Practical Fishkeeping 2018-Весна PDF

Spring 2018 £4.
50
BUYER’S
GUIDE
38
POND EXPLORE THE
PUMPS
TESTED MORICHALES
With Ivan Mikolji
Wonderful PARROT Glorious

Whiptails CICHLIDS Glassfish
The ultimate Is there a place The species you
1
peaceful catfish for hybrid fish? can see through
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What your fish need to be happy
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Welcome
Learn from
the best
CHRIS SERGEANT is a
keen diver, researcher
and regular PFK
contributor. This month
he excites us with his
take on the fascinating
and quirky Sea moths
on page 8.
This month has been busy. Perhaps the 14 Ivan Mikolji shows us his
busiest we have ever been. Visually, we’ve underwater world.
tried to set the bar high, and we sincerely hope
you approve. We think we’re seeing in Spring
GABOR HORVATH is
PFKs product tester with our prettiest PFK to date.
who is used to This month is a real journey. We start you of
improvising and with Chris Sergeant’s take on a wonderful
assessing hardware. He
compares 38 pond marine oddity (p.8). Field explorer Ivan
pumps against each Mikolji carries you through the morichales
other on page 96. (p.14). Steve Baker tells you why you need
Whiptail catfish (p.26), while new contributor Mark Beeston makes
an explosive debut with his wonderful take on Anthias (p.40).
We have community oddities. Neal Monks gives you reasons to love 26 Take a closer look at
Glassfish (p.70), while Bob Mehen shows you how to fill that vacant Whiptails.
ceiling area of your aquarium (p.84). Planning a pond this year? You’ll
want a flick through Gabor Horvath’s comprehensive test of 38 pond
pumps that are currently on the market (p.96).
This month we also see the return of cichlid legend Ad Konings
AD KONINGS is an (p.90). We asked him to write all about one of our favourites –
ichthyologist and living Tropheus duboisi – and he didn’t disappoint.
legend for his extensive We also introduce our Parrot cichlid debate on page 24. Over the
work with cichlids. He
describes Tropheus coming year we’ll be tackling a range of topics in this style, with staf
duboisi for us on page writer Steve Baker and myself taking opposing sides on subjects that
40. will be close to any aquarist’s heart. 40 Mark Beeston gets to
Here’s hoping you enjoy reading this month’s issue as much as we’ve grips with Anthias.
enjoyed compiling it!
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COLIN DUNLOP is a
lifelong hobbyist turned of PFK for
ecologist, with a history
in zoos and the aquatic
trade. He tells us all
just £21* Follow us @PFKmagazine
about his river project

on page 48.
See page 34 Watch us on youtube.com/
user/practicalfishkeeping
www.practicalfishkeeping.co. 5
Sprin Cover image: Jane Gould/Alamy
14
ON THE COVER
14 EXPLORE THE MORICHALES

Ivan Mikolji treks around tropical
South America in search of the
fish-friendly moriche palm tree.
24 PARROT CICHLID DEBATE

Nathan Hill and Steve Baker
discuss the ethical dilemmas
surrounding cross-bred hybrids
and ask the question, is it ever
okay to mess with nature?
26 WONDERFUL WHIPTAILS
A favourite among discerning
suckermouth catfish fans,
Whiptails are diverse in their
looks, lifestyle, diets and
breeding strategies. 40
40 EMBRACE ANTHIAS
Mark Beeston looks at the harem
etiquette of brightly coloured
Anthias, and argues that giving
them space is the secret to
pacifying aggressive males.
70 GLORIOUS GLASSFISH
Transparent, tropical and
perfectly adapted to their natural
habitat, Glassfish deserve a place
in your tank. Neale Monks raises
a glass to this fascinating fish.
76 HOW TO KEEP BOXFISH

They may be cute as babies, but
boxfish can reach 45cm and often 76 26
catch aquarists unawares. Tristan
Lougher explains why having the
right setup is essential.
96 POND PUMPS TESTED

This month’s big buyer’s guide
takes an in-depth look at the best
fountain-only, combo and solid-
handling filter pumps, and ofers
up a few expert tips.
6 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
96 KNOW-HOW
08
8 FLIGHT OF THE SEA MOTH
When you’re named after a
mythical winged horse and have
legs and a beak, you’d better be a
bit special. Chris Sergeant takes a
closer look at this seabed marvel.
48 UP THE RIVER
Colin Dunlop’s incredible new
aquarium takes inspiration from
wild streams. Find out how he
built and ‘scaped it from scratch.
55 FISHKEEPING ANSWERS
Internal parasites, Clown loach
breeding, nano reefs and more.
84 LIFE AT THE TOP

Bob Mehen turns his attention to
the upper layers of his tank and
looks at the species most likely
to occupy the uppermost levels. 48
90 TANGANYIKA’S OLDEST
HAPLOCHROMINE
Tangled networks of caves and
crevices provide one particularly
stunning cichlid with the perfect
territory to thrive. Ad Konings
takes a closer look.
REGULAR FAVOURITES
10 FISHKEEPING NEWS
Changes to fish selling laws and
Snakeheads safe from Euro ban.
23 TANK COMMUNITY
Letters, photos and social media
chatter from the wider PFK world.
104 NEW GEAR

Eheim tank, Waterlife pond salt
and Colombo marine treatments.
84
108 SHOPTOUR
The PFK team visits aquatics
70 shops in Essex and Cambridge.
114 TAILPIECE
Is this the best issue of PFK
ever? Nathan seems pretty sure!
PLUS
38 SUBSCRIBE TO PFK!
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and never miss an issue.
53 NEXT MONTH
Discover the magical world of
killifish and their quirky lives.
90
WWW.PRACTICALFISHKEEPING.CO.UK 7
FASCINATING FISH
Sea Moth
Flight of the
SEA
MOTHS
Named after the mythical
Pegasus, these armoured
walking fish are worth
a closer look.
HE SEA-BEDS of the related to sticklebacks, and can split prefer to stroll rather than swim. The
Indo-Pacific are a far into six distinct species, all within difference, though, is Sea moths
cry from the hustle the family Pegasidae. appear to have legs and know how
and bustle of reef The first thing that strikes you are to use them. Modified pelvic fins,
life. Punctuated with the wings. These are splayed barely more than a fin ray and spine
rocks and pectoral fins, held out horizontally, joined together, allow them to
MAIN: The oddest
fish you’ll see. interspersed with similar to Sea robins or Gurnards. scuttle about the sea bed. Olympic
seagrass beds, Rather than using them to glide sprinters they are not, but this
INSET: Prized as they’re unlikely to capture the above the waves to escape would-be method of perambulation allows
museum oddities. attention of even the most fervent predators, these fins aid balance them to negotiate their habitat with
marine aquascaper. Yet these barren and walking on the sea bed. Males ease and, if they feel threatened, the
andscapes play home to some real aren’t averse to flashing the wings fold back, and the now
ocean oddities and the Pegasus sea coloured fin margins when disturbed. streamlined Sea moth jets off to
moth sits firmly atop that list. To appreciate their walking ability, safer pastures.
While beaks, legs and wings are you need to flip them over and The torso is covered in thick, bony
usually associated with birds, when examine their undercarriage. In the plates. They might look fragile, but
you’re named after the winged- absence of a swim bladder, they this hidden armoury ensures they
CHRIS horse offspring of Medusa, chances
SERGEANT
Chris works in
are you look a bit different to the
average fish.
When you are named after the
conservation
research and
A casual glance gives the
impression of a long-lost seahorse
winged-horse offspring of Medusa,
regularly writes
for aquarium
or pipefish cousin, but sygnathids chances are you look a bit different to
they are not. Instead, they are
the average fish
ALAMY
publications.
Gasterosteiformes, more closely
are well protected. While many fish
shed their scales, or employ cleaners
to rid them of algae and parasites,
Sea moths do things differently.
They moult their armoured exterior
as a whole, shaking themselves free
from it with a leap into the water across one, either while diving or gone wrong,
column. within the trade, chances are you are they are highly
Fast forward to the head end, and looking at the Short dragonfish, sought – but not from
their elongated, beak-like rostrum Eurypegasus draconis, although aquarists alone. Their dried
enables them to suck micro-prey Longtail sea moths, Pegasus volitans, bodies are a regular feature in the
from the surface of the sand. spring up on occasion. Having said Chinese medicine trade, ingredients
Their carapaces are mottled that, even professional taxonomists in supposed cures for coughs and
shades of yellows and browns, need a hand at times, with the diarrhoea. The IUCN Red List has
allowing them to blend perfectly into newest species Pegasus tetrabelos them as data deficient, meaning
the background. Spot one Sea moth described in 2016 after DNA more research is needed – and
and there’s a good chance another barcoding revealed some P. volitans quickly – to determine the extent of
SHUTTERSTOCK
will follow, as these monogamous were not as they first appeared. these harvesting threats.
couples do everything together. While Sea moths might look like Sea moths – one to file firmly
If you are lucky enough to come a gene-splicing experiment under oddball.
FISHKEEPING NEWS
Latest news and events from the world of aquatics.
LEGISLATION
Proposed regulations could

affect private fish sales
Delegates meet to discuss the
hobby’s future.
PAULINE DAVEY
On 7th February DEFRA, OATA and multiple livestock, but who don’t currently fall under the or not a person makes a profit from their
hobbyist group representatives met to mull over catchment of needing a pet shop licence. Under activities, and this may turn out to be a decisive
proposed changes to Section 1 of the pet shop the new proposals, underground importers, back factor in who the new legislation does and does
licensing legislation. Currently, regulation is garden breeders and ebay sellers will need to not apply to.
being widened to cover not just pet shops (as is adhere to same rules as shops (though not From a hobbyist perspective, it’s not easy to
currently the case with a pet shop licence), but all necessarily public safety issues unless the public make much profit from breeding fish at hobby
commercial activities with pets – including are visiting their facility). This is not aimed at level. A lot of fish have low financial value, while it
grooming and animal exhibitions. The update to infrequent sales of a small number of fry or excess simultaneously costs a significant amount to run
the licensing is aimed far wider than just at pet stock by a private individual for pleasure. multiple tanks or to build and run a fish house.
shops, so the emphasis on ‘shop’ will change to The update to Section 1 also looks to increase All building, purchasing, feeding, electric
an emphasis on ‘vending’ or the sale of pets for a the minimum care levels and facilities for consumption, water use and even petrol for
margin of profit. From a day-to-day perspective, livestock. There is also a push to make the licence journeys picking up or delivering fish could, in
most of those affected would be the likes of more affordable by renewing less frequently than theory, be offset against any profit made on fish
unregulated online sellers who currently profit once a year. sales. Anyone worried about being caught up in
from fish sales on platforms such as ebay, while One potentially tangled area could be that licensing would do well to keep their books in
avoiding the requirements of licensing. anyone to whom Section 1 applies might also order, and retain receipts for whatever you
As with lots of legislative guidelines, there is an need to abide by Section 2. Section 2 denies the purchase.
element of how the document is perceived, and licence holder the ability to sell livestock away Another grey area is where there is crossover
especially important is the way it’s perceived by from the licensed premises. It should be added – for example, a person who owns retail premises
local agents. DEFRA has previously stated that that Section 2 is not due for review for five years, as a fish trader, but also breeds and sells fish from
hobbyists are not ‘captured’ under the new so if this turns out to be the case, then any their own private collection. This requires
regulations, but some aspects of the wording are rectification is at least half a decade away. clarification. Another consideration for licensing
so broad that a nefarious inspector could use In real terms, this means a hobbyist who breeds includes whether or not your fish are for
them to prohibit activities that are currently and sells for a small profit may not be able to sell education, study or scientific advancement – if
commonplace – such as selling off excess fry at lots at a local club auction – potentially a huge so, then you are deemed out of the new
club meetings. loss for hobbyist groups that already struggle to proposals’ scope.
The new proposals look to license people raise numbers for their meetings. At the time of writing, nothing has been
making money off the back of dealing with Much of the new framework relies on whether confirmed and discussions remain ongoing.
NO BAN!
Channa reprieve confirmed!

A few more details have emerged of the Snakehead fans will be happy,
reprieve given to the Channa genus after for 2018 at lest.
recent suggestions of a Europe-wide ban.
After an original proposal to ban Channa
was set in motion by representatives in
Spain (which has a climate that may be
conducive to the establishment of feral
populations if some should be released),
OATA, combined with the European Pet
Organisation and Ornamental Fish
International, submitted a detailed analysis
of Spain’s assessment, identifying many
flaws within it. The thrust of this analysis was
that only one species, Channa argus, was
appropriate for Europe-wide listing. Channa
argus is currently already banned from
importation within the UK, while other
species are subject to individual licensing
laws in Scotland.
Subsequently, the EU has stated that it will
NEIL HEPWORTH
not add any new species to the 2018 EU

regulations (ergo any possible ban on
Channa would be impossible this year), and
is addressing the way in which risk
assessments are undertaken.
Subsequently, Spain has been advised to proposals will be made over the course of this As well as Channa, a stay of execution was
come back to the table with species-specific year, but that these would not be listed until given to the three plant species listed by the
proposals as opposed to genus-wide ban 2019 at the earliest. As the UK is leaving the EU EU as potential invasive risks, and so
requests, although it is recognised that in that year, any further EU influence on the UK Gymnocoronis spilanthoides (Senegal tea
some cases a genus-wide ban may still be would be subject to the transitional plant), Salvinia molesta (Salvinia), and Pistia
appropriate. arrangements at that time – and currently we stratiotes (Water lettuce) may now still be
OATA states that it is likely that fresh have no idea what they are! traded throughout 2018.
EVENTS DISCOVERIES
Killifish spring auction Juripari cichlids are

widespread.
Get some Killifish

bargains.
SHUTTERSTOCK
ALAMY
New Satanoperca described

There is a mythological creature in Brazilian folklore known as Curupira that
The British Killifish Association West London group is holding an protects the forest and its inhabitants, punishing those who hunt for pleasure,
auction on Sunday 8th April. Attendees should make their way to kill breeding females or kill defenseless juveniles.
The Scout Hall, next to St Peter’s Church, St Peter’s Road, West The name of this mythical creature has been given to a newly described
Molesey, Surrey KT8 2QE. species of Satanoperca from the Rio Madeira Basin in Brazil. Satanoperca
Killifish auctioning begins at midday, and starts by being split curupira has been placed in the S. jurupari grouping and is very close to
into two groups (Red and Blue) followed later by the auction of any Satanoperca jurupari itself in that they inhabit rivers simultaneously.
other fish. Booking-in commences at 10:45am. The group requests The distribution of S. jurupari is widespread in the Amazon basin but the
that no more than three lots of the same population of fish from newly described S. curupira seems to be more restricted, known from the
any one person be presented, and that only pairs or groups of fish Madeira basin, occurring in the main channel of the Rio Madeira, in several
are brought. There will be an odds and ends table on the day for tributaries draining the Brazilian shield, Rio Roosevelt and the Rio Sãn Luis.
single or same-sex fish, as well as live food cultures. Note that S. curupira is distinguished by marking characteristics: 3-7 dark-brown
there is a 10% commission on auctions. oblique stripes from the eye and an irregular pattern of dark-brown stripes on
Entrance fee on the door is £2. For more details contact Steve the check and operculum.
Collins on 0208 5687711. Scale counts, fin ray counts and patterning all lead to this new species
being included in the S. jurupari group.
FISHKEEPING NEWS
Latest news and events from the world of aquatics.
DISCOVERIES
Dr Alex Ploeg remembered with new cichlid species

Crenichlia ploegi in its
natural habitat.
MARCELO KRAUSE
Crenicichla ploegi is a newly described Pike and biological history of the Crenicichla genus, being a large river pool more than 100m wide.
cichlid from Mato Grosso, Brazil. It’s now one he also published papers on systematics of the Crenicichla ploegi is identified from others in
of 23 species in the C. saxatilis group, one of genus from 1986 to 1991. 18 of his 23 described the C. saxatilis group by the presence of dark
the groups that was created by late species are still considered valid. spots and dense, irregular lines on the snout,
ichthyologist Dr Alex Ploeg. C. ploegi is known both from the upper Rio between the eyes and on top of the head in
Ploeg died alongside his wife and son in the Paraguai basin and from tributaries of the upper adults, and by a dark lateral band present in
Malaysian Airlines attack in Ukraine in 2014, Rio Juruena. They are found mostly in clearwater both juveniles and adults. It is hypothesised
and has now been honoured with the naming streams and mid-sized rivers with moderate to that juvenile markings from within the C.
of this new species. Dr Ploeg’s PhD thesis fast flow, mostly shaded by forest growth and saxatilis group are retained to adulthood in C.
dealt with taxonomic revisions, biogeography with rocky bottoms. Type locality is an exception, ploegi.
CORRECTIONS PRODUCTS
Parking available
Aquaforest releases freshwater range
at this store. Aquaforest, already well
known for its range of marine
supplements, has now
branched out into a range of
freshwater supplements.
Among the range are
specialist plant fertilisers,
fish and water treatments,
and substrates.
For plant keepers, eight
fertilisers in the range
NATHAN HILL
include Iron, Potassium, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Macro elements and

Micro elements. There’s also a specific Red Plant Booster, as well as
Aquaforest’s own ofering of a glutaraldehyde ‘Liquid Carbon’ supplement.
The substrates are divided between the base-layer AF Natural Substrate
Corrections and clarifications. and the covering AF Lava Soil to go over the top of it. AF Lava Soil also
In the April 2018 issue, we reported in our Shoptour feature that there works as a standalone product.
was no parking provided next to the store at Crowders Aquatics. This Among the water care range are AF Water Conditioner (dechlorinator)
turns out to be incorrect and we have been informed that there are in and Mineral Salt specifically aimed at RO users. There are also Carbon and
fact two parking spaces to the front of the premises, as well as one Zeolite available for external filter users, and a single medication in the
further parking space directly behind the store. We apologise for any form of AF Purify.
confusion this may have caused. All products are being distributed in the UK by Evolution Aqua. For more
information, visit aquaforest.eu or evolutionaqua.com
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HABITAT
Morichales
Explorer Ivan Mikolji reminisces over a leap of

faith he took into a fertile, tropical paradise.
ALL PHOTOS: IVAN MIKOLJI
IVAN MIKOLJI
Founder of the Fish
from Venezuela
Foundation, Ivan is
a world-renowned
field explorer and
photographer.
ALAMY
Revealing Venezuela’s
sun-dappled streams.
HABITAT
Morichales
G
EORGE FEAR and this was a private hacienda, called LEFT: Green neons
I drove down a Hato La Vergareña, so he couldn’t dart in the shallows.
narrow dirt road, let us pass. Instead, he suggested we
BELOW: Moriche
north-west of the head towards a clear-water morichal
palm trees are
Paragua River, in or stream that we had already driven ubiquitous on the
the Venezuelan by. skyline.
state of Bolívar. “Turn around, drive for one
We were scouting kilometre and keep looking to the
the area for new underwater right. You won’t miss it, but be
videography locations. Back then, in careful – an anaconda lives in that
2006, I wasn’t yet working in morichal,” he said.
underwater photography. We drove back and, as promised,
Listening to Hank Williams Sr.’s about 400 metres from the road, lay
country tunes, we drove for what the morichal.
seemed like many hours without ‘Morichales’ is the common name
seeing another car or human. given to a group of Mauritia flexuosa
Suddenly, we were met with a guard palm trees. Moriche palm trees,
post featuring a barrier arm gate, which are called ‘Canangucho’ in
which stretched across the road. Colombia and ‘Aguaje’ in Peru, are
We were perplexed to see such a widespread across tropical South
structure in the middle of nowhere America. A trait that makes moriche
and, as we approached, a person palms so special is their high
came to greet us, signalling us to tolerance of wet environments or,
stop. more crucially, their low tolerance
On realising that we were strangers of dry environments.
and ‘tourists’, the man seemed to be These palm trees need year-round
even more perplexed than us. We hydration to thrive, so they are great
drove closer to him and asked if we indicators of the presence of water.
could pass, explaining what we were For example, you could drive for
doing in the area. He explained that hours across a dry savannah safe in
Small fish use the moriche palm

roots, fallen palm branches and aquatic
vegetation as hideouts
the knowledge that, if you see a
moriche palm, you will find water.
These palms signal the tropical,
South American version of an
African desert oasis.
We left the dirt road, drove through
the savannah and hid the truck
behind some trees, leaving us only
two hundred metres from the small
morichal. The landscape was flat,
with lots of tall grass.
We decided to pack up our gear
and walk to the morichal, but what
we thought was a field of plain, tall
grasses wound up being a field of
wetland sawgrass.
George was wearing shorts. After a
short walk his legs looked like those
of a zebra; although instead of black
and white, they were red and white!
I was wearing jeans, but no socks, so
fortunately only my ankles were
sliced by the unforgiving plants. We
stopped momentarily to reassess the
idea of visiting the morichal – we
didn’t even know if it had clear or
running water at all.
Looking around, we saw no other
morichales, rivers or creeks. This
one did not even seem to have any
water exit drainage and it was short,
at maybe 150 metres in length. The
idea of finding an isolated habitat,
which might hold unique species of
fish or plants, convinced us to keep
going, despite the razor-sharp
sawgrass.
Remote, wild aquariums

Morichales are not fixed geological
structures per se. Rather, they are
springs, creeks or rivers that are
populated with moriche palm trees.
A river can also have ‘morichal
sections’, where the moriche palms
are thriving, and still be called a
regular river elsewhere, where there
are no palm trees to be found.
Springs which do not overflow to
become a stream or river create
interesting small morichales, which
are short and isolated.
In the banks and shallow areas you
can find small tropical fish such as
Dwarf cichlids, Cardinal tetra, Pencil
and Hatchet fish. Small fish use the
moriche palm roots, fallen palm
branches and aquatic vegetation as
hideouts.
In waist-deep waters, medium,
more pelagic and predatory fish,
HABITAT
Morichales
such as Peacock bass, As if the tall sawgrass

Freshwater
Piranhas and was not difficult plants colonise
Acestrorhynchus, enough, our path the sand.
might be soon became
found. When a infested with a
morichal is very long shrub, known
wide and deeper locally as ‘Echa pa
than five or six metres, Ludwigia tras’. The English
you might find large plant translation is ‘go backwards
catfish and larger fish such as vine’, but they are commonly
Pacu (Colossoma macropomum) called Catclaw mimosa or
and Payara (Hydrolycus ‘wait-a-minute’ plants. These thin
scomberoides). and long shrubs are filled with sharp
I have never seen these large fish hook-shaped spines from beginning
venture into the shallow parts where to end.
the rivers are born. The result is that Once you get tangled or caught by
shallow morichales, with clear water, one or many of these vines there
come to resemble incredible, natural are some steps you must follow:
‘wild aquariums.’ Firstly, say “Ouch!” due to the pain,
Tall, robust
Moriche palms
line the banks.
Ivan finds
hockystick
pencilfish,
Nannostomus
eques in this
Morichales.
Moriche
debris rots very
slowly and
through the Acestrorhynchus
years, and all microlepis patrol
the open water.
this organic
detritus starts to Moriche palms are very robust and decompose as it drifts down river.
shed great amounts of large leafs, Its scaly skin, which resembles the
build up making fruit, seeds and spikes into the scales of a fish or a dragon’s egg,
immediate surrounding habitat. opens and the fruit absorbs water,
a thick layer of Moriche debris rots very slowly and making it sink.
acidic decaying through the years, and all this
organic detritus starts to build up
The fruit is quite impenetrable to
smaller fish before swelling, and
matter making a thick layer of acidic only larger Pacu and Myleus can
decaying matter. The reddish-brown break through its hard, scaly skin.
fruit of the moriche is used by
then stop, analyse the situation and indigenous people as a food Diving into the unknown
start pulling out the vines backwards source. Its pulp is used to George’s legs looked pretty
(you will never get them off if you make jam and it gives a bad by this point, but he
pull them forward). After pulling off distinctive tangy tolerated the pain well
all of the vines, you will be left with flavour when mixed and kept on going.
hundreds of these little hook-like with water into a We finally made
spines in your skin or in your drink. The fruit it to the edge of
clothes. is also a food the Morichal
It’s worth mentioning that most of source to many and, to our
the morichales I’ve explored have freshwater fish, delight, it had water.
had many similar traits; most of many of which you We looked out from the
them are spring-fed, which works in might never assume feed Palm fruit Morichal’s edge, which to
favour of most living organisms, as on fruit. These fruit-eating fish our surprise was not at
they remain wet in the dry season. are Piranhas from the ground level but almost nine feet
In swampy, shallow areas where the Pristobrycon and Pygopristis genus, under us, below a small vertical cliff-
water current is very slow, they Silver dollars, Pacu and cichlids, like bank. The water looked clear,
grow in great numbers and draw such as Flag cichlids, Banded but filled with fine hair algae which
very close together. In deeper, faster cichlids and Dwarf cichlids. The covered the surface, making it
flowing streams, they are confined moriche fruit floats when it falls impossible to see how deep the
to the river banks. from the palm tree and starts to water was and what was below it.
HABITAT
Morichales
All we could see was about a

half-metre into the crystal-clear
water before the algae intruded. On
the bright side, though, there were
many fish!
We analysed the situation and
decided that the only way to get
down to the water was by jumping
from the cliff and falling for three
metres. You may think this sounds
like fun and was no great distance,
but there was no way of knowing if
the water was a half-metre or 15m
deep, or if there was a large
anaconda or crocodile waiting
beneath the algae. What worried me
the most was a vertical piece of
wood, with a fine point, waiting to
stab me as I landed.
I decided that finding some
isolated new fish species was worth
taking these risks and I jumped in.
Once I splashed into the water,
George asked if I was standing or
swimming. I relayed that the water
was almost shoulder-deep, which
seemed to be all the information he
needed and he soon landed next to
me.
Again, we analysed the situation
and soon realised that we could not
move much around due to the large
amount of algae, plus the banks
Moriche palms
were 3 metres from the already
populate springs,
shoulder-deep water. How were we creeks or rivers.
going to get out of this morichal?
Morichales are one of the most wonderful ecosystems I have

explored. They thrive with life from top to bottom
A tranquil Spring-fed, so
Morichale in able to survive
full-flow. arid months.
WET DRY
SEASON SEASON
ALAMY
ABOVE: The white-throated toucans live in the
tree canopy in the wettest part of the forest.
We wondered who could help us;

our best bet seemed to be the man
at the guard post, but he was too far
away. We had also hidden the car, so
he, or anyone else, would never
know we were there.
George decided to collect fish with
his fish net while we came up with
an idea. He is a true fish guy! I
started to get a little worried as my
imagination took over, and I began
to feel like anaconda and crocodile
were touching my feet, which made
me forget about turning on the
video camera and getting some
footage.
George, on the other hand, was
showing me some sort of Tetra he
had caught, which he had quickly
baptised the Tiger Hyphessobrycon,
saying he had never seen anything
like it before. He kept on catching
fish with his net and placing them in
the small plastic bag. He was
incredibly happy and smiling from
ear-to-ear.
I could not believe he was not
worried about attracting some sort
Well-camouflaged of piranha, or other animal, with all
Motoro stingray. the blood that was seeping out from
the hundreds of cuts on his legs,
which he could not see due to the
massive amount of filament algae.
Discovering rare fish

