The Bushy Nose Plecostomus (Ancistrus sp.), is found in the rivers and floodplain areas of the Amazon River Basin and elsewhere in tropical South America.  Two species (A. centrolepis and A. chagresi) are found in Panama, and three species (A. cryptophthalmus, A. galani and A. formoso) are the only known loricariids that are true troglobites […]

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Rubber Plecostomus (Parancistrus aurantiacus) are also commonly known as Chubby Plecos, Rubber Plecos or Gold Finned Suckermouths. They are a relatively long lived (10 years or more), algae eating, South American suckermouth catfish that are popular with tropical fish keeping enthusiasts who keep them as “housekeepers” for community aquariums. The Rubber Plecostomus is found in […]

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The Angelicus Plecostomus (Pseudoacanthicus angelicus) is a new species or armored catfish found in the rivers and tributaries of South America. The Angelicus Plecostomus’ main body color is jet black with yellow spots covering the entire body including its long flowing caudal fin. Unlike other Plecos that look similar to this species and are sold […]

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The Royal Plecostomus (Panaque nigrolineatus), (L190) is also known as the Royal Panaque, the Broken Line Royal Pleco, or the Royal Black-lined Panaque. Royal Plecos are herbivorous freshwater armored catfish native to Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela where they occur in the Orinoco and Amazon river basins.  These suckermouth armored catfish belong to the Genus Panaque and […]

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Plecostomus (Loricariids), commonly called Plecos, armored catfish or suckermouth catfish comprise several species of freshwater armored catfish belonging to the Loricariidae family. All of these species (well over 680) have hard bony plates that cover their upper bodies. They also have specially adapted sucker mouths which allow them to attach themselves to underwater substrates. Most plecos […]

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  The Black Kuhlii Loach (Pangio sp.) aka “Java Loach” is only one of over 100 species of loaches in the Cobitidae family.   The Java Loach (Pangio oblonga) is also known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Black Kuhli Loach or “unbanded loach“, the Chocolate Kuhli Loach, Cinnamon Loach and Black Khliwaus. The […]

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The Angelicus Botia Loach (Botia angelicus) has recently been reclassified as Botia kubotai, and is known as the Angelicus Loach, the Polka Dot Loach and the Burmese Border Loach. The Angelicus Botia Loach was discovered by collectors in western Thailand along the Myanmar (Burma) boarder in the Ataran River (Kasat River) in the Salween River […]

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The Clown Loach (Botia macracantha) is a peaceful schooling fish native to the inland waters in Indonesia on the islands of  Sumatra and Borneo. In their native habitat, the Clown Loach is found in fast moving streams with water temperature ranges between 77 and 86 °F, a pH between 5.0 and 8.0, and water hardness […]

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Loaches are shy, active scavengers that are frequently kept by tropical fish keeping enthusiasts in community aquariums to help clean up the botton of the tank. They are semi aggressive, easy to keep, generally peaceful, and spend almost all of their time rooting around the bottom of the aquarium looking for tidbits of food. In their […]

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The Buenos Aires Tetra (Hemigrammus caudovittatus) is an active, slender, silver bodied tetra that makes a great addition to any soft water South American community tank. Buenos Aires Tetras have a clear body with a thin blue line through it from the gills to their caudal fin.  The caudal and lower fins have an orange […]

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The Congo Tetra (Phenacogrammus interruptus) is a strikingly beautiful fish considered by most tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the crown jewel of tetras. Congo Tetras are large, peaceful, full bodied fish with shimmering long flowing fins and large iridescent scales. Their base coloration is silver with an orange like glow.  The actual background color of […]

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The Rummynose Tetra (Hemigrammus bleheri) is a South American characin that has been a long established favorite of tropical fish keeping enthusiasts.  The Rummynose Tetra is a peaceful omnivore that make an excellent addition to any tropical community aquarium with other non-aggressive fish. The Rummynose, also known as “firehead tetras“, are found in the upper […]

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Bleeding Heart Tetras (Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma) are peaceful mid-water fish that get their name from the blushing blood red marking near their gills.  They are a school fish native to the upper Amazon River Basin and should be kept in small schools of 6 or more individuals when in an aquarium environment. The dorsal fin of […]

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The Rosy Barb (Puntius conchonius) is one of the larger Barbs that in their natural habitat grow up to 6 inches in length. The male is red and gold with black spots near the rear and at the dorsal fin.  Their colors become bolder during the mating period.  Female Rosy Barbs lack the red coloration […]

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The eye catching Tinfoil Barb (Barbonymus schwanenfeldii) has large, distinct silvery metallic scales, red-tipped fins, a forked tail and grows up to 14″ in length. In nature, Tinfoil Barbs live in the larger, fast flowing rivers of Southeast Asia. Compared to other barbs, the Tinfoil Barb is a hardy, peaceful fish, and in natre is […]

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There are several Pros and Cons of Undergravel Filters used in freshwater and marine aquariums that you need to know about before you purchase one for your tank. Undergravel filters are arguably the most frequently sold filters to beginning tropical fish keeping enthusiasts. They are simply a slotted plastic plate with one or more “lift tubes” […]

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Recent advancements in filtration technology have made tropical fish keeping much easier than most people can ever imagine. The old phrase “Aquariums are too much trouble to keep” for the most part can be put to pasture, and organisms that were once thought impossible to keep in a closed aquarium environment are now being kept […]

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Proper water filtration is essential to successful tropical fish keeping. Your aquarium’s water filtration system is responsible for eliminating toxic compounds and particulate matter from your fish tank. Fish give off waste products in the form of feces, uneaten food, carbon dioxide, etc. and the water in the tank begins to degrade immediately after the […]

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The pros and cons of  acrylic aquariums are very similar to those of all glass aquariums. Acrylic aquariums have become more and more popular with tropical fish keeping enthusiasts. Acrylic tanks are much lighter than glass aquariums and are popular with fish keepers setting up extra large aquariums, especially marine aquariums. Tanks over 180 gallons are frequently constructed […]

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Plastic aquariums are normally available in only small sizes.  Usually from less than ½ gallon to less than 10 gallons. Most plastic tanks are sold in small kits to keep Goldfish or Bettas.  Not many are worth purchasing but a few of them suffice for their intended purpose. Normally the kits contain an undergravel filter, […]

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