African Red Eye Tetra (arnoldichthys spilopterus) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Niger Tetra or Large-Scaled African Characin is found in the Niger and Ogun river systems in Nigeria, Africa. Because of pollution and deforestation, African Red Eye Tetras are scarce in the aquarium hobby and are only found in 10 areas […]

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The Flame Goby (Rhinogobius Zhoui) is a small freshwater species that is also known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Chinese Vermilion Goby, Scarlet Goby, or Zhou’s Scarlet Goby. The Flame Goby is collected from one fast flowing stream that originates from the Lianhua Mountain, Haifeng County, Guangdong Province, in China. In it’s natural […]

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The Hognose Brochus (Brochus Multiradiatus) also known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Armor Moth or Long Finned Brochis is native to the northwestern Amazon Basin in Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.    They are locally collected from tributaries of the Río Lagartococha near the town of Garza-Cocha, in the upper Río Napo system, of […]

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The Fire Ring Danio (Brachydanio kyathit) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Red Fin Danio, Orange Fin Danio, or Ocelot Danio, was discovered in 2006 in Myanmar (Burma) in Southeast Asia. Native to the upper regions of three right bank tributaries of the upper Ayeyarwaddy near Myitkyina, the Hpa-Lap Chaung, Mogaung, and Chindwin […]

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Leopard Catfish (Perrunichthys perruno) also known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as Perruno Catfish or Reticulated Pimelodid are native to Colombia and Venezuela, where they occurs in the Lake Maracaibo basin and Rio Negro system.   It is the only catfish species in the order Siluriformes of the monotypic genus Perrunichthys. Juvenile Leopard Catfish are occasionally […]

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The Cobalt Blue Goby (Stiphodon semoni) considered by many tropical fish keeping enthusiasts to be one of the most colorful freshwater gobies in the genus Stiphodon, is found in West Papua, Indonesia. It range extends from Ambon Island chain, South Molucca Islands, east from western Sumatra across most of Indonesia, Northern Papua New Guinea, and […]

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Severum (Heros efasciatus) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as Green Severum, Red Spotted Severum, Golden Severum, Hero Cichlid, and Banded Cichlid are found throughout the main channel of the Amazon, the rio Solimoes, and rio Xingu in South America. Often confused with Heros severus, (previously known as Cichlasoma severum) Severum are a favorite South […]

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Grindal Worm (enchytraeus Buchholzi) are small white non parasitic worms that are closely related to earthworms and about one third the size of white worms. Smaller than white worms, grindal worms grow to a little over 1/4″ in length and have a nutritional value of about 70% protein and 14% fat, which makes them a valuable […]

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The Pink Tail Chalceus (Chalceus macrolepidetus) is found in highly oxygenated rivers and streams throughout northern South America in Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Pink Tail Chalceus are considered a rare import and because of their large size are not usually kept by tropical fish keeping enthusiasts. Pink Tail Chalceus are long […]

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The Leopard Cactus Pleco L-600/LDA-73 (Pseudocanthicus leopardus) is also known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Redtail Leopard Plecostomus and is found in the rio Branco, a tributary in the rio Negro basin in the Amazonas state of Brazil. The Leopard Cactus Plecos L-600 is one of the sharp, spiked pseudo species that become […]

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The Leopard Cactus Pleco L-114 (Pseudocanthicus leopardus) is also known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Demini Pleco, Redtail Leopard Plecostomus, or Leopard Acanthicus and is found in the rio Demini, a northern tributary in the rio Negro basin in the Amazonas state of Brazil. Leopard Cactus Plecos have also been tentatively identified in […]

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The freshwater Shark Fin Mussel (Hyriopsis bialatus) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Shark Tooth Clam, Sailfin Clam, Pearl Mussel, Shark Tooth Mussel, or Shark Fin Shell is native to Southeast Asia and most frequently found in the sandy river bottoms of Thailand, Cambodia, and the Malay Peninsula. In Thailand, Hyriopsis bialata is aquacultured […]

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The South American Redtail Catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts simply as the “Red Tail Cat“, Cajaro, or Pirarara is native to the Amazon, Essequibo, and Orinoco river basins in South America.   It is collected as juveniles for the aquarium trade from the larger rivers, streams, lakes, and flooded forest throughout Bolivia, […]

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Debauwi Catfish (Pareutropius debauwi) commonly known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as African Glass Catfish, Dwarf Pangasius, or Striped African Glass Catfish are native to the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, and Gabon, Africa. Debauwi Catfish are a small, shy, active, schooling species that are commonly […]

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The Madagascar Rainbow Fish (Bedotia madagascarensis) in found in the clear, flowing streams and waterways on the African island nation of Madagascar north of of Manambalo Creek and the middle and upper Ivoloina River. Madagascar Rainbow Fish are collected from the small streams and lower stretches of rivers that drain into the coastal lagoons and […]

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The Orange Laser Cory (Corydoras aeneus) (CW 010) is a peaceful Peruvian species that is also known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Gold Laser Cory, Orange Stripe Cory, or Peru Orange Stripe Cory. Orange Laser Coryadoras are found in the upper Amazonian rain forests of eastern Peru in the Upper Amazon, Marañón, Ucayali, […]

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Moina (Moina macrocopa) is a common freshwater crustacean generically known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the water flea.   They are found to some degree in all parts of America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and almost every continent on earth. Moina macrocopa are commonly found in stagnant or very slow moving water that contains large amounts […]

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Tubifex Worms (Tubifex tubifex) also known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as Sludge Worms or Sewage Worms are a segmented worm species found in the the bottom sediments of rivers, lakes, sewer lines and discharge outlets worldwide. Of the 16 known species of Tubifex in the genus below,  Tubifex tubifex is the most commercially raised: […]

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Microworms (Panagrellus redivivus) are actually small, round, free living nematodes, that are easy to grow, easy to collect and make a great food for tiny tropical fish and baby fry. Traditionally, newly hatched brine shrimp nauplii have been used almost exclusively by tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the initial food for fry however, they die […]

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Daphnia (Daphnia pulex) is the most common freshwater species known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as Water Fleas, Moina, or Water Bugs. They inhabit almost every slow moving, nutrient rich body of water as plankton in open water lakes, living mainly in the upper portion of the water column near the algae rich surface, or […]

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