Author Archives: Frank Schäfer

Piabucus melanostoma

16. October 2023

From Paraguay we received large (10-12 cm), unusual tetras. These elegant animals can be assigned without problems to the genus Piabucus, which according to current knowledge includes three species. Two of them are supposed to occur also in Paraguay, namely P. dentatus and P. melanostoma. In the past, it was thought that the two species were easy to distinguish. The rule was: with black lower lip = P. melanostoma, without black lower lip = P. dentatus. But in a more recent study, workers found that there very well is P. dentatus with a black lower lip. According to these studies, the only sure distinguishing feature is whether there is only one row of teeth in the upper jaw (premaxillary) (= P. melanostoma) or whether there are two rows of teeth (= P. dentatus). Of course we can not see this on the living animal, so we stick to the determination as P. melanostoma.

In the aquarium these extraordinary fish are very interesting animals, which should be offered as large aquariums as possible, in which they can swim out. They are peaceful with each other and with other fishes, but there are only very few reports about keeping them. About sex differences, reproduction etc. has not been reported so far.The species is said to be widespread in South America.However, since our animals originate from Paraguay (some of the pictures show specimens from an earlier import from Argentina), thus quite far in the south of South America, one should not keep them permanently too warm.A temperature range of 18-24°C seems appropriate.They eat willingly every usual ornamental fish food.

For our customers: the animals have code 278934 on our stocklist.Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Thoracocharax stellatus

16. October 2023

The platinum hatchetfish, Thoracocharax stellatus, is one of the more commonly imported yet mysterious species within the hatchetfish family. It appears to have an extremely wide distribution in South America. Scientific evidence exists from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela. So, regardless of state boundaries, these are the Paraguay/Paraná, Amazon and Orinoco river systems. We have also received specimens from many corners of this vast species range. Visually they all match each other. However, experience teaches that such large areas are not inhabited by only one species, but in fact there are several species. And indeed, in 2014, Fagner de Souza describes two additional Thoracocharax species in his doctoral thesis. However, since doctoral theses are considered “unpublished” in the scientific sense, these two species are still formally without names. One comes from the Apure and other Orinoco tributaries in Venezuela, the other from the tributaries of the Jurua and Purus rivers in Brazil. We obtain our Thoracocharax stellatus almost always from Colombia (Orinoco).

There is only one other scientifically accepted species in Thoracocharax, namely T. securis. It represents another enigma. T. securis originates from the upper Amazon basin and, according to scientific data, is often found together with T. stellatus, but it practically never appears in ornamental fish shipments, even when ordered. This already made us doubt that this species exists at all. But it does exist, we also show you here one of the very few existing live photos of this species. It differs from T. stellatus by the considerably more curved abdomen, the absence of a black spot at the base of the dorsal fin and – this is the absolutely most undoubted recognition feature – by the fact that T. stellatus has only two to three scale rows at the base of the anal fin. There T. securis has 5-6 scale rows.

The third enigma of the platinum hatchetfish is the question of the attainable final size. For T. stellatus 6.7 cm standard length (without caudal fin) is given in the scientific literature, for T. securis 6.8 cm. However, although we have seen large numbers of T. stellatus, we have never noticed specimens well over 5 cm standard length. On paper this difference looks like little, but compared to the jumbos of Gasteropelecus maculatus, Thoracocharax seem quite dainty.

As you can see, there is still a great need for research even on the supposedly commonplace ornamental fishes. The aquarists of the world can and should participate in it. A nice side effect: Platinum hatchetfishes are splendid and interesting inhabitants in the aquarium! Keep them in groups of 5 or more and feed them insect food (freeze-dried red mosquito larvae, fruit flies, aphids etc.) as often as possible, then they are hardy fish.

For our customers: the animals have code 267004 on our stock list. Please note that we supply only wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Trigonostigma hengeli

13. October 2023

Currently there are 5 species of harlequin barbs (Trigonostigma) scientifically named and accepted: the “classic” harlequin barb (T. heteromorpha), plus T. hengeli, T. espei, T. somphongsi and T. truncata. However, genetic studies showed that there are even more species. An exciting topic! From the great Sunda Islands of Sumatra and Borneo comes the glowlight harlequin barb, T. hengeli. Typically, this beautiful species has a bright orange-pink stripe around the comparatively small wedge spot, while the rest of the body is light colored and somewhat transparent. T. hengeli is unlikely to be confused with T. heteromorpha, but there is always confusion with T. espei. T. espei looks essentially like T. heteromorpha, the anterior body is colored in T. espei (light/transparent in T. hengeli). 

Overall, it can be said that T. hengeli is an ideal fish for blackwater aquariums with Southeast Asian character. Then their luminescent stripe comes perfectly into effect. The sociable animals also like to join shoals of other glowlight rasboras, in the current post e.g. Trigonopoma (formerly: Rasbora) pauciperforata. T. hengeli is absolutely peaceful and leaves even delicate plants untouched. The water temperature can be between 22 and 28°C. After acclimation the water values hardly play a role for keeping, any drinking water is suitable, however, as mentioned, the colors are considerably more intensive in water that is slightly brownish colored with alder cones, dead leaves etc.. Breeding is roughly similar to that of the harlequin barb. Like the latter, T. hengeli spawns in belly-up position under broad plant leaves. For breeding the water must be soft and acidic, otherwise the spawn will not develop. For feeding a good brand dry food is suitable as a basis, in addition frozen or live food should be given from time to time (1-2x per week), for breeding preparation also more often. The maximum length of the species is about 3 cm.

For our customers: the animals have code 452203 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Squaliforma cf. emarginata L11

11. October 2023

Among the loricariid catfishes that are known by scientists for a very long time already is this species. It has been described initially 1840 under the name of Hypostomus emarginatus. Since then it has been placed in different genera, in 2001 in Squaliforma and in 2016 in Aphanotorulus, when Squaliforma has been considered to be a synonym of Aphanotorulus. However, that latest act is not followed by all scientists so far, so we are a bit conservative and stay with the placement within Squaliforma.

Sadly the collecting site of the type specimen of Squaliforma emarginata is not known. Not less than 5 L-numbers have been given for that species, all from different locations (L11 from Brazil, Rio Xingu near Altamira, L108 from Ecuador, upper course of the Rio Napo, L116 from Brazil, Rio Trombetas, L131 from Brazil, Rio Tapajós, L153 from Venezuela, Rio Apure). This fish (or very close relatives, who knows) is known currently from almost the whole of the Orinoco and the Amazon basins. As the fish we currently have in stock originate from the Rio Xingu the L-number 11 fits.

L11 can become as large as 40 cm and is known as a very peaceful member of the loricariid family that is very well suited for aquaria large enough. It is also a quite pretty fish!

For our customers: the animals have code 26480-L 011-4 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Goeldiella eques

9. October 2023

From Peru we could import this interesting catfish, which is only rarely available, although the species has a very wide distribution in South America. The up to 30-35 cm long fish has already been reported from the whole Amazon region and from the Guyana countries.

Zoologically Goeldiella eques belongs to the family Heptapteridae; there are great similarities to the South American Antennae Catfish (Pimelodidae) and only DNA studies showed that the two families probably developed independently of each other.

Remarkable features of G. eques are the large eyes, the very long upper jaw barbels and the fact that the upper lobe of the caudal fin is much shorter than the lower one; in the vast majority of otherwise similar catfish this is exactly the opposite. 

Little is known about the wild life of Goeldiella eques. Stomach examinations of specimens from the Casiquiare revealed mainly insects and spiders (land living species and aquatic insect larvae), a small fish was also present. G. eques are peaceful among each other and against other tankmates that are not suitable as food. The sexes can probably only be distinguished externally by the differently shaped genital papillae. To our knowledge G. eques has not yet been reproduced in an aquarium, there is no information available about reproduction in nature.

For our customers: the animals have code 254752 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Macropodus opercularis: squeaky red!

7. October 2023

Solid red paradise fishes (Macropodus opercularis) have been known since the 1990s. However, they could not really establish themselves in the market, because the animals, which were also traded under the fancy name “Macropodus rex”, turned out to be very susceptible to diseases.

Apparently the problem has been solved and we have now received really good and healthy solid red macropods from Singapore. The mutation does not only affect the blue vertical stripes. The caudal fin has no lattice pattern (as in the wild form) and is white; regenerated areas interestingly turn black. The deep blue demarcation stripe of the anal fin in wild paradise fish is black in these solid red animals. All in all a very attractive breeding form, which will surely find its friends!

For our customers: these animals have code 425913 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Corydoras axelrodi (“deckeri”)

7. October 2023

Since many decades Corydoras catfishes are sold from Colombia under the fancy name “Corydoras deckeri”. Where this name comes from is not documented, probably there was once an exporter named Decker, but nobody knows about him today. The “Corydoras deckeri” come from the Rio Meta. Behind the name there are four different Corydoras species: Corydoras axelrodi, C. loxozonus and the scientifically not yet described C3 and CW21. To C. loxozonus see here (https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/10-catfishes/corydoras-loxozonus/) to C3 here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/10-catfishes/corydoras-sp-c3-4/

Corydoras axelrodi and C. sp. CW21 actually look very, very similar. The difference is in the course of the upper, broad longitudinal band. In C. axelrodi it runs to the lower edge of the caudal fin base, in CW21 it runs to the middle of the caudal root.  All four species are beautiful, easy to care for Corydoras that are an asset to any South America aquarium.

For our customers: Corydoras axelrodi has code 223504, CW21 223513 on our stock list. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Dieter Bork (1945 – 2023)

6. October 2023

When the news reached us last Wednesday, 27.9.2023, that Dieter Bork had died, it was a shock. We had just met in the fish hall of Aquarium Glaser, he was as lively as ever, full of plans and ideas, anything but frail. It still seems inconceivable to me that he will never again tell us in his inimitable way about his observations of his fish. We were told that he did not suffer.

With Dieter Bork one of the most profiled and best aquarists I ever had the chance to meet has left us. I have known him since I started working at Aqualog and Aquarium Glaser in 1996, but the Glaser family knew him many years longer. He was always supplying larger numbers of fish he bred, mainly killifish, to Aquarium Glaser and to other wholesalers in the Frankfurt area before Aquarium Glaser was founded. Killifishes were his favorites, he bred e.g. Epiplatys annulatus and the “Earthborn”, as he called Terranatos dolichopterus and consorts, not only 20 or 30 specimens, but 150 or 200 per batch. Dieter was also able to get species that others always had trouble with, such as Lucania goodei. However, he was not limited to killis, on the contrary: everything that was considered small, delicate and difficult, whether barb, tetra, labyrinth, dwarf cichlid, blue-eyes or livebearer, Dieter maintained and bred with an unbelievable flair and empathy that is second to none.

Lucania goodei, bred and photographed by Dieter Bork.

Dieter Bork became 78 years old. On the cover of one of the books Dieter wrote with Hans J. Mayland, the publisher, Werner Schmettkamp, published a short biography of Dieter in 1998, which I would like to reproduce here – adjusted only a bit in time:

“Born in 1945 and living in Bruchköbel near Hanau, the graduate engineer and nature lover studied at the technical college in Friedberg. During 1964 and 1965 he completed 18 months of service in the German Armed Forces. As an aquarist he was active for more than 60 years and a DKG member for more than 45 years. He was engaged in breeding killifish for more than 30 years; later dwarf cichlids, rasborines and rare livebearers were added. Dieter Bork has also passed on his knowledge in the form of lectures and later as an author in aquarium magazines. His friend Hans J. Mayland, with whom he had worked intermittently since the mid-1970s, persuaded him to cooperate as a book author when the latter was looking for a partner after surviving a serious illness. This first writing collaboration resulted in the first book, “Dwarf Cichlids,” in 1997, which has since been published in English as well.”

The Bork/Mayland team has written several more books, e.g. “Seltene Schönheiten im Süßwasseraquarium” (Rare beauties in freshwater aquariums) for Birgit Schmettkamp Verlag, books on livebearers and tetras for Kosmos, “Aquarienträume” (Aquarium dreams) for Dähne, and Dieter has also written portraits in volumes of the Aquarien-Atlas series for Mergus. In the course of his writing work, Dieter also became an excellent photographer. After Mayland’s death in 2004, Dieter’s publications became much fewer. This was mainly due to the fact that he refused to deal with computers until the end. His manuscripts were literally manuscripts, i.e. handwritten records. This was accepted by fewer and fewer editors, or it was unpleasant for Dieter to submit the manuscripts in this way, although he had very legible handwriting. More serious was that you couldn’t just email Dieter the galley proofs, because Dieter didn’t have email. This made things time-consuming, which was very annoying in the hectic daily editorial routine, where there is always tremendous deadline pressure.

Personally, I had less problems with this because Dieter lived nearby and was a frequent visitor anyway. That’s why we at Aqualog still had quite often articles from Dieter in the news. Otherwise, Dieter wrote articles in the later 2000s almost only on special order of the editors. Dieter also never made the leap to digital photography, until the end he used slide films. All of this may seem a bit quirky, especially for an engineer, but perhaps here lies a key to why he was so wildly successful as a fish breeder. He had just this one hobby, aquaristics, and he did it right. Who of us would not know what time eaters PC, social media, etc. are. Dieter went to conferences, lectures and traveled to the home countries of the fish he especially loved. Computers and co. could stay away from him.

Dario dario, as Dieter saw him.

Catch of Dario dario in Ghottiganga Creek. In the background: Dieter Bork.

Dieter’s travels took him mainly to South America: Colombia, Venezuela and French Guyana, some of which he visited several times. I had the privilege to make a fishing trip to India with Dieter to look for the then new Dario dario in the biotope, but he also liked to go to Thailand, e.g. to the island of Phuket. As an aquaristic veteran of the region, Dieter was of course also a member of the Tümpelgarten in Hanau, where he often maintained several tanks in the clubhouse. His facility at home was not that big, a typical fish room, but he ran it very effectively. His special hobbyhorse was a small garden pond in which he kept mainly livebearers from spring to fall. The pond was heated during cool periods. This way of keeping led partly to fantastic colored fishes, especially wild forms of Xiphophorus variatus. In the garden Dieter had not only his pond, but also some plant treasures. A natural form of a Narcissus, for example, whereby he could tell admirers of the flower every time under detailed demonstration of the responsible index finger in epic width, how he dug out the mother plant of his stock decades ago at a stony wayside with bare hands.

One of Dieter’s garden pond platys

I will always remember Dieter as the lovable man who, while analyzing it, also performed the courtship dance of a Micropoecilia live; as the grumbler who left little good to “the scientists” (to which he then also counted me) when they once again searched in crumbs and did not even recognize the obvious cake; and as the cheerful, sensual person who was fond of all the beautiful things in life. Dieter was open and communicative, he was in exchange with numerous scientists and many well-known aquarists and was also a very popular tutor in mathematics among schoolchildren.

One of the first photos Dieter took, from 1996, showing the then still nameless Hyphessobrycon columbianus, which he discovered with P. Machnik in Colombia.

The aquaristic world community owes Dieter, among others, the Blue Red Columbian (Hyphessobrycon columbianus), which he and P. Machnik brought back from a trip to the northeast of Colombia. Probably all animals swimming in the aquariums of the world today go back to this one import from 1995. Dieter also became immortal by a blue tetra, because the species sailing already for decades under the wrong name “Boehlkea fredcochui” was described as Knodus borki in honor of Dieter Bork after the discovery that it is just not Boehlkea fredcochui, thus honoring his merits also for science.

Knodus borki was named in honor of Dieter Bork.

It’s a hackneyed phrase, but it really applies here: the gap left by Dieter Bork’s death will be hard to close. Our thoughts, good wishes and sincere condolences are with his family, who have lost a husband, father and grandpa.

Frank Schäfer for the whole team of Aquarium Glaser

Tetraodon lineatus 15-20 cm

4. October 2023

The very first puffer fish to receive a scientific name valid in today’s sense was the Nile puffer fish, Tetraodon lineatus. This was in 1758 and is not at all surprising, because the scholars of the world knew the fish since ancient times. In ancient Egypt there was even a hieroglyph in the form of the puffer fish. This hieroglyph was not pronounced as a sound or letter, but specified a state in which the subordinate noun was (a so-called determinative). The puffer fish stood for “discontented.” Perhaps this was because, like all puffer fish, it is poisonous and must not be eaten, at least at certain times, or risk fatal poisoning. Or perhaps the ancient Egyptians were aware of the animal’s sullen temperament. In ancient Egypt, the puffer fish was called “Fahaka” or “Fahaqa”, and this was also a synonym of the Nile puffer fish used until the 1980s.