I have never found medium or large
rocks in these habitats. The benthic
sediments are mostly composed of
thin, white silica sand mixed with
plant litter. In spots where the
moriche palm trees are spaced out
and lots of sunshine hits the water,
large amounts of freshwater plants
colonise the sand.
It is common to find large patches
of short green Eleocharis, which
appear to be like underwater lawns.
In deeper areas, diverse types of
Ludwigia create an underwater
jungle and, in some places, filament
algae grows in excessive amounts.
www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk 21
WWW.PRACTICALFISHKEEPING.CO.UK
HABITAT
Morichales
Some of the rarest fish I have found

in morichales are the Dwarf Cichlid
Apistogramma nororientalis,
Freshwater Needlefish
Potamorrhaphis guianensis and
Parotocinclus eppleyi. There are also
some of the most popular aquarium
fish inhabiting morichales, such as
Neon tetra, Rummy-nosed tetra,
Motoro stingray and Twig-Catfish.
After a couple of minutes (which
seemed like hours), George was
done collecting fish. We decided that
I would submerge myself into the
algae, George would climb on my
back and then stand on my
shoulders. The plan worked. As I
came up out of the water, and stood
up with George on my shoulders, he
successfully held on to a tree root Acestrorhynchus
falcatus, a sub-
near the top of the cliff and got to
30cm predator
the top. He then looked for a long looking for a meal.
branch and pulled me up. I still
thank him for not leaving me in that
3m-deep ditch.
In my opinion, morichales are one I could not believe he was not worried about
of the most wonderful ecosystems I
have explored. They thrive with life,
attracting some sort of piranha, or other animal,
from top to bottom. Above, in the
moriche palm trees, innumerable
with all the blood that was seeping out from the
toucan, parrot and colourful birds hundreds of cuts on his legs!
fill the air with their incredible songs.
In the middle, you can find many
species of beautiful orchid that cling
precariously to the palm trunks.
Underwater, where most of us
aquarists belong, is the other world
– the flowing one, which sustains all
the rest above.
George and I still cannot
remember what happened to the
Tiger Hyphessobrycon. I only wish I
had taken a picture of it right after
we got out of the morichal, so I
could show it to you.
In less shaded
areas plants thrive
in the sun
Dwarf cichlids
thrive amongst
leaf litter.
TREES & PLANTS
Sawgrass and Catclaw
mimosa mingle and
made it hard to get to
the water, while Orchids
cling to the palm trunks.
LEAF LITTER
Fronds fallen from
the Mauritia flexuosa.
Getting hold of these
fronds would be ideal
for many biotopes.
WATER
heavily stained,soft and
acidic due to tannins
leached from fallen
fronds, branches and
tree trunks.
Apistogramma nororientalis – if DRIFTWOOD

it’s one of the rarest fish Ivan has For shaded spots and
seen you can be sure it’s a very handy hideaways.
rare fish indead. Cryptic fish utilise them
to hide from predation
and for breeding sites.
OPINION
NATHAN HILL & STEVE BAKER

Parrot cichlids are divisive fish. Some hate them, some love
them, and everyone has an opinion on them. PFK’s associate
editor and staff writer sit down to discuss the issues...
L
ET’S go straight in for the recognise an owner and demand interaction.
jugular and see how the What’s the need to make another?
conversation evolves from Tattooing and tail removal may well be
there. So, starting with the banned here, but I worry about how long it
strongest sentiment, will be banned for – the more manipulation of
what’s the single worst animals that becomes accepted, the more
thing about Parrot ethical boundaries will be pushed.
cichlids? Is cross breeding always a bad thing? No. If
SB: It’s what the fish represents and what an two species meet, mate and produce viable
acceptance of messing around with cross offspring which survive, then I think it’s fine,
breeding leads to. Accepting a man-made natural. But I think bringing two (or more)
hybrid paves the way to not caring about species together that would never meet, don’t
bloodlines, survival of the fittest or the produce fertile offspring and carry deformities
animal’s long-term health or ability to survive that would rule them out for survival in the
stress free. We already see low regard for the wild is a poor choice. And what for? Because
Parrot cichlid in areas such as tattooing and humans want to. Some hybrids will get the
tail mutilation (albeit not in the UK) but this best of both parents, like the mule, but mules
doesn’t seem to extend to natural fish. are infertile, which is genetics telling us
they’re still an unsuitable mix.
NH: Is cross breeding always bad? Humans Do we even know what they are? The
have hybridised many flippancy toward genetics
animals, and not always to
bad effect. Mules, for
People vote worries me when Parrot
cichlid owners don’t even
example, have longer
lifespans than the horses
with their wallets. know their fishes’ lineage.
that sire them and are If they truly NH: I’m not sure that
smarter than their donkey viability is an issue. Many
mothers. As for not caring disliked parrots pampered animals we
about bloodlines, I wonder
if this represents a broader
because of welfare keep are sterile (dogs, for
example) so the ability to
trend of changing ethical issues, then there’d breed isn’t prerequisite.
opinions – I would argue The deformity thing is
that the Parrot cichlid is a be no market indeed an problem, but
symptom rather than a Parrot cichlids don’t seem
cause here. If that’s the case, I’d be wary of greatly inconvenienced with their deformities.
holding the fish to account for a cultural shift. And I don’t know how many Parrot cichlid fry
Tattooing and mutilation are illegal in the are culled, but I’d wager it’d be around the
UK, and for the best part frowned upon by the same percentage as other mass-farmed fish.
majority. I’d add that folks who own Parrots Also, could it be said that Parrots are better
often love them more like ‘higher’ pets such suited to aquaria than some ‘natural’ fish?
as dogs, while many ‘natural’ fish like tetras They don’t require much space, and seem
are the ones seen as disposable commodities. both robust and interactive. Any fish unsuited
to aquaria experiences high mortality and
SB: I agree; small, shoaling fish are often seen stress, quite the opposite to most Parrots. But
JACQUES PORTAL
as a number and not an individual. There are many ‘natural’ fish such as Clown loach
many natural fish with higher pet-like qualities experience higher short-term mortality rates
such as Oscars, puffers, eels and more, which and stress.
SB: I don’t buy in to this idea that because From my experiences, I think the issue with
we’ve messed about with some animals, then Parrots boils down to two points. Firstly,
it’s fine to mess about with others to the same they’re seen as diluting interest in ‘real’ fish,
point too. which threatens the hardcore aquarist –
Plus, I see a big distinction here, as domestic there’s a dread at seeing the hobby become
dogs are all one species, and line-bred rather nothing more than a collection of chimeras.
than hybrids. I still don’t like it, just as I don’t The second point is part of a wider
like line breeding in fish. Dogs have many argument, and depends on which side of the
ailments and develop ageing problems GM/hybrid fence your prejudices put you.
prematurely and, again, just because humans If you’re anti-GM and against tinkering with
want them – greed over welfare. organisms, Parrots are a no. If you’re on the
Deformity wise, I don’t see the Parrots in side where tinkering is just progress, then
tanks at a disadvantage. In an aquarium they I doubt you’ll have a problem with them.
can look comfortable, but I’d be surprised if I think that many people’s minds are made up
the culling wasn’t much higher than a natural on this issue before they even know what
‘pureblood’ fish. the issue is.
We know the head is deformed in Parrots
and some are likely going to be too deformed SB: Absolutely, there are different camps
and culled. out there and I know mine is a hard-lined
The fact they can’t close their mouths attitude where I give much more respect to
completely means some have breathing nature than I do to the human position.
issues and therefore more would be culled or My view of GM is that if we were
succumb to problems during transport. sustainable with our breeding rates as
I agree that some other, natural a species and responsible with
species are less suited to our demands on the planet,
aquaria. We have them we wouldn’t need to
because we want mess with genetics of
them, not necessarily anything, plus nature
because we can wouldn’t be so
house them well. But pressured by habitat
NATHAN HILL
there are many loss and pollution.

natural fish that are I don’t hate
more suited to Parrotfish, but I do
aquarium life than hate the idea of
both Clown loach or people messing
Parrots. about with genetics
and hybridising purely
NH: People vote with their for profit and for the
wallets. If they truly disliked enjoyment of other people.
Parrots because of welfare issues, For me it would be far more
then there’d be no market. Breeders are righteous to spend our time and energy
only filling a void that the public supports. exploring ways that we can lower our
I’m flying blind on mortality rates and detrimental impacts.
long-term health issues. All we have is
conjecture. We can say that the fish ‘should’ And there we’ve run out of space.
have problems courtesy of deformities, but Ultimately, it’s hard to pin down any
the fish themselves seem (this is anecdotal, as objective angle that decides whether
I can only vouch from those I’ve seen) Parrot cichlids are inherently good
oblivious to their ‘defects’. They strike me as or bad.
resistant to disease and water quality issues I think it’s pretty safe to say that you,
that would hammer other fish. dear reader, are wise enough to hold
To stick my neck on a chopping block, your own opinions on the subject, and
Parrots almost seem a better choice for, say, a I politely remind you that we have a INSET: A
120cm boisterous community than a generic letters page devoted to just that kind typical Parrot
wild-caught, high-stress South American of feedback. cichlid – note
cichlid that would rather be in a river. Given Are you for, against, or indifferent to the ‘deformed’
mouth.
the options, surely there’s a case to be made Parrot cichlids, and what are your
that Parrots can be the ‘least worst’ option. arguments for your position?
Do you have an opinion on Parrot cichlids that you would like to share or
perhaps a topic you would like to see discuissed? If so, you can find us at
www.facebook.com/pfkmag or email editorial@practicalfishkeeping.co.uk
TROPICAL
Catfish
NATHAN HILL
Twig Cats and

wood equal
harmony.
CRACKING
WHIPS!
Slender, graceful and delicate, the whiptail is the
suckermouth catfish for those with more subtle tastes.
WORDS: STEVE BAKER
TROPICAL
Catfish
A
S INDIVIDUALS,
we all have
different tastes and
preferences. Some
people are attracted
to bold, bright
items that just can’t
be ignored – things
that shout for attention and knock
everything else out of the limelight.
For those people, the world of
suckermouth catfish probably starts
and ends with the bustling world of
PHOTOMAX
plecos, from their chunky bodies to

their bold, bright markings. For
those more attracted to subtle
designs, however, there is another ABOVE: cater for with a modest set up. available are derived from a true
group of suckermouth catfish that S. festivum Possibly the most common is wild-caught fish, possibly from
will appeal. Whiptail catfish… showing off Rineloricaria parva, or the common Paraguay, but there’s no concrete
If you prefer delicate finesse to it’s stunning whiptail. R. parva has a mottled, evidence to support this. Others
finage with
bold beauty, the whiptails have a lot sandy-toned body and a compressed believe the Red Lizard is a line-bred
heavily curved
to offer. They are diverse in their rays. shape, perfectly adjusted for its strain of Rineloricaria lanceolata,
looks, lifestyles, diets and breeding natural habitat of leaf litter over while a third theory suggests the
strategies and have a very laid-back BELOW: sandy substrates in northern South true Red Lizard has been hybridised
attitude. And, due to their excellent R. lanceolata, America. It’s thought that some with R. lanceolata because the
camouflage capabilities, many are males take R. parva in shops are hybrids and females are more productive.
happy to sit in full view of the paternal these can be identified by a slight Most confusing of all is that the Red
care while
aquarist, oozing their subtle beauty. the females
difference in patterning and finnage. Lizard whiptail breeds true. If line
concentrate on Natural specimens only have banded breeding or hybridising was involved
Many whips the next brood. markings on top – not underneath – we’d likely find some throw-back fry
There are several groups to consider and non-hybrids have the ‘whip’ showing body markings of R.
in the world of whiptails. The filaments on both the upper and lanceolata but this doesn’t seem to
Rineloricaria genus is the most lower edges of the caudal fin. happen. The offspring hold a
commonly found group in shops; the There is confusion regarding the uniform rusty red colouring.
name combines the Greek word origin of Rineloricaria sp. L010a, the Whether they occur in nature or
rhinos, meaning ‘nose’, and Latin Red Lizard whiptail. It’s uncertain not, the industry is supplied with
lorica, ‘cuirass of leather’. These are whether it’s a naturally occurring tank-raised specimens only.
the smallest species that are easy to species or not. Some believe the fish
Making babies
Rineloricaria spp. are easy to breed
at home, although fry are quite
demanding to feed initially. Sexing is
easy when mature. The males
develop odontotes (coarse, beard-
like hairs) from the head and
pectoral spines. Females are devoid
of these odontotes and, when
conditioned well, are slightly more
rounded in the body.
A breeding tank doesn’t need to be
elaborate for Rineloricaria species –
just a sandy substrate, a few fake
caves (plastic pipes work well) and a
handful of leaf litter. The adults
should be conditioned on nutritious
green foods like kale and spinach,
plus frozen or live foods such as
bloodworm and Daphnia. Water
should be soft and on the acidic side
of neutral. If they are stubborn, a
ALAMY
50% water change with soft, cool
water should give them the nudge eggs will start hatching and within a water for a day or two before adding
needed to initiate spawning. further 2-3 days the fry will have them. Brine shrimp nauplii and
Rineloricaria are cave spawners. used their yolk sacs and start free micro worms are also good food at
The male will choose his cave and swimming. At this point it’s best to this point, as are rocks with natural,
set about cleaning it until a ripe remove the father (and any other cultured awfwuchs. Food needs to
female visits. The female deposits her tankmates) to allow the fry full access be constantly available for fry in
eggs and leaves the male to fertilise, to food. Cucumber, kale and spinach early days of their development.
guard and fan them. This action are ideal, but they need to be soft With so much food in play, you’ll
keeps the water moving, and the enough for the young fry to digest. need to keep a keen eye on water
water around the eggs well aerated. Blanching removes too many quality and undertake regular, small
After 4-5 days of attention the nutrients, so just pre-soak in cool water changes.
FACTFILE
COMMON WHIPTAIL
6Scientific name: Rineloricaria parva
(Rye-nel-or-ee-car-ee-ah par-va)
6Size: 11cm.
6Origin: Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina.
Habitat: Leaf litter over sandy substrates in
6
clear and sediment rich streams and rivers.
Tank size: 75x30x30cm for a small group.
6
Water requirements: 6.0-7.5 pH,
6 70 l+
2-15°H.
6Temperature: 20-25°C.
6Temperament: Very peaceful.
Feeding: Sinking algae wafers, fresh
6
vegetables, live and frozen foods.
JJPHOTO.DK
Availability and cost: Common, from £7.
6
FACTFILE
RED LIZARD WHIPTAIL
6Scientific name: Rineloricaria sp. L010a
(Rye-nel-or-ee-car-ee-ah)
6Size: 11cm.
6Origin: Unknown, possibly Paraguay.
6Tank size: 75x30x30cm for a small group.
6
2-15°H. 70 l+
MP&C PIEDNOIR AQUAPRESS

6Temperament: Very peacefu.l
6
Availability and cost: Quite common; from
6
around £15.
FACTFILE
WHIPTAIL CATFISH
Scientific name: Rineloricaria lanceolata
6
(Rye-nel-or-ee-car-ee-ah lahn-see-o-lah-ta)
6Size: 9.5cm.
6Origin: Peru; Brazil.
Habitat: Leaf litter over sandy substrates in both clear and
6
sediment rich streams and rivers.
6Tank size: 60x30x30cm for a pair.
6
5-20°H.
54 l+
6Temperament: Very peaceful.
6
Availability and cost: Not common; from
6
around £18 or more.
TROPICAL
Catfish
Catfish royalty
Next up are the Royal Whiptails, of
the Sturisoma genus. The Greek word
Sturisoma translates as ‘sturgeon-
bodied’ and it’s easy to see the
connection with this group of
whiptails. This group includes larger
specimens than Rineloricaria and has
a similar habitat, but unlike the
peaceful Rineloricaria, the Sturisoma
species can display mildly
aggressive behaviour. This includes
tail wagging at food times to clear
NEIL HEPWORTH
away competition – something that

can turn into a whole-body waggle
of frustration if tankmates don’t
get the idea.
Apart from this they make a good
introduction to a blackwater,
biotope-style tank or a heavily-
planted clear water aquarium. They
will appreciate some wood here and
there to live in, and need a relatively
wide tank as their heavy scaled,
extended bodies are less flexible
than they look and require additional
space for turning – especially if the
tank is heavily populated with plants.
Subtle differences
The common names you will find in
the shops are Royal whiptail or Giant
whiptail but determining an exact
species is a bit of a lottery. There are
subtle differences, but if the fish in
the sales tanks are young, then true
identification is almost impossible.
Sturisomatichthys aureus (often
labelled as Sturisoma aruem, Royal
whiptail) is the most common fish of
the genus shipped from Colombia.
This species is identified by a slight
curve in the first dorsal ray, though
this curvature is not nearly as severe
as that seen in the fin edges of FACTFILE
Sturisoma festivum.
All species within the Sturisoma ROYAL WHIPTAIL
Scientific Name: Sturisomatichthys aureus
6
genus need to have generous levels (Stir-iss-so-mat-ick-thiss or-ee-uss)
of oxygen dissolved in their 6Size: 20cm.
aquarium water and their bodies are Origin: Magdalena, San Jorge and Ceser river basins, Colombia
6
well suited to high flow conditions. Habitat: Sunken logs and leaf litter over sandy substrates.
6
In terms of feeding they are unfussy, 6Tank size:120x45x45cm.
quickly taking to sinking algae, 6Water requirements: 6.6-7.6 pH, 5-15°H.
omnivore wafers, fresh vegetables
6Temperament: Peaceful.
and meaty frozen foods. Feeding: Sinking algae wafers, pellets,
6 240 l+
Breeding the Sturisoma is a rather fresh vegetables and occasional
similar affair to the Rineloricaria frozen foods.
genus. The biggest difference is that Availability and cost: Quite common;
6
RICHARD BARTZ
these fish don’t use a cave – instead around £15 for a very young specimen.
they use an upright surface, such as
a glass pane of the aquarium itself.
Karma chameleons natural diet consists mostly of insect FACTFILE
Next we’re going to look fish that larvae and crustaceans that they CHAMELEON WHIPTAIL
are loosely termed Chameleon search for under the sand using their Scientific name: Pseudohemiodon
6
whiptails (Pseudohemiodon spp.). elaborate whiskers. apithanos (Soo-doh-hem-ee-oh-don
These catfish are different to the Coming from water almost devoid ap-pin-ath-oss)
other whiptails we have seen so far of nutrients means they will be Size: 18cm.
6
Origin: Ecuador and Peru; San Miguel
6
because they tend to bury demanding fish for the aquarist.
river basin.
themselves beneath sand and this is Water quality needs to be high, Habitat: Slow-flowing rivers with sandy
6
usually how you will encounter nitrate levels need to be as low as substrates and leaf litter.
them if you see them in shops. possible, dissolved oxygen needs to Tank size:100x38x45cm
6
This trait of burying themselves be high and subdued lighting is Water requirements: 6.4-7.6 pH,
6
makes Chameleons unsuitable for required. This genus is best reserved 5-15°H.
traditionally planted tanks because for well-experienced fish keepers. Temperature: 26-28°C.
6
Temperament: Very peaceful, even
6
they need plenty of open floor Pseudohemiodon species have a
towards its own type.
space for hiding and feeding and quirky difference from other 6Feeding: Meaty frozen foods, will
are likely to uproot anything you whiptails regarding egg care. The readily accept
decide to plant. To get around this males develop an over-lapped lip algae wafers,
problem, you could consider using where eggs are gathered up after sinking tablets,
ABOVE: floating plants or plants that grow spawning and cradled for protection live and other 160 l+
Pseudohemiodon frozen foods too.
on wood. until they hatch and become
are dedicated Availability and
6
sand dwellers Naturally this group will encounter free-swimming. It is rare for cost: Only from
BELOW: some leaf litter over sandy lip-brooders to be bred in aquaria specialist
Most whiptails substrates, but go easy on it in a but it does happen occasionally and shops; from £40
suit both sandy tank as access to the sand is a brood care is very similar to that of or more.
biotopes and greater priority for them. Their the other whiptails we’ve looked at.
planted tanks.
The Sturisoma
species can display
mildly aggressive
behaviour. This
includes tail wagging
NEIL HEPWORTH
at food times to clear

away competition
TROPICAL
Catfish
Branching out
Last up we have Twig catfish, the
Farlowella genus is one of the most
cryptic of the whiptails groups. The
name honours the American
botanist William Gibson Farlow
whose studies concentrated on
algae. Rather than sandy substrates,
these fish are more at home on
relatively solid surfaces like fallen
tree branches and underwater rocks,
where they can hunt for aufwuchs.
For the aquarist, this means a tank FACTFILE
should be well mature before any TWIG CAT / TWIG WHIPTAIL
Farlowella species are introduced 6Scientific name: Farlowella acus (Far-low-well-lah ay-cuss)
and it’s worth using algae rocks that 6Size: 16cm.
6Origin: Now restricted to just a few small rivers that feed into Lake
have been cultured on windowsills
Valencia in northern Venezuela.
until they accept prepared algal 6Habitat: Among bamboo and leaf litter over a sandy substrate.
foods. Twig catfish are good 6Tank size: 90x30x30cm.
consumers of diatoms and common 6Water requirements: 6.8-7.6 pH, 5-15°H.
green algae, more so than other 6Temperature: 23-26°C.
whiptails. They will eventually 6Temperament: Very peaceful. 80 l+
accept wafers but will accept paste 6Feeding: Green food pastes, algae wafers,
fresh veg, cultured aufwuchs and
foods like Repashy’s Soilent Green occasional frozen or life foods.
more easily. 6Availability and cost: Unlikely available.
Again, with this group there is Highly endangered.
often confusion regarding names.
ALAMY
Many shops will use Farlowella acus

but this is unlikely to be correct
because F. acus is highly endangered
and could easily become extinct
within the next 20 years. In fact, it’s
doubtful that F. acus has ever been
exported for the aquarium trade.
Instead it is likely that Farlowella
vittata is the fish you’re
actually seeing in the shop to grow awfwuchs just
tanks, although Farlowella place rocks or wood in shallow
mariaelenea is often containers, cover with water
imported alongside F. vittata and leave in daylight
because they live alongside
for a week or
each other naturally. F. mariaelenea
is subtly different in that it has a two
thinner rostrum (or snout) and three
FACTFILE
TWIG CAT / TWIG WHIPTAIL
6Scientific name: Farlowella vittata (Far-low-well-lah vee-ta-ta)
6Size: 15cm
6Origin: Orinoco river basin in Colombia and Venezuela.
Habitat: Areas of plant growth, leaf litter, twigs and roots along
6
river banks of streams and rivers.
6Tank size: 90x30x30cm.
6Water requirements: 6.0-7.0 pH, 3-10°H.
6Temperature: 24-27°C. 80 l+
6Temperament: Very peaceful
Feeding: Green food pastes, algae wafers,
6
fresh vegetables, cultured aufwuchs and
occasional frozen or life foods.
IVAN MIKOLJI
Availability and cost: Commonly available;

6 F. vittata holding
from around £12 depending on size. on in fast flow.
rows of belly scutes, whereas the F.
vittata has two rows. Both F. vittata
and F. mariaelenea have a
substantially longer and thinner
rostrum than that of the endangered
We Recommend...
Farlowella acus.
Dwarf
When it comes to breeding Pencil fish
Farlowella, the situation is similar to
that of other whiptails. Farlowella
adopt the same strategy as the
NATHAN HILL
Sturisoma genus in that they will lay
eggs on an upright surface (usually
the glass). The male will then
continuously fan the eggs for six to
10 days, during which time other As you can see, there’s a great variety of whiptails
females may visit and add to the out there to enjoy, whether you have a 300 l
existing brood. Once hatched the blackwater biotope set up or an 80 l planted
young will hang around the community tank – but you do need to be quite
spawning site until their yolk sacs careful with the fish you mix in with them. All the
are used. The onus then shifts to the species of whiptail catfish are relatively slow to
aquarist to supply constant amounts move and slow to feed and need to be kept with
more delicate feeders.
of soft, green foods and to maintain
If mixed with more boisterous, bottom-feeding
ideal water conditions to support the
fish like plecos and earth-eating cichlids, the
fry’s development.
whiptails are likely to be outcompeted for food
and feel disturbed and annoyed. A much better
scenario would be to keep these fish with smaller,
What are belly non-nippy tankmates.
The likes of pencilfish, Nannostomus spp, more
scutes? delicate tetra such as Cardinals or Phantoms and
A scute (or scutum) is a groups of rasboras come to mind as ideal
bony external plate or tankmates, or maybe something else equally
scale overlaid with horn, weird and wonderful like some Glass catfish,
as on the shell of a turtle, Kryptopterus vitreolus.
the skin of crocodilians
and the feet of birds. Harliquin rasbora
Scutes protect the soft,
vulnerable underside of a
whiptail from rocks, twigs
and sand. This is also
something we can use for
identification purposes, to
distinguish Farlowella
NEIL HEPWORTH
vittata from a F.
mariaelenea for example.
NATHAN HILL
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TANKCOMMUNITY
The place to share your fish, tanks, letters and photos
DINNERTIME ON THE LEAKY BOAT!
CHAT Dear Nathan,
Greatly enjoyed your article in
Practical Fishkeeping (Keeping
The dish with the hole.
STAR
+
Find our popular fishkeeping
chatroom at:
Otocinclus in the aquarium).
I want to share this little
letter
www.facebook.com/groups/ invention that seems to really
PracticalFishKeeping help keep Otos alive and well in
the aquarium. I call it the leaky
Lights out... boat, and it’s just a plastic deli
Gill Came container with a 1/8” (3mm)
Does anyone think I’m mad? I diameter hole in the lid, filled
put my tank to bed and wake with green infusoria and floated
it up gradually by reducing/ in the tank. I replenish the
increasing the white light a infusoria daily. Otos seem to
little at a time so that the love it. I think it reduces the
occupants aren’t shocked by NO3- problem attendant with
sudden light level changes. dry food use, and serves as a
David Liptrott continual low-flow source of
No my lights are designed to diverse live food. This also
ROBERT BUGG
do that automatically, lots of works, of course, for other
lights are these days for that algae-eaters, really anyone with
very reason. gill rakers and a taste for algae
Katie-RoseJackson and protozoa. Here’s an image.
Nope, I use the sunrise and I also have vids. Nathan replies: Holy heck, Bob, as well. Plus, you’ve got me
sunset modes on my lighting. Hope this was useful. this is as inspiring as it is cost thinking about setting up a tank
GillCame Bob effective – we love it! for rare Otos now!
Thanks for your comments. Robert L. Bugg, Ph.D. I bet this would work wonders in Well-deserved letter of the
Unfortunately my lights Entomologist (yep) breeding tanks, to feed up fickle fry month right here.
aren’t auto so I’ll just carry on
doing it manually.
Fresh food on leak for
JohnMcDonald Otos.
I think its good you care that
much for you fish.
HolgerHeidt
Don’t think it makes a blind
bit of a diference. I never
bothered in 40+ years of
keeping fish and once the fish
are used to the lights coming
on at a certain time, you will
not see them dashing around
SHUTTERSTOCK
when the lights come on.

