

For the first time we were able to import 2 specimens of this rapids inhabitant from the Rio Xingu. In the photographic aquarium they behaved like two too large ground tetras, sitting on the bottom and supporting themselves with their strong pelvic fins. It can be assumed that in nature they have to swim strongly against the current and graze stones. Our two specimens are somewhat differently colored, one animal is darker than the other and has a strikingly different colored adipose fin. We do not know if this is a sex difference.

In the photographic aquarium the animals, in which intense red spots in the corner of the mouth and in the shoulder area are very conspicuous color features, were rather uninterested in each other, but the darker animal shooed the lighter specimen energetically out of its immediate vicinity after a certain period of acclimation. Because of the known tendency of Leporinus to quarrel, we have housed them separately in our fish house anyway.

The maximum length of the species is about 20 cm (standard length without tail fin).

For our customers: the animals have code 262205 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Physopyxis lyra

7. October 2022

Although this dwarf among the thorny catfishes – it only grows to about 3 cm in length – was scientifically described as early as 1872, it was completely unknown to aquarists until a few years ago. This is a pity, because they are droll, very interesting small catfishes, which are also suitable for small and smallest aquariums. Our specimens originate from Peru.

Like many other thorny catfishes, this species is able to make noise. When you catch them with the net, they prostate loudly and audibly against it. This sounds like a creak. However, you have to be very careful when catching them, with their sharp and numerous thorns, the small catfish get entangeled very easily in the net and are then difficult to get out again unharmed. It is better to catch them with a large (very fine mesh) net, but do not lift them out of the water, but scoop them out of the net with a small cup or the like. This way you can safely transfer them. 

Every usual ornamental fish food is eaten. The small “Robocop catfish” – as the exporters call them – are by no means sensitive, but since they rarely move, one often notices too late when they are not well. It is therefore advisable to keep a few small and harmless by-fish with the Physopyxis, e.g. tetras, which serve as bio-indicators if something should be wrong with the water.

For our customers: the fish have code 278602 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Mogurnda mogurnda

5. October 2022

The Australian northern trout gudgeon (Mogurnda mogurnda) belongs to the very few fishes of the fifth continent, which became native already before the 2nd world war in the aquaria. They are very beautifully colored animals, which in contrast to many other gobies are also relatively easy to breed.

Unfortunately, the animals are only of limited suitability for socialization, because they can be extremely quarrelsome with incorrectly selected tankmates. And so the species gradually disappeared. But some breeders and exporters remained faithful to the beautiful species and we are glad to have them once again in the stock.

The species designation is not completely certain, because there are several similar species and even specialized scientists cannot determine the species without performing genetic tests and/or without knowing the exact area of origin.

Mogurnda are free-swimming gobies and therefore do not form their territories on the bottom, as many other gobies do, but throughout the water column. The tank must be arranged rich in hiding places, so that conspecifics do not have to see each other constantly. Rainbowfish, large danios or barbs, but also robust tetras are suitable as tankmates.

Northern trout gudgeons are carnivores, plant material is ignored. Spawning is not done in caves, but on wood, stones, broad-leaved plants etc., the male guards the spawn. The sexes are most reliably distinguished by the genital papilla (males flat and acuminate, females thickened and fringed at the end), but head shape also provides good clues. Males develop a distinct humped head.

Water can be soft or hard, pH should be around neutral, temperature between 22 and 28°C. The maximum length is given with 17 cm, usually the animals reach around 10 cm, they are ready to spawn already with 6 cm length.

For our customers: the animals have code 436402 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Crenicichla sp. Tapajos I / Cobra Pike

30. September 2022

The Rio Tapajós in Brazil is a more than 800 km long tributary of the Amazon. It is also the largest tributary of the Amazon River and flows to its right side when viewed downstream. It is not surprising that the great Tapajós River contains numerous endemic species, i.e. species that only occur there and nowhere else. Among these is the still scientifically undescribed Crenicichla sp., also known as Cobra Pike ( = Snake Pike) because of its striking juvenile pattern. Adult this fish, which can reach over 30 cm length, becomes splendidly red. For pictures of the adult please see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/crenicichla_sp_tapajos_en/

Crenicichla sp. Tapajos does not only grow big, it is also very aggressive. Among themselves it can come to wild, sometimes deadly fights with adult animals and even young animals can only be characterized with the adjective “cheeky”. With them the first priority is to examine every tankmate for its eatability and in the puberty – from about 8-10 cm in length – conspecifics are perceived only as annoying food competitors. Only adult pairs get along relatively well. The key to successful breeding of this species – they are cave breeders with a parental family – therefore lies in huge aquariums. Here one can raise a group of juveniles so that pairs can be found. However, a single fish can also be kept in normal sized tanks, because the swimming requirement of these animals is relatively low.