Aquaristically, the Nile pufferfish has a very bad reputation. It is considered to be extremely biting and incompatible, but curious and playful, so that sooner or later every co-inhabitant gets to feel its extremely strong teeth, which remind of a parrot’s beak and easily crack open every snail shell and every mussel shell. Also the keeper should beware of being bitten by a Nile puffer fish, this gives bleeding wounds.

On the other hand, there is hardly any aquarium fish that can match the Nile puffer fish in intelligence. It is a predator and prefers to eat small fish. And to catch them, the comparatively clumsy and slow puffer fish has to be tricky. Fascinating for the observer are also its independently moving eyes, with which the Nile puffer fish attentively observes everything inside and outside the aquarium. 

The Nile puffer fish in the trade do not come from the Nile, but from the Niger. The two rivers were connected just a few 10,000 years ago and have very similar fish fauna. In the meantime Nile puffers are also bred in Indonesia. We regularly have Tetraodon lineatus on offer, both wild and captive bred. But large animals – the maximum length of T. lineatus is a little over 40 cm – are very rare for us. Right now we have 15-20 cm long specimens, quite magnificent animals!

For our customers: Tetraodon lineatus 15-20 cm (wild) have code 190307 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Chaetostoma dorsale (L147, L443)

2. October 2023

The bristlemouth catfish (Chaetostoma) are an exceptionally diverse genus of suckermouth armored catfishes. According to Fishbase (2023), 47 species are currently considered valid. From Colombia, more precisely from the surroundings of the city of Villavicencio, the capital of the department of Meta, Chaetostoma have been exported for decades as common “bread-and-butter fish”. However, it was and still is difficult to identify them.

Recently (January 2021) the scientific description of a new Chaetostoma species (C. chimu) was published, to which also an actual identification key for the Cis-Andine (= east of the Andes) species of the genus from the tributaries of the Orinoco and the Amazon is attached. According to this identification key the presented Chaetostoma from Colombia with white dots on the head is C. dorsale, a species already described in 1922.

In the hobby Chaetostoma with white dots on the head is generally called L188, even though it is known among specialists for a long time that there are several species with white dots on the head and L188 strictly speaking applies only to one species from Venezuela (surroundings of the city of Valencia), which is commonly regarded as Chaetostoma nudirostre.

Chaetostoma dorsale got the L-number 147 for a short time in 1994. Unfortunately this L-number was given again due to a mistake (to a Peckoltia species that carries the number to this day) and C. dorsale got a new one with L443 in 2010. It can be assumed that fishes offered as “L188” from Colombia are in reality C. dorsale. 

Chaetostoma dorsale grows 10-12 cm long and can be kept at water temperatures between 23 and 27°C. It is a good algae eater, but needs a lot of oxygen and should therefore be kept in strongly filtered and aerated aquaria. Basically the species can be classified as peaceful, but the immediate area around the preferred hiding place (often under a flat stone or a root on the bottom) is defended emphatically.

For our customers: the animals have code 214752 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Literature

Urbano-Bonilla, A. & G. A. Ballen (2021): A new species of Chaetostoma (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the Orinoco basin with comments on Amazonian species of the genus in Colombia. Journal of Fish Biology v. 98 (no. 4): 1091-1104

Hemigrammus coeruleus

29. September 2023

Although Hemigrammus coeruleus has a very wide distribution in Amazonia (Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia) and was scientifically described as early as 1908, it only entered aquariums in the early 2000s (at least recognized). H. coeruleus is a fish with two faces: in neutral mood it is pretty, but not spectacular and looks like a mixture of glowlight and three-banded tetra. But when he gets into courtship mood, it is a sensation! After it was celebrated enthusiastically at the beginning and also already offsprings appeared on the market, it has become quiet about this tetra today. Why only? 

We think that it lacks a good popular name. The scientific name “coeruleus” (= the blue one) does not fit at all. It becomes blue only dead in alcohol. We suggest “volcano tetra”, because the deep red color of courting males actually reminds of glowing lava!

At the moment we can offer wonderful wild ones of this rarity from Colombia.

For our customers: the animals have code 256313 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale trade

Text: Frank Schäfer, Photos: F. Schäfer and Peter & Martin Hoffmann

Channa brunnea

29. September 2023

The Rainbow Snakehead (Channa bleheri) is without doubt one of the most beautiful and colorful snakeheads and with usually 12-15 cm total length (sometimes a bit more) it stays quite small. It originates from the north of India and belongs to the few Channa species without ventral fins. Since 2007 a very similar, also colorful and small remaining snakehead from the same region is known. It was unclear for a long time whether this fish, called “Chocolate” or “Flame Fin”, represents a color variant, geographic locality form or independent species. Then in 2019, it came to be described as a species in two ways, as C. amari and as C. brunnea. The name C. brunnea was published first and is therefore valid.

The most important difference to C. bleheri are the intensely red-orange, in some animals also quince-yellow colored, striped pectoral fins. There are further details, but they need not be of interest here. Concerning care and breeding C. bleheri and C. brunnea do not differ. Both are not mouth breeders, as one might suspect, but guard the spawn in the form of a raft on the water surface.

Both species are very calm, one could also say: sluggish animals, which can become fat very quickly. So you have to feed them sparingly, preferably with insects. They are also half cold water fish. Without hibernation for several weeks at 12-15°C the animals will get sick and will not live long. Otherwise, they are mostly comparatively (!!!!!) peaceful snakeheads that can be enjoyed for years.

For our customers: Channa brunnea has code 409068 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Lepidosiren paradoxus

27. September 2023

The South American Lungfish is a very interesting fish, but it has only very drab colours. The usual pattern is mudcolour, eg brownish, greyish, sometimes a bit blackish. But why should an animal that lives in swamps and feeds on snails show bright coloration? On the other hand: astonishingly enough, very young specimens, like the ones we obtained recently from Peru (6-9 cm long) are very pretty! The fish are pitchblack and have golden-yellow dots. Against conspecfics the youngsters are very peaceful. This cannot be said about the adults! Pictures of adult specimens can be seen here: http://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/lepidosiren_paradoxus_en/

For our customers: the fish have code 265501 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Laetacara curviceps

25. September 2023

Long before the Apistogramma species became popular, another dwarf cichlid from Brazil captured the hearts of aquarists: Laetacara curviceps, the Flag acara. At that time it was still called Aequidens curviceps. For some time it has unfortunately become quiet around him. Now we have once again received beautiful offspring of this small, peaceful and beautiful cichlid.

For our customers: the animals have code 604002 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Hyphessobrycon rosaceus (“ornatus”)

22. September 2023

In 1997, the US ichthyologists Stanley Weitzman and Lisa Palmer published a scientific paper that caused a sensation among experts. In it, they described the new species Hyphessobrycon epicharis, but also commented in detail on a relationship group within the South American small tetras known as the “rosy tetra clade”. The authors showed, among other things, that the phantom tetras belong to this group and that the genus Megalamphodus, in which the phantom tetras stood until then, does not represent an independent genus. 

The actual “rosy tetra”, i.e. the species that precedes the group as the eponymous species, has been one of the most popular ornamental fishes since 1933. Since there are a number of species in the rosy tetra clade that look extremely similar, it is understandable that there have been several misidentifications. At the first import in 1933 it was believed to be a scientifically unknown species, which was described as Hyphessobrycon ornatus. It sailed under this name until the 1960s. Then it was believed that H. ornatus was identical with H. bentosi from Brazil described in 1908. This was split into two subspecies, H. bentosi bentosi and H. bentosi ornatus. The current state of affairs is (fide Zarske, 2014) that the rosy tetra is in fact identical to H. rosaceus, a species described from Guyana in 1909 and to which H. ornatus is a synonym. 

Regardless of the name confusion, the tetra still swims in our aquariums and is propagated by several breeders. This is good, because from Guyana, its homeland, for many years no or only very sporadic imports take place for most different reasons (mainly to high costs). The very rare imports then do not contain common species like the rosy tetra. It is a good example that conservation breeding can easily be done over decades if only there is sufficient and continuous demand for the animals.

Please also note the entry about the breeding form “White Fin”: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/hyphessobrycon-ornatus-white-fin-2/

For our customers: Hyphessobrycon rosaceus (“ornatus”) has under the name H. ornatus code 261402 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply to wholesalers.

Literature: 

Weitzman, S. H. and L. Palmer (1997): A new species of Hyphessobrycon (Teleostei: Characidae) from the Neblina region of Venezuela and Brazil, with comments on the putative `rosy tetra clade’. Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters v. 7 (no. 3): 209-242.

Zarske, A. (2014): Zur Systematik einiger Blutsalmler oder “Rosy Tetras” (Teleostei: Ostariophysi: Characidae). Vertebrate Zoology v. 64 (no. 2): 139-167.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Osphronemus laticlavius

22. September 2023

Once again we received the rare red-finned giant gourami (Osphronemus laticlavius). Like the common giant gourami this species grows around 60 cm long. The home of the fish is on Borneo, where it probably occurs naturally only in Sabah, i.e. in the very north of the island in the Malayan part. Since about 1985 this spectacular species is bred in Bangkok. Animals of this breeding stock formed the basis of the scientific description in 1992. The species was well known before, but always thought to be a “color form” of the common giant gourami, O. goramy.

The adult males develop a distinct physiognomy and deep red fins, which contrast beautifully with the body, which is black in courtship mood. The pictures of the adult animals (which we unfortunately do not have in our offer) show that O. laticlavius is a splendid show fish for large aquariums.

For our customers: the animals have code 440922 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Macrognathus aculeatus “Bangka”

22. September 2023

The small spiny eel Macrognathus aculeatus – the species rarely grows to 20 cm long, even though 38 cm is given as the maximum length in the literature – is one of the longest known species of these bizarre fishes. Already in 1786 it was described by Bloch. As so often with old known species there are exactly therefore a lot of misidentifications in the literature, because the origin was only vaguely known to Bloch; he gives “East India”, which corresponded at that time to the Moluccas, the Indonesian island world and the peninsula Malacca. In this area there are several Macrognathus species similar to each other. Therefore Kottelat and Widjanarti limited the origin to Java in 2005 and established a neotype from there as future reference.

We could now for the first time import beautiful, apparently adult (because the females show clear spawning) Macrognathus from Indonesia, which according to the exporter were collected on the (relatively!) small island of Bangka. Bangka is located east off Sumatra and about 500 km north of Java. These spiny eels are not distinguishable from the neotype and are perhaps the first “real” Macrognathus aculeatus that came alive to Germany – at least recognized.

The care of these animals is easy. They are peaceful, sociable fish that like to cuddle with conspecifics in a lair. However, small fish are seen as a food supplement, you should pay attention to this. Temperature requirements are between 22 and 28°C. Although in nature they seem to colonize peat swamps with strongly acidic black water, the adaptation to “normal” water conditions is good. Any drinking water is suitable for their care. For food it is best to give frozen and live food. They prefer red mosquito larvae, tubifex and the like. After acclimation they usually also accept granulated food. All spiny eels are free spawners, spawning near the water surface in dense plant tangles. Spiny eels do practice broodcare. The sexes differ mainly in the abdominal girth, which is considerably fuller in females.

For our customers: the animals have code 425158 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Myoglanis koepckei

20. September 2023

This small catfish, unique in its combination of characteristics, originates from Peru. There it was collected (scientifically) for the first time in 1984 in a small tributary of the Rio Nanay, which had sandy bottom covered with debris (probably dead wood, dead leaves etc). The scientific description was then in 1999 as Myoglanis koepckei. In the ornamental fish trade this species is offered only very sporadically in small numbers. For us these are the first specimen at all, which we could import.

The largest specimen that has been scientifically measured so far was 5.9 cm long (without caudal fin). The specimen photographed for this post is about that size, rather slightly larger, and measures (with caudal fin) about 7.5 cm. Noticeable are the numerous and large pores in the head area and on the forebody, which strangely are not mentioned at all in the scientific description. These pores are highly sensitive sensory organs. Body shape and just these pores (they are electroreceptors, with which extremely weak electric currents are perceived, as they arise, for example, during the muscle movement of a small worm) strongly remind of the conditions in Gymnallabes (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/10-catfishes/gymnallabes-typus-2/). Although Myoglanis and Gymnallabes are not related; they probably have a similar lifestyle. 

For our customers: the animals have code 271223 on our stock list. Please note that we supply only wholesale. Only available in very small quantities!

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Pelvicachromis pulcher wild yellow

18. September 2023

The yellow color variety of the species P. pulcher comes from southwestern Nigeria, where it is collected west of the Niger Delta in the Ethiop River area. The additional color designations yellow, red and green refer to the gill covers in P. pulcher, they all get red bellies. 

In all Pelvicachromis, females are considerably more colorful than males. In the wild caught P. pulcher, which we can offer regularly, one can study very nicely the variance of the eyespots in the dorsal fin and caudal fin. The number of spots varies individually between zero and eight.

For our customers: the animals have code 560203 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Nematobrycon palmeri WILD

15. September 2023

The Emperor Tetra (Nematobrycon palmeri) has been one of the most popular tetra species for decades due to its beauty and interesting behavior, and is available year-round as a captive breed.

Wild catches, on the other hand, are only available for a limited time and on a seasonal basis. We have now once again received a beautiful shipment of these animals from Colombia.

As with most tetras, the main difference between wild-caught and captive-bred tetras is that wild-caught tetras are much smaller and more graceful than captive-bred tetras, which is due to the fact that the food supply in nature is by far not as abundant as in the aquarium. The photographed animals are fully sexually differentiated (i.e. the males have the three-tipped tail fin and both sexes are capable of spawning) and yet they are only 2-3 cm long!

Regarding the colorfulness there is no difference between captive bred and wild caught fish: both are beautiful!

For our customers: the animals have code 272603 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply to wholesalers.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Apteronotus leptorhynchus (A. macrostomus)

15. September 2023

The “Brown Ghost” is one of the most popular knifefishes in the aquarium. The species is not small, but not huge either: the maximum length to be expected is about 20 cm. This makes it less than half the size of its black cousin (A. albifrons). It is fascinating to observe knifefish in the aquarium. At first they are still shy and hide, but soon the comparatively intelligent fish understand that there is no danger to them in the aquarium. Then they delight the aquarist with their swimming skills, for knifefish can swim forward and backward with equal speed and elegance. All knifefish belong to the electric fish, but they cannot deliver an electric shock, the voltage is much too low for that. The electrical discharges are used by the fish for orientation (like the echolocation of bats on land) and for intra-species communication. In order to avoid electrosmog in the aquarium, each animal needs hiding places in the form of a cave, which shields the electrical signal. Not beautiful, but extremely practical for this purpose are PVC tubes of various diameters.

For decades, the Brown Ghost was believed to have a vast range in South America. In 2013, scientists Carlos David de Santana and Richard P. Vari published a study in which they showed that there is not one widespread species, but that at least nine different species can be identified, each with a relatively small range. Purely externally, however, they cannot be distinguished on live animals. The fish offered in the hobby originate from Colombia and belong with highest probability to Apteronotus macrostomus. This species comes from the surroundings of the city Villavicencio at the Rio Meta, where numerous ornamental fish catchers are active. The “true” A. leptorhynchus is probably not imported; it comes from the Essequibo River drainage in Guyana. However, since there are no significant external differences between the Brown Ghost species, they will probably continue to be referred to as “Apteronotus leptorhynchus” in the trade.

For our customers: the animals have code 208002 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Peckoltia sp. L265/LDA84

15. September 2023

There are three forms of orange fringed plecos among L catfishes, namely L76 (tributaries of Rio do Pará, Brazil), L99 (also tributaries of Rio do Pará, Brazil), and L265 (Rio Tajajós and its tributary Rio Jamanxin, Brazil). Thus, all sites are located within the state of Pará. L265 has also received LDA number 84 after being assigned an L number. All of these animals have in common that the otherwise largely unpatterned dorsal and caudal fin has an orange fringe. Individually the body pattern can be quite different, therefore the various L- and LDA-numbers. But always one recognizes a pattern of four broad, dark bars on the flanks. In L265/LDA84 the body plates are conspicuously dark bordered.

The pretty animals become 12-15 cm long and belong to the peaceful representatives of the family. The dentition shows that they are unspecialized omnivores, which in the aquarium especially like to accept frozen food of animal origin, but should also get the usual vegeabilic food. Like so many central Amazonian loricariids they like a combination of strong current and comparatively warm water (28-30°C). They are typical cave breeders with a father family.

The assignment of L76, L99 and L265 to the genus Peckoltia is only provisional; because of the orange fin seams a relationship with Ancistomus snethlagae is occasionally suspected. But it is surely more meaningful to wait for a scientific treatment of the animals, than to speculate wildly concerning the genus affiliation.