But if you think that it makes
a diference, I am the last to
be criticising you.
ChrisBall
I have my main T5 lights, and
a small LED light unit. the LED
Win FishScience aquarium food
comes on about 15 mins The writer of each star letter will win a 250ml pot of their choice
before the main lights and from this quality range of food, which uses natural ingredients.
goes of shortly after the main Email: editorial@practicalfishkeeping.co.uk
lights come on, then come on
again about 15 mins before the
main lights go out, and remain
on for a further 1.5 hrs until
bed time. This has the desired
efect so they are not so
JOINTHEPFKCOMMUNITY
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they also get natural light from an email, or simply send a good old-fashioned letter:
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before the light comes on so editorial@practicalfishkeeping.co.uk facebook.com. Search Practical Fishkeeping
really they have enough of a Practical Fishkeeping, Media House,
natural setting from that. twitter.com/PFKmagazine Lynchwood, Peterborough, PE2 6EA
TANKCOMMUNITY
FROM
FACEBOOK A fan of paradise
Hi Nathan, they make a great
Responses to our I would like to congratulate Steve Baker on his breeding project and are
question ‘Where would excellent article about Paradise fish, which I believe extremely rewarding
you like to go and what is his first article since joining the staf of PFK. and long lived.
habitat would you like I’m a big fan of the Paradise fish and I currently I look forward to more
to see?’ own both M. opercularis and M. spechti. I keep 7 articles from Steven
spechti in a 4ft tank and 5 opercularis in a 3ft tank and I hope to see
Did someone say without too much trouble. As Steve stated in the Paradise fish
Amazon? article, if you choose their tank mates carefully and becoming ever more
give them suicient space, they make excellent popular.
aquarium subjects. The tanks require no additional Kind regards,
heating which is a great bonus. I have also kept the Simon Morgan, via email
M. opercularis outdoors in the warmer months
during the last two summers and they have even Nathan replies: Thanks for the feedback, Simon. I
spawned while outdoors. shouted your kind words down into the dungeon
I encourage all fishkeepers to try them, especially where I keep Steve working relentlessly and he made
SHUTTERSTOCK
first time fishkeepers or children. They are much many grateful sounding noises. We wholeheartedly
hardier than Bettas, for example, and much easier to agree with you that Paradise fish make a hardy and
maintain than messy, fast-growing goldfish. A single enjoyable alternative to goldfish and Betta, and we
Paradise fish can be kept in a 40-60L tank and sincerely hope that they’ll get a second wind, with
Jamie Hendle: Asidethe makes a great pet. For more advanced aquarists, more appearing in both stores and home tanks!
dangersofcaimanand
anaconda,wouldhavetobe
thefloodedforestsofthe
Amazonforsheervarietyand
inspiration!Wouldthinkthe
Are we having a betta day yet?
Africanriftlakeswouldbe Hello Everyone,
amazingtoo.MostofthefishI I had the pleasure of meeting a couple of you two
keepcomefrommurkyrivers years ago. A charming chap who took some
sonopointdivingthere! cracking photos (Ed’s note – blushing here). And a
Sonny James Elsden: lovely lady who was super nice to chat to. I
Amazonallday! remember it being so much fun when you visited
Marcus Dace: Rainbowfishin – I was only a sales assistant then but I am now
Australia,plentyofplacesto the manager and would love to invite PFK back.
seetheminFarNorth I was planning to do a Fighting fish open day on
Queensland,highly April the 4th, showing the best fighters we have,
recommendit! seeing as the two of you fell in love with our
David Merrill: Amazon. fighter selection. And I’ll make sure I have a bright
Chris Green: Divingwith red female in! (Ed’s note – ooooooh!)
LeafyandWeedyseadragons. I love the fact the magazine has been focusing
Everydayforayear. more on the ‘bread and butter’ species like the
Stephen M Owen: Lovetogo cherry barb. They are so underrated. Not only
totheAmazonbasin.Doesnt because showcasing them is arousing peoples’
matteraboutthespeciesjust interest and aiding sales but because people are
wanttodivethere. approaching us more educated and wise about
Pawel Nowak: Lake the fish they are buying. Thank you so much for Fighting fish too, and I still have my images of
Tanganyika. what you do! them from that day. I would love to see an open
David Foster: Alreadydidit Kindest regards, day with a showcase of fighters, and as long as
lastyear.Amazontoseewild Emily Portrass nothing comes up, I shall pencil in a return with my
discusandstingrays. Kings Lynn camera for the 4th. Any other readers care to join
Amazing! us? Emily is at Maidenhead Aquatics Kings Lynn,
Finn Murray: Iwouldreally Nathan replies: I do indeed remember that Dobbies garden centre, Hardwick road, Kings Lynn,
lovetogototheAmazontosee meeting, as well as the fish we saw. I remember the Norfolk, PE30 4WQ.
allthetetrasandalsogoto
gouramihabitatsinSoutheast
AsiatoseemyThreespot
gourami’s,Dave’s,wild
counterparts.
Where are the goldfish at?
Tim Armstrong: Lake Inle. I’m a goldfish and coldwater fish are few goldfish-only events I
Charlottle Glynn: Lake fancier and my fiancé’s dad is a know of, and for more details on
Malawi and Lake Tanganyika. tropical fish fancier. them you’ll need to contact either
NATHAN HILL
Simon John Hill: Dive in the I’ve been scouring the internet the NPGS at
Amazon to see the deep water for fish shows and exhibitions northerngoldfishsociety.com, the
sponges and accompanying and finding very little info. So, I’m BAS at www. bristol-aquarists.
inhabitants of that ecosystem. asking are there any fish org.uk, or the GSGB at gsgb.co.uk. viewings here are by appointment,
Carl Brownlow: Any stream, exhibitions in the UK that the There are also several goldfish however!
lake or river in the Indo public can visit and buy from? open days at Star Fisheries, 94a Do readers know of other
Pacific isles. Looking for Sincerely, Benhill Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 goldfish shows around the UK?
rainbowfish and loaches. Spencer Lucas 3RX. You can check their website Perhaps you host one yourself. If
Michael Berluti: Great at starfisheries.co.uk, or give them so, we’d love to hear from you so
Barrier Reef please. Nathan replies: Hi Lucas, there a ring on 0208 9150455 – all we can spread the word! ❯
AMBER WIELAND
OMirror image. MIKE CALNUN O Plenty of scope for ’scapes.
Hatchet fish are arguably the ultimate surface dwelling community fish, Tiny tanks can be the perfect place to perfect your aquascaping skills
rarely moving from position just under the surface. They are excellent and Amber Wieland’s gorgeous 25 litre tank shows just how good such a
jumpers though so tight fitting covers are a must. This reflective fish was small scape can look when done properly.
taken by Mike Calnun.
O Pining for Plecos?

O Bright red Pike. If unusual Loricariids are your thing, then
Young Flag-tailed Prochilodus, (Semaprochilodus how about this striking Orange Cheek
insignis) can be tempting to the unwary but with an Pine-cone, (Pseudorinelepis sp. L095)
adult length in excess of 40cm/14” then make sure which belongs to Chris Edwards.
you have a suitably large tank before taking one on.
This photo was taken by Stirling Beardwell.
STIRLING BEARDWELL
CHRIS EDWARDS
O Bright red Pike.

Pike Cichlids are a gorgeous group of
predatory South American fish that
don’t always get the attention they
deserve in the hobby. This stunning
Atabo Red Pike, (Crenicichla lugubris)
belongs to Adam Langley.
ADAM LANGLEY
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MARINE
Anthias
Brightly coloured Anthias may

look like butter wouldn’t melt, but
looks can be deceiving. Jealous
males can be highly aggressive,
so give them plenty of space.
MARK
BEESTON
Displays supervisor
at Blue Reef
Aquarium, Mark has
qualifications in
Marine Biology and
Ecology.
A group of Anthias
is always a stunning
ALAMY
spectacle.
There are currently 63
species of Pseudanthias
listed on the online
fish database
fishbase.com
MARINE
Anthias
T
HE TAIL end of 2017 illustrates their relationship to
was an exciting time groupers and basses. The genus
for fishkeepers across we’re interested in are its smaller
the UK as Sir David cousins, the Pseudanthias.
Attenborough’s Confusingly, these are also
soothing tones drew commonly referred to as Anthias (or
us once again into the Sea goldies if you’re American) but
undersea world of are a much more manageable size,
spectacular reefs and bizarre with most only hitting 15cm/6” for
creatures. a large male.
As the camera pans out across a Of these, a handful of species are
tropical reef crest, hordes of intense commonly available, usually the
orange and purple fish catch our eye, relatively hardy Lyretail anthias
glowing in the sunlit water in vivid (Pseudanthias squamipinnis), while a
contrast to the blues of the sea bewildering assortment of other
behind them, before dashing into the family members pop up from time
refuge of a coral head. to time.
These iconic fish are the Anthias, a As you can imagine, with so much
large and taxonomically complex variety there is no definitive ‘one
family comprising nearly 100 size fits all’ recipe for keeping
different species and rivalling the Pseudanthias in the home aquarium.
damsels for their success in There are a few key things they
colonising reefs worldwide. have in common though.
The original Anthias anthias
(Linnaeus, 1758) is a 25cm/10” Not all sweetness and light
SHUTTERSTOCK
SHUTTERSTOCK
P. dispar shows there is

beast found across the The key to success with Anthias is
diversity in shape among
Mediterranean and subtropical to understand their wild behaviours Anthias as well as colour.
northern Africa and clearly and social structures. Those
If a large, dominant male

dies the largest female of
the group will transform
into a male to take his
place.
Anthias naturally
congregate in huge
numbers around
ALAMY
wrecks and reefs.
bright-coloured shoals gracing your

TV screen are not all cooperative.
To keep an Anthias Pseudanthias are protogynous
hermaphrodites and it’s not
Instead, these large groups are
made up of multiple individual
harem you’re going to uncommon for a large female to
make the transition to being male
harems of six to 10 females, each need enough space for to fill the void. While this can
jealously guarded by a dominant sometimes work out in very large
male competing for that perfect spot your flashy male to parade tanks where they can hold their
to be able to feed, escape to safety
when predators approach, and
around looking gorgeous own territories, usually two males
of the same Anthias species sharing
attract the most mates.
Within each harem the females
and everyone else to keep a tank won’t have a happy ending.
Similar looking fish are also
also bicker and squabble to maintain out of his way. occasionally regarded as
a complex hierarchy, and, if a male competitors and chased off, but
Anthias is successful in luring generally Anthias cohabit well with
another female to his harem, she to outright murder, with some other peaceful to mildly aggressive
may not receive a warm welcome species more prone to homicide tankmates. Wild distribution
from the existing alpha female. than others. Larger, more confident overlaps with the similarly behaved
Usually the male will position species can be kept singly in a Blue-green Chromis Chromis viridis
himself at the head of the group to mixed reef and all this drama and keeping groups of both in the
best show off and keep an eye on avoided, otherwise go for six to same aquarium can look stunning.
rivals. Dominant females will group eight females to one male or The display tank should be
below him and the smallest juvenile four to five females per male furnished with as much live rock as
or subordinate females will be at the for the diminutive P. tuka. possible, with plenty of open water
bottom. Add all members of the above where the fish can hover.
Obviously then, to keep an Anthias group simultaneously, as In bare tanks Anthias may refuse to
harem you’re going to need enough too few females will come out into the open, but provide
space for your flashy male to parade usually find themselves them with branching hard corals or
around looking gorgeous and more or less constantly complex rockwork into which they
everyone else to keep out of his way harassed until only a pair can retreat when startled and they
when they need to. or the lone male remains. will reward you by being visible and
Aggression levels vary from Add too many females and active all day, only disappearing
occasional chasing and jaw-locking you may get a surprise: at night.
MARINE
Anthias
LEFT:
The Hawaiian
P. ventralis.
BELOW LEFT:
P. aurulentus from
Eastern Central
Pacific.
BELOW RIGHT:
Aggression between
dominant males is
widely dispersed in
such large shoals
which just can not
be replicated in all
but the largest of
home aquariums.
NATIONAL MARINE SANCTURIES

Let it flow, let it flow the weakest individual in a captive be lucky if they last six weeks before
While their hulking cousins, the group disappearing, followed by the starving. Two feeds daily should be
groupers, cruise around the reefs next one, and the next one. If this regarded as a minimum — four is
hunting for food, Pseudanthias prefer begins to happen, rather than better. To make things more difficult,
to let their food come to them. labelling your larger fish as bullies, Anthias sometimes refuse to feed
Without exception, these fish consider that either they are being entirely when stressed, and live
congregate in hotspots of high offered too much food with not foods are nearly always needed to
water movement, riding the currents enough water movement, or not get them eating when this happens.
which continually deliver a stream enough food, and are competing for Fortunately, pelagic copepods and
of small planktonic food items for limited resources. brine shrimp are now readily
them to snatch from the water available from your LFS, although
column. Speaking of food… the latter lack much in the way of
Pseudanthias are so tuned in to Anthias need a lot of it. In the wild nutritional value once they’ve been
movement when feeding that no they experience up to 12 hours of sitting in a bag in a refrigerator for a
matter how many garlic-soaked daylight and will be on the lookout few days. If you have the time and
treats you throw at them, they’ll for food the entire time. Offer a space, a couple of brine shrimp
inevitably ignore them if they’re not pinch of flake once a day and you’ll hatcheries can be an advantage.
whizzing past their faces at a rate of
knots. Fortunately this isn’t a
problem in most reef aquariums, but
it is something to think about if you
set up a quarantine tank for them.
Add a spare wavemaker and you’ll
have much more success getting
them feeding.
If you want to maintain a group –
and who doesn’t – then the
continual expenditure of energy
holding position in fast flow is
important here, too. Any Anthias
with excess energy will generally
NEIL HEPWORTH
SHUTTERSTOCK
decide to take it out on other

Anthias that are lower in the social
pecking order. This can often lead to
Brine shrimp that are 48 hours old straight away. An efficient benthic goes out the window and they can
are an excellent food for small clean-up crew to mop up their be surprisingly hardy, greedy and
Anthias, as long as you remember to leftovers is a good idea, otherwise long lived.
feed them an enriching product for you may find populations of less So are they worth all the hassle?
the second day. desirable scavengers — like Absolutely. Too often we see
Add frozen foods such as Cyclops, bristleworms — can beautiful reefs stocked with
Only buy Anthias if you have
fish eggs, Artemia, grated Mysis or explode. a hodge-podge assortment
even bloodworm alongside the live To maintain good water
seen them feeding in holding of individual fish while
stuff and your fish should quickly quality with all these tanks. Ask your LFS for a aquarists spend hours
make the transition to frozen. regular feeds, nutrient demonstration if researching whether they
Hopefully though, they will already removal via protein skimming or you’re unsure may or may not be compatible
have been weaned on to non-living algal refugiums is essential. The tank mates.
food before you purchase them – latter has the added bonus of Swap out your random menagerie
never buy Anthias unless your LFS housing populations of tiny for a group of eye-catching, active
can demonstrate them feeding in the crustacea which provide a small and completely reef-safe
holding tanks first. amount of supplementary live food Pseudanthias and suddenly your
In time, species like P. squamipinnis to the aquarium. Once the Anthias aquarium will have the coherent
will usually take pellets and even have made themselves at home, visual impact you didn’t realise it
flake, but don’t expect them to do it however, any reluctance to feed was missing.
MARINE
Anthias
FACTFILE
LYRETAIL ANTHIAS, WRECKFISH
6Scientific name: Pseudanthias squamipinnis.
6Size: Up to 15cm for a large male, usually smaller. Around 10cm for females.
6Origin: Widespread from the Red Sea and African coast across the Indo-Pacific.
6Habitat: Closely associated
shallow water with powerful
6Aquarium size: 200 l for a s
6Water requirements: 8 to 8
6Temperature: 22-29ºC
6Temperament: Moderately a
retreat from the dominant m
6Feeding: Good-quality froze
6Availability and cost: Comm
and colour.
NEIL HEPWORTH
200 l+
RICARD ZERPE
ALAMY
FACTFILE FACTFILE
RESPLENDENT ANTHIAS, LONGFIN ANTHIAS HUCHT’S ANTHIAS, RED-CHEEK ANTHIAS
6Scientific name: Pseudanthias pulcherrimus. 6Scientific name: Pseudanthias huchtii.
6Size: 7cm. 6Size: Up to 12cm.
6Origin: Indian Ocean, Maldives and West Australia. 6Origin: Indo-Pacific from the Philippines to Vanuatu and northern Australia.
6Habitat: Shallow reefs and reef slopes from 10 to 70m depth. 6Habitat: Shallow reefs and reef crests, often interacts with P. squamipinnis.
6Aquarium size: 150 l for a single, 250 l+ for a group. 6Aquarium size: 200 l for a single, 500 l for a group.
6Water requirements: 8 to 8.4pH, 8 to 12°KH, 1.020 to 6Water requirements: 8 to 8.4pH, 8 to 12°KH, 1.020 to
1.025 specific gravity. 1.025 specific gravity.
6Temperature: 23-27°C 6Temperature: 23-27°C
6Temperament: Relatively non-aggressive and the 6Temperament: One of the more aggressive Anthias
easiest small Anthias to keep, although not as tough as available, but can work well in mixed species groups in
P. bartlettorum or P. squamipinnis. larger aquaria. Hardy once settled.
6Feeding: Good quality frozen or live foods 2-4 times 6Feeding: Good quality frozen or live foods 2-4 times
daily. Can be tricky when first imported. daily.
6Availability and cost: Less commonly stocked, around
£30+.
150 l+ 6Availability and cost: Sporadic, from around £30+.
200 l+
MP & C PIEDNOIR, AQUAPRESS.COM
ALAMY
FACTFILE FACTFILE
BARTLETT’S ANTHIAS SUNSET ANTHIAS
6Scientific name: Pseudanthias bartlettorum. 6Scientific name: Pseudanthias parvirostris.
6Size: 10cm. 6Size: Up to 8cm.
6Origin: Pacific Ocean, Pulau to the Marshall Islands. 6Origin: Indo-Pacific from Japan to northern Australia.
6Habitat: Reef crests in shallow, sunny waters from 4 to 30m depth. 6Habitat: A deepwater Anthias found below 40m depth hugging the reef slopes or
6Aquarium size: 200 l for a singleton, 325 l+ for a group. over rubble substrates.
6Water requirements: 8 to 8.4pH, 8 to 12°KH, 1.020 to 6Aquarium size: 150 l for one, 300 l+ for a group.
1.025 specific gravity. 6Water requirements: 8 to 8.4pH, 8 to 12°KH, 1.020 to
6Temperature: 23-27°C. 1.025 specific gravity.
6Temperament: Aggression levels vary with the 6Temperature: 23-26°C
occasional nasty male. Generally they are at the milder 6Temperament: Less aggressive, but like many fish
end of the Anthias spectrum and are also relatively collected from deeper water may be tricky to acclimate
hardy which perhaps makes them the best choice for and requires subdued lighting. Easy to keep once settled.
a reef tank. The only drawback is the price. 6Feeding: As with all Pseudanthias, offer multiple daily
6Feeding: Good quality frozen or live foods 2-4 times
daily.
200 l+ feeds of good quality live or frozen food.
6Availability and cost: Sporadically available, from £30+.
150 l+
FACTFILE
PURPLE QUEEN ANTHIAS
6Scientific name: Pseudanthias tuka.
6Size: Reportedly 12cm for an adult male, more likely 9cm max in captivity.
Usually offered at 4-5cm in
6Origin: From the Philippine
6Habitat: Outer reef slopes/r
6Aquarium size: 150 l for a
females in 250l+.
6Water requirements: 8 to
6Temperature: 23-28ºC.
6Temperament: P. tuka mai
mannered than other Anthi
tank mates.
6Feeding: Difficult to get fee
initial success. Mixing with
Anthias can observe feedin
6Availability and cost: Often
but purchase with caution.
may be confused with the l
P. pasculus. Usually, the P.
in the dorsal fin, while dors
tends to extend from the fin
body surface. Always ask to
feeding before you buy.
150 l+
ALAMY
TROPICAL
Readers tank
Colin Dunlop takes inspiration from wild streams

for his most recent aquarium. He explains why
sometimes it’s best to just go with the flow…
NONN PANVITONG
Place your tank for Opsarius
carefully – even after several
months they still startle very
easily and dash about
in a frantic
S
OMETIMES IT’S nice group of fish from South-east Asia,
to just turn everything often sold as Hillstream trout, would state
on its head and try fit the bill nicely and was something
something totally I had wanted to keep for a while.
different. We are
fortunate that such is Aquascaping FAC TFILE
the variety within our I used a 120x45x45cm tank, large
COMMON NAME
hobby that we can enough to allow a decent flow of 6Scientific name: Opsarius bernatziki
The perfect river- chop and change within different water and accommodation for the (Op-sarr-ee-uss burn-at-zee-key)
dwelling shape. styles of fishkeeping. My fish usually fast fish. The substrate consisted of 6Origin: Asia, Malay Peninsula
come from blackwater swamps, children’s play-pit sand, bought from 6Size: Up to 9.1cm
ditches and other slow-moving a discount supermarket, with a few 6Tank size: At least 120x45cm
waters. So, when I made the scattered handfuls of aquarium pea 6Water requirements: Fast-flowing and
acidic to slightly alkaline: 6.0-7.5 pH
decision to set up a fast-flowing gravel. I’ve been using these bags of
6Temperature: 18-26°C
river tank – as far away from my sand for over 10 years with no issues 6Feeding: Flakes, pellets, live and frozen
usual fishkeeping style as possible and the colour tends to look quite Daphnia,
– it felt somewhat like an epiphany. natural. The pea gravel offers a bloodworm,
The idea for my new setup was more natural substrate with varying Artemia and
COLIN actually very simple – lots of sizes and colours, such as might be chopped 250 l+
earthworms
DUNLOP turbulent water movement, a shoal found in a real stream.
6Availability and
of fast-moving fish and a couple of My tap water is naturally very soft, cost: Very rare to
Colin is a senior
consultant ecologist other interesting species to scoot so there is a tendency for the pH to find for sale in the
with a long history about on the substrate. I had no crash to as low as 3.0 fairly quickly. UK; the last I saw
of working in zoos specific plan about which species of While that’s okay for many of my were £14 each
and aquatics. fish I would keep; however, one blackwater fish, for this setup I
TROPICAL
Readers tank
needed about 6-7 pH and soft to naturally occurring shafts of light oxygenated, clear and free from a
medium hardness of water. So, I that appear through a canopy of build-up in organic wastes. Cue the
added a few handfuls of dark branches. I achieved this by using big filter and powerheads!
aragonite sand to buffer the water lights that would ordinarily be A large external filter is the best
and prevent any pH mishaps. classed as too small in relation to choice here, as it has a high turnover
The main structure of the aquarium the size of the aquarium, as well as rate, a large area for biological filter
consists of variously sized cobbles spotlight LED bulbs, which media and the space for activated
and rocks, either bought from a local produced dark and light spots, all carbon to help ensure clear water is
garden centre or collected from my creating a shimmering effect maintained with no staining.
own garden. If you’re unsure about reminiscent of sunlight on a I also used a ‘wave maker’
the safety of any cobbles you’ve river bed. My observations type of powerhead; which
bought or found, you can put them of wild fish in streams is multi-directional and,
in a bucket of water for a few days led me to believe therefore, made it
and observe if they have any effect that most of my easy to aim the
This style of tank needs
on the water parameters; my fish would stream of water
cobbles were given a quick rinse and spend time in
large, regular water changes. where desired.
placed into the tank. Before this I’d the dappled I carry out 50% each week This water pump ABOVE:
to ensure water Hierarchies in
added about 5-6cm of sand to allow shade of the banks, was over-spec for shoals can lead
for some cushioning between the and so when the shoal conditions stay the size of my to captivating
cobbles and glass. Most plants won’t moved from a dark to optimal aquarium and did not behaviour and
appreciate the fast water movement, light area, the effect would disappoint. The outlet for the displays.
so I added height to the decor by be dramatic, especially for the external filter and the powerhead
using branches of oak and beech I’d highly iridescent Hillstream trout. are both situated in the tank’s far-left BELOW:
previously gathered. corner and this produces a circular Colin’s great
example of a
Water quality movement of water. communitope:
Finding the light Fish which come from a fast-flowing This flow means that the shoaling replicating a
In terms of lighting, I wanted hillstream habitat are usually very fish tend to situate themselves right type of habitat
to replicate the river setting as intolerant of poor water quality; in the middle of the tank or towards with a mixture
closely as possible, mimicking the their typical natural habitats are well the front, ensuring prime position of suited fish.
for viewing. I also ensured that the
positioning of the cobbles and
branches created areas of quiet
water where my fish can rest and
sleep – as opposed to living in a
constant ‘washing machine-style’
environment.
Of far-flung origin
The fish stock was added gradually
over a few months and it has now
reached my ideal stocking level.
COLIN DUNLOP
I have a shoal of 12 Opsarius
bernatziki, a Blue hillstream trout
species from northwest Thailand, a
group of six Steatocranus tinanti
Hillstream fish’s slender blockhead cichlids, from the
fast-flowing waters of the Congo,
natural habitats are How to feed and two species of loach. I chose a
I have found the best way to feed these small group of a Sewellia species
well oxygenated, fish is little and often – it’s a balancing being sold as S. lineolata and a group
clear and free from act to ensure that the flake doesn’t
immediately get sucked into the powerful
of Horseface loaches from the
Acantopsis genus. Of paramount
a build-up in filter, and that the bottom-dwelling fish
get enough food. Sinking tablets can work
importance is that all of these fish
are rheophilic, preferring flowing
organic wastes… well for them if added to the opposite water that is high in oxygen content
side of the tank from the filter. and fairly cool. My tank is
cue the big filter maintained at 20-24°C, with the
and powerheads cooler temperatures being present at
night and during the winter months.
I have kept Sewellia and S. tinanti in
the past but this tank has really
brought out the best of these fish; it’s
clear that they are much more
content in these surroundings.
Each of the species has its own
niche within the tank and they rarely
interact beyond their own kind. The
Opsarius formed a hierarchical shoal
and position themselves front and
centre of the tank facing into the
current. There is a lead male fish
that is usually positioned 10cm in
front of the rest of the shoal and
seems to keep the rest of the gang in
line; his position gives him the first
chance to see if anything in the
water column floating towards them
is edible. Behind him are two less
dominant males, and these three fish
control the others by chasing and
nipping, although no damage is ever
caused. This behaviour, for me, is the
tank’s highlight.
I once made the mistake of adding
six homebred Rainbow shiners,
Notropis chrosomus, to the tank and
their addition upset the whole
COLIN DUNLOP
balance and hierarchy of the group.