For our customers: the species has code 671832 (8-10 cm) and 671833 (10-12 cm) on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Tylomelania towutensis

30. September 2022

The snails of the Malili Lakes on Sulawesi (formerly: Celebes) belonging to the family Pachychildae are great animals to keep for their own sake and not just as useful algae and debris eaters, like many other snails. All Tylomelania species of the region have in common that they occur in warm (around 30°C), soft and alkaline water. However, in aquaristic practice they have proven to be very adaptable.

Tylomelania towutensis grows to about 8 cm in length. The shell is black, has 6-9 distinctly sculpted whorls, and the soft body is black with bright yellowish spots, which has led to the popular name gold-spotted snail. They are separately sexed animals, not hermaphrodites, but the sexes cannot be distinguished externally. All Tylomelania species are viviparous and breathe through gills.

For our customers: the animals have code 488965 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Rasbora einthovenii

30. September 2022

A typical companion fish of harlequin barbs (Trigonostigma), chocolate gouramis (Sphaerichthys) and other blackwater fish is Rasbora einthovenii. The species is unfortunately very rarely imported, although it has a large range. It is found on the large Sunda islands of Sumatra and Borneo, on the Malay Peninsula and in southern Thailand in suitable biotopes. Usually it is found in moderately flowing, small streams, which are only a few meters wide and 1-2 meters deep. 

At first sight R. einhovenii resembles the ubiquitous longitudinal striped rasboras of Southeast Asia (Rasbora paviana and related species), but a closer look reveals the species-typical characteristics: the somewhat stocky build with the relatively blunt head profile, the fact that the longitudinal black stripe runs through the middle of the caudal fin (this ends at the base of the caudal fin in all other longitudinal striped rasboras), and the delicate blue and pink longitudinal stripes above the prominent black band.

Rasbora einthovenii usually reaches a length of 5-6 cm, but can grow up to 9 cm in exceptional cases. It is a perfect community fish for well planted aquariums with dark substrate and peaceful fish, such as labyrinths, barbs, etc. They are typical free spawners, caring for spawn and juveniles only insofar as they see them as a change from their usual diet. External sex differences are only weakly pronounced, males are slightly smaller and more delicate than females.

For our customers: the fish have code 451902 on our stock list. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Thayeria obliqua

28. September 2022

Unfortunately the beautiful penguin tetra, Thayeria obliqua, from the upper Amazon is offered only very rarely, in contrast to its cousin T. boehlkei, which can always be found in the trade. In the trade are only offsprings of T. boehlkei; it originates from the Rio Xingu drainage in Brazil. A third species, T. ifati from Guyana is restricted to the Maroni River and is probably extinct in the hobby, while a fourth species, T. tapajonica, was only scientifically described in 2017 and has probably only been maintained in aquaria by accident. T. tapajonica is very similar in color to T. boehlkei and even occurs locally with it.

All Thayeria species swim obliquely at an angle of about 30° to the water surface. The contrasting black and white pattern, along with the unusual swimming style, breaks up the typical fish outline, making Thayeria better protected from predatory fines. 

All penguin tetras grow to 5-6 cm in length and are peaceful schooling fish. We are very pleased to once again offer T. obliqua from Peru.

For our customers: Thayeria obliqua has code 296704 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Devario sondhii

26. September 2022

This beautiful danio comes from Burma. It looks like the big brother of Microrasbora rubenscens. Males become wonderful red. Temperature: 18-28°, the water should preferably be rather hard and alcalic than soft and acidic, the fish is a peaceful schooling fish that attains a maximum length of around 5-7 cm.

For our customers: the fish has code 414402 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Rineloricaria teffeana

24. September 2022

The small remaining whiptail catfishes of the genus Rineloricaria enjoy great popularity among aquarists. They have a whimsical appearance, are peaceful, have no high space requirements and can usually be bred quite well. Some species have even really fancy pattern. The most beautiful is certainly R. teffeana. It has no bright colors, but a really attractive pattern. Its maximum length is about 12 cm (without caudal fin).

