The Dojo Loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) is also known as the Weather Loach, Oriental weatherfish, Chinese Weatherfish and Pond Loach. These remarkable fish are called Weather Loaches or Weatherfish because of their habit of becoming extremely active when there is a change in the weather, possiblly due to barometric pressure changes. Dojo Loaches are bottom dwelling […]

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The Dario Botia Loach (Botia dario) is found throughout much of the middle to lower Ganges and Brahmaputra river drainages in northern India, Bangladesh and Bhutan.  Botia dario are collected wild from the rolling mountain streams of Bangladesh, situated just south of the Himalayas.  The area is criss-crossed with clear mountain streams that feed three […]

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The Mango Plecostomus (Parancistrus sp. Magnum) comes from Brazil and is known from the Rio Xingu, in the area called Volta Grande do rio Xingu, immediately above Belo Monte falls and below Belo Monte village, and from rio Curuá, rio Iriri, the larger tributary of rio Xingu. The Mango Plecostomus is coveted by most tropical […]

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The Gypsy King Tiger Pleco (Hypancistrus sp.) also called the King Tiger Pleco comes from the lower Rio Xingu and Tocantins in Brazilian South America. The Gypsy King Tiger Pleco is a distinctive L number that is frequently confused by tropical fish keeping enthusiasts with other similarly patterned species (L333, L318, L399, L400 and L401). Young Gypsy […]

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The Gold Royal Plecostomus, is also referred to as the Golden Line Royal Plecostromus, the Goldline Araguaia, or the Platinum Royal Pleco. All Panaque nigrolineatus and their related species, subspecies, and morphs are commonly identified by the name Royal Pleco (L190).   The Gold Royal Plecostomus (L027, L027c) is a large beautiful armored catfish found […]

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The Gold Nugget Plecostomus (Baryancistrus sp.) L-018  is a nocturnal sucker mouth catfish native to the lower Amazon and Xingu Rivers of Brazil and Venezuela.   They have brown to black bodies with light to deep yellow spots all over. Matching light to deep yellow bands outline the dorsal and caudal fins giving the fish a strikingly […]

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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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