The shiners just didn’t understand
the rules of the shoal and although
TROPICAL
Readers tank
they were not injured, their presence with a small group of fry, but I think
seriously altered the behaviour of the chances of any young surviving
the Opsarius. When I eventually will be slim. The Horseface loaches
Where it all began... made the decision to remove them, are usually always visible sitting on
My inspiration was taken from my day job as order was very quickly restored. top of the sand, but can often be
an ecologist while we were electrofishing a The Steatocranus usually perch found buried within it, with only
small, fast-flowing stream. The purpose of the themselves on a high vantage point their pointed snouts visible. This
work was a rescue mission to catch and move within the tank, keeping a lookout species may eventually get too large
any fish we found in a section of a stream for intruders and feeding time. They for the tank but I’ve not yet been able
where the watercourse was being diverted move about in the tank in a way to get an accurate identification.
due to a flood prevention scheme. reminiscent of gobies, hopping The Sewellia are absolutely in their
I was captivated by the water movement along the substrate due to their element in this tank and their ability
through the riffles and eddies and wanted to greatly reduced swimbladders. They to use their entire under-surface as a
see if this was possible to recreate in the often chase each other but these suction device for holding on in fast
home aquarium. pursuits are very short lived and I’ve currents is truly on display. They
never seen any harm caused as a can even be found right at the outlet
result. I’ve recently seen a female of the water pumps.
FAC TFILE
COMMON NAME
6Scientific name: Sewellia lineolata
(Soo-well-ee-ah lin-ee-oh-lah-ta)
6Origin: Asia: China, Vietnam, Cambodia
70 l+
6Size: Up to 5.7cm
6Tank Size: At least 75x30x30cm
6Water Requirements: Acidic to neutral:
6.0-7.5 pH
6Temperature: 20-24°C
6Feeding: Algae and aufwuchs-covered rocks
should be supplied, along with algae wafers and tablets, frozen
greenfood mixes and dried algae sheets
COLIN DUNLOP
6Availability and cost: Relatively common (check coldwater sections

of stores); prices start at around £4.50
COLIN DUNLOP
COLIN DUNLOP
FAC TFILE FAC TFILE

COMMON NAME COMMON NAME
6Scientific name: Steatocranus tinanti (Stee-at-oh-cray- 6Scientific name: Acantopsis choirorhynchos
nuss tin-ant-eye)
6Origin: Africa: Pool Malepo and The Democratic Republic
100 l+ (Ay-can-top-sis kye-row-rink-kos)
6Origin: Asia: India, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaya,
240 l+
of Congo, the lower Congo River Indonesia, Borneo and Vietnam. From the Chao Phraya and
6Size: Up to 13cm Mekong river basins
6Tank Size: 90x38x30cm 6Size: Up to 30cm
6Water requirements: Freshwater; acidic to slightly 6Tank size: 120x45x45cm
alkaline; 6.0-8.9 pH 6Water requirements: Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline;
6Temperature: 25°C-27°C 6.0-8.0 pH
6Feeding: Will accept dried pellets or flakes, but these should be supplemented 6Temperature: 16-24°C
with regular feedings of live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, Daphnia 6Feeding: Sinking pellets and granules, live and frozen Daphnia, bloodworm
and Artemia and Artemia
6Availability and cost: Uncommon finds; start at around £7.50 each 6Availability and cost: Relatively common, starting at £1.99
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Answers
Send your questions to It’s important to diagnose
PFK and you’ll receive a TROPICAL before treating.
personalised reply from
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Remember to include as
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can about your set-up — a
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for the letter of the month.
OUR TEAM OF EXPERTS

TRISTAN LOUGHER
works in aquatic retail
and has sold marines
for 15 years. He has
written books and
taken part in research
Q. Should I treat these fish for
projects. Tristan works
at Cheshire Aquatics. internal parasites?
BOB MEHEN
has been keeping fish I have just restocked my 120 l/27 gal aquarium balanced diet, good water quality, and an
since the 1970s and with 12 Dwarf puffers, but from reading online, aquarium that doesn’t expose the fish to bullying
has a particular passion it would seem that at least a couple may be or other sources of stress, the fish’s own immune
for catfish. He helps to
moderate the PFK
carrying internal parasites. There are currently system will keep parasites in check.
website forum and no signs of a problem, however I think it may be Medicines pose risks because they are poisons
excels at advising and best to medicate. Should I treat the water or the at some fundamental level. Some aquarists are
guiding new keepers. food? And what product do you recommend? in the habit of randomly adding medicines ‘just
GEORGE FARMER
SCOTT, EMAIL in case’ something might go wrong. The problem
is a world-renowned is that very few of us are trained vets, so we don’t
aquascaper. He
co-founded the UK
Aquatic Plant Society
A Pre-emptive treating of wild-caught fish is
sometimes worthwhile, but often
unnecessary if quarantining passes without
really understand what we’re doing. If fish exhibit
symptoms, we can at least compare them against
what we read in books, and choose a medicine to
and now works as a
freelance aquatic problems. Some aquarists carry out deworming treat that complaint. But ‘internal parasites’
specialist. – medications based on praziquantel being the covers a whole range of pathogens, including
easiest to obtain and use, though not necessarily bacteria, segmented worms, ciliate protozoans
NATHAN HILL
is PFK’s associate editor.
the most efective. It’s fairly commonly done with and more. Each would need a diferent medicine,
He’s worked as a public high-value fish known to be prone to worm and unless you’re a vet who has performed some
aquarist, managed problems, such as Discus and Clown loaches. sort of investigation, there’s no way to know. Of
a number of aquatic The use of antibiotics such as metronidazole is course, should red worms start wriggling out of
stores and has
lectured in aquatics.
not something British aquarists can do easily, as the fish’s anus, you’d be justified in suspecting
these medications are, rightly, controlled by vets. Camallanus worms and choosing something
JEREMY GAY The common cure-alls you see in aquarium known to treat these, but if your fish are
has kept fish most of shops are far less efective, and in some cases symptom-free, whatever medication you choose
his life. He’s managed
an award-winning
may do more harm than good. Pufers, for will basically be a shot in the dark.
store and is a former example, are notably intolerant of formalin and If you are treating something specific, such as
PFK editor. He’s now copper-based medications. Hexamita or Camallanus, medicated food is
Evolution Aqua’s The thing to remember about wild fish is that often better. This should get the medicine into
business development
manager.
while they may well be carrying parasites of the fish without it being diluted too quickly in the
some sort, if the fish is otherwise in good health, tank. More to the point, you can ensure it gets to
NEALE MONKS these pose little or no harm. In fact, some the sick fish without being wasted on the healthy
NEIL HEPWORTH
has kept fish for over experienced aquarists have argued that even ones. The problem is that the correct dosage is
20 years. He has
authored a number of
farmed fish will be bought carrying parasites usually dependent on size – you need a certain
fishkeeping books and such as Hexamita, and where these cause amount per gramme of the fish’s body mass –
has a particular passion sickness it’s often more about the fish being and it can be diicult to estimate a fish’s weight.
for brackish species. stressed than the parasites themselves. Given a NEALE MONKS
❯
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Fishkeeping Answers
TROPICAL Most Clown loaches
have been farmed using
artificial hormones.
Q. How do I set up
to breed Clown
loaches?
I would like to keep a group of Clown Assuming this aquarium measures a bit can help, so feel free to skip feeding
loaches in an aquarium that is large
enough for them to exhibit natural
A 240x90x90cm, which translates into
2026 l/448 gal, it should easily provide an
them for a day or two before ofering them a
vegetarian alternative to their usual meaty
behaviour and maybe even breed. So I excellent home for a group of Clown loaches. fare. A well-rounded diet that covers all the
would be looking at a group of eight or If the price is right, I’d definitely consider this essential food groups will ensure good
more, I believe. a worthwhile investment. health and, potentially, sexually mature
I have recently been offered a 2.4m You are correct that Clowns enjoy being in adults more willing to spawn in captivity.
ex-shop display tank at a very reasonable large groups, and certainly six or more is Used aquaria do pose some challenges.
price and I am wondering whether this usually recommended. Breeding is a bit less For a start, whereas brand new aquaria
would be large enough, and also how I certain though. The specimens seen in shops come carefully packed with polystyrene
should decorate and filter it to best suit are either wild-caught or, probably more and plastic braces to prevent damage, a
their needs. Would they be best in a tank commonly these days, farmed using a process secondhand aquarium will most likely be
on their own or can I keep something else that involves artificial hormones. Obviously, transported as it is, which means you run
with them? What’s the best diet please? that’s not an option at home. the risk of the the glass getting chipped
Also, do you have any advice on moving When it comes to home aquaria, the very few during transit. And any sort of twisting
the somewhat hefty tank? breeding reports are inconsistent, with no while the tank is being moved may pull the
JOSEPH GREAVES, EMAIL clear-cut method being yet identified. We aquarium sealant away from the glass.
don’t really know at what age or size they While replacing old sealant isn’t diicult,
reach sexual maturity, and while identifying and it can be cost efective to replace entire
males and females is usually pinned on the panes of glass, obviously you need to do
LETTER OF THE MONTH chunky shape of the females and longer tail fin both these things with the tank empty,
lobes on the males, there’s no way to know if which means there’s no point buying your
Joseph Greaves wins a box of these supposed diferences are actually Clown loaches until you’re 100% sure the
Tetra goodies: 100ml TetraMin correct given we hardly ever see them aquarium has survived its journey intact.
and TetraPro Colour foods, Holi- breeding. If you get a group though, you Given the sheer size of it, I would advise
day Food, Pleco Algae Wafers, should be fairly certain of getting specimens testing it somewhere a leak won’t cause
FunTips Tablets, 100ml SafeStart,
of each sex, and you can let the fish figure out too much damage, such as a garage or shed.
EasyBalance and AquaSafe water
treatments and Tetra Test 6 in 1. for themselves which sex is which! If your aquarium shop friends routinely
With regards to feeding, clown loaches are deliver and install aquaria, they may be able
more omnivorous than often supposed. While to help you avoid some of these problems.
they definitely enjoy snails, seafood, frozen If you’re working without such help though,
invertebrates and sinking catfish pellets, it’s crucial the aquarium is well supported
they’ll also take fruit and vegetables of various from below at all times, and that when it is
kinds. I’ve seen specimens go for grapes, being moved, the people at each end take
melon, courgette and peas – really, it’s worth great care not to twist the tank – something
trying out anything you might ofer more easily done when you’re carrying it round a
obviously herbivorous fish to see if your corner or loading and unloading the van.
Clowns will go for it. Sometimes starving them NEALE MONKS
Everything you need for healthy fish

TROPICAL
Q. What do I need for these surface-swimming

oddballs?
Please could you give me some
information on keeping African
butterflyfish? Also, what’s best in terms of
African-themed tankmates? Are
butterflyfish inclined to jump? I was
considering an open-topped tank with
floating plants, but if they are prone to
taking a leap I may have to rethink.
MR K CLARKE, SURREY
African butterflyfish, Pantodon

A buchholzi, are notorious jumpers, so
the tank really must be covered. Floating
plants may help inhibit this, and avoiding
nippy tankmates should reduce their
inclination to jump further still, but I’d be
wary. It only takes someone to turn the
lights on suddenly or accidentally bang the
tank to spook them, and before you know it,
you’re hunting for a missing fish.
Although these fish are predators, and will
HRISTO HRISTOV
consume any tankmates small enough to be Butterflies
swallowed whole, they are essentially are known for
peaceful fish and work well in community jumping.
tanks. If you were going for an African-
themed tank, then things like climbing perch
and upside-down catfish are obvious spilopterus, might also be worth a shot. they are not strong swimmers, so avoid
choices. Among the climbing perches, you Some aquarists have found these fish work turbulent currents. Lots of floating
would want to avoid the smallest species of best when kept with bottom feeders such as vegetation is important, whether floating
Microctenopoma and the more aggressive Senegal bichirs; the idea being that this plants or simply tall species allowed to cover
species of Ctenopoma, but that still leaves avoids competition at feeding time as African the surface with their leaves. Lighting should
some real gems including the ever-popular butterflyfish are rather slow feeders. Really, be subdued, at least under the vegetation.
Leopard bushfish Ctenopoma acutirostre and the main thing is to avoid bite-sized or nippy The real challenge is getting these fish to
the underrated Blue-banded climbing perch tankmates, and anything likely to compete feed. Live foods are preferred – wingless fruit
Microctenopoma fasciolatum. for food, swimming space or territory at the flies being particularly popular – but other
If these don’t appeal, consider the more top of the tank, all of which they cannot bear. insects up to the size of small crickets are
docile West African dwarf cichlids, including In other regards, African butterflyfish are readily accepted. They’ll take more traditional
any of the lovely Pelvicachromis species moderately demanding but not diicult to foods too, including good-quality flake, but
widely known as Kribs. While African tetras keep. Their water should be relatively warm they don’t compete well with other fish.
aren’t as well known as their South American (25-28˚C is ideal) and not too hard (around African butterflyfish essentially only snap at
kin, the Congo tetra is certainly an option. 2-12˚H, but slightly harder water will be food immediately around their head, and no
The African red-eyed tetra, Arnoldichthys tolerated). Water quality must be good, but more than a couple of centimetres below the
surface. Once food has sunk below that depth
it’s usually ignored, which is why keeping
Good for community some sort of bottom feeder with your African
tanks with mid- butterflyfish can make a lot of sense.
sized fish. Do note that African Butterflyfish are
territorial. Males and females can be told
apart by the shape of the trailing edge of anal
fin – straight on females, curving outwards
on males. Allow a square foot of surface area
to each specimen, though you may find
some fish buddy up and share shady corners
without antagonism. They are definitely
worth keeping in groups though, and can be
bred in captivity, though the fry are very
NEIL HEPWORTH
small and require infusoria and brine shrimp

nauplii as their first food, which makes them
a bit more of a challenge than some.
NEALE MONKS
❯
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Fishkeeping Answers
Nano tanks are very Smaller Goby species
MARINE limiting for fish but will be suitable for a
there are options. 60 l tank.
ALAMY
ALAMY
Q. What can I keep in this nano reef?

Please could you give me some ideas of fish To be honest, many folks view these very the substrate should be tailored to the
I could keep in a 60 l TMC reef set-up? I’m small tanks as pretty much invert-only zones; shrimp’s need to burrow, so a deep bed of
keeping LPS corals and I also have a couple even the smaller clownfish species aren’t a mixed sand, coral gravel and rubble to a
of reef hermits and a Peppermint shrimp, good choice for the long term, and wrasses depth of 10cm.
which I rarely see. The tank has a tile-type and dwarf angels tend to be too large, active Apart from gobies, assessors are another
light so there is a small gap all the way and/or territorial to do well. good bet. These hardy fish can be very
around the top. I did add a Black goby but However, it is possible to keep some colourful and active – but in a tank of this
it managed to jump out so I’m worried smaller fish. Gobies really are where it’s at size, you should only keep one individual as
about what else to add. here, as the group ofers some tiny, peaceful they can be aggressive with members of
GEOFF HOLLAND, PORTSMOUTH specimens which are ideally suited to the their own kind if space is limited. The Yellow
smaller tank. An ideal species is the Okinawa assessor, Assessor flavissimus, from the
The TMC 60 l nanos are really neat goby, Gobiodon okinawae, which is a striking Western Pacific is regularly available, and
A little tanks – they’re great for smaller
corals plus shrimps and other small mobile
yellow coloration and has bags of
personality; best of all, it only reaches
tops out at 5cm, making it perfect for the
smaller minireef.
invertebrates, but the small size of the around 3cm in length! There are also some tiny blennies worth
system does limit the choice for fish There’s probably enough room to keep a considering – again, these can have lots of
stocking. As you’ve said, there is a gap small Stonogobiops species, and these personality and comedy looks. Many
running around the edge of these tanks can be paired with a pistol shrimp in a blennies get too large, so do research any
which you can’t do much about without fascinating symbiotic partnership. A single species before purchasing. For a tank of
afecting the aesthetics of the tank so there’s S. yasha with an Alpheus pistol shrimp can this size, a Two spot blenny, Ecsenius
always a danger that fish can jump out. be a real centrepiece. The shrimp digs and bimaculatus, would be a good choice. These
Some are more prone to jumping than maintains a burrow that both animals live in; peaceful fish reach a maximum of 5cm.
others, but it’s a risk with anything you add. the goby acts as lookout. Bear in mind that DAVE WOLFENDEN
TROPICAL
Q. What size of air pump is best for tanks with tiny fry?
I have a group of young Betta simplex pump – some of the new tiny ‘stick
that are now starting to show breeding pumps such as the APS-Nano (wh
behaviour. I plan on separating a pair ‘best buy’ in the ‘tanks up to 25 l’
from the main display in to a 10 l category in a recent PFK review) w
breeding tank. My question is what litre be the obvious choice. It is possibl
per minute air pump should I aim for buy valves to put in the airline betw
with a breeding tank of this size? I the pump and air-stone to further
obviously want something that will help output but this can put extra press
keep the water clean but won’t be too the pump causing it to wear quicke
overpowering for the fry. Many breeders don’t bother with
MATT H, EMAIL filtration, relying instead on small,
GABOR HORVATH
regular water changes to keep the

Such a small tank with such delicate water clean.
A fry will need a very low-powered BOB MEHEN

TEMPERATE
Q. How can I make everything rosy for barbs?

Could you tell me how many Rosy barbs it Puntius titteya, or the gorgeous Odessa barb, with the barbs. However, I would recommend
would be possible for me to keep in my Pethia padamya. Their smaller adult size some places to hide and plenty of plants in
90x30x30cm aquarium? I have a Fluval means you could stock at least twice as case the barbs get boisterous. The corys do
106 external filter installed and the many of these as the Rosy barbs, making a need company of their own kind though, so
temperature is about 24°C. I would also more impressive display. I’d advise you to look at stocking five as a
like to keep a couple of Peppered corys. The Peppered corys are another great minimum – but really, the more the merrier!
Would these be compatible? temperate choice and should get along well BOB MEHEN
ELAINE TURPIN, EMAIL
Rosy barbs, Pethia conchonius, are an Rosy barbs get suprisingly

A excellent choice for temperate
aquariums ofering many of the features that
large, Odessa barbs could
be a better option.
attract people to goldfish, but without the
huge adult size. This being said they are still
reasonably large fish with some varieties
reaching 10cm so they need plenty of room
to flourish.
Your tank is only just big enough to keep a
small group of these boisterous fish, perhaps
the maximum I’d recommend would be five.

Temperature wise, at 24°C your tank is at the
top of their tolerance so I would recommend
dropping it down a couple of degrees. It
might be worth considering one of the other
barb species that like similar conditions but
grow to a smaller size – maybe Cherry barbs,
TROPICAL in the hobby. Your 60x30x30cm tank is just

X-ray tetra make great big enough to house a small group of 10 of
community fish. these fish.
X-ray tetra have a wide distribution in their
native South America, being found in
Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana and
northern Brazil.
Many of the species of fish that live
alongside them in the wild are not suitable
due to their size in comparison to that of
your tank, while others are predatory and
would see the tetras as a delicious bufet,
rather than tankmates.
However, there are several species of
Corydoras that live in the same areas as the
X-ray tetras of which the delicately spotted
Corydoras melanistius and the ubiquitous
Bronze catfish, C. aeneus are probably the
most commonly available.
A group of five of either of these fish
would be perfectly at home with the tetras
ALAMY
given a sandy substrate and some cover in

the form of wood and plants. If you are
lucky, then a similar-sized group of rarer
Q. How can I set up for X-ray tetras? Little cory, Corydoras nanus would also be
good companions.
Little X-Ray tetras are extremely adaptable
I am rather taken with the little X-ray tetra, from the same part of the world? in terms of water chemistry, but aim for
Pristella maxillaris, and I’d like to keep JACK FRANCIS, EMAIL soft water, with a pH of 7 or just below, and
some in a 60x30x30cm set-up. both they and the catfish should be fine.
Please could you advise me on the X-ray tetras have a hardy nature Temperature-wise, 25°C is a good fit for all
best number to keep, ideal water
conditions and compatible tankmates
A as well as an attractive pattern and
colouration, making them very popular fish
of these fish.
BOB MEHEN
Fishkeeping Answers
TROPICAL
Q. What’s the best option for

a child’s bedroom tank?
My daughters want a fish tank and have
spent time doing lots of research but we
want to make sure we buy something that
the fish will survive in and will be suitable.
We are thinking of temperate fish as we
have been told they are the easiest to keep.
What size tank should we buy? My
daughter has looked at 60 l/13 gal tanks
– we doubt we can have one any bigger as
she plans to keep it in her bedroom.
My next question is what style of tank to
buy? From what we’ve read it seems a
rectangle is the best shape.
HELEN NASH, EMAIL
It sounds as if you're going about

A looking for your first tank the best way;
plenty of research before taking the plunge.
Too many people leap headfirst into the
hobby only to end up disillusioned as fish
become ill and their new owners struggle
with unsuitable stock and equipment.
A 60 l/13 gal tank is an ideal first aquarium
in terms of volume, and a tank with a Bronze catfish Harlequin rasbora
rectangular floor-plan is always a good
choice as it ofers the greatest surface area
and amount of room for the fish to swim in.
Aesthetically they often look better too, and
you can create a pleasant, balanced
'aquascape' more easily than in a taller, thin
tank or a round ‘bowl’. Smaller ‘nano’ tanks
(less that 25 l) are tempting but their
diminutive size means they greatly restrict
stock choices and can be tricky to keep
ALAMY
ALAMY
balanced in terms of water chemistry.
With regards to which type of fish to stock
I would always recommend tropical Lemon tetra Neon tetra
freshwater fish for newcomers. This ofers
the greatest choice of small, colourful
species ideal for your proposed size of tank,
and the only extra equipment you'll need
compared to temperate fish is a heaterstat,
which shouldn’t cost more than £25 (many
‘all-in’ aquarium kits will come with one).
There is a huge range of aquariums
available now and, like most things, a wide
variation in quality – from budget brands
under £100 ‘all in’, to high-end, top-of-the-
range ‘designer’ tanks costing several times Platy Zebra danio
that. Have a look online and at several
diferent aquatic specialists and see what
you like the look of. All tanks sold in the UK
should reach relevant EU safety standards,
but generally, you get what you pay for.
To carry on your research, I would
recommend you look into ‘fishless cycling’
before you set up the new tank. It really is
the best way to get your tank up and
ALAMY
running ready for its first residents.

ALAMY
BOB MEHEN

TROPICAL TROPICAL
Q. Which are the best dwarf cichlids Q. What larger
to breed? ‘feature cichlids’
I have a 60 l/13 gal aquarium in which I their cousins from the Pelvicachromis
would very much like to keep and breed a
dwarf cichlid of some kind. What would
genus. Smaller still are the Apistogramma,
and both A. cacatuoides and A. agassizi are
can I add?
you recommend? I have been keeping fish straightforward to breed. Could you suggest a slightly larger
for about six years but I have never tried If you have hard water then consider cichlid that I could keep in a 150cm
breeding cichlids, so any advice and ideas Tanganyika cichlids like Brichardi, now tank with rainbows, Harlequins and
you can give would be welcome. Also, known as Neolamprologus pulcher, or the Cardinal tetras. It mustn’t eat plants as
would I need dither fish? fascinating shell-dwelling cichlids like N. I have lots of them in this tank. I was
LOUISE HAYES, EMAIL ocellatus, brevis or multifasciatus. considering Severums but I was told
Consider also Laetacara curviceps, or they would eat the plants.
You have lots of dwarf cichlid breeding Nannacara anomala, which don’t need as
A project options. For ease of keeping,
breeding and availability I would go for
soft water as the Apistogramma, and are
happy in pH neutral conditions.
CRAIG, EMAIL
A larger, plant-friendly, Cardinal

Kribensis, Pelvicachromis pulcher, or any of JEREMY GAY A tetra-friendly cichlid is a tricky one.
Severums, Uaru and Mesonauta will all
There are lots of Dwarf eat plants. Angelfish are plant friendly,
cichlid options for but adults could eat small Cardinals. The
breeding projects. Cupid cichlid, Biotodoma cupido is a
happy medium, being plant friendly and,
I would say, Cardinal tetra friendly, but
avoid extremes in size diference.
Or what about Discus? They are easier
to keep these days and tick both boxes.
Keyhole cichlids, Cleithracara maronii,
can reach 10cm+ if left to grow, and
would make a cheap, widely available

alternative. Adult Bolivian rams,
Mikrogeophagus altispinosa, are things
of beauty, and you could have two pairs
in a 150cm planted tank.
JEREMY GAY
TROPICAL Q. Why is my plec digging?

I am sending a photo of what I believe is a male plec, which I’ve had since
December 2016. He is around 10cm in length. My established and well-planted
aquarium holds 100 l/22 gal, heated to 22°C and filtered by a Fluval 206 external.
Last August I added another (slightly smaller) plec, believed to be a female.
Over the last six weeks, the male has developed a nocturnal habit of burrowing
in the gravel, generally towards or at the front of the aquarium, under plant roots
or rocks, or just producing a series of mounds of gravel. What is he doing? It has
become a daily chore to put my display straight and cover any exposed plant roots.
DAVID TUCKER, EMAIL
Your plec appears to be a male Bristlenose catfish (Ancistrus sp.) and looks in
A fine fettle from the photo. If your second fish is basically a smaller version of
this one, only without the magnificent bristles, then there’s a good chance it is a
female. The behaviour you mention is typical of many plecs, which seem to like to
do a bit of aquatic redesign when given the chance.
You don’t mention whether your fish has any caves, pipes or hollow logs to hide
in. It may be that now he is mature he is attempting to create a suitable place to
raise a family. Male Ancistrus typically entice the female fish into a suitably private
‘cave’ where the eggs will be laid. The female leaves and the male protects the eggs
and fry until they are free swimming. His excavations may just be frustrated attempts
DAVID TUCKER
to make a ‘des res’, so I would try adding some sections of pipe (purpose-made
‘breeding caves’ are also available) to see if this reduces his nocturnal excavations.
BOB MEHEN
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Fishkeeping Answers
TROPICAL
Q. Can I mix these two cichlids?