Although Tefé in Brazil is a famous discus locality (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/discus_wild_royal_green_tefe_en/) Rineloricaria teffeana, which has its type locality there (i.e. that the specimens, which were available to Mr. Steindachner in 1879 and on the basis of which the species was described and named, were collected there), is offered only extremely rarely by exporters. Therefore we are very happy and proud to have some of these beauties now in our stock.

For our customers: the fish have code 257975 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Parotocinclus jumbo LDA25, now available as German bred!

24. September 2022

The cute Parotocinclus jumbo, also known as Pitbull Pleco or LDA25, is a very popular aquarium fish. Unfortunately imports take place only very irregularly and can hardly be planned. Therefore we are happy to be able to offer this nice little fish as offspring now.

More information about the species can be found here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/lda25-parotocinclus-jumbo-2/

The pictures show the bred fish we currently have in the stock.

For our customers: the animals have code 26480-LDA 025X-2 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Parambassis lala Bred

21. September 2022

The dwarf glass perch, Parambassis lala, is widely distributed in South Asia; it can be found in India, Burma and Nepal. In the past this dwarf, which never grows larger than 2-3 cm, was mistaken for the juvenile of other species, which is why completely wrong size data (up to 8 cm) and also completely wrong ecological data (supposedly it is a brackish water fish, but this is not true) can be found in the literature. In reality P. lala lives only in pure fresh water and remains small.

However, there are several forms of this species, which may yet turn out to be separate species upon closer inspection. We occasionally receive wild-caught specimens from India (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/parambassis-lala-2/), but we also receive captive-bred specimens from Southeast Asia. In our country dwarf glassfish are rarely bred, because the feeding reflex of the larvae is only triggered by the nauplii of a certain small crustacean species (Diaptomus). Without this food, an attempt at rearing is pretty much futile. 

Dwarf glassfish are delightful aquarium inhabitants, always “strutting” around the tank like little tin soldiers. The males court the females spiritedly, but without becoming aggressive. Spawning takes place in fine plants, brood care is not practiced by dwarf glassfish.

Concerning the water (pH, hardness) Dwarf Glassfish are undemanding, the temperature can be between 16 and 30°C (depending on the season, no sudden temperature changes!). Eaten is exclusively frozen and live food, dry food is strictly refused.

For our customers: The dwarf glass perch has code 441282 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Hara hara/Erethistes pusillus

19. September 2022

In India live two species of moth catfishes, which are practically impossible to distinguish in living condition. They are nevertheless sometimes even assigned to two different genera: Hara and Erethistes. The difference between the two genera lies in the structure of the vertebral body, that is, of something invisible in the living animal; according to many ichthyologists, this is not enough to distinguish two genera, and then all moth catfishes would have to be assigned the generic name Erethistes, since this is older and has priority. The difference between the species Hara hara ( = Erethistes hara) and Erethistes pusillus is only in the way the front of the pectoral fin spine is spined. In Erethistes pusillus the spines on the front of the pectoral fin spine are two pointed, in Hara hara ( = Erethistes hara) only one pointed. By the way, the animals are called moth catfishes, because their coloration and the broadly extending pectoral fins remind of night butterflies. 

So you have to look at the pectoral fin spine in high magnification and back light to be sure which of the two species you have in front of you. But this does not mean that all specimens of the import belong to this species, because Hara hara ( = Erethistes hara) and Eretisthes pusillus occur in the same distribution area and are often caught and exported together. In the trade we have not yet found a practicable method to distinguish the two species with certainty and therefore we call all moth catfishes of the Erethistes/Hara group imported from India (Bengal) to us Hara hara, with the exception of the well recognizable species Hara horai ( = Erethistes horai) and H. jerdoni ( = Erethistes jerdoni).

Basically it doesn’t matter, because all species of this Erethistes/Hara group grow to 4-5 cm and are excellent, peaceful and easy to care aquarium fishes. The animals we currently have in the stock and from which the pictures accompanying this post were taken could be identified as Erethistes pusillus in four cases, in one of the animals, which otherwise could not be distinguished from the others (in total there were 7 specimens in the photo tank), the pectoral fin front edge spination corresponded to Hara hara ( = Erethistes hara).

