MBIPIA LUTEA (Mbipia cf. Lutea) is a beautiful endangered Hap species that may already be extinct in Lake Victoria.    It is endemic to Lake Victoria where it has been collected from the western park of Speke Gulf and also from the Sengerema region, in Tanzania.   Mbipia Lutea are a shallow water species that frequent […]

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The Violet Blushing Shark (Labeo boga) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Violet Shark, Violet-gilled Shark, and Red-gilled Violet Shark is found in Pakistan, India, Nepal, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. The critically endangered Violet Blushing Shark is a peaceful, calm, semi aggressive bottom feeding species that occurs in schools in most of the major […]

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The Paroon Shark (Pangasius sanitwongsei) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Hi-fin tiger shark, Iridescent Shark, Giant Pangasius, Chao Phraya Giant Catfish, Pla Tepa, Emperor ID Shark, Hi-Fin Bull Shark, or Hi-fin Pangasius is native to the lower Mekong river which meanders through China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam and the Chao Phraya […]

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The Iridescent Shark (Pangasius hypophthalmus) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Mystic Shark, Sutchi Catfish, Pangasius Cat, ID Shark, or Striped Catfish is found in large rivers in the Mekong, Maeklong, and Chao Phraya river basins of Southeast Asia. The Iridescent Shark (Pangasius hypophthalmus) is a migratory species (both a spawning and a […]

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The Christmas Fulu (Xystichromis phytophagus) is a beautiful endangered species that is already considered extinct in Lake Victoria however, it is relatively common in Lake Kanyabooli, in the Kenyan Yala Swamp of Africa. In their natural habitat, Christmas Fulu are polygamous maternal mouth brooders that feed primarily on algae and vegetable matter.   Because they are […]

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The most common mistake that many beginning tropical fish keeping enthusiasts make is to stock a new tank with as many fish as possible without first establishing a healthy, stable, ecosystem in the aquarium. This is done through a natural process called the Nitrogen cycle. Nitrogen Cycle: All fish release toxic wastes that in an […]

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Fruit Flies (Drosophila melanogaster) or Vinegar Flies are often bred by tropical fish keeping enthusiasts to feed topwater species like African Butterfly Fish, Archer Fish, Hatdhetfish, Killifish, etc. Although Fruit Flies are sold in specialty pet shops and online for feeding young praying mantis, small spiders, frogs, fish, and a variety of other small insects, […]

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Koi (Cyprinus rubrofuscu) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as Jinli, Nishikigoi, or Brocaded carp are brightly colored variants of the common Amur carp, which is widespread in East Asia from the Amur to the Red River drainages. Koi (Cyprinus rubrofuscu) are native to China, Laos, and Vietnam, and were once considered a subspecies of […]

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Taeniolethrinops praeorbitalis is a peaceful, solitary cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi that is found over sandy substrates in relatively shallow depths of up to 160 feet. Taeniolethrinops praeorbitalis can be distinguished from it’s close relative Taeniolethrinops laticeps, by it’s longer snout and the absence of an oblique dark diagonal line that crosses the upper portion […]

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Green Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon simulans) also known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as False Neon Tetras or Blue Neon Tetras are found in the border areas of the mid to upper Rio Negro drainage in Brazil upstream from the mouth of the Rio Branco, and between the mouth of the Rio Meta and San Fernando […]

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The Head and Tail Light Tetra (Hemigrammus ocellifer) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Beacon Fish originates in South America in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins, parts of Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Peru and Brazil.   Because of its popularity with tropical fish keeping enthusiasts worldwide, they are bred in huge numbers for […]

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The Green Neon (Hemigrammus hyanuary) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the January Tetra or Costello Tetra is found in the Amazon River basin in Brazil and Peru; specifically Lake Hyanuary near Manuas, Brazil. Green Neons are an active shoaling species that are found in the black waters of slow moving rivers, river tributaries […]

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The Giant Raphael Catfish (Megalodoras uranoscopus) also known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Giant Talking Catfish, Mother of Snails Catfish, Megalodoras Catfish, or Ripsaw Catfish, is a native to the Amazon River Basin in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Giant Raphael Catfish (Megalodoras uranoscopus) have been recorded in the Amazon, Essequibo, and […]

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Gill Flukes (Dactylogyrus) and Skin Flukes (Gyrodactylus) are common parasitic flatworms that affect fish, frogs, and turtles.   Despite their names, both Trematoda can be found on the skin and gills of cold water and tropical fish where in small numbers do little harm to healthy fish.   In large numbers, Flukes (Trematoda) are debilitating and often […]

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Neon Tetra Disease (Plistophora hyphessobryconis) is a sporozoan parasite that infects neon tetras, cardinals, rasboras, angelfish, zebrafish, and other similar species. Regardless of what you have heard, there is NO CURE for Neon Tetra Disease. A bacterial disease that infects Neon tetras, cardinals, etc. with almost identical symptoms is often misdiagnosed as Plistophora hyphessobryconis and […]

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Hole In The Head (hexamita) is a protozoan parasitic infection that appears as lesions on the head and flanks of freshwater and marine fish.   The lesions are caused by Hexamita parasites that migrate into the sensory pores on the head of the fish where they cause the surrounding tissue to decay.   Because of the large […]

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The Fish Louse (Argulus spp.) is a branchiuran (crustacean like) parasite related to crabs, shrimp, and lobsters that infest and cause disease in fresh and saltwater fish. There are over 100 different species of Argulus distributed worldwide that infest freshwater and saltwater fish species. Argulus foliaceus, Argulus japonicus, and Argulus coregoni are commonly found in […]

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Velvet Disease (Oodinium pillularis) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as Gold Dust, Coral, or Rust Disease is caused by a protozoan that has a life cycle similar to Ichthyophthiriasis multifiliis (white spot disease).   Velvet is actually a round or pear shaped dinoflagellate that attacks both freshwater and marine tropical fish and can cause death […]

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Ich (Ichthyophthiriasis multifiliis) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as White Spot Disease, is a parasitic ciliate that is arguably the most common ailment of all brackish, freshwater, and marine aquarium species. Ichthyophthiriasis multifiliis is a protozoa that is wide spread in all freshwater fish but appears to be more common in aquarium species that […]

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Anchor Worms (Lernaea spp.) are not actually worms, but crustacean, copepod parasites of the Lernaea species that attach themselves to the skin of freshwater fish and then bury their head into the muscle tissue usually under the fins, scales, gills, and oral cavity. Although Anchor Worms can infect any fish species, most tropical fish keeping […]

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