Among the freshwater snails native to Central Europe, three species play a special role due to their considerable size (4 cm and larger): the ramshorn snail, the great pond snail and the river snail. At least in the case of the latter – the river snail – the specific article “the” river snail is actually […]
The lemon tetra, Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis, is one of the most popular aquarium fish of all and can be found in the standard range of pet shops all over the world. As with so many everyday species, little thought is given to them, but the lemon tetra holds many secrets! Its native habitat was unknown until […]
The two-banded dwarf cichlid, Apistogramma diplotaenia, is one of the dream fish of many Apistogramma lovers. The species originates from the Rio Negro drainage in Brazil. Unfortunately, this fish is also one of the most demanding species of the genus and even minor carelessness – e.g. a missed water change and the resulting increase in […]
Cyprichromis and Paracyprichromis are very special mouthbrooding cichlids from Lake Tanganyika. The animals sometimes live in huge shoals and feed on small animals that they pick out of the free water column. To attract the attention of the females, the males can be very brightly colored. They do not occupy actual territories. The females, on […]
The breeding of certain goldfish is one of the most demanding of all breeding activities – if it is done consciously. This is because characteristics such as coloration, finning, eye and skin changes in goldfish are usually not controlled by a single gene, but by several genes. This also affects the expression, i.e. larger or […]
The lemon tetra, Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis, is one of the most popular aquarium fish of all and can be found in the standard range of pet shops. As with so many everyday species, little thought is given to them, but the lemon tetra holds many secrets! The ancestors of the animals that we can occasionally offer […]
Central America is famous for its numerous karst caves. A particularly interesting fauna has often developed in them. Perhaps the best-known cave fish in Mexico is the blind cave tetra (Astyanax jordani or Anoptichthys jordani, see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fisharchive/blind-cave-tetras/). As with many cavefish, its eyes are severely atrophied. However, there are four underground lakes in the home […]
Of course, this fish is anything but a novelty and has been imported in relatively large numbers for many years. But isn’t it beautiful? This small animal is an ideal companion for the cardinal tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi), with which it also occurs in the wild. Poecilocharax weitzmani grows to 3-4 cm and is relatively widespread […]
The needle catfish (Farlowella) are whimsical representatives of the loricariid catfishes (Loricariidae), reminiscent of sticks. They graze on fine growth with their typical sucking mouth. They are usually common animals in the wild, which is why they attracted the attention of scientists early on. The first species was described in 1853 (F. acus), the last […]
The gudgeon, Gobio gobio, is one of the smallest native fish. It usually grows to 8-12 cm, rarely over 15 cm long. The record is said to be 21 cm, but such giants are as rare as people over 2.20 m long. Because of its small size and pretty colouring (compared to the mostly silvery […]
There are numerous species (approx. 320) of minnow relatives in North America, but only very few species have become aquarium fish to date. In contrast to our native minnow, the Red Shiner (Cyprinella (formerly: Notropis) lutrensis) is a fairly undemanding fish and does not require such low temperatures. Although the species can be kept in […]
In contrast to the larger Central American cichlids of the Cichlasoma relationship, the medium-sized African cichlids of the Tilapia relationship, which are ecologically quite similar to them, have never managed to become widespread in aquariums. The reasons for this lie in the geographical proximity of Africa to Europe. When aquarium keeping became widespread around 1900 […]
The “rainbow shiner” (Hydrophlox chrosomus, formerly Notropis c.) was a sensational fish in the early 2000s. Strangely enough, only very few of the almost 325 species of North and Central American minnows and shiners have ever become established as aquarium fish. The fact that these animals are highly complex from a systematic-taxonomic point of view […]
This nano-fish jewel comes from the south of India (Kerala); the delightful dwarfs grow to a maximum length of 3 cm. They are absolutely peaceful schooling fish that prefer to spawn on the upper side of broad leaves, especially on Ludwigia species. However, they also show an amazing ability to adapt. About 50 years ago, […]