For our customers: The animals have code 419724 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Lamprichthys tanganicanus

16. September 2022

With a maximum length of 14 cm, the Tanganyika lampeye fish is the largest lampeye fish at all. It is found exclusively (= endemic) in Lake Tanganyika, where it lives in huge schools along rocky coasts. It is a breathtaking sight when such a shoal, comprising several thousand individuals, comes swimming around a cape like a closed jewel band. However, only the males are colorful. The females are much smaller and inconspicuous in color. 

Like all lampeyes, this species spawns in crevices. The spawn takes 3-6 weeks to develop. L. tanganicanus is a very sensitive fish, with high demands on water quality. The water must be very clean and germ-poor, the pH should be absolutely over 7. Against injuries of all kinds this fish is extraordinarily sensitive, why it appears in the trade practically only as offspring and in relatively small sizes. Large specimens are too vulnerable to injury. Fortunately, the species becomes sexually mature early and colors already with a length of 5-6 cm. 

For care it is recommended to have a shoal as large as possible in an aquarium as large as possible. Regarding food Lamprichthys tanganicanus is easy, it will gladly accept all common ornamental fish food. The fish is very peaceful but skittish, so for a possible company intended other species must be absolutely peaceful.

For our customers: Lamprichthys tanganicanus has code 328003 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Aphyosemion (Chromaphyosemion) bivittatum “Funge”.

16. September 2022

The Funge is a river or, rather, estuary in southeastern Cameroon in the district of Ndian. The Funge is less than 40 km long and is part of a system of coastal marshlands whose best known outlet is the Rio del Rey. This in turn is in contact with the Cross River drainage, which forms the border between Cameroon and Nigeria. From this wild, beautiful and internationally protected landscape comes the population of the killifish Aphyosemion bivittatum, which we present to you here. Of course the fish we can offer are, as almost always with Killifishes, captive bred specimens.

Aphyosemion bivittatum belongs to a well defined Aphyosemion group, for which the name Chromaphyosemion is available and preferred within the killifish community. However, scientists concerned with killifish systematics consider it premature to separate some groups from the larger genus Aphyosemion without an overall revision. That is why Chromaphyosemion is currently listed only as a subgenus.

Chromaphyosemion are wonderful beginner killifishes, as they can definitely be kept in community aquariums with calm small fish. Their life expectancy is as high as of other small fish species, so they are not seasonal fish. Usually such animals become 2-3 years old. Aphyosemion bivittatum is an adhesive spawner that lays its eggs on fine-grained plants, roots, etc. The eggs take about 14 days to develop. Since Aphyosemion bivittatum is considered to be exceptionally voracious, this species will also sometimes eat its own spawn, which is otherwise uncommon in killies. 

For our customers: The species has code 305512 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Mugilogobius chulae

14. September 2022

After many years we have once again imported the cute brackish water goby Mugilogobius chulae. The species grows only about 4 cm long and lives in brackish water regions and in fresh waters where the tidal influence is noticeable. Our animals come from Indonesia, but the species is widely distributed in the western Pacific region (Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, Philippines, Thailand). In the aquarium one should offer a sea salt addition (3-5 g/l) and pay attention to hard water, the pH value should be over 8 if possible. 

Then the small goblins, whose males constantly bicker harmlessly, will do very good in the aquarium and also spawn. They are cave breeders, the male guards the spawn. The larvae are tiny and develop only in pure sea water. They feed on Euplotes and other tiny marine plankton, which can be cultivated, but this is very laborious and therefore rarely practiced.

For our customers: the animals have code 436804 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Mugilogobius mertoni

14. September 2022

The genus Mugilogobius comprises 33 species. The determination of living specimens is often uncertain, because the anatomical features (especially certain sensory pits), which show quite clearly in formalin preserved animals, are not recognizable in the living fish. Since there is hardly any picture material of surely determined animals, doubts often remain. Since the species reproduce via larval stages living in the sea, the origin is also not a good criterion for identification. However: one species, which we could import from Indonesia for the first time, matches very well with Mugilogobius mertoni.

Mugilogobius mertoni grows about 6 cm long, males grow larger than females. They live very often in brackish water and can even be found in the sea, but there are also records from pure fresh water. Thus, it is a euryhaline species that copes well with widely varying salinity. It is important with such fish in the aquarium that the pH is not too low, usually they show discomfort at pH values below 8. The entire distribution area covers the Indo-Pacific region from South Africa and the Seychelles to Japan, Pakistan, the Indo-Malay Archipelago, New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanatu, Australia and the Santa Cruz Islands. Our animals come from Indonesia.