I have a Rio 180 aquarium and would like to keep a Jack Dempsey
and a Parrot cichlid. Would this be okay while there still juveniles Parrot cichlids tend to
or should I upgrade to a Rio 240 now? How many should I keep mix well with similar
and what else could I put with them? sized fish.
NEIL BENNO, EMAIL
A Jack Dempsey and Parrot cichlid would be fine together,

A but given the adult size of 20cm for both of these fish, you
would be better of starting them in the larger 240 l/53 gal tank. In
my experience Jack Dempsey cichlids are really nervous when
young, so would appreciate other fish there in order to bring them
out and make them display their colours.
For a quieter life, avoid any more cichlids and instead go for
medium sized L-no catfish, medium sized Synodontis species,
Spotted hoplos, Megalechis thoracata, or the Striped Raphael
catfish, Platydoras armatulus. For midwater you could go for Silver
dollars, Metynnis argenteus, adult Red rainbowfish, Glossolepis
SHUTTERSTOCK
incisus or adult Filament barbs, Dawkinsia filamentosa.
If cichlids are definitely your thing, consider Green and Gold
severums, Heros efasciatus, Blue acaras, Andinoacara pulcher, or
more Parrot cichlids. If you want more Jack Dempseys then I
would add similarly sized juveniles now, and decorate the tank
with plenty of territories and bolt-holes. All cichlids will mix with
each other much better if added as juveniles so they grow up
together. It’s when you add adult cichlids to any established
cichlid community that the problems will start.
JEREMY GAY
It’s best to have a tank

that caters for adult
sizes from the off.
NEIL HEPWORTH

MARINE
Q. Which foxface is best for my tank?
NEIL HEPWORTH
There are four types of
fox faces traded to keep
in aquariums.
I would like to add a foxface to my 600 l/132 gal fish-only mixing two or more can result in aggression.
aquarium. However, on researching them I’ve found that there is One often-overlooked aspect of the dietary needs of these fish is
actually more than one species. Which of these would be better their requirement for algae. Supplementary feeding on nori and other
suited to a tank of this size? algal foods (in addition to fresh and frozen meaty fare such as Krill
JOE AGNEW, EMAIL and Mysis) will be necessary to keep your foxface healthy.
Foxfaces tend to keep themselves to themselves, so they’ll fit in with
There are four aquarium species commonly sold as ‘foxfaces’. most semi-aggressive tankmates. They’re reasonably hardy, but can
A The ‘true’ Foxface, Siganus vulpinus, from the Western Pacific;
the Blackspot foxface S. unimaculatus, also from the Western Pacific;
be prone to bacterial infections if water quality takes a dip or other
stressors, such as temperature fluctuations, occur.
the Red foxface, S. magnificus, from the Indian Ocean, and the Fiji Avoid handling foxfaces as they are venomous. If you need to catch
foxface, S. uspi, which comes – as you might expect by the name – the fish, instead of using a net, try to use a small bucket to eliminate
from Fiji. This last one is also the most expensive to buy. the possibility of those venom-tipped fin rays from becoming stuck.
Their requirements are all pretty similar, and they will reach around Never pick one up with your bare hands.
20cm or so. You’ll probably only have room for one individual – DAVE WOLFENDEN
All four are very similar

fish to keep.
SHUTTERSTOCJK
Improve your Fishkeeping
Quality,
not clar
Good water quality is vital for
our fish’s wellbeing, but that
doesn’t mean the same as
crystal clear.
WORDS: DAVE HULSE,
TECHNICAL CONSULTANT AT TETRA
SHUTTERSTOCK
Clear water is great for viewing,

but not always what the fish want.
‘Water quality’ is a description of the physical water. For most hobbyists, water have evolved organs to allow
and chemical properties of the water. Diferent chemical testing kits and test them to breathe air, and will use
fish have diferent environmental requirements strips, are the only way to this special ability if DO levels
and so good water quality for one species measure and determine overall fall. A good example is a
could be dreadful for another. water quality. There is no Corydoras catfish, which darts
Water quality changes over time. ‘Natural’ substitute for regular testing. up to the water surface to take a
pollutants include ammonia, nitrite, nitrate quick gulp of air if the DO level
and phosphate– all compounds released from Signs of trouble is slightly too low. When the air
natural processes in the pond or aquarium, The behaviour and physiology is swallowed, a highly
such as fish metabolism. ‘Unnatural’ pollutants of our fish can tell us much vascularised area of the gut
could include substances added by man, such about water quality. The most allows the uptake of oxygen into
as chlorine in tap water or nasties like heavy common example is the the blood.
metals and pesticides. behaviour of fish in water of low A fish gasping at the surface
dissolved oxygen (DO). When isn’t a unique sign of low DO
Crystal clear? the DO level drops below that levels. Many other parameters
The human eye is not a chemical test kit. Two preferred by a fish they begin to and pollutants can lead to gill
water samples – one perfect for fishkeeping, ventilate their gills at a faster damage that hinders the fish’s
the other with too much ammonia or nitrite and deeper rate, and frequently ability to uptake oxygen by
(toxic fish wastes) or an incorrect pH level – move up to the surface where gasping, even when the DO level
can look identical. the oxygen level should be is adequate for healthy fish.
It is essential to use test kits to determine higher. Other signs of poor water
the quality and measure the properties of the Many tropical freshwater fish quality include algae or blanket
Advertising feature
is so cloudy. Knifefish and Elephant-noses growth, then there are serious implications for
have adapted means of navigating in the water quality.
murky water and locating food Excessive algal growth can cause
through the use of electric fields fluctuations in DO, carbon dioxide and pH
emitted from their body. levels in the pond, which have serious
Murky water isn’t all bad, but it consequences for fish health. Liquid additives,
depends on the source. Murkiness such as Tetra’s Pond AlgoRem, can be efective
due to mineral particles like clays at targeting both floating and pond algae.
causes no real issues and mimics Aquarists all have their preferences in terms
the fish’s natural environment. of water clarity, and with the filtration
Murkiness due to green algae is a technology available today it’s possible to
diferent matter. both maintain terrifically clear water and
The ‘pea soup’ pond is never an provide refuges where our fish feel at ease.
attractive feature in the garden, but while a What’s paramount is the water quality; fish
small amount of algae causes few problems have their set preferences dictated by
for fish, if the algae population blooms evolution and we owe it to them to check the
and the pond becomes choked with water always stays within their boundaries.
SHUTTERSTOCK
SHUTTERSTOCK
Murky water causes faster
growth in some fish.
Corydoras often ‘gulp’ for air

at the surface.
weed, which is an indication of an excess of

plant nutrients in the system, most notably
nitrates or phosphates. Some of this can be
prevented by using products such as Tetra
PhosphateMinus.
XXXXXXXX
Surface foam can indicate excess organic

material in the system, probably due to
overstocking or overfeeding. It’s also a sign
the filter system is underperforming.
Dave Hulse is Tetra’s Technical Consultant. He has 20 years of experience within the
Muddying the waters aquatics industry, and has been involved in education and training for
Given a choice, would our fish choose clear the last 15 years, having taught at both Sparsholt and Reaseheath
water? I suspect not. Many fish, such as Colleges. He is currently based at the School of Life Sciences at Keele
goldfish or carp, prefer the cover provided by University where he turns his hand to other subjects in the biological
murky water as it hides them from predators. sciences — although he usually manages to crowbar a piscatorial
Carp also show better growth rates in murky reference in at some point! With such a varied
water than clear. nd rich background in aquatics, Dave brings a
Many fish such as catfish have superb senses ealth of experience to support Tetra and its
of taste, touch and smell to find food, but their ustomers.
eyes have feeble vision as the water they live in
A slumbering
pond needs a
gentle wake up.
Waking your pond up

NEIL HEPWORTH
from winter’s slumber

As we welcome the warmer months there is plenty of spring
cleaning to be done in and around the pond.
The most important organism in any closed, with pond water is going to help shift any Rather than just a rinse, take the opportunity
aquatic environment is desirable bacteria. built-up sediment that could otherwise choke to open up the casing and clean the impeller
Heterotrophic and nitrifying bacteria form the biological activity. and the impeller chamber. Also check the area
backbone for a balanced system and therefore Our bacteria like clean, well aerated water for damage.
water quality and ultimately fish health with nitrogen compounds to munch The time to be most concerned about
During winter these vital and don’t appreciate physical bacterial activity is when the pond starts to
bacteria dwindle in number ste clogging up their high wake up — when we start feeding the fish
due to temperature rface area homes and making it again.
reduction and a decrease in rder for them to obtain oxygen. You should introduce a low protein fish food
the fish waste they feed on. Don’t be tempted to use the (wheat germ) once the water temperature rises
Below 4°C these beneficial ose just because it’s easy — the to 8°C, but bear in mind that between 4°C and
bacteria start to die of, but hlorine will kill of any healthy 8°C there is very little waste being produced
this often goes pretty much bacteria that may have returned. and therefore very little to re-activate the filter
unnoticed because the rest Seeing as the eiciency of the bacteria.
the environment is quite ump is directly connected to In other words, the quality of the water is
dormant anyway. filter performance, let’s also likely to deteriorate if you start feeding the fish
So, your first job is to tend include a once-over for that daily all of a sudden, and your fish are far from
the filter. A simple clean-ou too. full health as it is.
Basics
Ease into feeding content and support fish health and vitality.
Just remember to use a dechlorinating liquid
When you do start feeding your fish you’ll be or filter your tap water though a dechlorinating
faced with two options. Firstly, you can pod when topping the pond up after hoovering.
balance the amount of food being introduced At this time of year, it’s also worth freshening
with the performance of the filter, adding very up your UV bulb(s) if you have any. If changed
small quantities of food every other or third during months when the sun is gaining
day and monitoring water quality with test momentum the bulb should last for a whole
kits, slowly increasing the frequency of feeds year. It’s also good practice to replace the
as your filter bacteria multiply. ‘o’-rings or at least coat them in silicone
Alternatively, you can balance the grease or Vaseline to prolong their life.
performance of the filter against the quantity
of the food you want to add, forcing the Get your plants potted
maturity of the filter by adding bacteria-
boosting products. This will allow you to feed With equipment checked and refreshed,
the fish more frequently but you’ll still need to built-up waste removed and filter performance
monitor the water quality closely and maintain being monitored, it’s time to turn your Wake up time for a pond also
the balance well. attention to plants and general cleanliness TIP means wake up time for the
around the pond. many parasites in there too. In the
Spring clean the dirt I like to leave last year’s growth on the plants parasite/immune system balance,
until I’m confident there will be no more frosts parasites usually get a head start on
The next step to take is to hoover the pond. because the old growth will protect new early fish, so be vigilant for the outbreak of
Hoovering any leaves up that have found their shoots. Be careful not to cut too far down too disease. Springtime is the time to make
way to the bottom of the pond and any other as you’ll take the top of new growth if you’re sure all your medications are up to date,
organic sediment will help two-fold. Not only overzealous. so look at expiration and replace any
will it remove a large source of waste that If any plants are in need of repotting or that need it.
would otherwise compete for filter attention spitting, now’s not a bad time to do it. It will A good staple to have for springtime is
with fish waste, but it will also keep mineral refresh the nutrients available to the roots so a topical treatment kit such as the one
levels correct. that new growth can be strong and healthy. If shown by Kusuri. This will be invaluable
Rotting leaves release tannic acid and pond repotting isn’t necessary it’s a good idea to in the high-risk outbreak of ulcers which
fish don’t like an acidic environment. To insert a feed stick into the plant basket. require treating at first sight.
remedy this further you could also add a clay These slowly release nutrients to revitalize the
like montmorillonite to boost vital mineral compost and feed plants for up to a year.
IAN JUBB
Hoovering
the pond is a
Springtime chore.
Tablets for lilies are available and probably
more important because Lilies require so
many nutrients and will reward you with
colourful flowers throughout the season if well
feed and mature.
If you turn of your waterfall over the winter it
will need a good wash before turning back on.
The trick here is not to wash leaves, mosses
and muck into the pond — pond hoovers can
help here a lot, allowing you to loosen up
built-up mess and then hoover it away.
Failing that, holding a dustpan at the final lip
of the waterfall and brushing waste down
normally can do a decent job. If lots of algae
has infested the waterfall, a generous
sprinkling of salt can do wonders. Leave it for
10-20 minutes before brushing with a stif
brush and rinsing.
Salt can also be handy for paving around the
pond that may have become slippery with
algae. Always try to brush any soil away from
the pond to avoid clouding the water and
adding unnecessary organic waste, but a small
amount of salt isn’t going to hurt if it is
accidentally washed into the pond.
Most essential throughout the entire spring
period is regular testing. Monitor ammonia,
nitrite and nitrate as well as following the pH,
to ensure that maturation is taking place in the
filter. If it isn’t, it’s likely that immune systems
will fray and diseases will take hold.
ALAMY
REPOTTING A PLANT
1 Line a suitable sized aquatic planting

basket with hessian. This will stop soil
leaking out.
2 Carefully remove the plant from its
existing pot. Some pot bound plants may
need their roots cut to allow this.
3 Add pond suitable soil (not garden soil) to
the basket, filling a few centimetres from
the top.
4 Pat down the pond soil in to the basket,

ensuring the plant is fully encased. 5 Use aquarium or pond (lime free) gravel
to layer over the soil. This will keep it in
place.
6 Trim away any remaining hessian to tidy
up the pot. Job done!
COMMON SPECIES
MP & C PIEDNOIR, AQUAPRESS.COM
SUBJECT TO
INJECTION AND DIPPING
O Albino corydoras
O Glass fish, Parambassis sp.
O Parrot cichlids
O Black widow tetra
O Giant gourami
WHAT’S WRONG WITH INJECTED FISH?

Fish can be artificially coloured in a couple of ways – Dipping or Injecting
DIPPING: Fish have mucous layers stripped, before being dunked

ARE THEY LEGAL?
in concentrated dyes that stain them with artificially bright colours. It IS illegal to dye a fish through
dipping or injection in the UK, but
`Fish are dyed all over including the gills, causing respiration issues. NOT illegal to import or sell them.
Almost all dyed fish are commercially
Ìnk in the body can have serious effects on organ function. produced in the Far East, and
`Stripping away mucus leaves fish open to bacteria and parasites. imported directly.
INJECTING: Fish are stabbed with a needle, and dyes are injected.
They may have patterns or words tattooed on the body. WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Ask if retailers have joined up to
the Practical Fishkeeping Dyed Fish
Àgainst fish body sizes, needles are huge. Imagine your arm being Campaign. Started in 1996, the
injected with a pencil for a comparison. campaign asks retailers to pledge not
Ìnjection sites are access points for infections. to sell any dyed fish.
If you see some on sale, raise your
`Needles are not cleaned or sterilised, risking infection. concerns with store owners. Because
`Chemical embolisms from injection can cause fatalities. dyed fish aren’t always advertised as
Ìnjecting causes granulomas, tumours and cauliflower-like growths. such, staf may genuinely not know they
are stocking them!
`The dyes cause inflammation of skin and muscle tissues. Your voice can help make a diference!
Ìnjecting requires rough handing, which is highly stressful.
TROPICAL
Glassfish
HEAR
OF GLAS We raise a glass to tropical, transparent fish
and argue for their crystal-clear place in
NEALE your aquarium.
MONKS
Neal has authored
many books on
fishkeeping. His
SHUTTERSTOCK
particular passion
is for brackish water
species.
FACTFILE
ASIAN GLASS CATFISH
6Scientific name: Kryptopterus
vitreolus.
6Origin: India, though similar species
are found in Burma and South-east
Asia.
6Size: 6–7cm is typical, occasionally a
little bigger.
6Diet: Likes small live foods such as
brine shrimp and Daphnia best, but
will consume good-quality flake food
as well.
6Water chemistry: Adaptable, but not
too hard: 1 to 12˚dH, pH 6.5 to 7 is
ideal.
6Maintenance: This catfish is highly
social and must be kept in a group,
preferably of at least five specimens.
The glass catfish, 100 l+

Kryptopterus vitreolus
is a clear favourite.
TROPICAL
Glassfish
SHUTTERSTOCK
I
ndian Glassfish (Parambassis translucent rather than opaque.
ranga) are probably the best- Try holding a slice of smoked
known transparent fish in salmon up to the light. You’ll see it
the hobby, but there are begin to almost glow as some of the
many others as well. In the rays manage to penetrate through.
right aquarium, all these fish Of course, the thicker the tissue,
have the ability to add a the more light is blocked, so by
special something that even
the most vibrant tetra or barb
default it’s only very small fish that
normally appear to be transparent.
This transparency
cannot compete with. Just look at any fish fry to see that, provides a vital camouflage
Given that fish live in a transparent bar their eyes and bones, they are
world, the fact that Glassfish are all almost always transparent to some for juvenile fish at an
but invisible in their natural habitat
is obviously a useful adaptation.
degree. In such tiny juvenile fish, it’s
really only speckles of pigment in
especially vulnerable stage in
They can sneak up on their prey
unnoticed and, just as usefully, can
the skin and the denser tissues, like
bone, that easily block light. This
their life cycle
avoid being seen by larger predators, transparency provides a vital ABOVE: Delicate very small. This is exactly the
who hunt by sight. camouflage at this especially bones and minimal situation with Danionella, a genus of
vulnerable stage in a fish’s life cycle. skin pigmentation in Danio-like minnows that reach adult
Clearly superior Part of the answer, therefore, is glassfish. status at barely 1cm in length, never
But just how does a creature made that transparent fish retain some gaining either the pigmentation or
of flesh and bone – just like any traits we associate with fish fry – the complete skeletons of their
other fish – manage to make itself namely thin bodies, delicate bones larger cousins.
so crystal-clear? Part of the answer and a lack of skin pigments – which Indian glassfish, however, are a lot
is simple; these are usually small fish together allow some of the light to larger than Danionella, so this alone
with little to no colour pigment in pass through. Indeed, in cannot be the answer. A baby Danio
their skin. Despite what you might evolutionary terms, some glassy fish scaled up to the size of a glassfish
think, most fish tissues, including are simply fry that never grew up; wouldn’t be transparent. Why?
muscle and skin, are in fact reaching sexual maturity while still Because, as we’ve said, a thicker
Glassfish, blending
in beautifully.
ALAMY
Pareutropius When animals evolve into new
buffei, only happy species by retaining the
chunk of muscle or skin will block in a shoal. characteristics of their juvenile
much more light than a thin sliver. forms into the sexually mature
It turns out that Indian glassfish adult state, biologists call
have taken things a step further by this neoteny.
modifying their muscle cells. They
are arranged in just the right way to
allow light waves to pass through
more easily!
Glass half-empty?
Evolution is an exercise in
compromise though, and glassfish
do lose out in two important ways.
The absence of pigment in the skin
means that ultra-violet light can
damage their cells more easily, and
NEIL HEPWORTH
so transparent fish, including

glassfish, must avoid shallow,
brightly-lit environments where
that’s a major risk. FACTFILE FACTFILE
Indeed, to avoid this problem
entirely the majority of glassy fish AFRICAN GLASS CATFISH INDIAN GLASSFISH
6Scientific name: Pareutropius buffei. Scientific name: Parambassis ranga, though P.
6
tend to inhabit dark habitats, such as 6Origin: West Africa, including Benin and Nigeria. siamensis and P. lala are probably imported too.
caves, or else choose to be most 6Size: 7–8cm is typical. Origin: India, though, as noted there are some very
6
active at night. 6Diet: Not fussy; small live and frozen foods similar South-east Asian species in the trade.
Their transparent muscles also preferably but good-quality flake and micro pellets 6Size: 4–7cm depending on the species.
work a little less efficiently than the work too. Diet: Will take all sorts of
6
muscles of non-transparent fish. 6Water chemistry: Adaptable, small live and frozen foods
but avoid extremes; 5 to including brine shrimps,
So, while Indian glassfish are active
fish and can move quickly when
15˚dH, pH 6.5 to 7.5. 100 l+ bloodworms and shrimp 90 l+
6Maintenance: Like the Asian meat.
they have to, they prefer still or and Indian species, this is a Water chemistry: Will adapt to
6
sluggish waters where constant very gregarious, actively most conditions, including
swimming isn’t necessary. Much the schooling species that does slightly brackish water.
same holds true for most other badly when kept alone. Maintenance: Best kept in a
6
glassy fish as well. group of at least five.
Parambassis
SHUTTERSTOCK
ranga is sheer in
appearance and
satisfying to keep.
TROPICAL
Glassfish
H E L P F U L A DV I C E FACTFILE
Lymphocystis GLASS KNIFEFISH
A disease associated with Indian glassfish is lymphocystis, a rare 6Scientific name: Eigenmannia virescens.
example of a viral infection. It’s normally revealed by the 6Origin: Widespread across the Orinoco and Amazon basins of
South America.
appearance of textured growths on a fish’s skin, sometimes
6Size: 30cm is typical, though wild specimens can reach over
described as having the appearance of cauliflower. 40cm in length!
Thankfully, lymphocystis is rarely fatal unless the growths obstruct 6Diet: Consumes insect larvae in the wild, and similar live or
important body parts and, given time, may clear up by itself – frozen foods are preferred in captivity,
although this can take months or even years. Unfortunately, when though some specimens will take
it comes to this infection, it really is a waiting game as, currently, good-quality flake and pellets.
there are no known treatments. 6Water chemistry: Not fussy, but avoid 300 l+
Scientists have studied lymphocystis extensively, and in the wild it very hard water; 1 to 15˚dH, pH 6 to 7.5
SHUTTERSTOCK
seems to be commonest where the water or substrate has become recommended.
polluted, suggesting it is most likely 6Maintenance: Keep at least five to six
specimens, ideally more. The tank should
related to environmental stress. Good
be deep, dark and well-filtered, with plenty
water quality, stable water chemistry a of hiding places to go around.
a varied diet can all help your glassfis
stay in good health.
Dyed glassfish or ‘disco

fish’ – one to avoid!
Sadly, where some see beauty, others see a Introduce Glass Knifefish
blank canvas. In the case of the Indian to large systems of 100 ga
glassfish this has meant the injection of or more, offering them
fluorescent paints into the skin and space they need
muscles, creating what are sometimes thrive.
called ‘Disco fish’.
Some have argued that this is no worse
than getting a tattoo, but the balance of
evidence seems to be that dyed fish are
more prone to diseases than the natural
kind and, whatever the health issues, the
process itself has to be very stressful for the
fish involved.
Dyed fish are only rarely seen in UK shops
these days – not least in part due to a
campaign by PFK to educate hobbyists and
retailers – but if you do see them on sale,
please don’t buy them.
Transparent
fish, including
fish, must avoid
hallow, brightly-lit
environments
FACTFILE
MOUNTAIN CRYSTAL
TETRA
6Scientific name: Protocheirodon pi.
Caption,
6Origin: Southcaprion,
America, including Peru,
caption
Brazil and Bolivia.
6Size: Up to 4cm.
6Diet: Finely-powdered flake food as well
as tiny live foods, such as daphnia.
6Water chemistry: Prefers soft, slightly
acidic conditions; 1 to 15˚dH, pH 6 to 7.5.
6Maintenance: Peaceful, schooling species
that can be bullied by larger tank mates.
Best kept as a large group in a quiet,
planted tank with subdued lighting.
NEIL HEPWORTH
60 l+
FACTFILE
X-RAY TETRA
6Scientific name: Pristella maxillaris.
6Origin: Coastal streams of South America
including Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana.
6Size: Up to 5cm.
6Diet: Flake food plus all the usual frozen
foods.
6Water chemistry: Very adaptable; 2 to
25˚dH, pH 6 to 8.
6Maintenance: A classic tetra for
beginners thanks to its hardiness and
very peaceful personality.
NEIL HEPWORTH
70 l+
FACTFILE
PYGMY GLASS DANIO
6Scientific name: Danionella translucida.
6Origin: Burma.
6Size: Around 1cm, making it among the
smallest freshwater fish known!
6Diet: Finely-powdered flake foods can be
used, alongside very small live or frozen
foods such as brine shrimp nauplii.
6Water chemistry: Aim for 2 to 12˚dH, pH
6.5 to 7.5, while keeping the temperature
around 20˚C.
6Maintenance: Intensely social, so keep in
a large group, certainly at least 10
specimens but the more the better. Given
WHAT MAKES ME DIFFICULT TO KEEP? its tiny size, this is a species best kept in
its own aquarium.
Glass Knifefish and Pgymy Glass Danio can be more
challenging to keep because they enjoy plenty of
NEIL HEPWORTH
company and tailor-made tanks. Think deep and dark for the Glass
NEIL HEPWORTH
Knifefish, and ‘private retreat’ for the precious Pygmy Glass Danio.
30 l+
MARINE
Boxfish
BOX
CLEVER
Cute as a button and dinky as a dice,
baby boxfish lure in many an aquarist.
But do you have the right set up for a
cumbersome fish that can reach 45cm?
TRISTAN
LOUGHER
Tristan is an aquatic
author who has
worked on various
research projects.
His day job is at
ALAMY
Cheshire Aquatics.
NEIL HEPWORTH
BOXFISH STATS
8
There are eight kno
species in the genu
SHUTTERSTOCK
Ostracion.
45
The number of
centimetres this chap
50
SHUTTERSTOCK
The depth in metres the Longhorn
cowfish boxfish swims at in the ocean..
-4
Average years the
boxfish family lives
ALAMY
for in an aquarium
0
pH Temp C
22
to 25.5°F
8
7
30
28
26
24
22
20
temperature range 6 18
16
with an alkaline pH 5
of 8.1 to 8.4 is ideal.
4
150
It might set you back
this many of your hard-
earned £££ to own one.
SHUTTERSTOCK
5
minutes is all it
takes for the
poison (pahutoxin)
ALAMY
2-4
Number of females
a male mates with
to breed.
350
ALAMY
or more litres of
water to live.
MARINE
Boxfish
A
DDING A FISH to Ostraciids include Atlantic trunkfish, to venture into subtropical zones.
a marine aquarium Lactophrys and Acanthostracion, and Boxfish perform agile manoeuvres,
can involve a cowfish, Lactoria spp, together with including 180° turns without forward
certain amount of monotypic genera such as motion. It’s all thanks to a tail acting
risk. Is the aquarium Paracanthostracion, represented by like a rudder and pectoral fins
suitable for its a single species, P. lindsayi, endemic providing propulsion.
requirements? to New Zealand.
Will the new fish There are eight known species in Toxic shocks
introduce disease? Will it be bullied the genus Ostracion. Some have a Boxfish have a geometric shape; the
by the existing residents? These are huge geographical range, while result of fused bony plates (known
all important considerations for others are limited to one or two as dermal plates) that surround the
marine aquarists. remote islands. A Japanese species, body. This gives them a hard
Risks always exist, but through O. immaculatus inhabits temperate carapace that many predators find
SHUTTERSTOCK
sensible stocking and sundry goods waters and other species are known hard to swallow.
like UV sterilisers, these can be If this wasn’t enough to keep them
minimised. Yet there are a handful safe, they excrete a detergent-like
of fish for which the best chemical toxin called pahutoxin
precautions can still be followed and when stressed. After release,
they still represent a risk – despite pahutoxin (formerly known as
being relatively placid. These ostracitoxin) harms exposed fish
include some of the most appealing within as little as three minutes.
and beautiful fish in the hobby, the After release, Death can occur in as few as five.
boxfish of the genus Ostracion.
pahutoxin harms Interestingly, O. meleagris exhibits
heightened resistance to pahutoxin
Basics
Ostracion is a genus of the family
exposed fish whereas other boxfish are just as
susceptible to it as other fish, which
Ostraciidae, itself one of the within as little as will not recover even when placed
subdivisions of the into toxin-free water.
Tetraodontiformes; the order that three minutes. Effects on invertebrates vary. It
SHUTTERSTOCK
SHUTTERSTOCK
contains filefish, Monacanthidae,

Triggerfish, Balistidae, and pufferfish,
Death can occur in can have a narcotic effect on corals
and anemones, where they appear
Tetraodontidae, among others. as few as five sedated, but deaths are rare.
NATISYTHEN
Weird
but true
The shape of a
female boxfish,
Ostracion
meleagris, once
inspired
Mercedes Benz to
design a concept
car, the Bionic, as
it was thought to
offer stability.
Unfortunately for
Mercedes, it
subsequently
appears that the
boxfish’s
inflexible form
actually cre t
Pahutoxin is a surfactant and one from Hawaii. This is home to the
way to remove it is through protein beautiful subspecies O. meleagris
skimming. A quality skimmer is camurum, but they are never seen in
mandatory for an aquarium large numbers.
containing Ostraciids. It doesn’t The yellow boxfish is more
eliminate the risk of poisonings frequently seen but availability is hit
occurring but it may possibly help to and miss. The small, sugar lump-
reduce the impact on the aquarium. sized juveniles are simply too cute to
Chemical absorption media also be resisted by many marine
has use in systems containing aquarists. Alas, they can often prove
boxfish. Carbon is the minimum but too irresistible for their own good.
sophisticated ion exchange resins
such as Seachem’s Purigen might Feeding and competition
ALAMY
help to remove toxins. The natural diet of boxfish is best

I have been lucky not to described as omnivorous; algae
experience a poisoning when makes up a large chunk of their
keeping boxfish, but I have known intake but they will also consume
of situations where boxfish have polychaete worms, crustaceans,
been incorrectly blamed for fish molluscs and even small fish. They’ll
deaths. Unfortunately, poor ignore most corals, stony and soft,
husbandry is often overlooked in large polyp or small polyp, but your
favour of less damning explanations. free-living shrimp and clean-up crew
may not be so lucky. Offering dried
Availability seaweed on a clip is a good way of
Boxfish availability can be sporadic. satiating the perpetual appetites of
Some, such as paired Ostracion these fish but offer regular feedings
meleagris are much sought after, with a diverse array of frozen and
ALAMY
with the better pairs often sourced dried diets in the long term.
MARINE
Boxfish
The Spotted Trunkfish has

been known to kill predators
as large as Nurse Sharks
if it is ingested.
ALAMY
Tanks and tankmates quieter. As they grow they become

Before acquiring a juvenile boxfish stronger swimmers but even so they
the first consideration should be prefer lagoons and sheltered reef
providing a long-term home. These zones. Their sturdy skeleton and ALAMY
are potentially large fish. The male poisonous properties make them an
yellow boxfish, O. cubicus, reaches unappealing meal for predators and
45cm in nature. Not all individuals so rapid movement is less necessary.
will achieve this and females are
smaller, but I’ve seen enough 35cm
In an aquarium, they can tame
easily but their lack of swimming
Juvenile boxfish are
specimens to know that they have a power can make them poor cryptic, often residing
great size potential and will competitors for food at
require a system of at least mealtimes. Ensure you see in caves, crevices and
650 l in order to thrive.
The best aquaria for
them feeding, rather than
assume that they are.
inside corals.
boxfish are those set
up specifically for Due to the ridgid square
boxfish. Suitably shape it’s hard to know if a box
placid tankmates
fish is feeding well. When
should be
included that allow
purchasing make
the boxfish time to feed sure you see it
and are unlikely to harass feeding.
or stress them. Note that
boxfish have sufficient appeal to
warrant a system all to themselves.
Manoeuvrable they may be, strong
swimmers they are not – particularly
when small. They cannot withstand
strong localised water currents
associated with pumps, outlets and
powerheads and can end up being
pulled into strainers. This may be
avoided by using large weir combs
and using stream-type wave pumps
rather than powerheads. Better still,
use controllable wave pumps that
have a phase where the power reduces
significantly for a time, meaning any
trapped fish can release itself.
Juvenile boxfish are cryptic, often
SHUTTERSTOCK
residing in caves, crevices and inside

corals such as branched Acropora
spp. where the water movement is
NEIL HEPWORTH
Although boxfish can be thought

of as generally (but not 100%) coral
safe, they should not be kept with
any sessile invertebrates with a
strong sting. For example, carpet
anemones (Stichodactyla spp) are
unsuitable additions to aquaria
containing boxfish for this reason;
SHUTTERSTOCK
the fish simply aren’t strong enough

to swim out of the grip of the
stinging tentacles. Larger species of
shrimp such as Stenopus may
predate small Ostracion spp. given You simply can’t tell whether a fish stress and observe it closely
the opportunity. is skinny or not. Given the issues afterwards. This is not a fish to
surrounding the toxin release by a acclimate before going out for the
Sexual dimorphism stressed boxfish, aquarists should evening.
Members of the genus Ostracion seek out specimens that have been Assuming we put aside the fact
show different degrees of sexual in the country for extended periods they can poison an entire aquarium,
dimorphism when mature. Females and have had the chance to boxfish are beautiful, unusual,
are smaller and squarer in body recover from the rigour of interesting, colourful and some
shape and may be a completely collection and shipping. are available for a reasonable
different colour to the males. They should be seen price. The question for
Most species follow this rule, feeding, ideally on pellet marine aquarists has to be
including the yellow boxfish, but in or flake diets, but frozen whether they are prepared
this species larger males may also foods will do for most. If to accept the risks of tank
develop a ‘horn’ which is absent in they are kept with constant poisoning that are inherent with
the female. While the female O. access to dried alga such as nori members of the genus Ostracion.
cubicus retains a yellow body with then better still. Bear in mind that It would certainly be wise to
dark spots (sometimes including the tiny 1-2cm individuals have boxfish-proof your aquarium before
some white), the male develops small mouths that can struggle with ABOVE: Haddon’s thinking about stocking one. If you
grey-blue pigments on the head and large food items. Correspondingly carpet anemone, can do this and stock an unstressed,
at the base of the fins. sized morsels should be offered. (Stichodactyla well-settled individual that feeds
If you are happy enough to make a haddoni) is one to enthusiastically on a variety of
ALAMY
A box for you purchase, take the fish straight home avoid with Boxfish. foodstuffs then there’s a good
The rigid exoskeleton of the boxfish and acclimate it in as close to chance you will have success with
makes assessing its condition tricky. darkness as possible to help reduce these fascinating fish.
MARINE
Boxfish
Yeow Boxfish The sight of an aquarium full of dice-

sized yellow boxfish excitedly bobbing
Yellow boxfish are full of character and
will become tame like triggerfish and
6Scientific name: Ostracion cubicus about is enough to test the resolve of puffers but you simply can’t lose sight of
6Where found: Tropical and subtropical even the most sensible and pragmatic of their prodigious growth and the ever-
Indo-Pacific. aquarists. They are intelligent and present danger of their potential for
6Minimum aquarium volume: 650 l. quirky, and therefore appeal to marine toxin release. Fortunately, individuals
(Possibly smaller for a female in a aquarists on so many levels. O. cubicus is that are well recovered from shipping
species aquarium).
the least expensive species in the genus don’t seem to stress easily unless subject
6Availability: Good.
6Size potential: 30-45cm. and their affordability makes them to poor water quality, bullying or other
ALAMY
6Cost: £25-75. vulnerable to a spontaneous purchase. life-threatening situations.
Reticulate Boxfish Arguably the boxfish best suited to the average marine aquarist.
With a modest adult size below 15cm a fully-grown male will suit
6Scientific name: Ostracion solorensis. a system of 350 l or so. Mature males are seldom imported and
6Where found: Tropical Western Pacific and Christmas even juveniles are often overlooked in favour of more obviously
Island in the Indian Ocean. colourful members of this genus. However, those with a little
6Minimum aquarium volume: 350 l, but ideally larger.
6Availability: Reasonable.
patience prepared to seek out a pair will be rewarded with a
6Size potential: 12-13cm. fantastic and incredibly beautiful fish for a fraction of the price of
ALAMY
6Cost: £25-75. a pair of O. meleagris.
Whitley’s Boxfish
6Scientific name: Ostracion whitleyi. Shown here is a female O. whitleyi. Males are a stunning deep blue
Where found: Pacific Ocean; Polynesia
6 with black-margined paler blue stripes on their flanks and white
to Hawaii. spots on their dorsal surface. The fact that they are exported
6Minimum aquarium volume: 450 l. through Hawaii means their collection and care is pretty much as
Availability: Rarely seen but offered by
6
good as it gets before shipping, but that does not make them
Hawaiian exporters.
immune to stress. Where available they are likely to command high
ALAMY
6Size potential: 15 cm.

6Cost: £65-100 or more. prices, although size and sex will have an influence on their cost.
BEWARE
Pahutoxin has a haemolytic
effect, rupturing red blood
cells through fishes’ gills. It’s
of no harm to humans unless
injested or contacting
open wounds.
Black Boxfish
6Scientific name: Ostracion meleagris.
6Where found: Tropical Indo-Pacific. Two subspecies exist. Both sexes are highly attractive and occasionally imported as
including O. meleagris clippertonense from the Eastern Pacific.
male-female pairs. Stress issues aside, this species is renowned for a
6Minimum aquarium volume: 500 l (possibly smaller in a species
aquarium).
reluctance to feed. Live river shrimp may be useful here, as would
6Availability: Sporadic. be adding a pair before more boisterous fish species such as tangs
6Size potential: 12-13cm. join the aquarium. Better still, stock them into a species aquarium.
ALAMY
6Cost: £40-150 or more. Always offer dried algae such as nori on a seaweed clip.
Filling the upper layers of a tank
is a fishkeeper’s nightmare.
Bob Mehen looks at the options.
VERY patrol the fertile mid-waters, seldom seeds and leaves. Many fish have
ENVIRONMENT deviating either up or down unless evolved to take advantage of this
offers a plethora of an obvious, safe food source is abundance, but this is a two-way
niches to be apparent. Some, however, have relationship. Predators lurk above
occupied by the evolved and adapted over millennia and below to take advantage of
species best adapted to utilise the dynamic circumstances smaller or less cautious creatures.
to them, and this is the uppermost levels offer. The surface is fraught with danger.
abundantly clear to The surface of any piece of water is While good aquarium husbandry
anyone who spends even a short a place of opportunity, an interface should remove the risk of predation,
BOB MEHEN time watching the fish we keep in between two worlds which offers the surface-dwelling fish are much
An aquarist since our aquaria. Some fish, the majority chance to benefit from both. The sought after to help fill a tank’s levels
the ‘70s, Bob is a of catfish for instance, spend their struggling motion of careless insects, and allow maximum stocking,
moderator of the PFK time as close to the substrate as trapped by the deceptively powerful without all the fish crowding together
chat room and has a possible, with only the occasional surface tension is certain to attract in one zone. While many fish utilise
special passion for
dalliance with the upper levels of the interest of hungry bystanders, as the full tank, some fish really do
catfish.
the tank. Others seem content to is the regular ‘plop’ of falling fruits, prefer to spend their days on top.
ALAMY
Jumping death-wish
A common problem with surface
The surface of any piece of water is a place of
dwelling aquarium fish is keeping
them inside the aquarium. I’m not
opportunity, an interface between two worlds
talking in terms of ‘tank-busting’ size which offers the chance to benefit from both
or water chemistry, but rather that
the majority seem hell-bent on When a sudden, grizzly end can they perform a handy disappearing
exiting the safe, wet embrace of your come from every direction it doesn’t trick before returning to the waters a
tanks waters for a brief and generally pay to hesitate. Few of these fish will, confusingly safe distance away from
fatal dalliance with the dusty recess with an energetic, powerful leap trouble. Sadly, few of us possess
behind the average aquarium. being their first response to most tanks of a scale to allow such feats of
This apparent death-wish can be unwanted stimuli. In your average athleticism to be safely exhibited, so
explained by the naturally twitchy pond, lake, stream or river this will measures should be put in place to
nature of species evolved to take give them a fighting chance of prevent leaps of faith needing divine
Above: A Platinum
advantage of this transitional surface evading predation, throwing intervention to succeed. The most halfbeak lingers at
zone. would-be predators off the scent as obvious course of action is a the surface.
TROPICAL
Surface Dwellers
tight-fitting cover. Seemingly, many with varying regularity include the

jumpy fish have the ability to leap Common hatchet fish (Gasteropelecus
straight through the only available sternicla), Spotted hatchetfish
gap, usually the one you, the aquarist, (Gasteropelecus maculatus), Silver
have dismissed as too small to need hatchetfish (Gasteropelecus levis),
plugging. You have been warned. Spotfin hatchetfish, (Thoracocharax
If Fort Knox type physical security stellatus), Giant hatchetfish
is not your style and you crave (Thoracocharax securis) and the Dwarf
open-topped tanks, or if the sound of hatchetfish (Carnegiella schereri).
flighty fish bouncing off the cover All are various degrees of silver in
glass every time you pass by is too appearance, with the two
much to bear, then consider a Thoracocharax species being
generous covering of mirror-bright and
floating plants. It’s deeper-bodied than
remarkable the their Gastropelecus
calming effect of a cousins. Ranging in
bit of natural Butterfly fish can ‘feel’ prey size from the Giant,
greenery can have wriggling on the water even if at around 9cm, to
on both the fish and they can’t see it. Handy in the diminutive
the tank owner. A safe the dead of night! Dwarf, with an adult
bolt-hole amongst the size of 2.5cm, there’s a
trailing roots of something Hatchet to fit most tanks.
like Salvinia natans cannot be These are one of the flightiest
overstated. fish. They will jump, and often that
means jumping in to trouble.
Freshwater hatchetfish Wild-caught hatchets can be
Perhaps the most commonly seen delicate when newly-arrived, so get
and most popular surface dwellers the water quality spot on and keep a
are freshwater hatchetfish from the close eye, and quarantine new fish
Gasteropelecidae family. What many where possible to ensure they are in
newer hobbyists don’t realise is there tip-top condition before adding them Note the black
are several species regularly to be to your display. Go for as large a mark on the
seen on offer in better shops. group as you can fit and an absolute dorsal fin.
Arguably the most prevalent is the minimum of five. Generally quick to
Marbled hatchetfish (Carnegiella adapt to suitably-sized dried floating
strigata). These gorgeous little fish are foods, Hatchets still appreciate treats
marked with chocolate-brown closer to their natural diet. Consider
These are one
marbling and reach 3.5cm in size.
They make fine community citizens
occasional wingless Drosophila (Fruit
flies), which are often available from
of the flightiest fish.
in quieter tanks. Other species seen reptile shops. They will jump and
‘fly’ into trouble
Perhaps the
most common
hatchet. FACTFILE
MARBLED HATCHETFISH
6Scientific name: Carnegiella strigata
6Origin: Amazon basin: including Brazil,
Colombia, Peru, Suriname and Guyana
– leading to speculation that there
may be several species.
6Size: 3.5cm in aquariums.
6Tank size: Minimum 75x30x30cm.
6Water requirements: Soft water
preferred, 5.0-7.5 pH.
6Cost: Around £4 each.
NEIL HEPWORTH
70 l+
FACTFILE
SPOTFIN HATCHETFISH
6Scientific name: Thoracocharax
stellatus
6Origin: South America: Brazil, Peru,
Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia,
Paraguay, and Argentina.
6Size: 7.5cm.
6Tank size: At least 120x30x30cm.
preferred, 5-7.5 pH .
6Cost: Around £5 each.
108 l+
FACTFILE
DWARF HATCHETFISH
6Scientific name: Carnegiella schereri
6Origin: Amazon basin: Peru and Brazil.
6Size: Generally 2.5cm.
6Tank size: At least 60x30x30cm.
preferred, 5-7 pH.
6Cost: £3 each on average.
54 l+
ALAMY
African butterflies
Pantodon buchholzi is a weird looking
fish! Named ‘Butterfly’ after its huge
pectoral fins that spread like gigantic
wings (especially when viewed from
above) it can leap to escape
predators or snatch flying insects.
These fins also help camouflage the
fish, which with its mottled brown
colouration, could be mistaken for a
dead, floating leaf.
Largely sedentary, these fish only
spring into life if spooked or for food.
They are generally peaceful to all but
their own kind, so are best kept singly
unless you have a large tank.
Trailing fins can attract unwanted
attention from some fish, so keep
Butterflies away from fish with nippy
reputations.
Subdued lighting is preferred and
areas of lush floating plants can offer
the security of shade and shelter.
Originating in slow-moving or still The Dwarf hatchet
JJPHOTO.DK
waters, these fish will tolerate only reaches just 2.5cm.

the gentlest flow rates.
TROPICAL
Surface Dwellers
The ‘wrestling’ behaviour usually takes place between rival males,
A well whiskered
‘barb’. Striped Killifish
Sold as the Golden wonder panchax,
these will live for several years if
maintained correctly. Their adult size
and predatory nature can surprise
the unwary aquarist – they’ll eat any
tank-mates that fit inside their wide
mouths. Choose companions of a
similar size and with deep bodies.
JJPHOTO.DK
With suitably-sized sidekicks,
they’re a colourful and active
aquarium fish and enthusiastically
FACTFILE FACTFILE aware of their owners – especially at
feeding time! Often sold in pairs,
GOLDEN WONDER METALLIC FLYING BARB
6Scientific name: Esomus metallicus larger groups can be kept together if
6Scientific name: Aplocheilus lineatus
6Origin: India and Sri Lanka 6Origin: Asia: Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, given sufficient space.
6Size: Fast growing and capable of reaching 10cm. Myanmar and Malaysia.
6Tank size: 90x30x30cm at 6Size: 7cm. Metallic flying barb
least. 6Tank size: Starting from These long, slender fish are powerful
6Water requirements: Very 90x30x30cm. jumpers, with a dorsal fin set well
adaptable with reports of the 80 l+ 6Water requirements: 6-7 80 l+ back towards a deeply-forked tail,
fish surviving in brackish pH, soft to moderately hard
water. Fares poorly in any combined with large pectoral fins.
conditions in the wild. Aim for
6-7.5 pH with moderately tank with low oxygen levels Calling them barbs is a misnomer, as
hard water. so ensure ample turnover. these fish are more closely related to
6Temperature: Around 25°C. 6Temperature: 20-27°C. danios and rasboras.
6Cost: From £4 each 6Cost: £3 each on average. They are a good match for many
aquarium staples, but only an
occasional import. Their shining,
silver sides are complemented by a
Pretty, but black and bronze-gold stripe, running
predatory. from nose to tail, and flowing
whiskers.
Flying barbs are busy, dynamic fish,
constantly on patrol for morsels that
drop onto the water’s surface. Like so
many of these top-dwellers they
don’t appreciate strong flow and in
the wild they are known to migrate
into rice paddies, ditches and flooded
areas to avoid the excessive flow in
the rainy season.
While they are unlikely to swim
together in a tight group, you’ll see
ALAMY
them at their best in numbers, where
FACTFILE
WRESTLING HALFBEAK
6Scientific name: Dermogenys pusilla
6Origin: Asia: India, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam,
Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.
6Size: Males 5cm, females 7cm.
6Tank size: 60x30x30cm at least.
6Water requirements: 7-8 pH, moderately 54 l+
hard to hard water. Can be maintained in
brackish conditions or hard freshwater, but
avoid swings in chemistry – stability is key
as they lock jaws in a trial of strength for long term success.
NATHAN HILL
6Cost: In the region of £5 each.
they will develop a pecking order. extended, static lower jaw, which is ABOVE: genuinely struggle to take food from
Interactions are fascinating, as they several times longer than their Halfbeaks live anywhere but the water’s surface.
spar for rank amongst their company. mobile upper one and finishes in a up to their In the wild they feed largely on
names.
point. Males grow to around 5cm insects and as the fish in shops are
Wrestling halfbeak and females nudge 7cm. These wild caught they can be tricky to
When the term ‘livebearer’ is bandied males have an adapted anal fin, wean onto dried, prepared aquarium
around in fishkeeping, showy which is used in breeding in a similar foods. The lower jaw can easily be
Guppies and vibrant Platies might way to the Guppy’s gonopodium. damaged in transit or from
spring to mind. Giving birth to live Generally silver, males sport panicked dashes against the
young is not unique, with a wealth of orangey-yellow fins with a glass, so be careful when
live-bearing species beyond these distinctive red blotch at the African butterfly fish will eat catching or moving them
aquarium staples. The Wrestling start of the dorsal. The any fish small enough to fit in and give them plenty of
halfbeak (Dermogenys pusilla) is an ‘wrestling’ behaviour their capacious mouths, so floating plant cover.
occasional import worth watching. usually takes place between choose tank-mates They can be bred, but many
These tiny, freshwater relatives of rival males, as they lock jaws in a very carefully. people report difficulties with
predatory marine needlefish and gars trial of strength – males and still-born young. If successful then
top out at little more than a few females occasionally lock jaws when don’t expect to be overrun with
centimetres long. Like their big courting. The unusual shape of their halfbeaks. Brood size is often just a
cousins they share a hugely mouth and jaws means they handful of fry.
The Butterfly
fish is an odd
looker.
FA
BUTTER
6Scientific n
6Origin: West
6Size: 12cm.
6Tank size: 90x30x30cm at least.
6Water requirements: Soft to
moderately hard water, 6 to 7.5 pH.
6Cost: Around £10.
80 l+
NEIL HEPWORTH
TROPICAL
Cichlids
NATHAN HILL
TANGANYIKA’S OLDEST
HAPLOCHROMINE
Tropheus duboisi
Living over rocks provides ample opportunities for
caves and territories. One stunning Tanganyikan
cichlid makes the most of a stony existence.
A
T MOST locations interactions. Both sexes of T. duboisi
around Lake have non-overlapping but adjoining
Tanganyika the feeding territories, such that, in
rocky habitat is principle, all rocky substrates are
situated on a covered with non-overlapping
moderately-sloping territories. The size of each territory
shore and patches is directly related to the size of
of sand are usually the owner and have been found to
visible among the rocks. The rocks range from 0.2 to more than 5m2.
in this habitat are piled on top of Individuals spend over 90 per cent
each other, forming a complicated of the day in their own territory.
network of caves and crevices. Territory size also depends on the
The ‘aufwuchs’ – a matrix total area of available rock surface
consisting of long strands of green and the associated abundance of
algae attached to the rock surface, algae. When abundant blue-green
intertwined with short strands of algae are available, the feeding
blue-green algae, and populated territories are rather small, ranging
with diatoms and invertebrates – is between 0.2 and 1.2m2, while in
virtually free of sediment, which other places with a diminished
allows the algae to flourish, in some availability of algae, territories can
places forming thick green mats. measure up to 8m2.
Because there is a great abundance Territories are defended mainly
of food, competition for living space against conspecifics, but sometimes
is high, and only the strongest and also against other herbivores.
most aggressive species are able to Territorial disputes almost always
secure a territory. take place at the boundaries and
There is no rocky coast in the lake almost always between neighbours.
which does not harbour a Tropheus The attacker is always the larger
species, a genus of cichlid of which individual. His or her approach is
there are at least nine known species. often followed by the submissive
The oldest member of this genus is behavior of the opponent, which
Tropheus duboisi, which is also the normally quivers its tail while
least aggressive member of the assuming a head-up position and
genus. Adults, therefore, are rarely often exposing its belly – a very
seen in the upper five metres of the vulnerable part of the fish – towards
AD KONINGS rocky habitat. the dominant individual.
Ad Konings is an A territory is valued by its owner
ichthyologist and Territorial issues for the availability of food, and those
author known for Unlike many other Haplochromine with a three-dimensional structure
his comprehensive cichlid, Tropheus females possess in the form of protruding rocks,
A young T. duboisi research on African
showing his algae- a feeding territory and are fully which increase the total surface area
rift lake cichlids.
stripping teeth. involved in territorial and social for feeding, are the most coveted.
TROPICAL
Cichlids
Once she releases her fry, the

mouthbrooding female resumes
the defense of her territory. Her fry
wander free and will often
migrate to shallower,
food-rich water.
Tropheus have high

concentrations of
stomach acids with
AD KONINGS
a very low pH for

digesting algae.
The highest
density of
T.duboisi is seen
at eight metres.
Territory owners are aware of the A taste for aufwuchs
quality of the various feeding Although vertebrates have difficulty
grounds in their neighbourhood digesting higher plant cells because
and will move to a better site of the indigestible cellulose they
whenever the opportunity arises. contain (and which gives these
The depth distribution of T. duboisi, plants their rigidity), matters are
TAUTVYDAS PANGONIS
which is always found sympatric different when it comes to algae,

with at least one other member of where the amount of cellulose in the
the Tropheus genus, ranges from five cell walls is much lower or absent.
to 30 metres, with the highest This does not mean that algae are
population density found at about easily digestible, but it is possible
eight metres. for some algae, in particular the
FACTFILE In Pemba (along the Congo blue-green algae (cyanobacteria),
shoreline), where Tropheus sp. ‘black’ to be digested by herbivorous
WHITE-SPOTTED CICHLID (Orange Moori) and T. duboisi are species with high concentrations
6Scientific name: Tropheus duboisi (Trow-fee-uss doo-bwah-zee)
found sympatric, T. duboisi occupies of very low pH stomach acids.
6Origin: Lake Tanganyika, Africa.
6Habitat: Shallow rocky habitat, usually deeper, sediment-rich regions and is Herbivores in Lake Tanganyika have
6-10m deep. most abundant between 6 and 10 such capabilities and lush algae are,
6Size: Usually to 12cm. metres, occuring to a depth of about therefore, in high demand with
6Tank size: Minimum 120 x 30cm footprint. 30 metres. virtually all of these cichlids.
6Water requirements: Extremely hard and 200 l+ At Luagala Point (along the The outer teeth of Tropheus
alkaline: 8.2 to 9.2pH, hardness 16 to 30°H.
Tanzania shoreline), T. duboisi species are bicuspid and set close
6Temperament: Aggressive, territorial. lives in deeper parts of the habitat together, forming a tightly-packed
6Availability and cost: Farmed fish common, while the prime, shallower regions row with which the fish can grasp
starting at £7.99 for juveniles. Wild regional are inhabited by Tropheus annectens individual algal strands, which are
variants may cost considerably more. and T. sp. ‘black’ (Double-spot then severed from the substrate by
Moori). biting, by swinging the head
SHUTTERSTOCK
All territorial
males receive visiting
females, usually from
neighboring territories, including
those with seemingly inferior
territories T. duboisi,
are abundant
in Lake
sideways, or, most often, by pushing mouthbrooding strategy – they Tanganyika.
backwards or upwards away from appear to be sequentially
the substrate while holding tight to monogamous. This means that all
the strands. The pectoral fins are the eggs of a female’s brood are
particularly large and give the fish sired by a single male, which is not
considerable thrust when ‘pushing usually the case with most other
off’, probably with enough force to maternal mouthbrooders, where a
Driven towards extinction
sever the algal strands. The lips of brood is usually sired by three or “T. duboisi is an attractive cichlid and has
Tropheus are thin and the oral teeth more males. been a mainstay in the hobby during the last
situated close to the outer edges of The size of a male’s territory 40 years. Unfortunately, high demand for
the jaws, so that it can crop the very determines his mating success, and wild-caught specimens has brought the most
short strands of blue-green algae. his physical size is less important. popular variant, the so-called ‘Maswa
Stomach analysis by Kohda & It appears that females select mates duboisi’, to the brink of extinction. In
Yanagisawa (1992) revealed that mainly for the size and quality of a September 2017, I found, together with
besides algae, sand is present in all male’s territory and not so much for three other divers, less than 10 adult
Tropheus species, but that the gut his size and coloration – although, individuals during five separate dives. This
contents of T. duboisi revealed a naturally, these characteristics are came in the same areas where, 20 years
greater amount of inorganic matter involved in the possession of an earlier, a collecting team of a Zambian
than those of T. sp. ‘black’ at the advantageous territory. exporter was able to catch more than 1,000
same habitat at Pemba, Congo. All territorial males receive visiting Maswa Duboisi in four days. Now it is up to
T. duboisi, therefore, appears to be females, usually from neighbouring dedicated aquarists to keep this variant alive
better adapted to obtain algae from territories, including those with – because in the lake there are no more!”
the sediment-covered rocks in the inferior territories. Females regularly
deeper, sediment-richer areas. assess neighbouring males’
The lack of competition from
T. sp. ‘black’ (and from most other
herbivores) in deeper water means it
has more food available and a better
chance of establishing territories in
deeper areas. The best territories –
those containing the highest density
of blue-green algae – are held by the
largest individuals, usually males.
The smaller females have to make
do with less favorable territories.
Breeding duboisi
The sexes of T. duboisi are virtually
indistinguishable regarding their
colour pattern. In ‘standard’
maternal mouthbrooders
(haplochromines) the male has an
attractive coloration, which he uses
to advertise and entice females to
his spawning site, while the female
has a subdued or camouflage
coloration to give her protection.
In Tropheus, it appears that several Juvenile duboisi
AD KONINGS
species, including T. duboisi, have a have spotted

markings
different and interesting maternal
TROPICAL
Cichlids
territories by visiting for several brooding period is 31 days. Under common. Each male will choose
minutes at a time before retreating. favorable conditions T. duboisi can one pile and regard it as its territory.
Soon (three months or more) produce four broods per year. If there is one continuous rocky reef
females have gained a good in your tank, only the strongest male
knowledge of their surroundings, T. duboisi at home will claim the whole reef while the
helping them decide when to spawn. Tropheus are territorial and territory others will succumb to his attacks.
In T. duboisi, females temporarily size is dependent on the availability Each male needs a territory of
leave their territories to spawn with of food. Most wild territories are about 75cm in diameter. Depending
a male on his terrain. Mouthbrooding much larger than can be normally on the size of the aquarium, only a
females return to their feeding provided for in an aquarium. In the few males can be kept in harmony
territories and actively defend them. confines of an aquarium, T. duboisi with each other. The quantity of
For 5 to 6 days the female stays adapts to the limited space and to females or juvenile males is not
almost motionless in her retreat. the abundance of food given. important, since they are not
Once the larvae inside her mouth A male will occupy a territory, territorial in the aquarium. It is
hatch she browses for algae on maybe with aggression. Females will better to have at least twice as many
which to feed her young and only become territorial if there are females as males.
increases her daily feeding rate. no males in the aquarium. Since It is possible to keep some other
After the release of the fry, the territorial males need some objects species together with the breeding
female resumes the defense of her to mark the boundaries of their colony, but they should be smaller or
feeding territory. territory, it is desirable to place a at least subordinate to the T. duboisi.
Clutch size in T. duboisi is rarely few heaps of rocks in such a way Examples include: Neolamprologus
more than 10 eggs and the average that none of them have rocks in pulcher and Julidochromis species.
The rocks in this

habitat are piled on top of
each other, forming a
complicated network of
caves and crevices
ALAMY
One of the most im
TROPHEUS DUBOISI
1
in the well-being of DISTRIBUTION MAP
food you offer. The s 1. Pemba (Bemba or Cape Munene)
good brand of flake or pellet food. D.R.Congo
Ones that contain spirulina are 2 2. Muguruka, Burundi
recommended for T. duboisi, but 3. Gombe, Kigoma, and Cape Bangwe,
others are also good. All artificial Tanzania
foods contain a high percentage of 4. Maswa, Cape Kabogo (Mkuyu) and
proteins, so a little amount suffices Halembe Tanzania
for a daily meal. Adult T. duboisi 5. Katumba Point, Karilani island, and
should be fed only once a day and 3 Luagala Point, Tanzania
normally with just as much as can
be eaten in a minute.
Mouthbrooding females can be
kept together with the group or
isolated in separate tanks. Left on 3
her own, she will release her fry at
the right time, which is about 4 to 5
weeks after spawning. The female
can return to the breeding colony,
which is best done at night when all
the fish are asleep. 5
5
4
Every rocky
coast harbours
a Tropheus
species.
Buyer’s guide
The
B
pond
Our in-depth look at what’s on the market and
e competition.
WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY: GABOR HORVATH
A
fter decades of keeping fish in stocked goldfish pond, but if koi is your
aquaria you might think you’ve choice you will need a dedicated filter pump
seen it all. You might be able to able to shift large (up to 8mm) pieces of
recite the optimal water debris. These pumps can also support
parameters for hundreds of tropical species sizeable waterfalls — in fact, top industrial
or calculate the optimal flow in a reef tank, grade pumps can push water up over 10m.
but when it comes to setting up your first The pumps covered in this guide (able to
pond you’ll be baled. Although the provide waterfalls 3m high) are more than
fundamental operation of a pond isn’t that adequate for a home pond.
dissimilar to an indoor tank, you’re dealing Your first step is to think about the type
with larger water volumes in a largely of pond you have (or want). Small, natural
uncontrollable environment. Fortunately, ponds without fish require only very
there’s an abundance of relevant equipment limited — if any — filtration, and a fountain
on the market, designed to keep your pond or small waterfall is usually more than
healthy and aesthetically pleasing. We’ve enough to keep the water well oxygenated.
tested a range of pumps to help you select If you wish to keep fish, you’ll need to use
the best one. some filtration.
For ponds of up to 6,000 l you can use
Getting it right combined filter pumps, which suck dirty
When you first enter the pond section of water through filter media and pump the
any garden centre you will be amazed by clean water back via a fountain head or
the variety of pumps on offer – there are small waterfall. Very often these all-in-one
pumps for every situation and every size of filters have a built-in UV light as well to
pond. Basic fountain pumps have only one fight unwelcome green algae. In heavily-
function: to shoot a jet of water up in a way stocked ponds they’ll require very frequent,
that will please the eye. They come in many even weekly cleaning, as the filter sponge
sizes, from the tiny 400lph (litres per hour) will clog quickly.
bowl sprinklers to the 10,000lph industrial While the majority of pond pumps must
fountains. You will also usually find an be submerged (wet use), there are some
accompanying selection of spray heads, which can be used in-line (dry use), similar
allowing you to create the effect you like the to the indoor sump pumps. As these pumps
most. But beside this aesthetic value, can be positioned outside of the pond, their
fountains can also help with pond maintenance is much easier. Just make
maintenance because the splashing sure they are still under the water level!
increases the contact area between water
and air, improving oxygenation levels. Calculating size
The problem with any fountain is that Once you have decided which type of
the spray head can easily clog in dirty water. pump(s) you need it’s time to think about
Some of the pumps come with a pre-filter the size. For a fountain feature, you’ll need
sponge to avoid this, but they’ll still require around 300-1,700 l of water per hour at the
frequent cleaning, even in lightly stocked spray head. The exact amount will depend
ponds. In ponds with a heavy bioload, upon the outlet diameter of the fountain
placing the fountain pump on a stone will pump. Waterfalls need around 1,000lph for
keep it away from the bottom and reduce every 10cm width for an average flow. The
the chance of debris entering the system. required pump size can be calculated based
Fountain pumps can project up to 150cm on these figures. For example, for a 70cm
high, but if you want to go higher, or add a high fountain and a 30cm wide waterfall at
waterfall or a filter, then you will require a the same height through a 19mm outlet, you
bigger pump. Some of the multi-use pumps would need a pump able to deliver a
have a combined fountain and filter outlet, minimum of 1,000lph+(3x1000lph),
but their solids-handling capacity is often meaning 4,000lph. You should add about
limited. They can be good for a moderately- 20% extra for losses, so the ideal choice in
The BIG
pond pump test
this case would be a 4,400lph (at 70cm
height) pump, like the Blagdon 5500. HOW WERE THEY TESTED?
Selecting a filter pump is a bit more
complicated. As a starting point, you’ll need We’ve repeated the method used in a fully submerged at 40cm and were run for
to calculate the volume of your pond. It’s an previous PFK sump pump test to measure 10 minutes before commencing each test
easy task in the case of pre-moulded plastic the real output of the pond pumps. to ensure that any pre-existing air
ones, as their volume is usually given by the Comparable to their indoor relatives, the bubbles had had the chance to dissipate.
manufacturers. If your pond is round, pond pumps came without pipes. To The pipes were also fixed to a pole to
measure its radius, then use the formula: ensure optimum performance, diferent reduce drag. We measured how long it
radius x radius x 3.14 x depth x 1000 = total diameter pipes were used, ranging from took the pumps to push 10 or 30 l to the
volume in litres. In ponds of other shapes, 13mm to 25mm. A rainwater barrel served required height. We took averages from
use: average length x average width x as a base for the tests and a 10 l (for the the results (all tests were repeated three
average depth x 1000 = total volume in fountain pumps) and a 30 l (for the filter times) and rounded the figures to the
litres. Please note that all measurements pumps) calibrated fish-tank was the nearest ten. You can find a summary of
should be in metres. In moderately-stocked measuring device. All the pumps were these results in the following tables.
ponds you will need a pump that’s capable
of pushing this volume through the filter
every two hours. Higher stock levels will
require a quicker turnover. Don’t forget to
consider the required pumping height,
which is measured between the water level
in the pond and the highest point the pump
should lift the water up to. If you are using
the outlet of a pressure filter to feed a
waterfall, positioned above the filter, then
the lift head is the height of the waterfall. In
this case you don’t need much extra
performance, as the waterfall uses the
water fed through the pressure filter. If you
want to operate a waterfall separately from
a filter, then you will need to add the flow
rates for the two functions together. For
example, for a moderately-stocked 5,000 l
pond with an open top box filter and a
separate 30cm wide waterfall, both at 50cm
above water level, you’ll need a pump with
2,500lph (half of the pond volume) for the
filter, plus 3x1000lph=3000lph for the
waterfall. If you add around 30% extra
(1,650lph) for the losses at the tubing and
fittings it will bring your total to over
7,000lph (at 50cm lift height). Based on
outflow charts, a pump like the Laguna
MaxFlow 7600 or the Newa Cascata adv
8000 would fit the bill perfectly. If in doubt,
always buy a filter pump one size bigger, as
the extra performance can be handy when
the filter gets dirty.
Electricity consumption is also an
important factor. If you plan to run your
filter pump all year round, every 10W
increase will mean an extra £10 per annum.
TOP TIP
Fountain-only Raise fountain
pumps on to blocks or
pumps plastic pots in ponds with
This section covers pumps sediment. This will stop
designed to supply water for the sponge pre-filters
attractive fountains. Their from blocking up and
impacting flow
performance was optimised to
rates.
pump water up to the usual
60-120cm fountain height.
SUPERFISH
The smallest fountain pump on our test was
the SuperFish Pond Flow Eco 600. Although
it could run a filter, due to the flow rate it’s
only recommended for modest sized (up to
500 l) ponds.
NEWA
The Newa Fontana adv pumps were the only
fountain pumps on our test ofering in-line powerful and eicient — what’s not to like?
application. They ofer sleek design and a
good performance. BLAGDON
The Blagdon pumps are very popular among
LAGUNA garden pond owners and renowned for their
The Laguna Fountain range contains a set of reliability. The latest series ofers versatile
ll b ilt hi h b th fountain options and a solid performance, as
well as very informative packaging.
AQUAGARDEN
The AquaGarden Water Movement fountain
pumps are part of an extensive garden
product range from Maidenhead Aquatics.
They performed well — a very reliable option.
Li-ion backup battery. During the test we
PONDXPERT struggled to access the amount of sunshine
The odd one of the bunch was the Pondxpert it needed to run at full strength, but it’s still a
SolarShower 800. As the name suggests it’s useful option for those not wanting to run
powered by solar panels, but also has a armoured cables across their garden.
Energy
Pump Qmax Hmax 0m 0.5m 1m 1.5m 2m Extras Warranty Price
consumption
Pond Flow One fountain

600 1.2m 580 360 110 - - 8W 2yrs £30.99
Eco 600 nozzle
Fountain
720 0.9m 710 450 20 - - 2 fountain heads 10W 2yrs £48.99
700
Solar
800 2m 720 560 400 190 - LED lights 9W 1yr £99.99
Shower 800
Fontana adv 3 fountain heads,

800 1.3m 790 590 310 20 - 9W 3yrs £48.75
800 wet/dry
Blagdon
900 2m 880 760 570 340 100 3 fountain heads 18W 3yrs £52.49
900
Aqua
Garden 970 2m 900 780 580 350 100 3 fountain heads 18W 3yrs £39.99
1200
Blagdon
1600 1.8m 1540 1290 880 390 - 3 fountain heads 24W 3yrs £64.99
1600
Fountain
1800 2m 1760 1410 1020 510 20 2 fountain heads 30W 2yrs £122.99
2000
The BIG
pond pump test
Combined fountain and filter pumps
This group contains stronger fountain pumps (over 2,000lph). They
ofer divided flow capabilities, enabling them to run a waterfall or
smaller filter alongside the main feature. Despite inbuilt precautions to
avoid clogging, they can’t handle solids well. For this reason, they’re
not really suitable as the main filter pump for dirty ponds.
PONDXPERT Airmix sytem, which sucks in additional air

Although the build quality is not through a venturi intake. A great advanced-
outstanding, the Pondxpert Fountasia 2000 level fountain pump.
ofers good value for money. It’s a sensible
choice for cost-conscious pond keepers with PONDTEAM
moderately stocked ponds. The Pondteam Superjet 5000 was designed
to supply high and large fountains, and it
ALL POND SOLUTIONS does so with ease. A very powerful and well
The All Pond Solutions FPP-3500F pump is a built option.
low energy option with a low price to match.
It can be used as a combined pump or LAGUNA
standalone filter pump. The Laguna PowerJet range combines AQUAJET
excellent build quality with competitive The Aquajet PFN Eco 8000 is a very
CLOVERLEAF performance. Eicient and powerful although well-designed pump, combining high flow
The CQB-4003 is an afordable fountain a bit pricey. rate with ridiculously low power
pump from Coverleaf. Although the consumption. The dry application option
packaging looks a bit dated and the pump BLAGDON makes it even more versatile.
feels plasticky the performance was quite The large Blagdon 5500 fountain pumps will
solid. give you everything you want: five fountain
heads, reliability and lots of power. A valid
LOTUS option despite their high electricity
The Lotus Maximus Evo 4000 boosts an consumption.
AQUAGARDEN
The AquaGarden 6750 ofers the choice of
five fountain heads and has enough power to
run a sizeable waterfall or filter at the same
time. Great value for money.
EHEIM
The EHEIM Play has high grade plastic and
ofers a top quality performance to match.
TOP TIP
Keep any pipework
as short as possible.
Additional lengths of
hosing create frictional
loss which can cause a
surprising drop in flow.

Energy
Pump Qmax Hmax 0m 0.5m 1m 1.5m 2m 2.5m Extras Warranty Price
consumption
Fountasia
2000 2.5m 1890 1670 1340 930 460 - 2 fountain heads 35W 2yrs £49.99
2000
PowerJet
2200 1.8m 2100 1750 1220 570 - - 2 fountain heads 32W 5yrs £109.99
2200
Fontana Adv 3 fountain heads,

3000 2.9m 2980 2740 2360 1960 1470 980 55W 3yrs £102.67
3000 wet/dry
EHEIM Play
3500 2.95m 3500 3260 2960 2560 1930 1180 3 fountain heads 55W 7yrs £109.00
3500
FPP-3500F 3500 2.5m 3410 3160 2640 2060 1260 50 fountain kit 42W 1yr £34.99
CQB-4003 3800 2.8m 3710 3420 3110 2620 1910 1080 2 fountain heads 55W 2yrs £89.00
Maximus Air mix system, 2

3850 3m 3760 3630 3350 2870 2240 1410 50W 3yrs £99.99
EVO 4000 fountain heads
Superjet
5000
PowerJet
5000
Blagdon
5500
Aqua
Garden 6750 4m 6530 5960 5390 4750 3960 3220 5 fountain heads 135W 3yrs £159.99
6750
Aquajet pfn Fountain head set,

7500 4.5m 7380 7200 6900 6420 5770 4940 52W 2yrs £140.00
eco 8000 wet/dry
PowerJet
9000
The BIG
pond pump test
Solid-handling filter pumps
If you have a pond with lots of livestock, these are the pumps for you.
They will remove unwanted muck and feed it to your external filter.
LAGUNA VELDA
Every Laguna MaxFlow filter pump ofers two The Green Line 5000 is part of Velda’s
level suction, ensuring optimal sludge extensive pond range. It’s one of the biggest
removal. Build quality and solid-handling pumps on our test and ofers a large intake
performance are excellent. surface area — perfect for ponds with a huge
amount of debris.
LOTUS
The Lotus Olympus Pro 5000 has high PONDXPERT
energy consumption but provides a steady The PondXpert Ultra Flow 5300 pairs
flow even at higher lifting levels. A good ultra-low energy consumption with a good
choice if your filter is high up. flow rate and an option to attach a satellite
water intake.
Energy Solid
consumption handling
MaxFlow 2 level
4000 2m 3930 3240 2250 1220 20 55W 6mm 5yrs £186.99
4000 suction
Olympus
4938 3.7m 4860 4590 4230 3820 3150 2510 110W 6mm 3yrs £109.99
Pro 5000
Green Line
5000 3.5m 4930 4440 3790 3090 2290 1660 40W 6mm 2yrs £124.99
5000
Optional
Ultra Flow
5300 3.3m 5210 4770 4170 3470 2580 1640 extra 30W 8mm 3yrs £109.99
5300
inlet
Cascata adv
6000 3.6m 5910 5490 4960 4180 3380 2620 wet/dry 70W 8mm 3yrs £133.48
6000
Aquaforce
6000 3.5m 5940 5520 5010 4230 3440 2730 wet/dry 65W 10mm 3yrs £176.99
6000
Sludge
Aqua Gar-
6250 3.5m 6180 5580 4690 3760 2950 2020 removal 105W 8mm 3yrs £169.99
den 6250
mode
EHEIM Flow
6500 3.6m 6460 5920 5380 4650 3730 2890 70W 8mm 7yrs £209.99
6500
MaxFlow 2 level
7600 3.5m 7470 7110 6420 5570 4620 3640 75W 8mm 5yrs £247.99
7600 suction
Cascata adv
8000 4.5m 7960 7390 6830 6080 5340 4460 wet/dry 86W 8mm 3yrs £164.29
8000
AquaE-
8000 5.6m 7870 7670 7330 7010 6430 5730 70W 8mm 2yrs £89.99
CO-8000
MaxFlow 2 level
9000 3.7m 8890 8440 7830 7040 6100 5030 80W 8mm 5yrs £293.99
9000 suction
Pond Eco Remote

Plus RC 9200 5.8m 9160 9020 8790 8500 8080 7520 control, 68W 6mm 2yrs £169.95
10000 wet/dry
Superflow
Flow
Techno Pro 9200 5m 9260 9080 8830 8430 7930 7300 85W 8mm 3yrs £239.00
controller
10000
CFP-10000 10000 5m 9920 9440 8850 8270 7640 6870 155W 6mm 2yrs £91.00

TOP TIP
If planning a
waterfall, install the
piping underneath it. This
way, you won’t have to
worry about trying to
hide lengths of hose
with plants and
rocks.
NEWA
The Cascata Adv pumps from Newa have a
distinctive appearance and can be installed
inside or outside of your pond. An excellent
performer, versatile, reliable and afordable.
HOZELOCK
The Hozelock Aquaforce 6000 is a brilliant
pump and can be used with small or large
fish. With a fry protection cage and a
solid-handling capability of up to 10mm, it’s EHEIM
sure to serve you well. The EHEIM Flow 6500 has a modern, high
performance engine and comes with a seven
AQUAGARDEN year warranty.
The AquaGarden 6250 is another great pump
made by Blagdon. Its special sludge removal ALL POND SOLUTIONS
mode enables you to maintain your pond Despite being one of the cheapest filter
with ease. pumps on our test, the AllPondSolutions
AquaECO-8000 outperformed many of its
more expensive competitors. A perfect entry
level pump.
SUPERFISH
The Superfish Pond Eco Plus RC 10000 is a
pump for the undecided. If you don’t know p
your exact pond volume or the size of the hungry motor, yet the performance is
waterfall you want to install, this is the pump somehow lower than expected. Nevertheless
for you. The remote control gives you great it can serve you well in large but lightly-
flexibility when adjusting your flow and stocked ponds.
power consumption levels.
PONDTEAM
Pondteam’s Superflow Techno Pro 10000 is a
true pro-level, solid-handling pump. The
packaging, pump and controller all ooze
quality.
All-in-one pumps
Both pumps in this category can filter your water, treat algae problems
with UV light and run eye-catching water features.
HOZELOCK LAGUNA
The Hozelock EasyClear 6000 performs well The Laguna Powerclear Multi 7000 has
and is both solidly built and easy to clean. A plenty of oomph and is able to cope with
great all-in-one for smaller, under 5,000 l lightly-stocked ponds up to 7,000 l.
ponds.
Energy
consumption
EasyClear UV, 3 fountain

1700 1.8m 1560 1310 890 390 - - 40W 3yrs £199.99
6000 heads, foam filter
Powerclear UV, 3 fountain

2700 2.4m 2520 2470 2200 1730 1020 80 39W 3yrs £199.99
Multi 7000 heads, foam filter
PFKNew
The latest fishkeeping products tried and tested
r
FIRST UNBOXING
Ehei uastar
Nano Marine Tank
Let me start here by saying that not a touch on the precision
I’ve been a long-term fan of sealing of some modern tank
Eheim. In the 80s and 90s, is acceptable. The plastic trim
Eheim gear was the luxury on which the tank sits, less so
high-end kind of equipment that The tank fits in to it loosely,
I coveted but only ever owned as allowing for a little slipping
a rare treat. From time to time about. Worse, it isn’t in any w
something secondhand or an attached. I like my floating ba
older model on clearance would assemblies to at least be
come home with me, and take connected to the tank.
pride of place in one of my many The hood and top trim falls unheated, that is. No heater that want a basic marine layout
set ups. into the same trap. A plastic comes in this package. – a couple of softies, some live
After so many years of collar slips over the top, What you do get is an Eheim rock, a couple of shrimps and a
adulation, out of the box I’m covering all edges. On the back, streamON 1800 circulation goby. If you fancy using it for
disappointed with Eheim’s a holder slots in to retain the pump, a miniUP internal SPS or LPS… you’re a braver
latest nano offering. It’s a shame, protein skimmer and pin down canister, a 100lph air pump and person than I am.
as they’ve had a great run of new a light. Then the flip-top hood air-driven skimmer, a Oh, and there’s a cable issue.
hardware of late. I was recently goes on top of that, with the thermometer and two 12W LED Two lights, one pump, one filter,
in love with the ruggedness of skimmer poking up through a ‘hybrids’. and an airpump mean that you
their circulation pumps, and I’ve pre-cut partition. The streamON is the best out need no less than five available
been spending an unhealthy My issue with the lid is that it’s of this. It’s a punchy little pump sockets (six when you add the
amount of time looking at the as light as a feather. If a cable that’ll keep water churning over. heater) to run it. That’s not
Proxima and Vivaline range of inside presses against it (and Pulsing Xenia and Green star necessarily a bad thing, but it
tanks and cabinets online. they always seem to find a way polyps will have a field day with does look like one heck of a
What don’t I like? It’s so darn to ‘nudge’ things), then it lifts it. jumble back there once it’s set
flimsy, that’s what. I like my up. The miniUP internal canister up.
tanks rugged, and my hardware The hardware underwhelms is pretty weak. Physically it’s This package will cost you
gutsy, and here I feel like I’m me a bit. Maybe I’ve been tiny, which leads me to believe (based on current online
getting neither. overindulged the last few years. that Eheim are aiming this at marketplace prices) £319.99 to
The tank is okay. Nothing I’m sure that on a basic level, the the ‘lots of live rock for buy, which is considerably more
spectacular but okay. medley of gear that’s included filtration’ market. Nothing than the price I had in my head
Dimensions of 60x30x35cm will sustain a perfectly wrong with that, I guess. when I was unboxing it.
give it an overall volume of 63 l. reasonable, no-frills mini- The LEDs are predictably high
A standard silicone job (that’s marine set up. If you want it Kelvin, clean white tinged with
3/
blue and, at a combined 24W
output, should cater for plenty Verdict 5
of coral types. I’ve been It’s the first piece of
pleasantly surprised by the Eheim kit in a while that
growth gained on a lot of these I’m not chomping at the bit
‘generic’-type LED strips. On to set up at home. In its
the downside, there’s no defence, I don’t think I’m
controllability. It’s lighting on, the target audience for this
or off. That’s your lot. tank.
The protein skimmer is the
weakest part of the package for O Ease of use: 3/5
me. It’s air driven, hence the O Features: 3/5
100lph separate air pump. At a O Value for money: 2/5
distant it looks good, then you O Overall: 3/5
touch it and things drop out. It
took me a couple of minutes to Price: Indications suggest
work out that setting the skim a retail price around
level had to be performed blind £319.99
– you fiddle with the pump and More info: www.eheim.
hope for the best. com/en_GB
As a whole package (assuming

ODUCT NEWS
Fritz marine products
may not know the
e, but Fritz have a
history behind them.
American brand was
first company to
eer commercial-
e cultivation of
fying bacteria over
ears ago; currently
he largest producer
of fresh and saltwater
strains of nitrifying
Given that things are warming up, I can segue nicely into a quick bacteria. Its chemical
overview of pond salt. various claims about its salt, which we can and biological products
look at in turn. are used by zoos, public
“Low levels of salt in ponds are recommended for the uptake of aquarium exhibits, aquaculture professionals and home aquarium
oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) across the gills. hobbyists worldwide.
Stress can result in a reduction of these electrolytes and the fishes’ Fritz products now have a UK distributor so expect to start seeing
ability to get rid of CO2 and ammonium (NH4).” these products in the shops.
In a fish sufering stress, electrolytes are indeed lost, impacting On the label spiel and on the website, Fritz emphasises the
not just CO2 and ammonium regulation, but a whole host of cleanliness of its products, only using the highest-purity ingredients,
physiological processes. and says they contain no unmeasured and unnecessary ions or
“Salt will also help to block nitrite uptake through the gills in metal.
situations where the filter has failed, overfeeding has occurred, or in Directions for dosage involve testing aquarium parameters first to
new ponds” see what needs rectifying, and then adding an approriate dose to fill
The interaction at the chloride cells in a fish’s gills favours sodium in that gap.
chloride over nitrite. The best thing is that you only need a really Some people used to more simplified product directions may think
low level of salt to produce this, around 1g per 10 litres. Fritz products sound awkward to use, but these are accurate
“Recent research suggests nitrate uptake in freshwater fish is also directions for keeping a successful marine tank, rather than
lowered in the presence of salt.” simple-sounding but inefective dosing regimes.
Not so recent, but also yes. However, note that adding salt is not a The calcium/bufer system parts 1 & 2 and liquid magnesium work
satisfactory alternative to managing nitrate in a pond. hand-in-hand together. Directions on part 1 & 2 tell the user to first
“Salt, enhances the production of fishes’ body mucus. Mucus check magnesium levels and adjust if needed with liquid
shedding is a natural way of fighting disease for fish.” magnesium as an imbalance here could result in chemical
Also yes, but this is dosage related. There is a downside to this in precipitation of calcium carbonate.
some cases, which I’ll explain in the next point. Part 1 is added to raise alkalinity, part 2 to boost calcium.
“Many parasites and pathogens do not like the addition of salt to Zyme monster 460 is a concentrated formulation of saltwater-
water. Salt will also cleanse wounds.” specific strains of sludge-removing bacteria. It’s aimed at keepers of
Quite right, but this is where dosage is essential. Adding salt into larger, messy fish like pufers, lion fish, eels and so on, and states
your pond willy-nilly at the first sign of illness could make things that it will greatly reduce aquarium care including gravel vacuuming
worse. For example, some flukes are not only unafected at salt and water changes, as well as prolonging filter media life.
levels of 3g/l or so, but they actually thrive in the increased mucous Fritz ProAquatics Carbon-AP is a high-quality 4mm activated
produced by fish at this level. However, dosed at the correct level for carbon pellet for use in marine or freshwater systems. It showed its
the parasite you’re treating, salt is highly efective. The same applies electrical charge when it came to the photo shoot – pouring it into a
to ‘wound cleaning’ which I assume is a reader-friendly way of small pile had pellets repelling each other all over the place!
saying that pathogenic bacteria can be suppressed at the right It states a high adsorption capacity and that it won’t leach
dosage of salt. phosphates like lower-quality carbon products can.
“Salt reduces the point at which pond water freezes in winter.” High quality natural ingredients are used to create Fritz
Yeah, but not that much. ProAquatics Reef Pro Mix salt. This mix is nitrate-, phosphate- and
“Low levels of salt are also beneficial to filter bacteria, enhancing ammonia-free and includes all of the necessary major and minor
filtration efficiency.” elements of natural sea water, enhanced calcium, magnesium and
This claim is new to me, so I’ll be looking in to it. Salt does increase potassium levels and enhanced bufer levels. Fritz points out that it
conductivity, which is associated with filter efficiency, but I’m reaches a stable pH shortly after mixing and that a uniform particle
undecided until I see more evidence. size minimises salt stratification when mixing.
The dose rate given on PondSal is 1g/l and so a 10kg bag at that All of these products are made within the Fritz company, not
level will treat a 10,000 litre (2,000 gal) pond. Note that if treating outsourced, so quality control can be more stringent. It also makes
specific illnesses, the dosage may need to increase to 3g/l (or in the smaller batches compared to some other manufacturers, so quality
case of some pathogens, as high as 7 or 8g/l). is more easily monitored and your product comes with a batch
Waterlife rightly point out that the salt shouldn’t be used in identification for traceability.
conjunction with zeolite media, which uses salt as a recharging This is far from the full range ofered by Fritz, so for more
chemical. Basically, if you add salt to a pond with zeolite, then the information on all its products check out the website.
zeolite will start releasing some ammonia.
Waterlife also explains that – and this is an important point – you VERDICT: Well, it looks good, it sounds good, but I’m going to find
shouldn’t add a full dose of salt to a pond that is already salted at out if it tastes good.
some level. Salt doesn’t evaporate, and so repeated doses will For now, I withhold judgement as we’ve not tested it thoroighly, but
gradually elevate the levels to those that will harm or even kill fish. I aim to use these products on a future tank when I may give an
Waterlife’s PondSal is available in a 10kg bag. The instructions for update on their use and results.
use are easy to follow, and the price at launch is £10.60, which is PRICES: To be confirmed in the UK.
around the same as I would pay for a 10kg bag of water softener salt. MORE INFO: www.fritzaquatics.com
For more info, visit www.waterlife-aquatics.com
PFKNewGear
FIRST SIGHT
FEEDING TUBES
Red Starfish These tubes are made for
use with floating foods;
acrylic they’re like a feeding ring

for a pond, but smaller
products scale and nicely finished.

