The Serpae Tetra (Hyphessobrycon eques) is also commonly referred to as the Blood characin, Bloodtetra, Callistus tetra, Jewel tetra, Red minor tetra and Red serpae tetra by tropical fish keeping enthusiasts.  The term “Blood tetra” is a generalization that is used to describe a wide range of red colored tetras sold by tropical fish shops. […]

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The Gold Longfin Danio (Danio rerio) is member of the Cyprinidae family that is native to the Ganges region of eastern India. They are a popular variety of the Zebra Danio and are found in a variety of habitats from fast moving streams to slow moving, almost stagnant ponds. The Gold Longfin Danio is a […]

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The Emerald Eye Rasbora (Rasbora dorsiocellata) is also called the Green Eyed Rasbora, the Eye-Spot Rasbora, the Ocellated Rasbora, and the Hi-spot Rasbora by tropical fish keeping enthusiasts. The genus Brevibora of cyprinids that this fish belongs to,  is native to Southeast Asia and is restricted to the Malay Peninsula, and the Malay Arhipelago where […]

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The Celestial Pearl Danio (Celestichthys margaritatus) is often incorrectly referred to as the Galaxy Rasbora by tropical fish keeping enthusiasts. Since its discovery in 2006 in a small, high altitude area of Myanmar, east of Lake Inndi, it has become an instant hit with tropical fish keeping enthusiasts throughout the world. Unfortunately, the demand for Celestichthys […]

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The Denison Barb (Sahyadria denisonii) is also known by tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Red Lined Torpedo Barb or the Rose Line Shark. The Denison Barb is a shoaling species that is found in the fast flowing rivers, tributaries, and streams in the state of Kerala and South Karnataka, in Southern India.  The demand […]

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Using Indian almond leaves for blackwater aquariums has been an easy, economical way to create the conditions necessary for keeping many types of sensitive South American tropical fish species. For years, fish importers in southern Florida have been receiving boxes of fish from South American exporters that contained various species of dead leaves. The reason […]

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The Dwarf Rasbora (R. macula) is also referred to by tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Dwarf Spotted Rasbora, Dwarf, Pygmy Rasbora, or the Spotted Rasbora. Dwarf Rasboras are widely distributed in southeast Asia and are found in southern Thailand (from Phunphin in Surathani Province south), Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia (Sumatra and unconfirmed records from […]

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Rasboras the perfect community fish, are a genus of a small group of minnow type fish that belong to the Cyprinidae (carp) family.  They are found in parts of Southeast Asia; Singapore, Sumatra, Malaysia, and South Thailand as well as parts of Africa. Currently the genus Rasbora contains over 83 recognized species which are listed […]

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The Blackline Rasbora (Rasbora borapetensis) is found in Asia’s Mekong, Chao Phraya, and Mae Klong river basins as well as the northern Malay Peninsula. It is a midwater to surface schooling Cyprinid that prefers slow moving water and is collected close to the surface in ponds, ditches, canals and the margins of reservoirs, usually in […]

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The Harlequin Rasbora (Rasbora heteromorpha) is an extremely desirable aquarium fish and no doubt the best known of all the rasboras. Harlequin Rasboras belong to the Cyprinidae family of carps and was originally given the scientific name Rasbora heteromorpha but is now known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as Trigonostigma heteromorpha, or the harlequin fish.  […]

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The Scissortail Rasbora (Rasbora trilineata) is native to the Chao Phraya and lower Mekong river basins in Laos, Thailand and Cambodia and throughout the Malaysia Peninsula.  It is also widely distributed throughout the Greater Sunda Islands of Sumatra and western parts of Borneo including the Malaysian state of Sarawak and Indonesian province of West Kalimantan. […]

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The Turquoise Danio or Kerr’s Danio (Brachydanio kerri), is also known by tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Blue, or Pearl Danio. The Turquoise Danio is native to southwest Thailand where it inhabits clear water, rocky, gravel bottomed forest streams, pools and small rivers. Turquoise Danios have been reported from Koh Yao Noi island, Phang […]

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The Zebra Danio (Danio rerio) or Zebrafish s a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the minnow family (Cyprinidae) of the order Cypriniformesi.  They are popular with tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as well as scientific researchers who frequently use them in genetic experiments. Zebra Danios originated from the Ganges region of eastern India.  They are native […]

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Danios and Minnows are small, peaceful, active schooling fish that are well suited for housing in community aquariums. Most of the Danios and minnows kept in tropical fish aquariums are native to the fast moving fresh water rivers and streams of Southeast Asia, and many species are brightly colored. Danios and minnows are surface feeders […]

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The pros and cons of VHO (Very High Output) aquarium lighting is similar to those of standard fluorescent lighting systems. Very High Output bulbs are a type of fluorescent lighting that produces a much more intense light than standard fluorescent lighting systems. They are similar in appearance to standard fluorescent bulbs in size but require […]

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There are some pros and cons for using standard fluorescent lighting systems over your aquarium that you need to know about before selecting the type of lighting for your tank. The primary role of aquarium lightning is to allow tropical fish keeping enthusiasts the ability to easily watch their fish.  But more importantly, it also […]

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Aquarium lighting is necessary for maintaining fish health and illuminating all types of tropical fish keeping aquariums. Some types of marine reef aquariums or densely planted freshwater aquariums need specialized lighting to support the photosynthetic life forms that are housed in the tank. Densely planted freshwater aquariums may also require a more specialized light source […]

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    Choosing the right Aquarium stand is important, and although an aquarium stand is simply a place to locate your tropical fish aquarium,  it is also an integral part of the aquarium system.  In addition to the basic function of the aquarium stand (safely holding the aquarium in place) it can be used to […]

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The common Guppy (Poecilia reticulata), is also known as the millionfish, mosquito fish, or rainbow fish by tropical fish keeping enthusiasts.  They are a highly adaptable species that can survive and even thrive in environments that many other tropical fish species would be unable to tolerate. Although the natural range of Poecilia reticulata is in […]

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Otocinclus Catfish (Otocinclus sp.) are a popular tropical species of algae eating catfish considered by many tropical fish keeping enthusiasts to be the most desired algae cleaner of all time. All Otocinclus spp. species are super efficient algae eaters that are usually purchased by tropical fish keeping enthusiasts to help clean up undesirable algae from […]

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