They are very attractive fishes, which should be kept in aquariums rich in hiding places. As with other Mugilogobius the males are constantly up to quarrels, which are harmless in all rule, but one should give possibly stressed, inferior animals nevertheless the possibility to withdraw. 

For our customers: the fish have code 436863 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Poecilia (Mollienesia) sphenops RED

9. September 2022

The breeders in Southeast Asia have realized a new color variation of the good old Black Molly, which they call “Red”. This is not a solid red fish, like for example a red swordtail, but the breeding form “Red” of the Molly has red spots in different intensity on the scales. When viewed from above, this is particularly noticeable because most fish have more of these red spots in the top three rows of scales. In addition, there is a red colored chest to varying degrees.

So that no rogue thinks that this red coloration is a product of Photoshop, we have photographed some of the long time known golden Mollies with the new “Red”. In direct comparison the difference is very clear.

The beautiful new “Red” are available in traditional shortfin and lyrafin.

For our customers: normal finned Molly “Red” have code 432152, lyra finned code 432154 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Vitta virginea ( = Neritina virginea)

9. September 2022

The Nerites, also known as racing snails (family Neritidae), are distributed worldwide in warm and temperate zones. They have an operculum at the foot that allows them to close the shell completely, a cup-shaped shell, and they are often strikingly brightly colored. Many tropical species colonize uppermost shore areas and can live in both seawater and freshwater. Reproduction occurs via egg capsules, which usually hatch into free-swimming larvae (called veligers). These larvae live for some time in the plankton of the sea until they transform into the typical snail. Veligers cannot develop in freshwater, which is why, with the exception of the genus Theodoxus native to Europe, Nerites do not reproduce in freshwater. Theodoxus is a special case; in their egg capsules there are 50-200 eggs, but only one of them develops into the finished snail, while the rest serves as food for the single child.

Vitta virginea is a small (shell width not more than 1.5 cm), very variably colored Nerite. There are hardly two specimens that look exactly the same. The species has a very wide distribution from Florida to Brazil (where our specimens come from) and also on several Caribbean islands. The wide distribution is easily explained by the marine larval stage; adults usually live in fresh or brackish water. 

As with many other Nerites, there are two reasons that make them perfect aquarium snails: they are excellent algae eaters and very colorful. They do not eat filamentous and brush algae, but they do eat all algae films on glass, decorative objects and plants. The plants themselves are not attacked. 

For our customers: the animals have code 493954 on our stock list. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Corydoras melanotaenia

9. September 2022

Because of its bright yellow fins Corydoras melanotaenia surely belongs to the most beautiful armored catfishes at all. It is, so to speak, the long snout to the bronze cory type, which can be found throughout South America. In contrast to its ubiquitous cousin, C. melanotaenia is an endemic of Colombia, i.e. it occurs exclusively there.

The origin of C. melanotaenia, which was already scientifically described in 1912, was unclear for a long time. It is said that the animals on which the first description was based were caught in the Rio Magdalena basin, where later expeditions searched for them in vain. Already in 1922 it was assumed that the type specimens were sent to London via Honda (this place is located at the Rio Magdalena), but in reality they came from the Rio Meta basin. In fact, to date, not a single species of Corydoras has been reported from the Rio Magdalena and it is generally agreed that C. melanotaenia comes from the Rio Meta basin.

This Corydoras grows to about 5 cm and has all the positive characteristics that make Corydoras so popular in the aquarium: a lively and completely peaceful nature and uncomplicated keeping.

For our customers: C. melanotaenia has code 235503 on our stock list. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos; Frank Schäfer

Pandaka rouxi

7. September 2022

The dwarf gobies of the genus Pandaka are closely related to the bumble bee gobies (Brachygobius), but still much smaller. The species Pandaka pygmea was even considered the smallest vertebrate on earth for a long time, but it has since been outranked. The species Pandaka rouxi also usually grows to only 10-12 mm in length, the largest specimen ever measured had a length of 18 mm (all sizes include caudal fin).

These dwarfs live in brackish water areas. They can tolerate both pure freshwater and pure seawater, but in the long run it does them no good. They are found in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea (incl. offshore islands) and probably also in Australia.