Two diameters are
available – 50mm and
Red Starfish produces many specialist 70mm – both of which suit
acrylic marine products, so here’s a small mounting on to either a
selection of them. We have more horizontal bracing bar or
following in coming issues. I’ve pushed, the vertical glass of an
pulled and twisted them, and they’re open-topped tank.
clearly well-made and well finished.
FEEDING PIPETTES
When you have corals at the CRAB BOX
bottom of your tank that If you have pesky crabs or
need specific care and a small fish you want to
targeted feeding, you don’t move into an isolation
want to have to plunge your tank, this box could help
arm in the tank every you get hold of them safely
evening, not just for your and relatively stress free.
annoyance but also to There are three diferent
avoid contaminants from methods of trapping; two
your skin. Instead you can of which can be shut of
use these far-reaching when not needed so as not
pipettes. They are 8mm in to aid escape.
diameter, 35cm and 55cm in
length, and come with the
option of two diferent soft
nozzles with either a 1.5mm
or 3mm outlet.
PRICES: Feeding pipettes 35 and 55cm around

£9.99, Crab box around £13.99, Coral viewer around
£11.99, Feeding tube 50mm around £5.99, 70mm OBSERVATION MIRROR/ CORAL VIEWER
around £9.99. Curiously called a mirror (maybe something was lost in translation…),
here’s a chance to look in detail at your corals – or anything else you
WEBSITE: www.redstarfish-aquarium.com, for UK might want to see in an aquarium). I’ve used larger versions in Koi
enquiries visit aquaticsexpressdistributionltd.co.uk ponds and was surprised how useful they can be.
Placing the cup on the water’s surface removes surface movement and
lighting glare from distorting your view. Then drop in the magnifying
lens for a 5x zoom and you can inspect away to your heart’s content.
PRODUCT NEWS
Colombo marine treatments
New from Dutch firm Colombo are the advice is basically if you can volume and full instructions for
two treatments against external catch your fish, put them in a before, after and during use of the
parasites for marine tanks. Both quarantine tank and treat with medication.
treatments are aimed at clearing up Cobrasal then you should; this is the VERDICT: We haven’t used the
Marine ciliate parasites such as preferred method. If that’s not medication at this point but
whitespot – Cryptocaryon, Uronema, possible then use Femsal direct to everything on the outside tallies up
Brooklynella, Marine velvet – the reef tank (but clams must be well. I have previously used Colomb
Oodinium and others. temporarily removed during the pond medication to good efect and
The diference between them is the treatment schedule). would be happy to use these
presence of inverts. Cobrasal is not The user manuals inside the box treatments in a marine aquarium.
for use with invertebrates (copper are informative and helpful, pointing PRICE: Both Cobrasal and Femsal
sulfate is present) whereas Femsal is out diagnosis of the parasite are £16.49 for 500ml bottles
suitable for inverts. In the literature, infections listed above, calculating MORE INFO: www.colombo.nl

TOP of the Top shops
SHOPS!
Scotland
North
East
Northern TOP 40
Ireland North (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
THE ROLL OF HONOUR West Abacus Aquatics, Kent
Yorkshire &
Retailer of the Year Humberside Aqua Design Aquatics, Skegness
Lincs Aquatics, Alford, Lincs. Aquahome, Leyland, Lancs.
Runner up: Charterhouse Republic East Aqualife, Leyland, Lancs.
Aquatics, London
of Ireland Midlands Aquatic Finatic, North Yorkshire
East Bow Aquatics, Devon
Wales West
Online Retailer of the Midlands Carrick Aquatics, Co Monaghan
Year Charterhouse Aquatics, London
AllPond Solutions London Clearly Aquatics, Co. Down
Runner up: Charterhouse Aquatics Crowder’s Aquatics, Hampshire
South South Cuddra Aquatics, St. Austell, Cornwall
West East
Small Retailer of the Year Discovery Aquatics, Dundee
Octopus 8 Aquatics, Brough, East Yorkshire DL Discus, Co. Durham
Runner up: Aqua Design Aquatics, Emperor Tropicals, Plymouth, Devon
Skegness Shrimp Retailer of the Year Ferrybridge Aquatics, Wakefield
Seahorse Aquariums, Dublin FishCove Aquatics, Wimborne, Dorset
Runner up: Wharf Aquatics, Pinxton, Notts. Fishkeeper Braehead
Fishkeeper Coatbridge
Fishkeeper Inverness
REGIONAL H2O Habitat, Surrey
South east Innovation Aquatics, Southampton
Maidenhead Aquatics @ Windsor Lanchester Aquatics, Co. Durham
Runner up: Crowder’s Aquatics, Hampshire Lincs Aquatics, Alford, Lincs
Maidenhead Aquatics @ Mere Park
South west Maidenhead Aquatics @ Shirley
Emperor Tropicals, Devon Maidenhead Aquatics @ Wenvoe
Runner up: The Aquatic Store, Bristol Maidenhead Aquatics @ Windsor
New Concept Aquatics, Bonnybridge
Wales Octopus 8, Brough, East Yorkshire
TOP SPECIALISTS Maidenhead Aquatics @ Wenvoe Pier Aquatics, Wigan, Lancs
Marine Retailer of the Year Runner up: Maidenhead Aquatics @ Real Reefs, Gloucs.
Lincs Aquatics Cardif Riverside Aquaria, West Lothian
Runner up: Seahorse Aquariums, Dublin Seahorse Aquariums, Dublin
London Sweet Knowle Aquatics, Warks.
Cichlid Retailer of the Year Charterhouse Aquatics, London Tank Terror Aquatics, Cornwall
Wharf Aquatics, Pinxton, Notts. Runner up: Wholesale Tropicals, London The Aquatic Store, Bristol
Runner up: Seahorse Aquariums, Dublin The Waterzoo, Peterborough
East Midlands TriMar, Cornwall
Catfish retailer of the Year Lincs Aquatics, Alford, Lincs. Wharf Aquatics, Pinxton, Notts.
Seahorse Aquariums, Dublin Runner up: Wharf Aquatics, Pinxton, Notts. Wholesale Tropicals, London
Runner up: Wharf Aquatics, Pinxton, Notts.
North east
Discus Retailer of the Year DL Discus, Co. Durham North West
DL Discus, Co. Durham Runner up: Lanchester Aquatics, Co. Aquahome Aquatic Centre, Lancs.
Runner up: Devotedly Discus, East Sussex Durham Runner up: Pier Aquatics, Wigan
Plant retailer of the Year Scotland East
Emperor Tropicals, Plymouth, Devon Discovery Aquatics, Dundee The Waterzoo, Peterborough
Runner up: Seahorse Aquariums, Dublin Runner up: Fishkeeper Inverness Runner up: Amwell Aquatics, Soham
Pond retailer of the Year Republic of Ireland Yorks and Humber
Lincs Aquatics, Alford, Lincs. Seahorse Aquariums, Dublin Octopus 8, Brough, East Yorkshire
Runner up: Seahorse Aquariums, Dublin Runner up: Carrick Aquatics, Co. Runner up: Ferrybridge Aquatics,
Monaghan Wakefield
Oddball Retailer of the Year
Wharf Aquatics, Pinxton, Notts. Northern Ireland West Midlands
Runner up: Tank Terror Aquatics, Clearly Aquatics, Co. Down Maidenhead Aquatics @ Mere Park
Cornwall Runner up: Exotic Aquatics, Belfast Runner up: Maidenhead Aquatics @
Shirley

P hoptour
This month takes us to shops in Essex and Cambridge. Hardwick
Clavering
WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY: STEVE BAKER AND NATHAN HILL
FishFishFish The layout is rather

different, the tanks are
Address: Waterside, Butts personalities like Oscars, Parrot nice and clean.
Green, Clavering, Essex. cichlids and Girafe catfish which
CB11 4RT were all present on our visit.
Telephone: 01799550943 There’s a good choice of
Website: www.fish-fish-fish. loaches, with several you don’t
com see often. Suckermouth catfish
Opening hours: Mon-closed, are well represented with
Tue 10am-4pm, Wed 10am- Otocinclus, several whiptail
12noon, Thurs-Sun 10am-4pm. species, and a choice of pretty
(Reduced during a current little plecs.
expansion, opening hours will They produce their own, detailed
be extended on completion.) setup guide and there’s a loyalty
scheme ofering discounts on all
What is it? items, plus special ofers from
FishFishFish is a small, time to time on plants, frozen
up-to-date aquatics shop in a foods etc.
place where you wouldn’t just
stumble on it. They supply a Low points
wide range of aquariums, This shop isn’t the easiest to get
equipment, consumables and to. Look on the map and there
spares. They also supply isn’t a major road or much in the
quality pond filters, pumps and way of civilization for quite a few
a full complement of other miles. Interesting tetras
pond equipment and If you’re making the journey - Hemigrammus
accessories. hunting for rare or particularly hyanuary.
The team have a combined odd fish your choices will be
history of 50 years of limited. There was an Eel-tailed
fishkeeping. The shop has been banjo cat and some less
up-and-running for 6 years now commonly seen Dianema catfish
and is currently being but not much for the oddball fan.
expanded, mostly to hold more Recently they have stopped
pond products and to expand selling marine fish and inverts,
the range of aquariums in store. largely due to sustainability
issues surrounding the collection
High points of marine livestock.
FishFishFish’s staf pride
themselves on engaging with Verdict
their customers and have a If you make the journey to visit
large customer base. They’ve FishFishFish you’ll be warmly
even worked with a local school greeted (by dogs as well as
to install an aquarium and owners), treated to good service
integrating fishkeeping in to the and I’m sure you’ll leave happy.
schools’ science, geography We visited too early in the year to
and math lessons with hopes of see any pond fish stocks but from There’s a good loach
doing the same with other local the vats in position outside I selection
schools in the future. imagine ponds are well catered
All the products in store have for. This is a shop that gives a
been used here so you can ask good reason to wind your way
for details and these guys can through some country roads.
tell you from experience.
In the fish house the tanks
and the water strike you as
What stood out
● Twig whiptail £13.00
highly clean and fish health is
● Porthole catfish £14.00
good. The tanks aren’t heaving
● Redfin tiger loach £6.25
with fish which is a conscious
● Longfin tetra £5.70
decision to keep cleanliness,
● Chinese golden zebra loach £12.00
water quality and fish health
● Upside-down catfish £8.70
high. The choice of livestock is
● Reedfish £9.50
a mixture of community species
● Red and white parrot fish £30.00
and what I call ‘pet’ fish – larger,
● Giraffe catfish £34.50
individual fish with big
STAR RATING: Excellent 11111 Good 11111 Average 11111 Below average 11111 Poor 11111 Out of season OS Not stocked NS

A stunning Corydoras
schwartzi type, maybe
CW28.
Lots of tested dry There are a few

goods are packed in. oddballs about.
Upside-down cats are

always a favorite.
Star rating
Tropical fish 11111
Discus 11111
Cichlids 11111
Catfish 11111
Oddballs 11111
Indoor plants 11111
Pond plants OS
Koi OS
Pond fish OS
Fancies NS
Indoor coldwater NS
Marine fish NS
Marine inverts NS
Indoor dry 11111
Pond dry OS
Freshwater inverts 11111
Labelling 11111
PFKShoptour
Nutty about pets

Address: 175 St. Neots Road, Hardwick, – quite an attractive, instant feature for a
Cambridge, CB23 7QJ beginners marine tank.
Telephone: 01954 214 530 The visit is helped by ample parking and an
Website: www.nuttyaboutpets.co.uk award winning (for several consecutive years)
Opening hours: Mon - Fri 9-7, Sat 9-5, café next door.
Sun 10-4
Low points
What is it? The selection of livestock is quite basic and
Nutty about pets is a new business that there are a few fish that may cause a frown,
sits on a site that used to be known as the such as Silver sharks, Balloon mollies, lots of
Coral cave (among other pet businesses). Sailfin plecs, Yellow goat fish and Spotted
There have been changes and they are in a grunts. The livestock has a similar feel to a
period of transition currently. One major typical store from 15 years ago. However, this
change is a large cut in the number of is a new business and it’s highly probable that
livestock sale tanks, though the number of some of these fish were leftovers from the
disused or part empty tanks in the store’s previous tenants.
previous format means they are ofering
similar variety now but in a condensed Verdict
number of tanks. It’s hard to make a judgement in this early
stage as Nutty About Pets is a new business
High points which is replacing a well-established one. It’ll
Walk through the parent pet store to the take a while for the shop to get its own
back of the building and you come to a personality and right now there are many
long, well-lit corridor-style aquatics decisions still to be finalised about where and
department which is well presented and how to present pond fish, plants and products
tidy. To your left you see the selection of for the season.
aquariums on ofer, catering for a wide
range of budgets and a good variety of
Some temperate
sizes. The dry goods shelves have a good
species on offer.
selection of tank equipment and some
hardscape oferings.
Turn to your right and you see a wall of
livestock tanks starting with 13 coldwater,
leading to 127 tropical tanks that take you
around the corner to another 44 marine
tanks, 2 coral trays and the plant system.
Healthy, bushy plants filled the system on
our visit, and at good prices with a full
complement of plant care products
displayed alongside.
There’s a nice, big display of marine
equipment and additives and a fridge with
specialist phytoplankton-type foods as
well as a good selection of marine and
tropical live foods. The tropical tanks have
a wide range of beginner fish with common
tetras, livebearers and other community
species.
There are aspirational fish for the
beginner such as Ram cichlids and there’s Star rating A good selection of dry
a nice selection of Malawi cichlids too. Tropical fish 11111 goods from basics to
Something that did stand out were ‘coral Discus 11111 specialised gear.
gardens’, large, single pieces of rock with Cichlids 11111
several soft coral species covering them Catfish 11111
Oddballs NS
Indoor plants 11111
What stood out Pond plants OS
● Purple emperor tetra £2.50 Koi OS
● Corydoras arcuatus £4.25 Pond fish OS
● Leprocanthicus galaxis £47.50 Fancies 11111
● XL Black widow tetra £2.95 Indoor coldwater 11111
● Blue rainbowfish £4.95 Marine fish 11111
● Honey gourami £3.95 Marine inverts 11111
● Flame angel £99.99 Indoor dry 11111
● Princess anthias £43.49 Pond dry OS
● Yellow boxfish £28.99 Freshwater inverts NS
● Coral garden (lrg) £199.00 Labelling 11111
STAR RATING: Excellent 11111 Good 11111 Average 11111 Below average 11111 Poor 11111 Out of season OS Not stocked NS

Some nice Peacock There’s a selection of
cichlids about. community cichlids.
Plenty of community Coral gardens are

staples. interesting.
In the blue corner...
BRISTOL LONDON
From plants to
Cichlids, Stingrays RS ONLY
14 RETA IL SHOPPE
to Snakeheads r all your
G TIMES
Thank you fo 1967! AY: CLOSED
e
support sinc
● TUES, WED &
The Aquatic Store , London, E2
l Green Road 0 77292444
FRI 10.30-6.00
● SAT 10.00-6.00
● SUN 10.00-2.0
0
220 Bethna ww.wholesaletropicalsaq
Really does have it all! Tel: 020 7739
5356 Fax: 02
uat ics.co.uk
www.theaquaticstore.co.uk 01179 639120
28 North Street Bedminster Bristol BS3 1HW The Fish Bowl Ltd
133 Dawes Road,
CAMBRIDGESHIRE London. SW6 7EA
Tel: 020 7385 6005
www.thefishbowlltd.com
email: thefishbowlltd@tiscali.co.uk
Tropical OFFICIAL JUWEL STOCKISTS PLUS SPARES

Marine Aquatic and Pet Shop.
Classified To advertise here please call the sales team on 01733 366410
Open 5 days a week 10am to 6pm. Closed all day Thursday and Sunday
Cold Water
Open 7 days a week 01954 214530 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
www.nuttyaboutpets.co.uk sales@nuttyaboutpets.co.uk
175 St Neots, Hardwick, Cambridge, CB23 7QJ
Huge range of Readers’poll
livestock in more 2017
COUNTY DURHAM LEICESTERSHIRE than 600 tanks! ODDBALL
RETAILER
OF THE YEAR
TROPICAL - MARINE - POND & COLDWATER - REPTILES

Retailer of
Fish Alive
Readers’poll
Six-time winner of top UK aquatic retailer
the year
North East www.leicesteraquatics.com www.wharfaquatics.co.uk
2017
CICHLID
RETAILER
The only true aquatic Superstore, with over 250 stock tanks
OF THE YEAR
specializing in community, rare and unusual cold water, tropical

and marine fish inverts and corals. Largest range of aquariums,
dry goods, frozen and live foods and Tropical plants.
Opening hours weekdays 10.00 - 18.00, Saturdays 10.00 - 17.00, Sundays 10.00 - 16.00, Closed on Wednesdays
Leicester Aquatics Tel: 01773 861255 Marine direct: 01773 811044 Reptile direct: 01773 811499
Open 7 Days - 65-67 Wharf Road, Pinxton, Notts. NG16 6LH (near M1 J28)
Units 10 & 11, Dragonville Retail Park, Durham DH1 2YB
Phone and fax: 0191 3843590 0116 2709 610 SCOTLAND
KENT
House of Pisces ~ Scotland’s largest aquatic superstore by far
With over 1000 aquariums full of tropical, marine and cold water fish
ABACUS AQUATICS Huge range of aquariums, aquarium furniture and equipment at discount prices
Voted one of the Best shops in Unit B/G, 207 Strathmartine Road, Dundee, Scotland, DD3 8PH
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Now open on Sundays ACCESSORIES & PARTS
For more details about the
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LABEL NOW 290ml
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112
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To advertise here please call the sales team on 01733 366410

You’ll learn about
the huge variety of
species you can see
is full of information and practical
in your garden and
advice on how to see, photograph
further afield
and enjoy the birds around you.
On sale every month in
all good newsagents
Subscribe today at
www.greatmagazines.
k/b
113
OPINION
Nathan Hill
is Practical
NATHAN HILL
Fishkeeping
magazine’s
associate editor,
I was dreading this first tailpiece biotope fancier,
aquascape
after our redesign, but the reality is dabbler and
everything is turning out great. To part-time amateur
blow my own trumpet, this might be skateboarder.
one of our best issues ever.
S
ORRY, BUT not sorry. In the Well, that’s not a thing from here on. We had only just passed, and we started the
back of my mind, when I looked at how we could get the information year playing catch-up) we’ve finally had the
started this issue, I was we needed compressed down in to chance to sit down and work out some of
worried that Tailpiece would annotations, tips, nice bite-sized chunks. the feautires we want to include – some
end up as a rambling apology There’s still the in-depth copy for those of that have been on my radar for ages, but
for the many experiments we us (like myself) who like the longer read. I’ve never had the time to pursue.
tried that didn’t quite work.
But that never happened. Picking a favourite More fishes
Everything went well, and holy heck, I am Normally when I go through the mag, You’ll pardon me if I don’t expose my
excited about the new look magazine. Flick there’s one thing that stands out for me as forward planning lists, but my goal for this
back through and have a peek at the superb head and shoulders above the rest. This coming year is to cover the many fish that
work that’s gone in to the design and month, I’m so overjoyed with so much that you want to see. It’s always been a fine
layouts. I’ve watched our designer bouncing trying to pin down one definitive ‘winner’ balance – it’s a fine balance in any specialist
back and forth with ideas, trying out new just isn’t working. I loved the Ivan Mikolji mag – to provide enough of the right
things, and fine tuning until we’ve ended up piece, but I also loved new contributor content for all genres of interest.
with what you see. Mark Beeston’s Anthias feature just as Now I think of it, with every passing issue
much. Then there were those glorious it has become harder to cater to everyone.
All about the pace boxfish. Lots of wow. Back in the 80s, and 90s, you had
Did you notice that things are more relaxed ‘fishkeepers’ as a catch all, and there wasn’t
in this issue? You might remember that old More inbound much specialisation beyond African lake
features in the former style were often As you likely know already, we were tanks, and marine keepers (almost
compressed. Pages had so many words on recently joined by Steven Baker. After a exclusively fish-only).
them that at times it was like we were flustered first month (yeah, there was a Nowadays, pick a niche of a niche of a
trying to overwhelm you. crossover from old editor to new, Christmas niche and somewhere there’ll be a
collective devoted to them. Straight up, I
just put it to the test. I went online to find a
group dedicated to Bumblebee gobies. I
found one with four members.
With so much diversification, it’s hard to
please all of you all of the time, but by jove
I’m trying here.
Your input
One thing I miss from the old, old days of
yore is reams of reader letters. We struck
gold this month with Bob’s Otocinclus
slow-feeder. But I’ll wager that each and
every one of you has a ‘hack’ that you
employ. Thing is, we’d love to hear about it.
Write me a postcard, send me an email. If it
IVAN MIKOLJI
Through Ivan’s
eyes. works, we’ll run it on the letters page.
Remember, there are prizes involved.

POND
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We have over 160 stores throughout the UK, staffed by

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Find a store near you today or visit ƂUJMGGRGTEQWM

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Spring 2018 £4.

Wonderful PARROT Glorious

Ɣ Aquarium heaters ensure a constant water temperature,

Ɣ Automatic feeders ensure your fish are getting a regular supply

Get more PFK!

about his river project

14 EXPLORE THE MORICHALES

24 PARROT CICHLID DEBATE

76 HOW TO KEEP BOXFISH

96 POND PUMPS TESTED

84 LIFE AT THE TOP

104 NEW GEAR

70 shops in Essex and Cambridge.

Proposed regulations could

Channa reprieve conﬁrmed!

not add any new species to the 2018 EU

Killifish spring auction Juripari cichlids are

Get some Killiﬁsh

New Satanoperca described

Dr Alex Ploeg remembered with new cichlid species

include Iron, Potassium, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Macro elements and

Aquarium Münster Pahlsmeier GmbH | Galgheide 8 | D-48291 Telgte (Germany) | www.aquarium-munster.com

Explorer Ivan Mikolji reminisces over a leap of

Small fish use the moriche palm

Remote, wild aquariums

such as Peacock bass, As if the tall sawgrass

All we could see was about a

Morichales are one of the most wonderful ecosystems I have

We wondered who could help us;

Discovering rare fish

Some of the rarest fish I have found

Apistogramma nororientalis – if DRIFTWOOD

NATHAN HILL & STEVE BAKER

there are many loss and pollution.

Twig Cats and

plecos, from their chunky bodies to

50% water change with soft, cool

MP&C PIEDNOIR AQUAPRESS

away competition – something that

at food times to clear

Many shops will use Farlowella acus

Availability and cost: Commonly available;

CALL 01858 43 8884 quote CEAA

£21 by direct debit £23.50 by direct debit £15.50 by d t

when the lights come on.

O Pining for Plecos?

O Bright red Pike.

Say yes to...

We are looking for an enthusiastic maintenance

If you have a passion for aquariums send your

Brightly coloured Anthias may

P. dispar shows there is

If a large, dominant male

wrecks and reefs.

bright-coloured shoals gracing your

NATIONAL MARINE SANCTURIES

decide to take it out on other

Colin Dunlop takes inspiration from wild streams

balance and hierarchy of the group.

6Availability and cost: Relatively common (check coldwater sections

FAC TFILE FAC TFILE

11th If you or someone you know are aged between 16

In the May iue Group Editor Ben Hawkins