For our customers: the animals have code 26480-L 265-2 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Brochis splendens “Peru“

13. September 2023

From the upper Amazonas drainage in Peru we regularly receive the beautiful emerald catfish, Brochis splendens. From this region no less than four synonyms of this armored catfish, distributed in three genera (Brochis, Chaenothorax and Corydoras) were described by the famous biologist Edward Drinker Cope (1840-1897)! This shows very clearly how different the fish can look. The type specimen of the species Callichthys splendens (today: Brochis splendens) described by Castelnau in 1855 came from the Rio Tocantins in Brazil. It is agreed that there are several species behind the name Brochis splendens, but a comprehensive revision of the species does not exist at present.

At least it is quite interesting that just in a tank with Peru imports we noticed animals with small dots in the dorsal fin. This fin is usually completely transparent in B. splendens. At the same time one male developed – possibly because of the unusually high water temperatures due to the current heat wave – a courtship dress and distinctly long extended pectoral fin spines. The courtship dress is shown by a darkening of the body, a brightening of the head area and both zones are sharply separated by a bright vertical line. The matching female (and the other animals in the tank), on the other hand, continues to show the usual shiny emerald green coloration.

In terms of care, Brochis splendens does not differ significantly from most Corydoras species. You should keep these fish in a group (from 6 specimens upwards). The tank should not be too small, because B. splendens can reach almost 10 cm length. The bottom should consist of fine, soft sand at least in places. Every usual ornamental fish food is eaten. The Corydoras are completely peaceful against all co-inhabitants. Every tap water suitable as drinking water is suitable for the care, the water temperature can be between 18 and 28°C.

For our customers: the animals have code 212505 on our stock list. Please note that we supply only wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Hemigrammus luelingi

11. September 2023

Head-and-Taillight tetras were introduced to Germany as early as 1910 and were also bred soon after. They soon belonged to the iron stock of ornamental fish. Since then there are practically no more wild-caught imports. Now we have received head-and-taillights from Peru, which we initially mistakenly determined to be wild Hemigrammus ocellifer. Tetra specialist Flávio Lima pointed out to us that they are actually H. luelingi, however! He wrote: „This is not Hemigrammus ocellifer, but rather Hemigrammus luelingi, a related species. Hemigrammus ocellifer does not have the anterior humeral blotch rounded as this fish but vertically elongated and more faded. Also, it is a relatively stockier fish. Hemigrammus ocellifer is actually much more common and widespread than H. luelingi, which is a common species in western Amazon basin, especially Peru and Colombia, but not elsewhere.“

Many thanks to Flávio also once again at this point! 

Tetra lovers should definitely pay attention to the differences so they don’t accidentally produce unwanted hybrids (if the two species mate). It is gratifying that another handsome tetra species is now available in the hobby. The animals look especially pretty in aquariums with dark substrate, then the luminous spots on the shoulders and tail and the eyes seem to literally glow.

Who would like to compare: an entry to H. ocellifer can be found here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/09-characoids-tetra-relationship/hemigrammus-ocellifer-2/

Also very similar is H. falsus, for this see here:https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/09-characoids-tetra-relationship/hemigrammus-falsus-2/

For our customers: H. luelingi has code 256793 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Pseudomugil ivantsoffi

8. September 2023

This cute blue-eye originates from the surroundings of the town Timika in the Indonesian province Papua on New Guinea. It was discovered and scientifically described relatively late (1999); at first it was thought to be the same species as P. reticulatus, whose locality is about 900 km further northwest (seen from Timika). But then it turned out that they are different species. 

The animals reach a maximum length of about 3 cm (without caudal fin), males are slightly larger than females. In nature they live in strongly shaded jungle streams of about 2 m width. There pH-values between 6,7 and 7,8 and water temperatures between 24 and 28°C were measured. One must always keep in mind that such measurements are always only snapshots and in nature the values can occasionally deviate significantly up and down. Nevertheless they show that the species is obviously not adapted to extreme conditions.

The care and breeding are comparable with other blue-eyes. It is best to keep the completely peaceful animals in a group of 10-20 specimens of both sexes. They eat any common ornamental fish food, it only has to fit into the small mouth. Spawning takes place in fine plants, these fish do not practice brood care. The newly hatched fry are tiny and grow quite slowly. 

For our customers: the animals have code 446022 on our stock list. Please note that we supply only wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Corydoras ortegai (CW31)

8. September 2023

This cute corydoras is relatively new. It was scientifically described only in 2007. In the hobby it was known a bit longer as “Loreto Panda”, “New Panda” and under the code number CW31. The CW-numbers are assigned on the homepage of Ian Fuller (https://www.corydorasworld.com/).

The complete distribution of the pretty species is not yet known. The locality of the specimens used for scientific description was in the drainage of the Rio Putumayo. This river rises in southern Colombia, forms the border between Colombia, Ecuador and Peru in places, continues through Peru into Brazil (where it is called Rio Içá) and finally flows into the Amazon. In total, the Rio Putumayo is over 2,000 km long. 

Corydoras ortegai does not inhabit black or clear water, but has been found in the turbid white water of the Rio Yaguas (a tributary of the Putumayo in Peru). Aquaristically the species is excellent and could be bred already, but it is not very productive, so that the small number of offspring does not (yet) appear in the trade, but is distributed among enthusiasts. Males become about 4 cm, females about 4.5 cm long (standard length without tail fin).

For our customers: the animals 238302 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Caridina pareparensis parvidentata

6. September 2023

Dwarf shrimp from the island of Sulawesi (formerly: Celebes) in Indonesia are famous for their colorfulness – and notorious for their high demands on care. These species originate from the large Malili lakes. However, there are dwarf shrimp on Sulawesi that are some of the easiest to keep and maintain anywhere! Among these is Caridina pareparensis. It lives in rivers in the south of the island and adapts to pretty much all conditions you can imagine in a normal aquarium at all: soft and hard water, acidic or alkaline pH, even some salt in the water is tolerated and the temperature can be between 16 and 30°C.

Under all these conditions lives and reproduces the dwarf, which grows only about 1.5 cm long. The breeding is very productive. Although this dwarf shrimp is not very colorful, it is still pretty and because it is not shy at all, its care gives a lot of pleasure.

The species Caridina pareparensis was described from a river near Parepare; the form kept in the hobby is usually assigned to the subspecies (described as variant) Caridina pareparensis parvidentata, whose origin is a spring called Malawa near the village of Tjamba (this is about 150 km further south from Parepare). Where exactly the animals, which are kept in the aquarium, were/are collected is not known. The difference between the typical form and parvidentata lies in the dentition of the rostrum, where parvidentata (like our animals) has 6-10 denticles, all located on the rostrum, while the typical pareparensis has 13-18 denticles, of which 3-4 are located on the cephalothorax.

For our customers: the dwarf shrimp have code 481682 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Hephaestus habbemai

4. September 2023

New fish, new questions. This is how we could characterize our import of the grunter Hephaestus habbemai. These beautiful fish come to us from Indonesia and originate from the island of New Guinea. Originally (1910) they were described from the south of the island, from the Lorentz River. The species is a pure freshwater inhabitant; it reaches a length of about 15-20 cm plus caudal fin. At present our animals are 10-12 cm long (total length). Among themselves the animals are extremely well compatible, which is by no means a matter of course with grunters.

The perch-like shape and the relationship show it already: we are dealing with a carnivore. Frozen and live food of suitable size is willingly accepted, small fish are of course considered as additional food. 

So far, so good. Where are the questions? In fact, the identification of the animals is by no means certain. We simply took the name for the time being, the research about which species it really is proves to be lengthy and is by no means finished.

We have also made a small film about these fish, which you can watch here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03uhpKSNNxA

For our customers: the fish have code 421478 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Thayeria sp. Red Tail Teles Pires

1. September 2023

Penguin tetras (Thayeria) are well known aquarium fishes. Of the scientifically accepted four species (T. boehlkei, T. ifati, T. obliqua, T. tapajonica) T. boehlkei is always on offer in the ornamental fish trade. Almost all of them are offsprings, although the species is widely distributed in South America (Peru, Ecuador, Brazil and Bolivia).

The Rio Teles Pires is an approximately 1,400 km long river in Brazil and one of the two headwaters of the Rio Tapajós. Apparently, a biodiversity hotspot for Thayeria is located in the Teles Pires: in a recent scientific study of Teles Pires fish species (Ohara, W. M. et al. (2017): Peixes do rio teles pires: diversidade e guia de identificação.), the authors were able to detect 3 different species: T. boehlkei, the then undescribed T. tapajonica, and another scientifically new species in which the lateral stripe begins only below the dorsal fin (as in T. ifati from the Maroni River in Guiana). They provisionally call this species “falso ifati”.

But the most spectacular new discovery from the Teles Pires probably passed them by: the Thayeria sp. Red Tail! It is a wonderfully colorful Penguin tetra, which combines all positive characteristics of the T. boehlkei (size, swimming, social behavior, demands on the aquarium keeping), only that it is additionally very colorful. Whether the species really originates from Teles Pires, we can of course not judge, but we can now offer this new gem in larger numbers as a German offspring for the first time.

For our customers: Thayeria sp. Red Tail Teles Pires has code 296752 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Corydoras loretoensis

1. September 2023

The extremely great popularity of the Corydoras in aquaristics is certainly due to the combination of peacefulness, usefulness and nice appearance that these fish combine. They all have these characteristics, and so you really can’t go far wrong when it comes to deciding which species to choose for your aquarium.

But there are subtle differences nonetheless. Some species grow larger than others, some are particularly sensitive, some like it rather cool, others warm, still others swim more in the open water and also the swarm cohesion is differently pronounced. Corydoras loretoensis originates from Peru, more precisely from the department of Loreto – hence its name. It becomes (without tail fin) maximally 4.5-5 cm long. The temperature requirements are in the range of 22-26°C, the adaptability to different water values is very good. C. loretoensis belongs to the bottom dwellers with particularly large swarm cohesion. Therefore it should be kept in groups of 7 specimens or more.

For our customers: the animals have code 233603 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Cambarellus patzcuarensis CPO

30. August 2023

The gray-brown wild form of the orange dwarf crayfish Cambarellus patzcuarensis (CPO) originates from Mexico, where it is endemic (i.e. only found there) in Lake Patzcuaro. Due to massive environmental pollution and the use of foreign fish for food purposes, the ecosystem of Lake Patzcuaro is extremely disturbed, and a large number of the animal and plant species found there are unfortunately even threatened with extinction – among them Cambarellus patzcuarensis. The catch for aquarium keeping plays no role at all, commercial catches do not exist and the aquarium strains go back to very few individuals brought back by private expeditions, which completely excludes any impairment of the wild stocks from a scientific point of view.

The orange form, which is common in aquaristics today, originated in the aquarium and has been stabilized by appropriate breeding selection. It does not occur in the wild.

With usually 3 cm (male) and 3.5 cm (female) length, the animals are true dwarf crayfish. Only in rare exceptional cases they can reach a maximum length of 5 cm. At least the aquarium strains are also by far not as hide-addicted as most of the larger crayfish species and therefore often visible during the day. Because of their small size Cambarellus species cause little mess in planted aquariums and they can be socialized well with fish. Of course, one must limit oneself to small and peaceful species, which cannot be dangerous to the mini-crawfish even after molting, when they are still soft.

For our customers: CPO has code 481332 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Gymnogeophagus balzanii

28. August 2023

The hump of the male of G. balzanii is comparable to the feather tail of a peacock: it is simply the expression of manhood! The Paraguay Eartheater originates from the southern parts of South America and is imported now and then from Paraguay as wild collected stock, but the species is also bred on a regular basis. The peaceful and quirky animal is thus quite often available, like our photographed specimens.

The species is a maternal, larvophilous mouthbrooder; this means that only the female takes care for the brood and that only the hatched larvae are taken in the mouth, while the eggs (which are placed on stones etc.) are treated in a “normal” way.

For our customers: the animals have code 676013 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Datnioides campbelli

25. August 2023

Among lovers of large, predatory fish, the species of the genus Datnioides (formerly: Coius) enjoy great popularity. They are calm, expressive fish that, after a sometimes somewhat tough acclimation period in which they are shy and skittish, become very attached to the keeper and provide decades of enjoyment.

All Datnioides species grow to 30-40 cm in size. Some prefer brackish water, others soft and acidic freshwater. Still others – D. campbelli is one of these – can do both and take it as it comes. D. campbelli is restricted in its distribution to the island of New Guinea. There it lives in the south-central part in two states, the province Papua belonging to Indonesia and the independent Papua New Guinea. Most of its finds are in the lower reaches of rivers, where it is often brackish, but it has also been caught far above the tidal influence. Due to its bright golden-yellow tiger coloration (all other Datnioides species are silver to ivory with black bands), D. campbelli is easy to identify by color, but capable of extremely rapid color changes. Disturbed animals become deep dark brown in a flash. Currently our animals are 7-9 cm long.

For basic care of such tiger perches see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/general/datnoides-quadrifasciatus-2/

For our customers: the animals have code 413893 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Stiphodon atropurpureus

25. August 2023

The neon gobies of the genus Stiphodon are all beautiful fish. None of the 37 currently known species grows longer than 5-7 cm, usually they remain much smaller. Although adult Stiphodon live exclusively in pure freshwater, the larvae can only develop in the sea. Therefore, neon gobies live in streams near the coast. They spawn under stones, the male guards the eggs. The hatching, tiny larvae are washed with the current into the sea, where they develop.

Stiphodon atropurpureus is – if one follows the literature data – widely distributed, because the larvae are drifted with ocean currents. The species is known from Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines and South China. However, it is scientifically described from the Philippines. Extremely similar is S. semoni from Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. By pure observation the two species cannot be distinguished. S. atropurpureus has more scales in the longitudinal row (30-37, mostly 33-35, S. semoni has 27-30), in the vertical row (12-18, mostly 15-17, S. semoni has 10-11) and in front of the first dorsal fin, so altogether smaller (and therefore more) scales on the body. 

However, this is not recognizable on the living animal; it is more than likely that S. atropurpureus and S. semoni are constantly confused with each other. Also we have no other choice than to trust the information of the exporter. Since the two species do not differ in aquaristic requirements and in coloration, the question of which species they are is rather academic.

The fish, like all Stiphodon, live in schools consisting of males and females. Females are inconspicuously colored. Only when they want to spawn, the males develop the full color splendor, occupy a territory and court with their bright colors in front of the females. When the young have hatched, the males become paler again (but they are then still beautiful) and return to the shoal.

In the aquarium the care succeeds easily. Being omnivorous, Stiphodon prefer small food particles (food tablets, frozen cyclops, etc.) and also gnaw on algae. 

For our customers: the animals have code 456083 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Leporinus pellegrinii

23. August 2023

The large genus Leporinus comprises more than 90 species and still confronts science with hardly solvable problems concerning the delimitation of the species. Among the groups of species known for decades as particularly complicated is the group of forms around Leporinus maculatus. These are Leporinus, where at least a part of the flank pattern consists of round spots. Leporinus pellegrinii, which was described in 1910 from Surinam, belongs to the “maculatus group” (the spelling with two “i” at the end is the correct one). The author Steindachner later also assigned animals from the Rio Branco to this species. Unfortunately, the species was not illustrated in the scientific description, so that until today there are doubts about its identity. According to the present opinion the species exists in the Rio Branco, Essequibo, Tibit, Saramacca, Suriname, Mana and in the Peruvian Amazon. 

We have at present very beautiful Leporinus, which are to be counted most probably to the species L. pellegrinii, in stock. Our animals come from Brazil, we did not get more exact information. It is a relatively small Leporinus species, which according to the available information does not exceed 12 cm total length (including tail fin). Among themselves the beautiful fish are peaceful, which is always worth mentioning with Leporinus.

For our customers: the animals have code 265933 on our stock list. Please note that we supply only wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Hypselobarbus jerdoni

21. August 2023

We have received again some juveniles of the very rarely imported large barb Hypselobarbus jerdoni. It is an endemic species of southern India, where it is found in the states of Karnataka and Kerala. With a maximum final length of 50 cm, H. jerdoni is only suitable for really large aquariums.

Here the current-loving, peaceful fish is a real eye-catcher. The brilliant orange pelvic fins are its unique selling point, something you won’t find in any other barb species. In nature, the animal performs spawning migrations of up to 100 km in length. From this it can be concluded that it is a powerful swimmer, capable of overcoming obstacles. If you want to catch H. jerdoni from the aquarium, it sometimes shows what it is made of and jumps from a standing position over 50 cm high vertically out of the water – although our animals are only 6-8 cm long! But nevertheless the species is anything but shy.