We have now for the first time imported some of these tiny fish, which when fully grown are only the size of a newborn molly, as a test. They are cute, but also demanding fish, which we will get in the future, if at all, only on special customer request. In our experience, they need well acclimated brackish water (at least 5g/l sea salt) and fine live food (e.g. Artemia nauplii). Our wholesale aquariums are simply too big for such mini-fish, you need comparatively huge amounts of food, so that everyone gets something, but of course a lot of it dies, which pollutes the water strongly. So these are fish for specialists who have appropriate small aquariums in operation. Nevertheless, we are glad to have seen this natural wonder with our own eyes!

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Lepisosteus oculatus “Metallic“

5. September 2022

We have already reported about the Spotted Gar (Lepisosteus oculatus), see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/lepisosteus-oculatus-2/. Now we have received small gars from Indonesia, which correspond in all characteristics to L. oculatus, but show a very striking silver luster. The smaller ones (6-8 cm) have a quite dark basic coloration, which brightens up clearly with somewhat larger animals (11-14 cm). We don’t know, but we can well imagine that the dark elements in the pattern are covered by silver even more with increasing growth.

Apparently, breeding operations in Indonesia are quite intensively concerned with deviating color forms in gars. Especially desired are platinum colored or reddish animals. Since Lepisosteus oculatus is already very variable by nature (there are six synonyms of the species, which in the past was often equated with L. platostomus, of which another three synonyms exist), the species lends itself to breeding experiments.

For our customers: the animals have code 848231 (6-8 cm) and 848238 (11-14 cm) on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Corydoras leucomelas

2. September 2022

Corydoras leucomelas belongs to the frequently imported species of its genus. Typical characteristics of the round-nosed species are a strongly pronounced eye band, the coloration of the dorsal fin in connection with the black dorsal spot located at the beginning of the dorsal fin, a vertical black band at the end of the caudal peduncle and the stripes of the caudal fin. The body markings, on the other hand, are so varied in animals up to about 4 cm in length that each individual can be recognized individually by them; only fully grown fish develop a uniform pattern of black spots. The maximum size of the species is 5 – 5.5 cm.

Main export region of Corydoras leucomelas is Peru, where is also the type locality (i.e. the place where the type specimen used for the scientific description of the species was collected): Yarina Cocha. However, C. leucomelas is quite widespread in the upper Amazon watershed, eg in Colombia (Rio Orteguaza) , Bolivia and Ecuador. The species looks especially pretty when kept in a shoal of 10-15 specimens. The swarm cohesion of C. leucomelas is much more pronounced than in many other armored catfishes and thus often results in the very beautiful picture of such a troop foraging through the aquarium.

For our customers: the animals have code 233503 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Pyrrhulina spilota

2. September 2022

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

Symphysodon “Super Red Turqoise”.

31. August 2022

The Red Turquoise lines were among the first breeding forms of the Discus Cichlid, developed in the 1980s. Aquaristics had reached the point where wild-caught Brown/Blue Discus could be considered “cracked”. So one mastered their successful acclimation and breeding. Since wild-caught discus turn out very inconsistently – between simply brown and completely blue streaked animals (Royal Blue) everything is possible within the same population – in the next step one wanted to selectively breed the fish that were considered particularly attractive. By selective mating of Royal Blue discus with animals, which had as much red as possible in the body ground coloration, the Red-Turquoise discus were created. Until today many people consider this discus breeding form as one of the most beautiful discus at all.

Also red-turquoise discus are bred nowadays in large numbers in the discus breeders of Asia. They have remained the most „wild typed“ compared with the other Asian breedings.

For our customers: the “Super Red Turqoise” in size 5-7 cm as on the photos have code 715102 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Symphysodon “Pidgeon Blood Panda”

31. August 2022

The “Pidgeon Blood” discus, which appeared in the early 1990s as a mutation in Asian discus breeding, revolutionized discus breeding. It combined two characteristics that discus breeders had previously only dreamed of: an early coloration, i.e. already 5-7 cm long juveniles look essentially like adult fish in terms of color. And a second advantage of the mutation: even when in unfamiliar surroundings, the animals do not show the discus dress consisting of vertical stripes, nor do they darken. 

The original Pidgeon Blood – the name, by the way, refers to a gemstone (ruby) of the same name – no longer exists. It had too many “freckles”, black speckles irregularly distributed over the whole body. By crossbreeding other discus breeding forms, like red-turquoise etc., the freckle pattern was displaced more and more. Today’s Pidgeon-Blood varieties show them almost not at all.

There is no uniform naming of the many dozens of Pidgeon-Blood varieties. Each breeding farm assigns its own names. A “Pidgeon Blood Panda” is usually understood to be a Pidgeon Blood discus in the color red-turquoise (i.e. red body base color and turquoise pattern elements), in which the turquoise pattern elements form a pattern of unconnected spots (= checkerboard pattern) and parts of the dorsal and anal fin are blackish in color.

For our customers: Pidgeon Blood Panda in 5-7 cm length (as shown in the pictures) have code 714952 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Symphysodon “Marlboro Red”

29. August 2022

The color red is the dream color of many animal breeders. Red canaries, red swordtails, red guppies, red angelfish – wherever this was genetically possible, it was realized. With polychromatic fish species, e.g. with Apistogramma, where in nature always several color variants occur together, the red ones were preferred in breeding. And with the discus? Here, too, red is the trump card. With turquoise discus the red-turquoise ones are seen as the most beautiful, with the brown ones one looked – particularly with Alenquer fish – also on red color elements. So it is only logical that among the Asian Discus also a red fish is the best seller: Marlboro Red.

Marlboro Red is descended from Pidgeon Bloods, and breeders are working hard to push back the smoky black color elements that appear in Pidgeon Bloods. They have succeeded quite well with the current strains. The closest you can see to where the genetic roots of Marlboro Red lie is in the smoky gray tail fin.

For our customers: the fish have code 702502 (5-7 cm) on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Symphysodon “Blue Diamond“

29. August 2022

The Asian discus cultivars enjoy great popularity, because on the one hand they color very early (wild forms all look similarly unspectacular in 5-7 cm length) and on the other hand they are not very shy, so they can be presented well even in unfamiliar surroundings.

Of the solid blue discus, the Blue Diamond, which was created in the 1990s, is the most popular. Breeders also pay a lot of attention to the brilliant red eye in this fish, which contrasts nicely with the blue body color. The modern discus breeds are much less sensitive than wild-caught fish, but even with them one should absolutely observe the three basic pillars of successful discus care: good water hygiene, keeping in schools and a varied diet. Then you will experience much joy with these fish.

For our customers: Blue Diamond 5-7 cm have code 709602 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Hoplomyzon sexpapilostoma

26. August 2022

Within the banjo catfish family (Aspredinidae), there is a group of dwarfish small species (called the tribus Hoplomyzontini) divided into four genera: Ernstichthys, Hoplomyzon, Dupouyichthys and Micromyzon. They grow only 2-3 cm long. In nature they live buried in fine sand (at least during the day). Most species prefer the deepest channels of medium to large streams, which is why they usually escape both scientific and aquarium fish collectors. Therefore, very little is known about them.

We could now import Hoplomyzon sexpapilostoma from Colombia. So far four Hoplomyzon species are known, two from the surroundings of Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela (H. atrizona and H. intosus), one species distributed quite widely in the Amazon and Orinoco (H. papillatus) and one known exclusively from the Orinoco (H. sexpapilostoma). Our animals agree very well with the characteristics mentioned in the orignal description of H. sexpapilostoma.

So far we can report only little about the animals. They are very peaceful among themselves and go willingly to live bloodworm as food. We have not had any losses so far. We keep them on bare glass bottom for better control, but in the photo tank they disappeared completely in the sand in a flash with a few strong tail strokes. 

For our customers: the animals have code 258903 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Bagrichthys macracanthus

26. August 2022

Bagrichthys macracanthus is a very interesting catfish from Southeast Asia (East Sumatra). This catfish reaches a maximum length of about 20 cm. In nature it lives in calm river sections. Among themselves, especially the males are quite incompatible, in pairs or in groups of a male with a surplus of females maintained, however, the species gets along quite well with conspecifics. Sexually mature animals (from about 15 cm) can be sexually differentiated very well, because the males have an unusually long, penis-like urogenital papilla; in females the urogenital papilla is small and inconspicuous. But even in younger animals, females can already be easily recognized by their taller body shape. Juveniles up to about 5 cm in length are not yet pure black, but have light colored bands (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/bagrichthys-macracanthus-2/).

Bagrichthys macracanthus – in the trade they are called “Black Lancers” – are peaceful towards fishes of other species, but tankmates should not be much smaller than about a quarter of the length of the Black Lancer, otherwise they could end up as food. Bagrichthys macracanthus is nocturnal and needs cave hiding places during the day to feel comfortable. For feeding the animals leave their hiding places also during the day. Every usual fish food is eaten. The chemical composition of the water is unimportant, the water temperature should be between 24 and 28°C.