As is well known, the royal farlowellas (Sturisoma and Sturisomatichthys) were reclassified in 2019, resulting in some regrouping. Several species previously classified as Sturisoma now belong to the genus Sturisomatichthys. According to Londoño-Burbano & Reis, 2019, externally recognizable differences between the two genera are the irregular, numerous central ventral plates that are not arranged in […]
The Chinese barb (Barbodes semifasciolatus) was one of the first “exotic” ornamental fish to be kept in aquaria. Under the completely misleading name “Japanese bitterling”, they were introduced and bred as early as 1897 in the then still young aquarium hobby. In the first known article on the species (May 1897 in the “Blättern für […]
Flounders do not belong to the classic aquarium fish; most species live in the sea and become quite large. In the New World, there is the family Achiridae with 35 species in 9 genera, all of which are either euryhalin, i.e. can change freely between fresh and sea water, or live in pure fresh water. […]
Platynematichthys notatus is one of the extremely rare species on the ornamental fish market. There is only one species of the genus, but it is widely distributed in the Amazon and Orinoco river systems (Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela). This fish is usually only caught in the strong current, oxygen-rich areas of the main […]
As is well known, the royal farlowellas (Sturisoma and Sturisomatichthys) were reclassified in 2019, resulting in a number of regroupings. Several species previously classified as Sturisoma now belong to the genus Sturisomatichthys. According to Londoño-Burbano & Reis, 2019, externally recognizable differences between the two genera are the irregular, numerous central ventral plates that are not […]
There are only two species in the global ornamental fish trade that have been traded in large numbers for decades collected from the wild: the Cardinal tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) and the Clown loach (Chromobotia macracanthus). Due to the great economic importance of these animals, the populations are monitored very closely and there are strict laws […]
The snakeskin gourami (Trichogaster pectoralis) is the largest and most peaceful species of gourami. The animals can become 20-25 cm long and are therefore in their homeland Southeast Asia also estimated food fish. However, we prefer to enjoy their calm nature and beautiful coloration. For years there has been a dispute about the correct genus […]
The flag cichlids (Mesonauta) are beautiful and peaceful, medium-sized cichlids that reach a length of 12-15 cm. In the wild they usually live together with angelfish (Pterophyllum), which they also resemble in terms of behavior and general requirements in the aquarium. As with the angelfish, the sexes are indistinguishable in younger animals. In older specimens, […]
The gobies (Gobiidae) are probably one of the most species-rich families of fish with over 2,000 species (currently accepted: around 1,500 species). Many gobies live in the sea, but gobies are often the most common fish in the freshwater of oceanic islands. In these cases, they are usually species that live as adult fish in […]
Badis singenensis ( = sp. Buxar) A beautiful, small chameleon fish (Badis) originates from the north of India, which has a reduced swim bladder as a special feature within the genus. As a result, it is very bottom-bound and moves around somewhat hopping. The maximum length of this species is approx. 4-5 cm including the […]
The genus Tetragonopterus used to be the catch-all for all smaller tetra species, which are now found in the genera Hemigrammus, Hyphessobrycon or Moenkhausia, for example. The English term “tetra” for all tetras, an abbreviation of Tetragonopterus, has survived. Nowadays there are only 14 species of Tetragonopterus, of which only T. argenteus can be considered […]
Cichlids are referred to as dwarf cichlids if their total length – including the caudal fin – does not exceed 10 cm. As many cichlids grow considerably larger and then also have corresponding space requirements in terms of housing, dwarf cichlids are particularly popular in the aquarium hobby. All pike cichlids of the genus Wallaciia […]
Unfortunately, the “Giant Otos” of the genus Oxyropsis are rarely offered for sale. Three species are currently scientifically accepted, O. carinata and O. wrightiana, which inhabit the upper and middle Amazon basin, and O. acutirostris from the upper Orinoco and Rio Negro basin. Oxyropsis can be distinguished from the similar species of the genus Hypoptopoma […]
A new loach genus was only established in 2024, namely Kapuasia. The only species assigned to Kapuasia was K. maculiceps from the great Kapuas River on Borneo. Originally, K. maculiceps was assigned to the large collective genus Nemacheilus. As far as we know, K. maculiceps has not yet appeared aquaristically. Shortly after the genus Kapuasia […]
The correct naming of piranha species is one of the most difficult chapters in fish systematics. Even the scientists specializing in this group of fish are by no means in agreement. And so we often have little choice but to identify a newly imported piranha according to the few external characteristics that are generally recognized, […]
We have already reported twice on the South American lungfish (Lepidosiren paradoxus), on juveniles here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/02-living-fossils/lepidosiren-paradoxus-4/ and on the adult here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/29-lungfishes/lepidosiren_paradoxus_en/; in both posts you will find further information. This species, which is widespread throughout South America, is a real rarity in the trade. We have just received some medium-sized specimens (8-10 cm and […]
According to current knowledge, the genus Indostomus comprises three species: I. paradoxus from Burma (see: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/20-sticklebacks/indostomus-paradoxus-4/) with largely colorless fins, I. crocodilus from southern Thailand and I. spinosus from the Mekong catchment in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. The latter two species have distinct bands in the fins, especially in the dorsal fin. While I. crocodilus […]
The Green Puffers have been recently splitted from the catch-all genus Tetraodon and placed in a genus on their own, namely Dichotomyctere. Usually three diffenent species can be found in the trade: the Palembang or Figure-8-Puffer (D. ocellatus, formerly known as Tetraodon biocellatus), the Spotted Green Puffer (D. nigroviridis), and the Real Green Puffer (D. […]
The armored catfish of the Rio Purus in Brazil have an enormous variety of forms, which is really hard to see through. In addition to the already variable coloration, there are also differences in the color pattern at different ages. Almost every attempt at identification leaves doubts, at least for individual animals. It is therefore […]
There are two species of catfish in South America that look confusingly similar: Leiarius marmoratus, which the Indians call “Achara” and Leiarius (formerly: Perrunichthys) perruno. Both species grow to around 60 cm in length and have the same leopard pattern and long, ringed barbels. However, there is an easily recognizable difference: Leiarius marmoratus has 10-11 […]
Again we could import this new species of dwarf bumble-bee goby. This tiny fish becomes only 2 cm long. It cannot be applied to any described species so far. The fish have been collected in Indonesia. In Brachygobius, one very important feature for determination is the question wether the predorsal region is scaled or naked. […]
Occasionally we receive a very unusual glass catfish from Thailand, whose incredibly long barbels immediately catch the eye. This is the species Ompok pinnatus, which was only described in 2003. These fish have little in common with the Ompok we usually import (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/10-catfishes/10e-catfishes-from-asia/ompok_cf_fumidus_en/ and https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/10-catfishes/10e-catfishes-from-asia/ompok_bimaculatus_and_o_pabda_en/), they look more like typical glass catfish (Kryptopterus), which […]
The Croaking Gourami (Trichopsis vittata) is perhaps the most common small fish in South East Asia. It grows to 4 – 6.5 cm long. It can be found almost everywhere, except in strongly flowing waters and in the mountains. Freshly caught, the Croaking Gourami is usually very attractively coloured and shimmers in different shades of […]
With a maximum length of 14 cm, the Tanganyika lampeye fish is the largest lampeye fish at all. It is found exclusively (= endemic) in Lake Tanganyika, where it lives in huge schools along rocky coasts. It is a breathtaking sight when such a shoal, comprising several thousand individuals, comes swimming around a cape like […]
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 large river systems of the Amazon and Orinoco and the Guyanas. Distinguishing the species is not easy, especially with small juveniles. Juveniles of B. cuvieri […]
There are two genera of argus fish or scats, Scatophagus and Selenotoca. Most authors currently only recognize two species in Scatophagus and one in Selenotoca, in Scatophagus the species S. argus and S. tetracanthus and in Selenotoca the species S. multifasciata. However, there are certainly considerably more species, and in Selenotoca there is probably at […]
Most people only know giant gouramis (Osphronemus goramy) from the zoo. There, these somewhat overgrown-looking animals (but that’s the way it should be) – the largest labyrinth fish of all – usually swim peacefully in the company of other large fish from Southeast Asia. However, the juvenile fish not only look completely different, but also […]
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 […]
Brochis robineae (formerly: Corydoras robineae) stands out from the large number of armored catfish species that exist due to its unique tail fin pattern. Only in B. robineae is the caudal fin horizontally striped (in all other species it is colorless or vertically striped). Such a striking caudal fin pattern is also rarely found in […]
The genus Spatuloricaria consists of 13 scientifically described species. The genus has an extremely wide distribution area from the south of South America (Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, southern Brazil) to Panama in the north. It is also found on both slopes of the Andes. 11 of the 13 species were described by 1945, with two new […]
In the majority of cases, the aim of breeding forms is to develop a type that is as uniformly colored and physically developed as possible. In other words: ideally, all animals of a particular breeding line should look the same. This is not the case with the marbled angel and the red-headed marbled angel developed […]
Hyphessobrycon columbianus was described by Zarske & Géry in 2001. According to Weitzman, the fish belongs to the “Rosy Tetra group” (in the broadest sense “ornamental tetra relatives”). The first specimens arrived in Germany in 1995, caught in a tributary of the Rio Acanti, Colombia. All specimens currently on the market are said to be […]
This medium-sized cichlid – males can grow to a maximum length of 12 cm, females always remain 3-5 cm smaller – originally comes from Central America (Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras). It is a real classic among aquarium fish and was at its peak popularity in the 1970s. Although the name “rainbow cichlid” given to them […]
The saddle-snouted Corydoras serratus from the upper Rio Negro region in Brazil is one of the most sought-after armored catfish. Because the saddle-snouted Corydoras, in contrast to the long-snouted and round-snouted former (now assigned to other genera) Corydoras, tend to be solitary fish, they cannot be caught economically in large numbers. This and the fact […]
Neon gobies of the genus Stiphodon are really wonderful aquarium fish. They have an interesting behavior, remain small, are not particularly demanding and the males are often beautifully colored. From an aquarium point of view, they have only one disadvantage: as the larvae develop exclusively in the sea, raising them presents the same difficulties as […]
The paradise fish (Macropodus) can be roughly divided into three groups: the black paradise fish with the described species M. hongkongensis, M. erythropterus, M. lineatus, M. minnanensis, M. oligolepis, M. phongnhaensis, M. spechti, M. tramiensis and M. yeni, the blue-red paradise fish with the described species M. baviensis, M. chinensis, M. filamentosus, M. opercularis and […]
The predatory tetras of the genus Erythrinus should be easy to identify, because from a scientific point of view only two species are accepted: E. erythrinus, which inhabits virtually the entire tropics and parts of the subtropics of South and Central America, and E. kessleri, an endemic (i.e., occurs only there) from the state of […]
A whole range of armored catfish species are exported from Colombia under the fantasy name “Corydoras deckeri”. They all originate from the large Rio Meta system, but more precise information is rarely available. One of the most frequently offered “deckeri” species is Hoplisoma axelrodi. This beautiful armored catfish has been very popular for decades and […]
The “pointed tail” mutation, in which the middle caudal fin rays are elongated, appeared relatively late: the first specimens appeared on the market in the 1980s. It originated in the Southeast Asian large-scale breederies. The characteristic, which first appeared in the Platy (Xiphophorus maculatus), can also be transferred to other Xiphos, but the pointed tail […]
In 2010, we were able to import a new tetra from Brazil via Belem for the first time, which could not be clearly assigned to any scientifically described species. It was provisionally named Hyphessobrycon cf. stegemanni and Phoenix tetra. Today we know that the species originates from the Rio Araguaia. The maximum length is 3-4 […]
From Peru we receive this nice catfish, which can be recognized by its species-typical pattern: A black spot at the base of the dorsal fin, two at the middle base of the caudal fin. The species name also refers to this (trimaculatus = with three spots). The peaceful animal becomes about 10 cm long. Its […]
Of the seven scientifically described species of Astronotus, only two are currently recognized by most ichthyologists, namely A. crassipinnis and A. ocellatus; however, a third, A. zebra, is so distinctly different in color from the others that there is little doubt as to its validity. Now a new name has been established: the Oscar from […]
The piranha species Serrasalmus gibbus comes from the catchment of the Rio Tocantins, it was described from the Rio Araguaia. The animals that we currently have in stock were delivered with the location Guama. The Rio Guama is a 160 km long tributary of the Tocantins in the state of Pará, Brazil. The species is […]
The breeding forms of Xiphophorus species – almost exclusively the species X. hellerii, X. variatus and X. maculatus are involved – are a never-ending story. What is confusing are the very inconsistent names. In X. maculatus it has actually proved useful to include the caudal root and caudal fin pattern in the name, if it […]
In the 1980s, anyone interested in the dwarf cichlids of the genus Apistogramma did not need to know more than 10 species. Today (2025), this genus is the most species-rich cichlid genus of all, with 94 accepted species plus numerous species that have not yet been scientifically recorded. The majority of the newly discovered species […]
The scientific assessment of the various species within the genus Astronotus varies greatly, with most scientists only accepting three species, namely A. crassipinnis, A. ocellatus and A. mikoljii, which was only described in 2022. Others believe that there are many more species and that the genus urgently needs a scientific revision. The species compressus (Peru, […]
Back in 1903 Georg Duncker from the Hamburg Museum described a small species of catfish from the Malay Peninsula under the name of Pseudobagrus ornatus. The description appeared in the same famous paper in which the harlequin barb (Trigonostigma heteromorpha) and the dwarf rasbora (Boraras maculatus) were described. In contrast to the two barbs, which […]
The title of this post is perhaps a little misleading; it is intended to indicate that the species recently scientifically described as Myloplus sauron has been known in the hobby as Myleus schomburgkii for around 100 years. However, M. schomburgkii still exists. Back in 2004, the genus Myloplus was separated from Myleus and M. schomburgkii […]
Marisa cornuarietis, originally from Colombia, is one of the largest freshwater snails kept in the aquarium. Its disk-shaped shell can reach over 5 cm in diameter. This is why the species has been continuously kept in aquariums since the 1930s, although it is only suitable for special aquariums without plants. Sooner or later every aquatic […]
The tiger loaches (Syncrossus) were previously assigned to the genus Botia. There are currently 6 recognized species of these magnificent loaches, which are distinguished by their special pointed heads, but their identification is often uncertain and questionable, as species distinctions are usually based solely on colour characteristics. Unfortunately, these color characteristics are not always constant […]
The humphead cichlids (Steatocranus) are among the most interesting cichlids in Africa. In adaptation to their way of life in nature – they colonize boulder bottoms in the area of rapids – they have reduced their swim bladder and cannot float freely in the water without making swimming movements with their fins. There are eight […]
Yellow or gold coloration is generally widespread in fish and, although the animals affected by the corresponding mutation are very conspicuous and can therefore be easily preyed upon by predators, they also occur from time to time in nature. The goldfish is such a xanthorist (xanthorism is the technical term for this mutation). Among cichlids, […]
If you are looking for a long-lived, extremely robust, pretty and peaceful fish, Agamyxis is the right fish for you. Although these virtually indestructible spiny catfish grow relatively large at up to 15 cm in total length, they are absolutely peaceful and require so little movement due to their well-kept phlegm that they can live […]
The order of scorpionfishes is as well famous as famed. Without scorpionfishes a real bouillabaisse is unthinkable, without lionfishes public aquaria and marine hobbyists would miss a wonderful attraction, but all members of this order have venomous spines and can inflict very painful – in case of the stonefishes even eventually deadly – stings. Scorpionfishes […]
During the private fish expedition “SiluCha 2018”, this Ancistrus, which is ideal for aquariums, was discovered in the drainage of the Rio Iténez. The collectors managed to bring back a few specimens and breed them. In the meantime, this beautifully marked species has even reached the trade, and because there are currently no professional ornamental […]
Polypterus ornatipinnis is the most beautifully colored bichir. This species is native to the Congo and grows to over 60 cm in length. Nowadays, however, almost exclusively offspring from Indonesia are on the market. Despite the impressive size that Polypterus ornatipinnis can theoretically reach, this species was the first that could be bred by hobby […]
This beautifully colored halfbeak comes from the island of Sulawesi (= Celebes), where it is found in the south of the island, in the highlands of Maros. In contrast to the closely related genus Dermogenys, the upper and lower jaws are approximately the same length, hence the genus name. For some species, however, it is […]
The most common “gold tetra” in the trade comes from Colombia and is generally traded under a false name. It can be found in the trade up and down the country for little money under the name Hyphessobrycon eos (sometimes also as Hemigrammus eos). The species Hyphessobrycon eos actually exists, but it is not kept […]
The rainbowfish of the genus Chilatherina are found exclusively in New Guinea. The genus differs from the closely related genus Melanotaenia mainly in its jaw structure. To date, 11 species have been assigned to Chilatherina. One of the peculiarities of some species of this genus is that they change color strongly at an advanced age. […]
This small goby is a free swimming species, in contrast to most of the other gobies. Maximum length is about 4-5 cm. Territorial males become bright yellow and also develope larger fins with dark bands. Females are much paler in coloration and have translucent fins. The species is restrictet to Sulawesi and even on that […]
The triangle cichlids (Uaru) are a small genus of cichlids in terms of the number of species, with only two scientifically accepted species: U. amphiacanthoides from the Amazon basin and upper Orinoco (Brazil and Colombia) and U. fernandezyepezi from the Rio Atabapo (Venezuela). Both species reach a total length of 20-30 cm and are therefore […]
Since the end of the 1980s, a beautifully colored Geophagus from the closer relationship of G. altifrons and G. surinamensis has been known, which differs from almost all other Geophagus species by an orange or red forehead. This characteristic affects both sexes from the onset of sexual maturity, which is the case at around 8-10 […]
We were able to import something quite special for lovers of unusual fish from India: Moringua raitaborua. This “spaghetti eel” grows to a length of 30-40 cm and is only as thick as a pencil. In fact, the representatives of the genus Moringua are not eels of the Anguillidae family, but form a family of […]
The closer relatives of Tatia are quite well known aquaristically, as several species have proven to be easy to keep and breed. The attractive coloration of some species makes up for the fact that these animals are rarely seen during the day. They only leave their hiding places at feeding times. The following applies to […]
This dwarf rasbora – it only reaches a total length of 2-3 cm – is right in line with the current trend. There have always been fashions in aquaristics, just like in any other hobby. Sometimes it’s the characins, then it’s the Malawi cichlids or the discus, the L-catfish or the West African dwarf cichlids. […]
The goby subfamily Sicydiinae currently comprises nine genera with 121 species. They are all current-loving animals that occur in nature mainly in clear streams and feed on growth and small animals. Larval development takes place in the sea. Some neon gobies of the genus Stiphodon are particularly popular, representatives of other genera are rarely found […]
Why do so many L-catfish have a light-colored dot pattern on a black background? From the 3-5 cm long Parotocinclus haroldoi (https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fisharchive/parotocinclus-haroldoi-4/) to the sometimes meter-long Acanthicus adonis (https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/10-catfishes/acanthicus-adonis-2/) the coloration occurs; in between there are tens of species with such coloration, which are in between in size. In the entire realm of other catfish, […]
Only very few of the numerous small barb species in Africa have been able to establish themselves permanently as aquarium fish and only one species is bred so regularly that it is more frequently found in the pet trade. This species is the beautiful Angola barb, Enteromius fasciolatus. A well-known synonym of the species is […]
The systematics of the angelfish (Pterophyllum) is poorly understood. Only three species are generally recognized, namely P. altum, P. leopoldi and P. scalare, but there are undoubtedly many more. The “field-forest-and-meadow” scalar of the aquarium hobby in its countless breeding forms is a hybrid for which it makes no sense to give it a scientific […]
The catfish fauna of Asia is very species-rich and includes several hundred species, but only very few of these are kept in aquaria on a fairly regular basis. The genus Horabagrus is endemic (= only found there) to southern India. There are only two accepted species in this genus, namely H. brachysoma and H. nigricollaris. […]
In 1936, an ornamental fish catcher named C. Basil Jordan discovered blind tetras in a cave in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosi. He managed to catch 100 specimens and bring them to the USA without any losses. This discovery was a sensation, as it was the first blind cavefish belonging to the tetra […]
Recently (December 2023) the genus Sturisoma was revised and on this occasion four new species were described. We have now been able to import Sturisoma from Brazil and according to the identification key of the revision we came to the conclusion that it must be one of the newly described species, namely Sturisoma ghazziae. This […]
The Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid is one of the most popular members of the genus Apistogramma and found in petshops all over the World. Almost exclusively bred specimens of very colourful sports are traded. These do not appear in the wild. However, “the” wild form of A. cacatuoides does not exist at all. Like so many […]
Although in aquaristics the scientific names are usually chosen for communication and only very few species have a really common or international popular name, there seems to be an occasional need for such popular names. However, in the case of the snail Tylomelania marwotoae, which originates from a single lake on Sulawesi – Lake Mahalona, […]
Cichlids identified as Aequidens portalegrensis have been kept and bred in the aquarium since 1913. The German common name was “Streifenbuntbarsch” ( = striped cichlid) because the fish can show numerous vertical stripes in the rear half of the body. As there is a very nice photo by Paul Unger from the 1930s of a […]
The Central American large cichlids of the genus Vieja (synonym: Paratheraps) were, like so many others, previously classified as Cichlasoma. In the 1980s and 1990s, these fish enjoyed relatively great popularity among cichlid enthusiasts who traveled to their Central American habitats and brought back many new findings (and a few little fish). The species Vieja […]
This strikingly beautiful dwarf goby, which is endemic to Lake Matano on Sulawesi (formerly Celebes), was only scientifically described in 1992, although this lake has long been known as the focus of independent evolution and has been the subject of much research. The earliest findings probably date back to 1989, when Arthur Werner and Maurice […]
In 1990, well over 30 years ago, the beautiful orange-fringed loricariid catfish L76 was introduced in the DATZ. Like L99, which was introduced in 1992 and is currently only seen as a color variant of L76, it originates from the Brazilian state of Pará, more precisely from the Rio do Pará. There are three forms […]
The interesting genus Loricariichthys currently comprises 19 accepted species. The members of the genus can be reliably recognized by the shape of their lips. These lip-brooding catfishes – similar to many other whiptail catfishes, the male carries the clutch of eggs attached to the lower lip until the larvae hatch – do not have any […]
The beautifully marked Corydoras orcesi is only very rarely found in the aquariums of enthusiasts. The species has been described from the Rio Tigre system in Ecuador, originally as a subspecies of C. pastazensis. Both species are similarly colored, but no hybrid forms occur, so that they are in all probability independent species, even if […]
From time to time you have to tidy up the homepage a bit. On one such occasion we came across this nice post from 2007: Botia sp. New Emperor, probably imported for the first time, comes from the border region of Burma/Thailand. It is said to occur there in large numbers every ten years and […]
The Rio Vaupés – the Spanish spelling – or Rio Uaupes – the Portuguese spelling – is a “small” right-bank tributary of the Rio Negro. After all, the “little one” has a length of 1,375 km! It rises in Colombia in the foothills of the Andes and forms the state border with the Brazilian state […]
This cichlid, which only occurs in a narrowly defined area on the middle Rio Negro and was only scientifically described as Nannacara adoketa in 1993, was for a long time one of the absolute dream fish of cichlid enthusiasts. The initially very few imported fish were mostly exported to Japan and insane prices were demanded […]
Of course this beautiful breeding form of the cockatoo dwarf cichlid is not a novelty, but such beautiful specimens, as those, which we just received from a German breeder, are a rarity! For our customers: the animals have code 617803 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers. Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
The pike characins (Acestrorhynchus) belong to the obligatory predatory fish among the tetras. They only eat carnivorous food, preferably fish. There are currently 14 recognized species. The smallest species are barely 10 cm long, the largest 35-40 cm. With an expected final size of 20-30 cm, A. microlepis is one of the medium-sized species. In […]
The Colombian shark is a wanderer between worlds. It spends its childhood in fresh water, adults live in the sea. The nutrient-rich brackish water zones of the estuaries are particularly favorable habitats for specimens that have outgrown their infancy. These catfish, which belong to the Ariidae family of around 150 species, only have their name […]