For our customers: the animals have code 421592 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Gastromyzon “punctulatus”

18. August 2023

In 1961, a review paper on the hillstream loaches of the genus Gastromyzon of Borneo was published. In it five species were distinguished: G. pauciradiatus, G. nieuwenhuisii, G. fasciatus, G. punctulatus and G. borneensis. In 2006 the next revision of these fishes from Borneo appeared. This was accompanied by a true species explosion; in Gastromyzon alone, 36 species are now known from Borneo! Of the original five species, two are now in Neogastromyzon (nieuwenhuisii and pauciradiatus), so that no less than 33 species, which were assigned to 3 species in earlier imports, must now be redetermined! However, this is not so easy as one can imagine, because many species characteristics are only recognizable on specially prepared specimens and even then it requires great experience not to go astray.

There are always two spotted species offered in the ornamental fish trade that look extremely similar: Gastromyzon ctenocephalus and G. scitulus. Since in former times only one punctulated species was known, namely G. punctulatus, both have been called G. punctulatus for decades. In reality, however, G. punctulatus has “top of head and vertebral area with small, round, light spots in a dark network” (Inger & Chin, 1961) and is probably imported only very exceptionally – if at all, but the two species G. ctenocephalus and G. sciltulus have light spots on a uniform dark background. Depending on the mood, the basic coloration can vary between light brown and deep black. You can supposedly tell these two species apart if they spread their fins. Then you can see that C. ctenocephalus has horizontal blue stripes in the caudal fin and blue-green shiny spots in the dorsal fin; G. sciltulus has blue-green shiny spots in the caudal fin and no colorful markings in the dorsal fin. Unfortunately, however, the animals do not spread their fins when called, and furthermore there are abundant intermediate forms, even within a single import. The animals shown in this post correspond best to G. ctenocephalus. Because quite often a mix of up to five hillstream loach species comes to us anyway – these animals are simply still offered as Gastromyzon punctulatus in the trade.

This is not a big deal if it is not about special scientific questions, because regarding the care requirements all Gastromyzon species are alike. They want very clean, if possible strongly flowing water in a temperature range of 22-28°C, whereby middle values are to be preferred. In nature the water is very soft and often also acidic, in the aquarium they do not necessarily need this. However, during acclimation it may be useful to approximate natural water values. Gastromyzon have a horny lip, with which they can scrape growth from stones and roots. However, they are less concerned with algae than with micro life. You can feed these fish very well with all kinds of food, small frozen foods are best for them. Among themselves these fish are compatible, fights are always harmless. They are not interested in other species. Males differ from the (larger) females by a large glandular scale at the base of the ventral fin. Spawning takes place – as far as known – over coarse gravel, the spawn develops in the gap system between the pebbles. Gastromyzon species do not engage in brood care.

For our customers: Gastromyzon “punctulatus” has code 416562 on our stock list. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Gymnochanda ploegi

18. August 2023

We have received this dwarf glass perch from Indonesia, which was named in honour of Alex Ploeg, who was in the passenger plane shot over the Ukraine on 17 July 2014.

Gymnochanda ploegi is known so far only from West Kalimantan, the part of Borneo belonging to Indonesia. It is a pure freshwater species that lives in very soft, acidic water. The peaceful fish become only 3-4 cm long and is a schooling species. Their care is not difficult, however, Gymnochanda, like most glass-perches, accept only live and  frozen food, the latter only after habituation. It is best to feed such small treasures with live Artemia nauplii.

Only the males have enlarged and red colored fins. Glass-perches often spawn in the aquarium, they are plant-spawners without brood-care. The raising of the tiny young, who often only accept certain food organisms, is, however, a very high school of aquaristics.

For our customers: the animals have code 419622 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Brachyplatystoma capapretum

16. August 2023

The genus Brachyplatystoma is called “Goliath Catfishes” in English, because some of its species belong to the largest freshwater fishes at all: up to 3.6 m length are given in literature! In South America they are ubiquitous and important food fish, of which more than 30,000 tons are consumed annually. Nevertheless, distinguishing the species is almost impossible in some cases, and the species we present here was even scientifically recorded and named only in 2005! In fact, there is no one in the entire world who could confidently distinguish Brachyplatystoma capapretum and B. filamentosum from live specimens or photographs. The difference lies in the dentition. Since both species can occur in the same habitat, also the knowledge of the origin is of no use for identification attempts. The specimens shown here are from Colombia. Our decision in favor of B. capapretum in the present case is based on the upper jaw dentition, which seems to us more similar to B. capapretum than to B. filamentosum. But of course we cannot be really sure either. The relatively small spots on the body speak rather for B. filamentosum, in B. capapretum they are often larger. But since very small juveniles (up to about 3 cm body length) of both species have no spots at all, this characteristic is very unreliable.

No matter which species it is exactly: both become huge! So they are only suitable for really large aquariums and zoological gardens. Although the maximum length of B. capapretum is stated to be “only” 120 cm (that of B. filamentosum three times as long), this is probably based simply on the fact that before 2005 all large goliath catfishes were assigned to B. filamentosum. Due to massive (and threatening!) fishing pressure, even specimens of B. filamentosum over 120 cm long have been downright rarities in the wild since the 1990s.

The extremely long maxillary barbels of our fish are tremendously impressive, reaching a good 13-14 cm in length at about 7-8 cm body length (about 9-10 cm with caudal fin without caudal fin filament). What these long barbels are for is unknown. In any case they are very sensitive to touch and it seems important to us to point out to interested people that you should offer these animals aquariums with as large a surface area as possible (length and depth, the height is not so essential) without significant furnishings. However, a sandy bottom is vital, otherwise sooner or later bacterial infections will set in on the belly of the fish. The aquarium should be only dimly lit, if necessary this can be achieved by a floating plant cover. Brachyplatystoma are fish eaters from an early age. After acclimation they will accept almost any coarse frozen food in the aquarium, but for the beginning well kept, healthy (!) food fish are the best choice. Among themselves our animals are peaceful.

For our customers: the animals have code 211052 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply only wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Carassius auratus Shubunkin multicolored 4-6 cm

14. August 2023

The juveniles of all goldfish breeds are wild colored up to a length of about 4 cm, i.e. gray-green with a brass sheen. That is why there are never very small goldfish in the trade. The first juveniles from this spring have now colored up and are available, a very good opportunity for those who may even have breeding thoughts themselves; because only if you start with small juveniles, you as a breeder have full control over the optimal conditions according to your own philosophy.

The pictures show our Shubunkin youngsters currently in the stock. More information about Shubunkins can be found here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/shubunkin-2/

For our customers: the photographed animals have code 811001 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Wallaciia compressiceps (= Crenicichla c.).

11. August 2023

The dwarf spezies among the pike cichlids have recently been separated as an independent genus Wallaciia (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/the-crenicichla-have-been-reclassified/). They include W. compressiceps, which occurs only in the Tocantins and Araguaia rivers in Brazil. It is one of the smallest, the prettiest and the most aggressive pike cichlid species. Although it only grows to a maximum length of 10 cm, females always remain smaller, the animals should be provided with at least a 120 cm aquarium. Otherwise they can attack each other like small, biting terriers.

The males can be distinguished from the females already from the relatively small size of 4-6 cm by the clearly denser and more intensive striation of the softly rayed parts of the anal and dorsal fin as well as the caudal fin. In the latter, the stripes are either indistinct or even absent. In addition, males have a red stripe in the dorsal fin that is absent in females; however, this stripe is only seen when the animal spreads the dorsal fin.

If you can meet the space requirements of the little ruffians, you should definitely take care of them once. They are beautiful and relatively easy to breed. To do this, let pairs find each other from a group of animals. Like all pike cichlids they are cave breeders with parent family. The requirements for the water composition are easy to meet, they need a pH in the neutral or slightly acidic range, so they are by no means black water inhabitants! The water temperature should be between 26 and 28°C. Dry food is rejected by the fish, but any kind of frozen and live food is accepted.

For our customers: the fish have code 669202 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Hyphessobrycon haraldschultzi

11. August 2023

After a long time we could finally import some of the beautiful Hyphessobrycon haraldschultzi from the Rio Araguaia in Brazil. The animals are clearly slimmer than serpa tetras (H. eques, “serpae”, “minor” etc.). The coloration is more reminiscent of H. amandae, because the red is – unlike serpa tetras – not a rich blood red but a beautiful crystal red.

More about this beautiful fish you can find here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/hyphessobrycon_haraldschultzi_spec_araguaia__en/

For our customers: the animals have code 260402 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Boulengerella maculata

9. August 2023

The elegant predatory tetras of the genus Boulengerella are divided into 5 species: B. cuvieri, B. lateristriga, B. lucius, B. maculata and B. xyrekes. They are widely distributed in the major river systems of Amazon and Orinoco. Distinguishing the species is not easy, especially with juveniles. 

We just received from Peru pretty 10-12 cm long juveniles of B. maculata. This species is very widespread (Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and Venezuela). The mottling is much coarser in juveniles than in adult specimens (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/boulengerella_maculata_en/). B. maculata reaches a total length of about 30 -35 cm and should be kept in groups, thus needs sufficiently large aquariums.

For our customers: the animals have code 210703 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Apistogramma allpahuayo (2)

7. August 2023

From Peru a beautiful dwarf cichlid regularly comes to us, which is called “Apistogramma juruensis” on the exporter´s lists. The animals are very similar to A. cacatuoides and to A. juruensis, but can usually be easily distinguished from both by one coloration feature: a black chin spot, which was decisive for the common trade name in our country: Black Chin. The species was finally described scientifically by Römer et al. in 2012 as Apistogramma allpahuayo. It originates from an area near Iquitos, which belongs to the drainage of the Rio Nanay. For pictures of this form see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/apistogramma-allpahuayo-2/

As said, the black chin spot is normally a very good identification mark of the species. Now we have received a shipment of these animals that shows the chin spot almost not at all. Additionally it is noticeable that in “normal” A. allaphuayo the membranes of the first three dorsal fin rays are black in excited males, in the newcomers only the first two. All in all the differences are only minor, but they show once again that in Apistogramma you always have to expect a certain range with regard to pattern characteristics.

For our customers: the animals have code 622723 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Hemigrammus falsus

5. August 2023

Head-and-Tail light tetras were introduced to Germany as early as 1910 and were also bred soon after. They soon belonged to the iron stock of ornamental fish. These first head-and-taillight tetras were identified as Hemigrammus ocellifer. In 1958 Hermann Meinken noticed that the head-and-taillight tetra in the hobby does not have a shoulder spot, but the “real” H. ocellifer does. Therefore Meinken described the old known fish without shoulder spot as a new subspecies, which he named H. ocellifer falsus.

Nowadays, it is believed that H. ocellifer and H. falsus are even different species, because they do not mix in nature. Since the “true” H. ocellifer (with shoulder spot) was considered prettier, H. falsus gradually disappeared from the hobby. Nowadays only H. ocellifer is offered. Practically without exception they are offspring. 

The Hemigrammus falsus illustrating this post, however, are wild-caught. They came as so called bycatch from Peru to us

Who would like to compare: an entry to H. ocellifer can be found here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/09-characoids-tetra-relationship/hemigrammus-ocellifer-2/

Also very similar is H. luelingi, for this see here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/09-characoids-tetra-relationship/hemigrammus-luelingi-2/

The animals look especially pretty in aquariums with dark substrate, then the luminous spots on shoulder and tail and the eyes seem to literally glow.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Hemigrammus ocellifer

5. August 2023

Head-and-Tail light tetras were introduced to Germany as early as 1910 and were also bred soon after. They soon belonged to the iron stock of ornamental fish. These first head-and-taillight tetras were identified as Hemigrammus ocellifer. In 1958 Hermann Meinken noticed that the head-and-taillight tetra in the hobby does not have a shoulder spot, but the “real” H. ocellifer does. Therefore Meinken described the old known fish without shoulder spot as a new subspecies, which he named H. ocellifer falsus.

Nowadays, it is believed that H. ocellifer and H. falsus are even different species, because they do not mix in nature. Since the “true” H. ocellifer (with shoulder spot) was considered prettier, H. falsus gradually disappeared from the hobby. Nowadays only H. ocellifer is offered. Practically without exception they are offspring. 

Who would like to compare: an entry to H. falsus can be found here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/09-characoids-tetra-relationship/hemigrammus-falsus-2/

Also very similar is H. luelingi, for this see here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/09-characoids-tetra-relationship/hemigrammus-luelingi-2/

The animals look especially pretty in aquariums with dark substrate, then the luminous spots on shoulder and tail and the eyes seem to literally glow.

For our customers: H. ocellifer has code 259602 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Heroina isonycterina

4. August 2023

It does not always have to be bright colors that make a fish interesting. Rather, it appeals to nature lovers to study the life history of the animals they keep and this often leaves a deeper impression in the long run than the colorful appearance. By cichlid standards Heroina isonyterina is a gray mouse. However, it is exciting that this animal became known to science only very late. First collections were made in Colombia in 1958, then in Ecuador in 1971 and 1981 and in Peru in 1986. In spring 1995 H.-G. Breidohr, I. Kranz, U. Werner and W. Zucker flew to Colombia and searched east and west of Florencia in the drainage of the Rio Caqueta for cichlids. Among others, they caught the then scientifically unnamed H. isonycterina there, were able to bring it back and breed it. This prompted S. Kullander to finally give a formal scientific description of the new genus and species. The genus name is the female form of Heros – another genus of cichlid – and literally means “heroine”, the species name isonycterina means “equinox” and refers to the narrow distribution strip of the species in the far west of the Amazon drainage near the equator, where day and night are known to last 12 hours each.

The species falls quite out of the frame of what one expects of cichlids in South America. On the one hand it reminds a bit the also South American genera Hypselecara and Caquetaia, on the other hand it reminds very clearly to the Central American Cichlasoma relatives. With about 15 cm maximum length (males, females remain smaller) H. isonycterina is not a giant and already well accommodated in a meter tank. They are open breeders with a parental family. Some specimens spawn completely open, e.g. on flat root woods at the bottom, others prefer somewhat protected places under overhangs up to cave-like structures. Males and females differ in color when sexually mature. In females, the unpaired fins are less stippled and a greenish reflective zone develops in the dorsal fin.

We can currently offer offspring of this very rarely commercially available cichlid.

For our customers: the animals have code 682882 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text: Frank Schäfer, photos: Uwe Werner (adults) & Frank Schäfer (juveniles)

Corydoras sp. CW 89/CW 106

4. August 2023

The Rio Vaupés – so the Spanish spelling – or Rio Uaupes – that is the Portuguese one – is a “small” right tributary of the Rio Negro. After all, the “little one” has a length of 1,375 km! It rises in Colombia in the foothills of the Andes and forms the state border with the Brazilian state of Amazonas at a distance of about 150 km downstream from Mitú, where it flows into the Rio Negro about 40 km south of Icana. Aquaristically, it has been known for a long time that many peculiarities occur in the Rio Vaupes. Among them are also four armored catfishes, which however became known only in the last years: CW 89 (long snout, narrow dorsal band), CW91 (round snout to CW 89), CW106 (long snout, wider dorsal band and shorter snout than CW89), CW107 (round snout, wider dorsal band than CW91). They are found in Colombia, about 40 km east of Mitú, at least according to the exporters.

Unfortunately the mentioned distinguishing characteristics are not really constant. The more animals one gets to see, the more intermediate forms become recognizable, as it is known from other Rio Negro Corydoras. Especially the width of the dorsal band varies enormously. That is why we do not distinguish between CW89 and CW106 in the trade.

Now we have received particularly attractive animals, which are clearly more CW 106 because of the very broad dorsal band. Interesting is also the sexual dimorphism, the female is only indistinctly recognizable as a longnose. We are now eagerly waiting for when the first offspring will be offered and how they will look like.

For our customers: the CW 89/CW 106 have code 236105 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Ptychochromis oligacanthus

2. August 2023

Of the cichlids endemic to Madagascar, Ptychochromis oligacanthus is also quite well known aquaristically by name. However, the understanding of what is meant by this species has changed thoroughly only a few years ago (2006). Previously it was believed that the species was widespread and divided into four different colored races. Today these races are considered to be independent species. The actual Ptychochromis oligacanthus is restricted to the northwest of the island and the small offshore island Nosy Be. The isolated black spot on the upper half of the gill cover, which does not exist in any other Ptychochromis species, serves as a species identification mark in adult fish. Only Ptychochromis mainty, described as recently as 2015, is similar in this regard, but in this species the spot is associated with a longitudinal band running across the body.