For our customers: the animals have code 368482 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Geophagus sp. “Caqueta”

26. August 2022

From the Colombian province of Caquetá we occasionally receive a magnificent Geophagus of the surinamensis group, which is obviously a scientifically not yet described species. Three color characteristics are used for the identification of Geophagus of this complex relationship: 1. the shape, position and size of the lateral spot in relation to the eye, 2. the vertical body bands and 3. black markings in the area of the pre-gill cover. The corresponding combination of characteristics of Geophagus sp. “Caqueta” does not correspond to any of the described species. 

They are, like most Geophagus of the surinamensis group, beautiful, comparatively peaceful animals, of which we can offer just 5 specimens in a size of 13-16 cm.

For our customers: the fish have code 674486 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply only wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Carnegiella strigata-vesca

24. August 2022

The marble hatchetfish (Carnegiella strigata) is the ideal aquarium fish. It remains small (4 cm), is peaceful and has an interesting coloration. The species is widely distributed in South America (Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, Peru and Suriname) and common. That is why it is almost always found in the offer of the ornamental fish trade. 

In the different distribution areas the marble hatchetfish looks different. In the past several subspecies were described, so fasciata from Brazil (Tabatinga), marowini and surinamensis from Suriname and vesca from Guyana. At present, however, the subspecies are not recognized. Perhaps the most beautiful, because most contrasting variant comes to us from Peru and is called “vesca” in the trade.

Hatchetfishes are somewhat skittish during acclimation and should never be kept with rowdy species. Ideal is a combination with bottom fish like corydoras catfish. When feeding, make sure that the animals only take food from the surface. Dry food is a good nutritional basis, but for breeding you have to put a little more effort and feed small insects like fruit flies. The sexes are not distinguishable externally, but females grow slightly larger and are plumper around the middle at spawning time.

For our customers: the fish have code 214304 on our stock list. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Paracyprichromis nigripinnis “Blue Neon”

22. August 2022

Cyprichromis and Paracyprichromis are very special mouthbrooding cichlids from Lake Tanganyika. They live in sometimes huge schools and feed on small animals that they pick from the free water column. To attract the attention of females, the males can be very colorful. They do not occupy actual territories. The females, on the other hand, are as inconspicuously colored as possible and enjoy the protection of the community from predators in the shoal.

Paracyprichromis nigripinnis grows to about 10 cm in length. The genus Paracyprichromis differs from Cyprichromis purely visually mainly by the tail fin shape, which in male Paracyprichromis is adorned with extended tips. Females are less intensely colored than males and have a transparent caudal fin.

For our customers: the animals have code 520001 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Hyphessobrycon epicharis

19. August 2022

Since the first scientific description of Hyphessobrycon epicharis in 1997, this species is on the dream list of many tetra enthusiasts. Unique feature of this Rosy tetra is the shape of the shoulder spot, which distinguishes it from all other species. 

The specimens on which the first description was based came from the upper reaches of the Rio Baria in the Cerro de Neblina area in the extreme south of Venezuela (Territorio Federal Amazonas) on the border with Brazil; no ornamental fish are exported from there. In the meantime it turned out that the species is much more widespread in Venezuela and Brazil (upper Rio Negro, Casiquiare and upper Orinoco), but always away from the usual fishing routes. The first live photo was brought by Hans-Georg Evers in 2000 with a cuvette photo of the Rio Miuá taken at the site. Later Kai Arend was able to photograph a pair in the aquarium of a guide in Venezuela, which he had caught above the mouth of the Rio Ventuari into the Orinoco and brought home.

Now, for the first time ever, we were able to import this tetra jewel. They are magnificent, very elegant fish, even though they hardly show any red color, contrary to many pictures on the internet. This is obviously a matter of local populations. Where exactly our animals come from we do not know, they were exported from Brazil. The females differ clearly from the males by the coloration of the dorsal fin. By the way, they are the more active part during courtship. During the photo session for this post, there were three males and one female in the aquarium. The female dominated the males! During courtship our H. epicharis develop a smoky dark coloration due to expansion of the black pigment cells (melanophores), while otherwise they are cistalline-transparent with a red tinge.

The unfortunately very expensive animals will certainly be welcomed with open arms by tetra specialists. We assume that the breeding will succeed soon and they will become accessible to a wider public.

We have also made a small film about these fish, which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBofRyOLk3g

For our customers: the fish have code 260043 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer