Many tropical fish keeping enthusiasts regard the Molly (Poecilia sphenops) as one of the most popular aquarium fish, but because of their fast growth rate, birth size, reproduction rate, and brood numbers, they have also become a primary feeder fish in the aquarium hobby. Except for the Endler’s livebearer (Poecilia wingei) and the well known […]

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The Six Banded Distichodus (Distichodus sexfasciatus) is found in Lake Tanganyika, Cameroon, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Six Banded Distichodus (Distichodus sexfasciatus) are a fast moving benthic species that inhabits the lakes and rivers of their range and are often confused as juveniles with the much less common and smaller Long Nosed Distichodus […]

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The Batik Loach (Mesonoemacheilus triangularis aka Nemacheilus triangularis) more commonly known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Zodiac Loach, is found in the Manimala river and the drainages of other river systems on both sides of the Western Ghats mountain range, in the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, India.   It is commonly found […]

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The Blue Phantom Pleco (Hemiancistrus Specie) is a stunning riverine species found only in the northern Rio Orinoco drainage of Venezuela. In their natural environment, Blue Phantom Plecos inhabit moderate to fast flowing rivers and streams with rocky substrates where they feed upon aufwuchs, algae, and small aquatic crustaceans. The Blue Phantom Pleco has an […]

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The Forktail Rainbowfish (Pseudomugil furcatus) also know to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Yellow Rainbow, is a peaceful, shoaling species that is found in a relatively small area in eastern Paupua New Guinea.    Specimens were first collected from Peria Creek, Kwagira River and subsequently recorded in the Musa and Kwagila river basins, which both […]

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The West African Mudskipper (Periophthalmus barbarus) also known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Atlantic Mudskipper, is found throughout the west African coastline as far north as Mauritania, to as far south as Angola including most of the offshore islands in the Indian Ocean and into the western Pacific Ocean to Guam. The West […]

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The Indian Mudskipper (Periophthalmus Septemradiatus) is a brackish water member of the Gobiidae family that is found throughout northern India, Myanmar, Thailand, peninsular and insular Malaysia; and locally near the Ganges delta in India. Not only are Indian Mudskippers able to breathe air through their skin, and the lining of their mouth and throat; they […]

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The Centipede Knife Fish (Steatogenys duidae) also known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Leaf Knifefish or Grass Knifefish, is a nocturnal South American species that is found primarily in the deep water forest pools and creeks of the Amazon River and it’s tributaries throughout Venezuela and Brazil. During the rainy season, Centipede Knife […]

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The Elephantnose Knifefish (Sternarchorhynchus oxyrhynchus) is one of 32 known species of knife fishes in the Sternarchorhynchus genus that is found in the slow moving tropical South American rivers, streams, and tributaries of Venezuela, the Guaianes, and the Amazon River, in Brazil. Elephantnose Knifefish have have poor vision and are a relatively peaceful, largely nocturnal species […]

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The Karnataka Barb (Sahyadria denisonii) is a new variety of Denison barb that has been collected from a new area in the state of Karnataka, India.   Karnataka is south of Kerala, in southern India where the majority of Red Line Sharks, up until recently, have been collected. Although known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts […]

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The Panda Garra (Garra flavatra) or “Panda Loach” is endemic to the Rakhine Yoma/Arakan mountain range in Rakhine state, western Myanmar (Burma) and although incorrectly labeled as a loach; is often sold to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Clown Loach, Panda Loach, Banded Butterfly Loach, or Rainbow Loach. Although the Panda Garra and it’s […]

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The Red Hook (Myloplus rubripinnis) is found throughout Northern South America in the Amazon, Rio Orinoco, and many of the other major river systems.  It has been collected in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela from the densely vegetated slower moving rivers and streams in these regions. In the aquarium trade, Red Hooks […]

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Silver Dollar (Metynnis argenteus) is a generic name that is attributed to a number of tropical species in the Characidae (Serrasalmidae) family that are closely related to the South American Pacu and Piranha. All are popular with tropical fish keeping enthusiasts. This Silver Dollar (Metynnis argenteus), is endemic to the Rio Tapajós drainage, in Brazil […]

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Silver Dollar (Metynnis hypsauchen) is a generic name tagged to a number of tropical species in the Characidae (now Serrasalmidae) family which are closely related to the South American Pacu and Piranha; all of which are popular with tropical fish keeping enthusiasts. The common Silver Dollar (Metynnis hypsauchen) is distributed throughout parts of Brazil, Guyana, […]

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Leopard Bush Fish (Ctenopoma Acutirostre) are also known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as Anabas ocellatus acutirostris, Anabas acuitrostis, Leopard ctenopoma, Spotted Climbing Perch, Spotted Leaf Fish, Spotted Cichlid, and Spotted Ctenoporna. Leopard Bush Fish are endemic to the Congo River basin in Middle Africa and can be found in the densely vegetated streams, rivers, […]

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Astatotilapia Desfontainii is an extremely rare, gravely threatened, and possibly extinct cichlid species that is native to Algeria and Tunisia, in Northern Africa, where it is found in freshwater springs, oasis, and in the canals and ditches of irrigated lands Because of habitat loss partially caused by the irrigation of date palms, Astatotilapia desfontainii had […]

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The Jordan Mouthbrooder (Haplochromis flaviijosephi or Astatotilapia flaviijosephi) is the only haplochromine cichlid whose natural range is not in the continent of Africa.  It is found in rivers, freshwater lakes, and freshwater springs in Israel and Syria, and because of habitat loss, is considered endangered. There are a small number of isolated populations in the […]

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The Convict Cichlid (Archocentrus nigrofasciatus)also known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Zebra cichlid, is found in the lakes, rivers, and streams of Central America, primarily from El Salvador to Guatemala on the Pacific coast, and from Honduras to Guatemala on the Atlantic side. Although Convict cichlids are found in lakes, they prefer living […]

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The Kribensis (Pelvicachromis pulcher) or “Krib” as many tropical fish keeping enthusiasts call them, is endemic to Nigeria and Cameroon, Africa. Kribs are a popular aquarium species that are sold under various names such as; the common krib, red krib, super red krib, rainbow krib, rainbow cichlid, and purple cichlid Although some populations of Kribensis […]

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Burton’s Mouthbrooder (Astatotilapia burtoni) has been found in Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia, and is considered a Victorian cichlid from the middle of Lake Tanganyika, however, it has also been collected from Lake Kivu, which is north of Lake Tanganyika and west of  Lake Victoria. Burton’s Mouthbrooders, synonymous with Haplochromis burtoni, prefer living in the […]

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