Like so many species of Madagascar, Ptychochromis oligacanthus must unfortunately be considered endangered (Red List of the IUCN: Endangered), because the relatively numerous populations are not in any generic exchange with each other and can therefore die out very quickly locally due to economic use, stocking with foreign fish, environmental events, etc.. Catching for aquaristics has no influence on natural populations, all specimens in the hobby are offspring anyway.

We have just received small youngsters (about 3 cm) of Ptychochromis oligacanthus as German offspring. The parents (photo from the breeder) grow to 15-20 cm. P. oligacanthus is a robust fish with an aggression potential which should not be underestimated. Therefore it is essential to keep it in large, well-structured aquariums in a group from which pairs can find together. Only species that are hardy, such as various catfish, are suitable as community fish.

For our customers: the animals have code 574161 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos of the juveniles: Frank Schäfer

Poecilia reticulata Guppy Moskow Blue, Green, Black

31. July 2023

Where do the many Guppys that populate the aquariums of the world actually come from? The answer: they come from breeding farms, where these animals are professionally propagated, just like plants in a nursery. The largest breeding centers are located in tropical Asia (Sri Lanka, Singapore/Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam) and Israel. Breeding is carried out under strict veterinary supervision and is scientifically monitored by geneticists. Thus it is possible to offer the beautiful high-bred forms in excellent quality for decades, after it had come in the 1980s by failed breeding methods internationally to a true Guppy crisis.

But where does the name “Moscow Guppys” come from? Are these animals bred there? No, they are not. The name goes back to an article in the now defunct magazine “Aquarien-Magazin” in 1976. At that time Viktor Datskevich reported about the community of guppy breeders in Moscow, which organized an annual exhibition with 50 to 70 guppy aquariums. Two male guppys of the hobby breeder A Gribov were shown, which he exhibited together in a motley mix, contrary to the rules of high breeding. This tank was the crowd puller of the exhibition, which somewhat dismayed the “serious” breeders.

The two fishes pictured to the article were colorful mosaic guppies with triangle tail, basic color gray, the front body heavily reticulated, the hind body (from the base of the dorsal fin) black with green or blue shimmer. And since that time more and more Guppy forms are called “Moskow Guppys”. Originally this was probably done to make clear that they were particularly colorful and attractive Guppys. Later the term was used mainly for guppys with predominantly black body coloration, which had a green or blue iridescent sheen. Today a whole range of different Guppy color varieties are called “Moscow“, which actually do not have much in common with each other.

From Sri Lanka we get at present a whole row of very beautiful Moskows, Guppys of which we show in this post the color varieties black, green and blue.

For our customers:the animals have code 418673 (Black), 418683 (Blue) and 418693 (Green) on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply to wholesalers.

Literature:

Datskewitsch, V. (1976): Hübsche Guppys aus Moskau. Aquarien Magazin 10 (1): 4

Dario dario

28. July 2023

The Dwarf Badis, also called Scarlet, has transformed itself from the highly paid sensation of the year 2000 to the always available classic in aquaristics. It originates from northern India (North Bengal), where it inhabits clear, moderately flowing waters with sandy bottoms and rich underwater plant growth at the foot of the Himalayas.

In terms of care, Dario dario is very undemanding as far as water values (any tap water suitable as drinking water is accepted) and temperature (between 16 and 28°C) are concerned, but it does not eat dry food. Frozen food is accepted without problems, but live food is much preferred by the cute animal, which grows only 2-3 cm long. It is best to keep the little jewels in a group of 10-20 specimens, whereby the gender is irrelevant. This way animals are constantly visible and interact with each other without hurting or seriously mobbing each other. 

Dwarf Badis, unlike the representatives of the genus Badis, do not engage in brood care. In an aquarium that is densely planted and where live food is given, young usually come up all by themselves from time to time to maintain the population.

For our customers: the animals have code 413773 on our stock list. Please note that we supply only wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Hyphessobrycon pyrrhonotus 

28. July 2023

The handsome red-backed bleeding heart tetra of the bleeding heart tetra group (three scientifically known species to date) is the most recently discovered, and was only described by Burgess in 1993. The males having elongated dorsal fins and a very handsome and conspicuous red dorsal, less pronounced also the females. 

A successful breeding has not been reported so far, but wild caught animals, which, as far as we know, come from the Rio Erere, a tributary of the Rio Negro (Brazil), have been regularly offered to us for more than 25 years now. The conspicuous coloring comes however only with attitude in softer, easily sour water and indirect lighting to the full validity, in the dealer tank one can the beauty of these animals unfortunately frequently only guess.

For our customers: the animals have code 261655 on our stock list. Please note that we supply only wholesale.

Text: Peter & Martin Hoffmann, photos: Frank Schäfer

Xiphophorus variatus Highfin Orange

26. July 2023

Compared to the breeding varieties of Xiphophorus maculatus, the “common” Platy, there are only comparatively few breeding forms of the Parrot Platy. This is surprising, because this species is very variable by nature, hence the species name “variatus = the variable”. But perhaps this also makes it more complicated to fix color characteristics in a way that results in a uniform picture. The Xiphophorus variatus Highfin Orange is one of the few color variants that have existed for a long time.

Alpha males, i.e. the bosses in the ring, color themselves particularly attractively. With them the orange basic color is still covered by red, so that “Sunrise” or “Sunset” coloration develops. The high dorsal fin first appeared as a mutation in swordtails (Xiphophorus hellerii) and was transferred to the two Platy species via crossbreeding. Interestingly, female Highfin platies seem to be very fond of especially high-finned males, although there is no use for this trait in their natural instinctive repertoire.

For our customers: the animals have code 442883 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Osphronemus goramy gold and albino

24. July 2023

Labyrinth fishes are among the most important ornamental fishes in the world. Their often bright colors and varied behavior make their care very rewarding. Most species also remain small, only very rarely exceeding the 10 centimeter mark. The exception are the giant gouramis (Osphronemus), of which there are four accepted species. They are not only a bit bigger than the other labyrinths, but they are really big: such an “underwater piggy” measures between 45 and 70 cm when fully grown.

The comparison with our popular carving supplier is not so far out of the air. Like the pig, the giant gourami Osphronemus goramy loves warm, nutrient-rich water, eats like a barn thresher without being particularly picky, and tastes equally delicious boiled or fried. As a labyrinth fish, it can survive in oxygenless water, in which case it uses its auxiliary respiration, making it a prime market fish. O. goramy therefore became an early domesticated animal of man and is now widely distributed throughout South and Southeast Asia. 

Less well known is that there has long been a yellow (xanthoristic) and an albino breeding form. Both are also kept as ornamental fish in ponds in their native countries, because they are so undemanding. In our country they are of course only suitable for large and show aquariums, the water temperature must not drop below 15°C, otherwise there is a risk of disease and death.

At the moment we have some juveniles of both breeding forms in the stock. Among themselves juvenile giant gouramis are quite incompatible. Only after sexual maturity (at 20-25 cm) this changes, from then on they are very friendly with each other. Giant gouramis are bubble nest builders, producing several 10,000 young per brood.  The brood care takes over, as usually with labyrinth fish, the papa. External sex differences are unknown, however it seems that it is the males that get the typical nutcracker face, while the ladies keep a “normal” physiognomy.

For our customers: Albino has code 440915, Gold 440913 on our stock list. Please note that we supply only wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Enneacampus ansorgii

21. July 2023

The beautiful Enneacampus ansorgii is a small (8 – 12 cm) freshwater pipefish and at the same time the species most commonly available for the hobby, especially as it is propagated by commercial breeders. The ground-dwelling pipefish belongs to the short-snouted members of the family. It is native to West Africa and is occasionally offered as a wild catch from Nigeria. The young animals can be fed with Artemia nauplii immediately after release from the paternal brood pouch.

Regarding feeding, all pipefish are very demanding animals and their care cannot be recommended without a reliable live food source. While larger species are very happy to eat live red and white mosquito larvae, these foods are not well suited to the short-snouted E. ansorgii. It is best to give it small crustaceans (cyclops, water fleas, etc.), and freshly hatched Artemia nauplii are also very suitable. If you feed Artemia frequently, you should add some salt to the water (about 1 tablespoon per 10 liters of water), the needles tolerate this very well and the Artemia stay alive longer.

At the moment we have large, adult specimens in the stock as offspring.

For our customers: the fish have code 128513 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Baryancistrus xanthellus L81c Sao Felix

21. July 2023

The great hype surrounding L catfish has long since given way to normal handling of these beautiful and interesting fish. One of the enduringly popular species is Baryancistrus xanthellus, which entered the hobby under L numbers L18, L81 and L177. The species is common and frequent in the Rio Xingu and its tributaries. Nevertheless, it is considered “near threatened” because it is affected by the construction of the Belo Monte dam.

While adult B. xanthellus (these got the number L85) look pretty much the same everywhere, the attractive juveniles, as they mainly come into the trade, differ quite considerably depending on their origin. This explains the different L-numbers: We have now received divergently colored B. xanthellus from the vicinity of Sao Felix, which are thus found in the upper section of the Xingu, a good 400 km upstream from Altamira. Near Altamira are the “normal” localities of L18 and L81. We have named them L81c Sao Felix on our stocklist to indicate the special origin.

All Baryancistrus xanthellus become 15-20 cm long in the aquarium, the maximum length is given with 25 cm. They are extremely food-demanding animals, which also require high water temperatures (28-32°C) and clean water, otherwise they will grow stunted. They are therefore demanding fish, whose care requires a certain effort on the part of the keeper. You should be aware of this before buying such animals.

At the moment we have animals available in three sizes: 4-6 cm, 10-12 cm and 12-15 cm. It is interesting to note that during growth the attractive white-yellow fin seams are greatly reduced, but the dot pattern on the body remains more or less unchanged.

For our customers: the fish have code 2648-L 081C-1 (4-6 cm), 2648-L 081C-4 (10-12 cm) and 2648-L 081C-5 (12-15 cm). Please note that we supply only wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Brachygobius sabanus Vietnam

19. July 2023

From Vietnam we received this very nice bumble bee goby. The identification of bumble bee gobies is still in many cases a very tricky matter and often succeeds only with many question marks. Brachygobius sabanus was originally described from Borneo (Sabah), but our animals originate from Vietnam. However, the figure attached to the first description of B. sabanus agrees very well with our animals. In the scientific literature (Taki et al, 2021), this bumble bee goby from the Indochinese Mekong River is also assigned to the species B. sabanus.

B. sabanus grows to only about 2.5 cm in length and is individually quite variable in coloration. The animals live in pure freshwater and also spawn here. Females ready for spawning are very light in color.

For our customers: the animals have code 407252 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply to wholesalers.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Literature:

Taki, Y., R. Ohtsuka, M. Komoda, Y. Natori, K. Utsugi, K. Shibukawa, T. Oizumi, S. Ottomanski et al. (eds.) (2021): Fishes of the Indochinese Mekong. Nagao Natural Environment Foundation, Tokyo, Japan. i-xii + 1-546.

Dear readers of the English newsletter,

14. July 2023

unfortunately there is a problem on the part of our Internet provider which has not yet been solved: subscribers to the English-language newsletter receive the German version by mail. We are very sorry about this! However, you still have access to the English version. Please click on the button “READ MORE” in the newsletter you receive by mail.  You will then be directed to the corresponding entry on the GERMAN homepage. Now click on the Union Jack (= the flag of the United Kingdom) in the top right window and you will be redirected to the ENGLISH version of the page. 

We sincerely hope that the problem will be solved soon. Stay tuned to us!

The Crenicichla have been reclassified

14. July 2023

With 93 accepted species, the pike cichlids (Crenicichla) are the most species-rich genus of cichlids anywhere. Closely related to Crenicichla are the Teleocichla cichlids. The relationship is so close that the independence of Teleocichla has been doubted several times. In a recent study in which 74 species of the complex could be considered (65 Crenicichla species and all 9 Teleocichla species), different methods were tested to better understand the relationships of the pike cichlids. The result is that strictly speaking only one species remained, namely the type species of the genus Crenicichla (Crenicichla macrophthalma Heckel 1840)!

Crenicichla macrophthalma, type species of the genus Crenicichla, was described already in 1840. The species originates from the Manaus area in Brazil, but is an extreme rarity in the hobby. The strange lateral line pattern makes the fish distinctive.

However, the authors of the study (Varella et al., 2023) consider two groups of pike cichlids to be so closely related to this species that they established subgenera for them. The two subgenera to Crenicichla are Batrachops (9 species, type species Batrachops reticulatus) and Lacustria (34 species, type species Cycla lacustris). This approach is sure to meet with criticism because the concept of subgenus is in itself a paradox. Either the members of a subgenus represent an independent, monophyletic line of development, in which case they can just as well be placed in a full genus, or not, in which case there is no need for a subgenus. Anyway, this is for others to judge.

Crenicichla (Batrachops) reticulata, type species of the subgenus Batrachops. If Batrachops became full genus rank, the species name must be reticulatus (masculinum), in Crenicichla it is femininum, i.e. reticulata.

Most species of the subgenus Crenicichla (Lacustria) are hardly available aquaristically, they come from southern Brazil. The pictures of the type species C. lacustris shown here were taken 17 years ago. At that time the not yet identified fishes were called C. sp. Itapemirim or C. sp. Malaria.

However, the remaining 49 species are so different from Crenicichla in the proper sense that they have been transferred to separate genera: Wallaciia (type species Crenicichla wallacii) with 8 species, Lugubria (type species Crenicichla lugubris) with 16 species, Hemeraia (type species Crenicichla hemera) with 2 species, and Saxatilia (type species Sparus saxatilis) with 23 species. The independence of Teleocichla was confirmed, it includes 9 species, type species is Teleocichla centrarchus.

The dwarf crenicichla were transferred to the newly established genus Wallaciia (No typo, two i’s). Type species is W. wallacii from Guyana (pictures), a species very similar to the aquaristically much better known species W. regani.

Lugubria species are quite popular with owners of large (!) aquariums. The pictures show a population of the type species L. lugubris from the Rio Jutai in Brazil.

The representatives of the new genus Saxatilia belong to the group of forms around S. saxatilis. The pictures show S. edithae, a typical representative of the genus from Paraguay. The two Hemeraia species have not yet appeared alive as far as we know.

The independence of the genus Teleocichla was confirmed. The pictures show the type species T. centrarchus from the Rio Xingu in Brazil.

As experience with breaking up other large collecting genera in the past has shown (e.g. Cichlasoma, Barbus/Puntius, Botia, etc.), some fine-tuning will now certainly take place in the near future and the outliers in the new genera will be subdivided once again.So there is some learning to do for fans of these elegant predatory cichlids if they want to be on top of scientific classification. 

The new names will almost certainly not be adopted by the trade for the time being, because any change of name means a major intervention in the merchandise management systems and is associated with high costs and – what is more important – with a loss of information. Therefore, one will wait a few years to see how the scientific community will accept the proposals of Varella et al. before taking action. 

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Literature:

Varella, H. R., Kullander, S. O., Menezes, N. A., Oliveira, C. and H. López-Fernández (2023): Revision of the generic classification of pike cichlids using an integrative phylogenetic approach (Cichlidae: tribe Geophagini: subtribe Crenicichlina). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society Advance article: 1-43

New generic names for former Puntius

14. July 2023

Up to 120 species of Asian small barbs were formerly assigned to the genus Puntius. It was already clear for decades that Puntius is not a real relationship group, but a collective pot for most different small barb groups. That is why many even preferred the classification of the Asian small barbs with Barbus, just as wrong, but this was to avoid overlooking previously described species in new discoveries.

A revision of Puntius always failed because of the mass of species, especially since alpha systematics within the group is only unsatisfactorily understood. Alpha-systematics means the knowledge about the actually existing species. But then one took heart (more precisely: it was Pethiyagoda et al., 2012) and just started. There was then some back and forth, some newly created genera had to be renamed again, others were further subdivided, but in the meantime one gets along quite well and knows the new genus names Dawkinsia, Desmopuntius, Haludaria, Oliotius, Pethia, Puntigrus, Sahyadria and Striuntius.

Somewhat lost in the corona buzz is the listing of the new genus Waikhomia by Katwate et al. 2020. This new genus includes only two South Indian species, namely W. sayadriensis and W. hira. Both species look very similar to each other. W. hira differs from the aquaristically better known W. sahyadriensis in the arrangement and expression of the spots on the flanks. In W. sahyadriensis these are large, oval and there are also spots in the dorsal region, in W. hira the relatively small, round spots are limited to a kind of band along the middle of the body.

Now a molecular biological treatment of the group was published by Sudasinghe et al., 2023. Here three more genera are established for small barbs from Sri Lanka and from South India, namely Rohanella (type species Puntius titteya), Plesiopuntius (type species Gnathopogon bimaculatus) and Bhava (type species Puntius vittatus). All three genera are monotypic for the time being, i.e. only one species is assigned to each of them.

Most significant aquaristically is Rohanella titteya, the Cherry barb. It is interesting to note that molecular data show no differences among the various known populations of this species, although they are quite distinct in color.

The Redside barb, Plesiopuntius bimaculatus, is very much out of fashion. In the 1950s and 1960s it was a popular aquarium fish. The species exists not only in Sri Lanka, but also in mainland India. Several distinct lineages have been identified molecularly, but this has not (yet) resulted in the split of the species.

The Greenstripe barb, Bhava vittata, was a popular aquarium fish at the same time as the Redside barb, nowadays it is found, if at all, only in the tanks of special barb enthusiasts. The species is widely distributed in Sri Lanka and southern India, and is also found in Bengal. The small common barb occurs opportunistically in numerous types of water.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Literature

Katwate, U., P. Kumkar, R. Raghavan and N. Dahanukar (2020): Taxonomy and systematics of the ‘Maharaja Barbs’ (Teleostei: Cyprinidae), with the description of a new genus and species from the Western Ghats, India. Zootaxa 4803 (no. 3): 544-560.

Pethiyagoda, R., M. Meegaskumbura and K. Maduwage (2012): A synopsis of the South Asian fishes referred to Puntius (Pisces: Cyprinidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters v. 23 (no. 1): 69-95.

Sudasinghe, H. Rüber, L. & M. Meegaskumbura (2023): Molecular phylogeny and systematics of the South Asian freshwater-fish genus Puntius (Teleostei: Cyprinidae). Zoologica Scripta (online): 1-17

Cherax quadricarinatus

12. July 2023

Among the numerous Cherax species Cherax quadricarinatus, also known as Australian red claw crayfish, occupies a special position. It has been propagated as edible crayfish in aquaculture for decades and was therefore one of the very first Cherax species available for aquaristics. 

Cherax quadricarinatus belongs to the largest representatives of its genus, males can reach up to 30 cm in length. Females always remain somewhat smaller. The sexes can be distinguished, as in all Cherax species, by the sexual openings (gonopores) on the walking legs. In females the gonopores are located on the 3rd, in males on the 5th pair of walking legs. This is the best form of sex determination, especially in young animals. In adults it is easier because only males develop the red blisters on the outside of the scissor finger.

Even though Cherax quadricarinatus is one of the largest species: it is also one of the most peaceful. Certainly the selection for keeping in aquaculture has also contributed to the fact that these crayfish – unlike many other crayfish species – are absolutely compatible even with each other and usually do not even damage each other when they are freshly skinned and still butter soft.

In the trade are usually the 3-5 cm long juveniles, which are pretty light blue in color. With age the animals become darker, we also attach two pictures of adult animals to the post, which show how they look then.

For our customers: the animals have code 481401 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Maylandia lombardoi

10. July 2023

Who remembers art class in school? Among the first things you learn are color temperatures, right? According to this, red, yellow and orange are warm colors, while blue, green and purple are cool colors. In Lake Malawi’s rock cichlids, the mbuna, the territory-owning males usually shine in cool colors (usually blue), and the females exhibit warm colors. But there is a well-known exception: Maylandia lombardoi. Here it is just the opposite: males in bright yellow (warm), females blue (cold).

Maylandia lombardoi is only found in a few places in Lake Malawi, which is huge. Originally it comes from the coast of the Mbenji group of islands and from the Nkhomo reef, at Namalenje island there is a probably allochthonous (= originally not native there, displaced) population. This makes the species theoretically vulnerable to overfishing and environmental disasters. However, the former is not to be feared, since the aquaristic demand can be easily and much more cheaply met by captive breeding than by wild catch. We have no control over the latter here.

Maylandia lombardoi was one of the first Malawi cichlids and at that time (in the 1970s) really expensive. Many aquarists had to pay bitter lesson money, if they could buy only one pair. Because territory-owning males of M. lombardoi belong to the most aggressive mbuna at all. Nowadays all this is not so tragic. Large aquariums (from 150 cm edge length) and large groups (not less than 10 specimens, better 20) provide a fair distribution of the beating. The gender composition does not really matter. Suppressed males take on female coloration. However, they always remain recognizable by the large yellow egg spot in the anal fin, which is always missing in females. Dominant females may also develop yellow coloration. Such a troop of colorful mbuna offers a very varied picture and countless observation possibilities to the intraspecific behavior of these magnificent animals, which reach 10-12 cm length. The photographed animals are 4-6 cm long.

For our customers: the fish have code 572502 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Uaru fernandezyepezi

7. July 2023

In the Rio Atabapo in Venezuela, from which Uaru fernandezyepezi originates, it is already some weeks closed season, i.e. no fish may be caught there. The beautiful Uaru fernandezyepezi, which we can offer at the moment, are therefore the last specimens of the current season. 

There was a time when people hardly dared to import Uaru fernandezyepezi. Rio Atabapo is a blackwater river with very low pH (around 4.5) and hardly detectable hardness, therefore very low in bacteria. And it is very warm (28-30°C). Against bacterial contamination (e.g. of the transport water), cooling down (e.g. in the comparatively “cold” Bogota, over which almost all international flights pass) and also against very hard water, Uaru fernandezyepezi is extremely sensitive, at least in the acclimation phase. But fortunately these problems are solved in the meantime and there are very well kept animals of this beautiful cichlid. 

We can offer just two sizes: 12-15 cm, with some animals still showing remnants of the brightly spotted child coloration, and 14-17 cm. As fully adult these animals are considered with about 25 cm. Similar to Discus, with which they are closely related, Uaru are almost schooling fish outside the breeding season, at least they like to swim in a troop with their peers. Adult Uaru are largely vegetarians and prefer to eat soft plants. They are peaceful, almost shy fish, which should not be kept together with rough large cichlids, to which they have nothing to oppose.

For our customers: the animals have code 688405 (12-15 cm) and 688406 (14-17 cm). Please note that we only supply wholesale. Only a few animals available!

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Pterophyllum Blue Angelfish 2023

7. July 2023

Solid blue-green angelfish are apparently the dream of many angelfish breeders. The body base color blue, a mutation, has been known in angelfish since World War 2, but it was very difficult to establish it in large-scale breeding. It was not until the end of the 1990s that this was achieved. Since then, a wide variety of lines have been pursued with Blue Angelfish. 

The pictures in this post show one of the current Blue Angelfish as we receive them from our breeder. The juveniles are still relatively unspectacular, you have to know what will become of them, but the adults are very attractive.

For our customers: the fish have code 693402 (md) on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Platy red Berlin or Salt & Pepper or Calico

4. July 2023

There is truly Babylonian confusion of language among the breeding forms of livebearers. This is unpleasant for everyone involved, but a solution to the problem is not in sight. Bulky descriptions do not look good on the offer lists, not every customer is a specialist and knows the breeder codes, and besides, nobody can tell the breeders how to name their animals. Therefore we try from time to time to bring some clarity into this name jungle.

The Platy (Xiphophorus maculatus) we are looking at today is a not common, but very pretty breeding form. The body is red, scattered all over the body it has black spots. Swordtails (X. hellerii) colored like this are called “Berliners”, that’s why some call the corresponding Platy like this. In contrast to the Berlin swordtails, the black dots of the Platy never degenerate into cancer. Other breeders call black speckled Platy breeding forms Salt & Pepper, others Calico. But behind all three names the same fish is hidden.

For our customers: the animals have code 443553 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Procambarus alleni

3. July 2023

Among the numerous species of North American crayfish, Procambarus alleni, under the name “Blue Florida Lobster”, has for many years been a fixture in the aquarium trade. However, one must know: although breeders prefer to breed with blue specimens and usually only blue animals are sold, this is by no means a species characteristic. There are many different color variations of this crayfish in nature. Blue animals can occur in pretty much all crayfish, including our native Astacus astacus.

In the aquarium Procambarus alleni is an interesting and easy to care for crayfish. It is naturally found east of the St. John’s River throughout the Florida peninsula to south of Levy and Marion counties, all animals in the trade are captive bred from Southeast Asia. It reaches a length around 12 cm, but becomes sexually mature at 4-6 cm in length. When mating, the male throws the female on her back and blocks those of the female with his claws. However, the female ready to mate falls into rigidity anyway and does not resist the threatening looking treatment. The crayfish, as omnivores, also eat small fish and aquarium plants, it is necessary to know that, besides, the species burrows strongly. 

You must not keep such animals – and this applies to all aquarium crayfish – in the garden pond. Especially Procambarus alleni lives amphibious in nature in self-dug burrows and can migrate far over land in wet weather. In the wild, this crayfish can spread a deadly disease to native crayfish. So please show a sense of responsibility and keep such crayfish only in the aquarium for which they are intended.

For our customers: the animals have code 486701 on our stock list. Please note that we supply only wholesale.

Poecilia chica

30. June 2023

Although this small molly had been known since 1939, and studied in aquariums since 1957, its official scientific naming did not occur until 1975. It is the smallest member of the True Mollies (Mollienesia), which are currently a subgenus to Poecilia, but may regain full generic status in the future.

In the wild, the dwarf molly lives in the south of the state of Jalisco, Mexico. Here it has been known only from three smaller, isolated river systems: Rio Cuetzmala (or Cuixmala), Rio Purificacion, and a northern tributary to Rio Cihuatlan (or Chacala). This information is still based on Miller’s 1975 data; no scientific research appears to have been conducted on free-living populations since then. The small range unfortunately makes the species vulnerable to environmental catastrophes.

Today, dwarf mollies are slightly larger than their ancestors that entered the aquarium in the 1950s. We obtain our animals as offspring from Southeast Asia. The alpha male photographed for this post has a total length of just over 4 cm. Wild-caught specimens were no more than 3 cm long. This is a consequence of living well in the aquarium, where predators, hunger, disease and bad weather periods no longer have a significant impact on the fish, quite unlike in nature, where 99.9% of the animals perish before reaching sexual maturity.

Care and breeding of the dwarf mollies are simple and roughly correspond to the guppy. You should always keep several males and females mixed in a group. They are not schooling fish in the true sense, but otherwise the hierarchy can not develop and one misses the fascinating observation that the dominant male – the so-called alpha animal – changes color to an almost black fish in a fraction of a second.

For our customers: the animals have code 280822 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Brycon hilarii

30. June 2023

Every year is the season for a desirable fish for large show aquariums: Salminus maxillosus. And every year after the import of juveniles the question arises: are they really? Because the mostly up to 60 cm (maximum 1 m) long Salminus – they are pure predators, which feed only on other fish – imitate in color a harmless herbivore, the Brycon hilarii. Brycon hilarii also grows quite large, about 40-50 cm. In the shoal of harmless Brycon, Salminus can sneak up close to prey fish. This is called “aggressive mimicry”. So color-wise Salminus and Brycon look very similar.

The first import of such fish this season arrived last week from Colombia. They are all Brycon hilarii. Brycon hilarii is a comparatively peaceful fish, although it certainly cannot resist the “appetizer” of very small fish. But among themselves the animals are very compatible, quite different from the quarrelsome Salminus. 

The correct scientific naming of our Brycon species was somewhat questionable, as a revision of the group appeared in early 2017. According to it, there are four Brycon species with a distinct black band in the caudal fin: B. orthotaenia, B. hilarii, B. whitei and B. polylepis. Of these, only B. whitei and B. polylepis occur in Colombia. Both species look completely different from our imported animals (B. whitei has a dark longitudinal band over the whole body and B. polylepis is much slimmer built than our animals). B. orthotaenia looks very similar to our fishes, but is an endemic of the Sao Francisco. Therefore, for the time being we stick with the name as Brycon hilarii (this species occurs naturally in the Amazon and Paraguay River, but is much farmed as a food fish), even though future research may show that it is a different species.

After all, in order to clarify this question, we raised a few animals years ago. In adult coloration (the photographed animals were about 16-18 cm long at that time and reached this length in 6 months, with an initial length of 4-7 cm) there is no doubt in our mind that it is B. hilairii. In addition, DoNascimiento et al. included the species Brycon hilarii in the updated checklist of freshwater fishes of Colombia published in October 2017; according to them, it occurs there in waters belonging to the drainage of the Amazon.

For our customers: the animals have code 212700 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Literature

DoNascimiento, C., E. E. Herrera-Collazos, G. A. Herrera-R., A. Ortega-Lara, F. A. Villa-Novarro, J. S. U. Oviedo & J. A. Maldonado-Ocampo (2017): Checklist of the freshwater fishes of Colombia: a Darwin Core alternative to the updating problem. ZooKeys No. 708: [1-114] 25-138

Lima, F. C. T. (2017): A revision of the cis-andean species of the genus Brycon Müller & Troschel (Characiformes: Characidae). Zootaxa 4222 (no. 1): 1-189

Corydoras virginiae

28. June 2023

At the moment we have one of the most beautiful corydoras from Peru in our stock, which contributed with the number “C4” more than 25 years ago to create a real corydoras boom.

The species is one of the distinct schooling fishes within the genus Corydoras. In addition, C. virginiae is a very lively species, which brings a lot of movement into the aquarium. The animals look most beautiful when kept in black water on a light, fine sandy bottom. Overall, the species is as beautiful as it is easy to care for. The maximum length is about 6 cm.

For our customers: the animals have code 240604 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply to wholesalers.

Lexicon: Corydoras: from ancient Greek, means “with helmet and lance”, referring to the outer bony armor and the powerful fin spines. virginiae: dedication name for Virginia Schwartz.

Common name: Cory Miguelito 

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Wild Guppy “Rio Morichal”

26. June 2023

The wild guppy from the Rio Morichal in Venezuela is also known as “orange line” among the specialists for wild forms of livebearers. These fish are a very tiny and slender variety of wild guppy, but not an artificial sport. In contrast to other wild populations of the guppy this one is known to be a bit sensitive. One should always take care that the bacterial content of the water column is as low as possible. Orange lines will get very fast very sick if this basic rule is neglected! These little jewels are perfect nano fish for experienced hobbyists.

For our customers: the animals have code 419115 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Coptodon gutturosus

23. June 2023

Cichlids form new species comparatively quickly when placed in geographic isolation. For them, the speciation process often takes only a few decades or centuries, whereas other groups often need millennia. Lake Bermin in Cameroon is a comparatively tiny crater lake with a surface area of only 0.6-0.7 km2. The lake is located in a former volcanic crater, has no inflow but an outflow that drains into the Cross River. There are 9 species of cichlids of the genus Coptodon living in this lake exclusively, all of which can be traced back to a common ancestor. Species differentiation of these Coptodon is extremely tricky, quite obviously the speciation process is not yet complete.

We have now received a number of offspring of cichlids from this lake, which were offered to us as Coptodon gutturosus. The parents of our fish are already offspring. Coptodon gutturosus usually has a deep red breast in its brood care dress, an inheritance from Coptodon guineensis, which is probably the common ancestor of all Coptodon species of Lake Bermin. Our animals are magnificently brassy, with blue, bulging lips and (this is mood dependent) deep black belly ridge. They do not (yet) show the red belly of the parents. Thus they combine characteristics of C. gutturosa, C. snyderae and C. bemini; also C. bakossiorum looks similar. We are very curious to see how this strain will develop further!

None of the mentioned Coptodon species grows larger than 14 cm, C. snyderae becomes reproductive in nature with 2.5 cm length and hardly grows beyond 6 cm, C. bemini reaches the mentioned 14 cm, C. gutturosus and C. bakossiorum stay somewhere in between. So they are small to medium sized cichlids. They see plants as a food component, you have to know that. They are open-breeding cichlids with parental family, which can be compared quite well with more peaceful Cichlasoma relatives (e.g. the Amatitlania species) in their overall behavior.

For our customers: the animals have code 514772 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Chromidotilapia kingsleyae

23. June 2023

The wonderful West African cichlids have been somewhat forgotten in recent decades. In the 1970s and 1980s, on the other hand, they experienced a real boom and a great many new species were discovered at that time because ornamental fish collectors were only too happy to fulfill the aquarists’ desire for previously unseen cichlids. Many species of West African cichlids are magnificently colored. But there are also other, more inconspicuous species, which score for it by an interesting behavior. Chromidotilapia kingsleyae belongs to the latter. 

The modern research of this well-known species – it was already scientifically described in 1891 and is at the same time type species of the genus Chromidotilapia – we owe to traveling aquarists with scientific claim, who set out in the 1990s and collected animals in Gabon with a lot of personal commitment and thus made it possible to distinguish similar Chromidotilapia species from each other. They also brought C. kingsleyae with them and so we now know that this magnificent cichlid is a mouth-brooding species in which both sexes can in principle participate in brood care, but the males are polygamous when they have the opportunity. They then spawn with several females, living as if in a harem. The brood care is then left entirely to the ladies.

We have received a few specimens of this highly interesting cichlid from a German breeder. There are no imports from Gabon. Therefore these animals probably go back to the ancestors collected in the 1990s. Our animals are with 6-8 cm length still young, C. kingsleyae is with maximum 15-18 cm length the largest species of the genus.

For our customers: the fish have code 514653 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Assessment with political explosive power:

22. June 2023

ZZF publishes expert opinion on positive list

Today, the ZZF published its commissioned “Expert Opinion on the Legal Admissibility of the Introduction of a National Positive List for Pets”. The expert opinion, prepared by Prof. Dr. Dr. Tade M. Spranger of the University of Bonn, unequivocally proves that a positive list for pets would be illegal and would violate international law, EU law and the German constitution.

The expert opinion is freely available in German and English on the website tierwohl-statt-heimtierverbot.de.

Prof. Spranger states in his 167-page report that although stricter measures for the protection of animals are permissible in principle, a national positive list would be a violation of international law. Moreover, the introduction of such a list in EU law would be a violation of the free movement of goods, among other things. A positive list also violates fundamental rights such as freedom of occupation and the general right of personality. Such interventions are not compatible with the principle of proportionality.

In view of the currently louder voices on the introduction of positive lists or political developments such as in Spain, the expert opinion is of great importance for the German, European and international pet industry.

More information can be found here:
https://www.zzf.de/positionen/tierwohl-statt-heimtierverbot (in German)

Placidochromis milomo

21. June 2023

Lake Malawi in the heart of Africa is home to an enormous variety of cichlids. Often it is difficult to decide whether in individual cases they are different species or local variants. Extremely popular in aquaristics are the rock cichlids (Mbuna). But also among the non-Mbuna, which in their habitat are not so dependent on the algae growths growing on rocks as a food basis, many fantastically colored and interesting cichlids can be found.

Among the latter is Placidochromis milomo, a bulb-lipped cichlid that once, in the late 1970s, came to our aquariums as a highly prized rarity. At that time, it was still called “Haplochromis sp. Super VC 10.” The Super VC 10 was a popular, very fast small aircraft. The cichlid was so named because it dived at a high speed into deeper water layers when approached by catchers. It was not until 1989 that the species was then officially described as Placidochromis milomo, borrowing the word milomo from the Chichewa word for lips. It refers to the highly hypertrophied lips with fleshy middle lobes of this fish species.

What are these thick lips of the up to 20 cm long animal good for? Scholars argue about that. There is the thesis that the thick lips seal rock crevices into which small fish take refuge. Then the bulge-lipped cichlids could suck out the prey by negative pressure. Other researchers vigorously dispute this, pointing out that biomechanically this would not work at all. Thus there is a second widespread thesis that the thick lips are a kind of shock absorber. This is because the cichlids would keep bumping into rocks at high speed while chasing small fish. And it is a fact that the lips of aquarium fish (even wild-caught) are never as thick as in nature. In the aquarium, by the way, the fish love to dig through the bottom Geophagus-style.

Our P. miolomo are offspring from Asia. Besides their interesting behavior and beautiful coloration, P. milomo have something else to offer: they are among the most peaceful mouthbrooders ever! Even two males get along quite well in the aquarium.

For our customers: the animals have code 530202 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Chitala blanci

19. June 2023

The Asian clown knifefishes with a well-developed dorsal fin were formerly grouped in the genus Notopterus. Currently, the genus Notopterus contains two externally indistinguishable species, N. notopterus and N. synurus, while the high-backed species have been transferred to the genus Chitala.

From the genus Chitala we currently have the very attractive species Chitala blanci in stock. This knifefish, which can grow to about 120 cm in length and is a magnificent species for large aquariums, originates from the Mekong River drainage in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. Chitala blanci prefers to live in strongly flowing sections of water and avoids still water and swamps.

Chitala species are predatory fishes that need to be fed with strong (frozen) food. Of course, small fish are also eaten. The sexes cannot be distinguished externally. Among themselves and towards fish that do not come into question as food, Chitala are peaceful. At breeding time, pairs are found spawning on rocks, roots, etc. and guarding the spawn. 

All Chitala species have auxiliary respiration with which they can get air at the water surface. This allows them to still survive in very low oxygen water, making them sought after market fish in their native country, even though their flesh has many small bones. The meat is scraped around them, pressed through a sieve and made into meatballs.

For our customers: the animals have code 439005 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Bostrychus zonatus

16. June 2023

Bostrychus zonatus is a sleeper goby and becomes about 15 cm long. They are predatory fish, which should therefore only be kept together with species that have at least half the body length of the gobies, larger is safer.

The beautiful animal is widespread in fresh and brackish water in New Guinea and northern Australia. It is therefore a good idea to keep for it together with rainbowfish from this region.

The colouring can change very quickly depending on the mood, excited animals become very rich in contrast. 

These animals demand hard water, in any case the pH-value should be above 8 if possible. Soft soil, many hiding places and a light addition of salt (the latter is not absolutely necessary) increase the well-being of the quarrelsome fish.

For our customers: the fish have code 396503 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Butis gymnopomus

16. June 2023

Sleeper gobies the genus Butis (there are 6 recognized species) belong to the most original members of their kind. They swim around in the aquarium in every imaginable posture, especially often with the belly up, but also upside down or with the snout up. Thereby they imitate a floating piece of wood and are not perceived as a threat by their prey fish. The extremely voracious animals grow to a length of approx. 12 cm. Apart from fish, acclimated specimens also accept frozen food.

They are brackish water fish, which tolerate pure fresh water (but then pay attention to the pH-value, which should not drop below 8!) as well as pure sea water. Because of their salt tolerance, the species are very widespread in the Western Pacific region, being found from East Africa to India and Australia and everywhere in between. Butis gymnopomus (our specimens are from Indonesia) differs externally from the otherwise very similar B. amboinensis, B. butis, B. humeralis and B. melanostigma by the unstriped gill cover below the eye and the absence of a dark spot at the base of the pectoral fins. The rest of the coloration is extremely variable and the fish can change color in a flash.

Males have much longer extended posterior dorsal and anal fins. Although the goby often swims (or drifts) freely in the water, it is substrate oriented. When given the opportunity, it likes to snuggle up to a root or the like. Solid substrate is also used for spawning, such as a rock. The male takes care of the numerous, tiny spawn. The also tiny fry grows up in brackish water or sea; a report about a successful breeding in the aquarium is not known to us. 

For our customers: the animals have code 408012 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Anablepsoides collieri (formerly: Rivulus ornatus)

14. June 2023

This tiny fish from Peru is one of the smallest killifishes. The photographed, sexually mature animals are only about 2 cm long including the caudal fin! As maximum length 3.5 cm are given in the literature. 

Around this small fish jewel there were some ambiguities concerning the scientific naming. At first it was called Rivulus ornatus. Today it is classified in the genus Anablepsoides. In 2021 Huber described the little animal, which has its type locality not far from Iquitos on an island in the Amazon, as Rivulus collieri, the now valid name is Anablepsoides collieri.

As with all Rivulus-like, it is important to cover the aquarium absolutely tightly, otherwise these little animals will sooner or later inevitably end up on the floor. If you want to keep several males together, it is important to put them in at the same time, because they can get quite nasty among themselves.

These tiny fish can live up to 3 years in the aquarium, so they are not short-lived killies, but long-lived ones!

For our customers: the fish have code 343902 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Parasphaerichthys ocellatus

12. June 2023

This extremely rarely imported species originates from Burma. The charming fish attains a length of only 2-3 cm. The species is a close relative of the mouthbrooding chocolate gouramis, but P. ocellatus is a bubblenest builder although the eggs look like the eggs of mouthbrooders.

In the habitats of P. ocellatus appear heavy day-night changes of the water temperature. The species lives in muddy, shallow pools. By day water temperature rises easily up to 25-28°C, while during the night the temperature becomes as low as 15°C. The metabolism of the tiny fish is adopted to that changes. So one should try to imitate them (for example by switching off the heater along with the lamps) otherwise the fish will become very sensitive for various diseases on a long time sight.

For our customers: the fish have code 441233 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Parasphaerichthys: ancient Greek, means “similar to Sphaerichthys”. Sphaerichthys is another genus of fish. ocellatus: means “bears an ocellus”.

Suggestion of a common name: Ocellated dwarf chocolate gourami

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Scleropages jardinii

9. June 2023

The bony tongues (Osteoglossidae) are ancient fish nobility. They bear witness to the time when Africa, India, Australia, Antarctica and South America still formed a coherent continent called Gondwana. It was during this time that the bony tongues evolved. About 150 million years ago, Gondwana broke apart and today’s continents were formed. As if on rafts, the bony tongues drifted apart on the continental floes. Today they exist in South America (2 species Osteoglossum and 5 species Arapaima), in Africa (Heterotis niloticus) and with several species (the exact number is disputed) of the genus Scleropages in Asia and Australia.

The Australian species are colloquially called Saratoga and are traditionally divided into two species – Scleropages jardinii and S. leichardti. They are the least commonly imported of all the arowanas. They seem to retain their seasonal reproduction even in breeding facilities, and so we can generally offer them only a few weeks a year. Wild caught of these species are not in the trade. Now it is once again and we have S. jardinii on offer. The animals are currently 10-12 cm long. An interesting detail on the side: according to our supplier in Singapore he gets his animals from breeding farms in Australia.

Among themselves the young animals are a bit quarrelsome. There are no serious fights, but slightly damaged fins are the order of the day. The species grows to about 60 cm in length. They are predatory fish. Such rarities, which also grow very large, are acquired only by experienced aquarists, zoos and show aquariums with the appropriate aquarium equipment.

For our customers: the animals have code 454902 on our stock list. Please note that we supply only wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Iguanodectes spilurus

9. June 2023

From Colombia we received Iguanodectes spilurus. This brings the number of Iguanodectes species imported by us in recent times to four: the red-striped I. geisleri and I. adujai, the three-striped I. purusii and now the golden-striped I. spilurus. 

The lizard bite tetras (Iguanodectidae) are a peculiar family of South American tetras that got their scientific name from the shape of their teeth, which somewhat resemble the teeth of iguanas (Iguana). The popular adaptation „lizard bite tetras“ is therefore somewhat unfortunate. Lizards (Lacerta) have quite differently shaped teeth. Anyway: there are three genera in the family Iguanodectidae: Bryconops with 28 species, Iguanodectes with 8 species and Piabucus with 3 species. None of these species is imported more frequently, with the exception of the above mentioned Iguanodectes. Our knowledge about these fishes is therefore extremely poor.

At least the breeding of an Iguanodectes species was successful once (Böhm, 1985). Even if Böhm could not observe the spawning itself, the duration of the egg development with more than 10 days is very remarkable and to our knowledge unique among the tetras!

Some of our new imports differ rather strongly regarding coloration from the fish otherwise called I. spilurus in the hobby, which are also included in the import. So nowhere else the curved reddish band below the golden longitudinal band is mentioned, which many of our animals show. Possibly these animals are therefore even members of a scientifically still unknown species! But it could also be the other way around and these animals are the “real” I. spilurus and the other fishes without the reddish additional band belong to an undescribed species. Or is it a gender difference? There is still a lot to explore about the lizard bite tetras!

For our customers: the animals have code 264503 on our stock list. Please note that we supply only wholesale.

Literature:

Böhm, O. (1985): Gelungene Nachzucht des Eidechsensalmlers Iguanodectes spilurus. Tatsachen und Informationen aus der Aquaristik (TI), #69, (März): 12-13.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Apistogramma kullanderi

7. June 2023

The “Giant Apistogramma” caused a flurry of excitement when it was discovered in 2009 during an expedition to the Serra do Cachimbo (Pará, Brazil). The discoverers, J. L. O. Birindelli and M. Sabaj Perez, reported on this great fish in various journals, initially under the name A. sp. “Gigas”. Then in 2014, Varella and Sabaj Perez formally described it as Apistogramma kullanderi.

The breeding coloration of adults is very beautiful and impressive. With a good 8 cm standard length, i.e. without tail fin, A. kullanderi in the male sex is twice as large as the many, many other Apistogramma species usually are, which after all are not called dwarf cichlids without reason. The import of A. kullanderi turned out to be a bumpy affair, because in the same area (upper Rio Curua) there is a second still undescribed Apistogramma species, which does not occur together with A. kullanderi, but looks darn similar when young. When importing young animals one buys the famous (expensive) pig in a poke and the disappointment was regularly big, when the hoped for A. kullanderi turned out to be the gray mice of the second species after a few weeks. 

In the meantime there are well established breeding strains of the “real” A. kullanderi and for the first time we have German offspring available in wholesale. The animals still show only a hint of their later beauty, but we present them here anyway. The photographed pair will grow in our show facility and we hope to be able to provide pictures of adult animals in their full splendor and glory in about half a year.

For our customers: the fish have code 623443 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Atractosteus spatula “Platinum“

5. June 2023

At the moment we can offer several of the precious and rare Platinum animals of the caiman fish. All have the glistening white body ground coloration. Individually different black speckles are present on the currently 12-15 cm long juveniles. 

These rarities are bred in Indonesia. They are intelligent fish, which come in expectation of food immediately to the front glass, if they perceive a human there. More införmation about the gar giant of the freshwater of North America you can find here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/atractosteus-spatula-4/.

For our customers: the animals have code 847003 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Ancistrus sp. L 267 Pozuzo

2. June 2023

The “four-striped Ancistrus” L267 is still a somewhat mysterious species. Even if the first specimen became known already in 1996, this Ancistrus always remained a top rarity in the trade and was not available at all for years. Even the origin remained unknown until now. We get the fish from an exporter in Peru, who runs his station near Pucallpa. Unconfirmed rumors say that the catch area of this very uniquely marked Ancistrus – there is no other known species with such distinct longitudinal stripes – should come from the upper drainage of the Rio Ucayali (Rio Pozuzo near Codo del Pozuzo in the central Peruvian province of the same name).

The basic coloration of L267 is very variable. Both sexes can be very dark brown, orange-brown or silver-gray-blackish in the basic coloration, in addition there is a strong physiological color change. But always a worm pattern in the head area and the characteristic longitudinal stripes are recognizable. Our animals are 9-12 cm in size and sexually differentiated. They will probably still be able to grow a bit, but in terms of size they are obviously in the range of the known “Common Aquarium Ancistrus”. Let’s hope that breeding will be successful soon and then the price will drop to a range that makes this beautiful Ancistrus affordable for many hobbyists.

For our customers: the animals have code 26480-L 267-5 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Microctenopoma fasciolatum

2. June 2023

Unfortunately imports from the Congo are only rarely possible. But now it was once again so far and among other species we have received nice wild catches of the Banded ctenopoma (Microctenopoma fasciolatum, formerly Ctenopoma f.).

The currently imported form – the exact locality is unknown to us – differs quite clearly in color from the animals we could import last in 2020, see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/microctenopoma-fasciolatum-2/ On the linked page you will also find further information about these attractive and interesting labyrinth fish.

For our customers: the animals have code 117002 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Austrolebias nigripinnis

31. May 2023

The Blackfin pearlfish (Austrolebias nigripinnis, formerly Cynolebias n.) is a true classic among killifish. Since its first importation in 1908, this small natural wonder has delighted fish lovers. It is only a maximum of 4.5 cm long (females remain smaller) a typical seasonal fish, which lives in nature only a few weeks. It uses this time continuously to feed, grow, bicker with conspecifics and spawn. For the latter, both partners dive deep into the bottom. The eggs laid there can remain alive in the dried out soil for up to 3 years. Fully developed, the larvae wait for the next rain. Once the puddle is filled, they hatch and the game begins again.

In the aquarium, the little jewels can live a considerably longer life than in nature. A life span of up to one year can be observed in the aquarium, especially if they are kept at room temperature (about 18°C). Higher temperatures shorten the life and increase the susceptibility of these fish to disease. They originate from the south of South America (Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and southern Brazil), but are exclusively traded as offspring. The eggs require special treatment. Without a dry period for the eggs it is not possible to breed this species successfully. 

Important in the care is above all to take into account the enormous food requirements of these animals. Normally one cannot warn enough about the dangers of overfeeding aquarium fish, but here one may feed as often and as heartily as one likes. But above this, water maintenance must not be neglected! In dirty broth killies inevitably fall ill.

