General information Few small fish change color as much with the light as the pearl danio. Under a bright overhead lamp it looks almost silver. Under softer side light the same fish glows pink, lilac and pale blue, much like the inside of a mussel shell. That shifting sheen is where the common name comes…
General information Four centimeters. That is roughly the maximum size you can expect from a fully grown rocket killifish, and most adults stay closer to 3–3.5 cm. Despite that tiny frame, Pseudepiplatys annulatus (formerly Epiplatys annulatus) is one of the most recognizable killifish in the hobby. Its striped body and flame-colored tail have earned it…
General information You may want a Central American cichlid but lack the space for a convict colony or a 30 cm Red Devil. The rainbow cichlid is one of the few fish that fits that gap. Adult males rarely exceed 12–13 cm, females stay around 8–10 cm, and the species is far less destructive than…
General information The turquoise discus has no wild population. It is a line-bred color form of Symphysodon aequifasciatus (some taxonomists now split the blue and green wild forms into S. aequifasciatus and S. haraldi). Breeders created it by selecting wild blue and green discus that carried the most iridescent body striations. Jack Wattley in the…
General information Thirty centimeters. That is roughly how long a fully grown Synodontis decorus can get, and it is the first number you should know before buying the cute 5 cm juvenile in the dealer’s tank. This fish is sold as the Clarissa catfish or decorated synodontis. It belongs to the family Mochokidae, the African…
General information The Zebra Acara is a small South American cichlid that rewards patience. Sven O. Kullander and Soraia Prada-Pedreros described Nannacara adoketa in 1993. The species name comes from the Greek word for “unexpected,” a fitting label for a fish that turned up long after its better-known relatives Nannacara anomala and Nannacara taenia were…
General information The Dalmatian Molly is not a wild species. It is a color form created in fish farms, mostly in Southeast Asia and Florida. No stream or marsh on Earth holds a natural population of black-and-white spotted mollies. What you buy in the store is a domesticated livebearer, usually a mix of the sailfin…
General information The Panda Loach (Yaoshania pachychilus) is a small hillstream loach prized for its stark black-and-white pattern and specialized lifestyle. If Panda Loach is the species being considered for a tank, expect a fish adapted to fast-flowing, well-oxygenated water and rocky microhabitats. Typical adult length reaches about 5–6 cm (2–2.5 in) total length. This…
General information The Bala Shark (Balantiocheilos melanopterus) is a large, schooling cyprinid prized for its sleek, torpedo-shaped body and high-contrast fins. You will notice a peaceful temperament in the right conditions, but size and schooling needs make this species a commitment. The name “shark” is a misnomer; this is not a predator but a midwater…
General information Rope Fish (Erpetoichthys calabaricus) are elongated, eel-like members of the Polypteridae family that look exotic but require straightforward husbandry. Native to slow-moving, shaded waterways in West and Central Africa, the species is built for ambush predation: a long, flexible body, small dorsal finlets, and an ability to surface for air make this fish…