The sexes are very different in color; but don’t be fooled by pale males! After a losing fight, previously black fish become very, very pale. Females are also light colored, but have irregular brownish spots all over their bodies, which are always absent even in pale colored males.

For our customers: the fish have code 320502 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Corydoras hastatus

26. May 2023

Now is the season for the southern dwarf cory Corydoras hastatus. We get this cute Corydoras, which grows to about 2-3 cm long, from Paraguay. In contrast to most other Corydoras, C. hastatus is less bottom bound. He swims just as gladly in the free water. Often schools of C. hastatus are mixed with several tetra species that have exactly the same coloration. What this is good for, you can read here: https://www.aqualog.de/blog/die-paraguay-connection/. (sadly available in German only).

For our customers: the animals have code 232004 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Oryzias minutillus

26. May 2023

There are three tiny Oryzias species in the Mekong River basin of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, which only grow to about 16 mm in length when fully grown in the wild; animals kept in aquariums can grow somewhat larger because they live much longer here (2-5x as long, i.e. 2-3 years). These are Oryzias minutillus, O. mekongensis and O. songkhramensis.

We have now once again been able to import Oryzias minutillus from Thailand. These tiny fishes are not very sensitive despite their small size. Their care and breeding is similar to that of the currently so popular Medaka (O. latipes), but the food has to be small and the water temperature should not drop below 18°C. In the aquarium it is advisable to give freshly hatched Artemia nauplii two to three times a week. Otherwise the tiny fishes like to eat finely grated dry food, frozen cyclops, microworms etc.

While taking pictures we noticed that there are also some equally tiny bycatch between our O. minutillus. They have a very different head shape and orange dots at the base of the caudal fin, and some specimens have orange stripes on the upper and lower edges of the caudal fin. The similarity to O. mekongensis, which we have been able to import occasionally in the past, is great, but the males have small hooks on the anal fin. This is the distinguishing feature of O. songkhramensis. So we can announce with some pride to have imported this species now for the first time (at least recognized).

Because of the delicacy of these tiny fishes, sorting them is prohibited. Any handling should be kept to an absolute minimum, because the risk of mechanical injury is simply too great. It is best to catch such miniature fish in nets as large as possible and then scoop them out of the net with a suitable container, avoiding contact with air. This way, injuries to the small fish are almost impossible.

For our customers: the animals have code 340053 on our stock list. Please note that we supply only wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Gasteropelecus sternicla

24. May 2023

The so-called common hatchetfish Gasteropelecus sternicla is found in practically the entire tropical area of South America. In this huge area probably different genetic lines have developed. In any case, it is extremely unlikely that this is not the case. Nevertheless, they look extremely similar everywhere: they are simply success models of evolution!

A recent import from Colombia – we have Gasteropelecus sternicla practically always in our stock, sometimes also as offspring from Indonesia – is interesting because these animals originate from the Rio Magdalena. This river, which is about the size of the Rhine, is quite isolated from other river systems in South America and that is why many of its fish species occur exclusively there; the technical term is: they are endemic there. In fact, a hatchetfish species was also scientifically described from the Rio Magdalena in 1912, namely Thoracocharax magdalenae. Today it is considered a synonym of Gasteropelecus maculatus. Of course we were curious if the G. sternicla from the Rio Magdalena would look different than their cousins from other areas. Wrong! Nevertheless it is interesting to have seen them once…

For our customers: due animals have code 254406 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Pseudolaguvia muricata

22. May 2023

In recent years many highly interesting catfish species ideally suited for aquaristics have been discovered from Asia and imported for aquarists.

The first species of the genus Pseudolaguvia were described already in 1927, but only recently it was recognized that this is a very species-rich genus of dwarf catfishes, which usually grow only about 2-3 cm long. Thus, from 1927 until 2013 only four species were described, since then 21 (!) new species were added!

Typical for Pseudolaguvia is a sucking apparatus on the ventral side. The species live in streams and small rivers, which usually have fine sand as substrate. Here the dwarf catfishes can be found among decaying plant remains (detritus).

Once again we could import Pseudolaguvia muricata from North Bengal in India. These cute animals grow to a length of about 2.5-3 cm and are thus perfectly suited for keeping in small aquariums, especially since they are not very fond of swimming. The aquarium for Pseudolaguvia should have a fine sandy bottom. Additionally, add some dead leaves to the aquarium. They eat all common fish food, as long as it fits into their mouth. Pseudolaguvia are completely peaceful towards conspecifics and alien fish, also plants are not damaged.

There are rather dark, slender fish and somewhat lighter colored, stronger specimens. Perhaps this is a sex difference. Nothing is known about reproduction, but it can be assumed that the little animals attach their eggs, similar to armored catfishes, to plants etc. without further brood care. Care is best at room temperature, the water in their natural habitat is soft and neutral. Especially important are two things: low germ water and low food competition, because the Pseudolaguvia are slow eaters and easily get short.

For our customers. the animals have code 445425 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Lexicon: Pseudolaguvia: means “false Laguvia”: Laguvia is another genus of catfish. muricata: means “spiny like a murex snail”.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Xiphophorus maculatus Platy Mickey Mouse White Red Tail

19. May 2023

A long name for a small fish, but this extremely pretty platy is surely worth to break your tongue for. The base coloration is snow white, the fins are transparent, the eye (the iris) sky blue. The famous “Mickey Mouse” pattern is emblazoned on the caudal peduncle, which is called “moon complete” in the breeder’s language. The vermilion dorsal patch, which in dominant males extends well into the ventral region and may extend to the root of the tail, stands out effectively from this.

Xiphophorus maculatus Platy Mickey Mouse White Red Tail is not a new breed in the actual sense – all mentioned colors are known in the Platy for decades – but in him it succeeded in a particularly beautiful way to combine these different characteristics to a new, purely bred variant.

For our customers: due animals have code 443253 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Sineleotris saccharae

19. May 2023

From the Hong Kong area comes this beautiful, but also delicate goby. The maximum length of the species is about 10 cm. The basic temperature requirements are well known from the White Clouds (Tanichthys albonubes), which occurs in the same region: 16-22°C for normal care, somewhat higher for breeding, short-term up to 28°C are tolerated.

There is still very little experience with Sineleotris saccharae. In our normal fish house aquarium (140 x 60 x 30 cm, L x D x H) with a stock of 25 specimens and a piece of root wood as the only furnishing (no substrate, no plants) the animals show a rather free swimming behavior, comparable to Stigmatogobius sadanundio. Each fish defends a zone of about 5-10 cm around itself against conspecifics. If a conspecific enters this space, it is threatened, with the throat region turning black, and driven away. If he does not want to give way, it can also come to mouth tugging, as one knows it from cichlids. Over a larger distance than 15 cm the opponent is not pursued however, it comes to no damage fights.

In the photo tank the behavior is completely different and more typical for gobies. Here they are bottom oriented and hide behind stones etc.. One specimen has even burrowed into the sand, so there is still a lot to explore about these beautiful fish! Concerning the food they are unproblematic. We feed them live food (red and white mosquito larvae, Tubifex) in the photo tank they also snatched parts of food tablets, which were actually intended for feeding other animals.

For our customers: the animals have code 455223 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Helostoma temmickii

17. May 2023

The kissing gourami (Helostoma temmickii) in its pink breeding form is one of the best known labyrinth fish. It is not actually bred as an ornamental fish, but as a food fish. The species grows up to 30 cm long under suitable (fattening) conditions and is considered delicate. In the nutrient-rich, turbid breeding ponds, the pink-colored animals are much easier to see than the green-gray wild form, which greatly facilitates control, care and fishing.

In the aquarium the fish usually reaches only 15-20 cm in length and is a rather peaceful, but in any case interesting ornamental fish for larger aquariums. The peculiar mouth is covered with numerous teeth, which are used to graze aufwuchs (algae and the small animals they contain). The famous “kissing” of these fish has nothing to do with expressions of affection, but is a form of mouth writhing, a ritualized fighting action widespread among fish.

The sexes are hardly distinguishable in the kissing gourami. The males are slightly less high-backed. Unlike very many other labyrinth fishes, kissing gouramis do not engage in any brood care, but simply release the spawn (many thousands in larger fishes) freely into the water during a labyrinth fish-typical embrace. The eggs have small oil droplets and therefore float on the water surface. In Europe breeding is almost not practiced, it is much easier and ecologically more sensible to import them from Southeast Asia, where breeding of Helostoma has been practiced for centuries.

The care of kissing gouramis is not difficult, any water is accepted, any usual food is eaten, it should only not be too coarse. The water temperature can be between 20 and 30°C. One should always keep several specimens, even if Helostoma temmickii does not need conspecifics for well-being. But it is interesting to watch the “kissing” of these animals and for kissing you have to be at least two…

For our customers: the animals have code 421302 (4-5 cm) and 421305 (7-9 cm) on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Corydoras sp. aff. aeneus Neon Goldstripe Albino

15. May 2023

Albinos occur in all animal species, including humans. Due to a mutation they lack the ability to form black pigments completely or partially. In nature, albinos are extremely rare, because they are too conspicuous and thus quickly become the victim of predators, in human care albinos occur sooner or later in all animal species. Since albinos are felt by many people as particularly desirable, one continues to breed them.

So it happened also with the Corydoras sp. aff. aeneus Neon Goldstripe, which is also known as CW 10 in the hobby. Originally this scientifically still undescribed species comes from Peru. Actually it is closer to C. melanotaenia than C. aeneus, but that need not be of interest here. In the albino form of this fish the ability to form yellow pigment is very pronounced. As a result, the famous neon gold stripe is always clearly visible. By the way of feeding you can control if you rather want them a little bit lighter – say: with whitish – body base color or rather with an orange-yellow body base color. A lot of food containing astaxanthin (e.g. Cyclops) gives orange-yellow coloration, food poor in astaxanthin leads to white fish. Both colorations can be reversed at any time by changing the feed. For the fish themselves this is meaningless.

For our customers: the animals have code 221092 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Cetopsorhamdia molinae

12. May 2023

For the first time we could import this cute dwarf catfish from Peru. In the scientific literature the maximum size is given as 3,6 cm (without caudal fin). It is absolutely incomprehensible, why this attractively striped fish (however, there are numerous individual colour morphs from banded to almost completely black, some animals are also of reddish brown basic coloration) has never appeared aquaristically (at least as far as we know). 

Originally the species was described from the upper Rio Cauca in Colombia, our animals are from Peru (surroundings of Pucallpa), scientific collections exist also from the Rio Tocantins in Brazil. These are completely different river systems, each of these rivers has a high proportion of endemic species (i.e. species that only occur there). It seems more likely then that there is a whole species complex of dwarf catfishes that merely look similar, rather than all of them being the same.

Anyway: this tiny catfish is an absolute enrichment for the aquarium science and we are very proud that we succeeded in such an interesting import.

For our customers: the animals have code 214712 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Crenicichla zebrina

12. May 2023

Crenicichla zebrina is one of the still extremely high-priced fishes, because the finding areas are located far away and it is very costly to transport live fishes healthy and lively from there to the export stations. The wonderful coloration makes the animals nevertheless desirable.

Unfortunately it is hard to tell the sexes of C. zebrina apart and furthermore randomly mated animals rarely get along. Juveniles, on the other hand, are inconspicuous in coloration and still expensive, but quite peaceful among themselves. A troop of young animals is the best chance to get to a breeding pair. 

At the moment we can offer once again adult animals (for pictures see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/first_import_crenicichla_zebrina_arrived_en/ and https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/crenicichla_zebrina_en-2/ and also youngsters (actual photos in this post and https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/crenicichla_zebrina_en/).

For our customers: the animals have code 674051 (5-8 cm) and 674058 (24-28 cm) on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Oryzias latipes “PINK”

10. May 2023

The rice fish of Japan are also called medaka and enjoy a great popularity. They belong to the first foreign ornamental fish ever, which came to Europe. Already in 1887 the first “golden panchax” were imported to Germany. But one cared for the fish at first wrongly. One wanted to do the exotics something good and heated their aquariums on 25-30°C (at that time a technical challenge, because electrical aquarium heaters did not exist yet). So the animals died out in the aquarium. It was not until over 100 years later that a new hype arose around the small cold-water fish in the western world.

When exactly the Medaka was domesticated in Japan is unknown. However, one assumes several hundred years of breeding history. Today, more than 450 breeding variants are distinguished. But you have to be a specialist to recognize them. Among the best known and already in the 19th century imported breeding forms are the golden yellow forms. Among them is also the “Pink”, which we have just received from Taiwan. They are strong, orange colored animals, some of which have silver glittering scales.

The only 3-4 cm long Medaka are perfect fish for mini garden ponds, where they reliably prevent mosquitoes. Of course, you should not put the freshly imported animals into the mini-pond now, but only when it has become permanently warm! In autumn, when the water temperatures drop below 10°C, fish them off and overwinter them indoors. Males are distinguished from females by a larger anal fin and a small gap in the dorsal fin. As with all Oryzias, females carry the spawn around in the form of a cluster under their abdomen for a few hours until they find an egg-laying site they like. The brood care ends with the stripping of the egg cluster.

For our customers: the animals have code 339753 on our stock list. Please note that we supply only wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Platycephalus indicus

8. May 2023

If anything, marine aquarists are familiar with the flatheads of the genus Platycephalus. There are 17 species, P. indicus, which can be easily recognized by its black and white stalked caudal fin, is the best known and most common species. It is found in large parts of the Indo-West Pacific and the Red Sea. The fish has also migrated to the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal.

Platycephalus indicus is thus a marine fish, but juveniles are occasionally caught in freshwater, including the specimens we currently offer, obtained from the lower reaches of the Hooghly River in Bengal. We maintain the animals at a salinity of 5 g salt/liter (seawater has a little over 30 g salt/liter). This is obviously good for them and they eat excellently. However, one must be aware that long-term care is only possible in strong brackish water or seawater. Platycephalus indicus grows to about 100 cm in length, so it is not a small fish, even though the normal average length of the popular food fish is “only” about 50 cm.

Platycephalus indicus are obligate predatory fish. We are glad that they eagerly eat live white mosquito larvae, but in the long run they must be accustomed to eating whole fish. Since P. indicus are not particularly shy, we think that after habituation they will eat well from tweezers. Among themselves the animals are peaceful, they hardly take notice of other fish species. An aquarium for Platycephalus should have as large a bottom area as possible. Sand should be chosen as substrate. Planting is not necessary. The water temperature can be between 18 and 28°C. When keeping them in fresh water you have to pay attention to the pH-value, which should not drop below 8.

We have also made a small film about these fish, which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wksku16nN7g.

For our customers: the animals have code 443702 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Pao palembangensis (= Tetraodon palembangensis)

5. May 2023

Every now and then we can import this incredible freshwater pufferfish in small numbers. It is a very specialized species that only occurs in nature in Sumatra and Borneo, where it inhabits very soft, acidic water. This puffer fish is a purely freshwater species, never frequenting brackish or seawater.

The strangely colored belly is used for food acquisition. Pao palembangensis is a predatory fish that pretends to be dead to hunt. It then hangs around in the most impossible body positions, its marbled belly looking like carrion. If a small fish or shrimp comes to eat from the carrion, the animal itself becomes the prey.

According to unconfirmed rumors, females are less humped than males; in any case, males remain somewhat smaller. Clear external sex differences are absent. Breeding has already been successful, the fish, which becomes about 12-15 cm long, is a cave-breeder.

In literature Pao palembangensis (former: Tetraodon palembangensis) was incomprehensibly confused with the “figure-8 pufferfish”, Dichotomyctere ocellatus (former: Tetraodon biocellatus), a brackish water pufferfish growing about 8 cm long, which is still called “Palembang pufferfish” (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/dichotomyctere-ocellatus-formerly-tetraodon-biocellatus/). For Pao palembangensis, therefore, the colloquial name “Dragon Pufferfish” is becoming more and more common.

For our customers: Pao palembangensis has code 462555 on our stocklist, Dichotomyctere ocellatus code 46250. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Aplocheilus lineatus Wild

5. May 2023

The striped panchax (Aplocheilus lineatus) is the largest of the Aplocheilus species. It reaches a length of up to 10 cm in the aquarium. In nature, such capital specimens are hardly ever found, because wild fish do not grow old enough for this. Accordingly, sexual maturity begins at about 5 cm in length.

Since 1909 A. lineatus live in the aquarium and are bred here. The origin of the fish is South India. There they look – depending on the locality – quite different, while the aquarium strains show a rather uniform outfit. Usually this fish, which is common in nature, is sold as offspring, but just now we can offer some wild catches from the Indian state of Kerala. It is very exciting to study such wild fish in comparison to their domesticated cousins!

For our customers: the animals have code 303623 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer