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The jewelfishes from Africa are some of the most beautiful, and most bellicose, of the cichlids. While bimaculatus
was the original jewelfish introduced into the hobby many years ago,
there are now a number of other species available. They all behave the
same and require the same conditions.
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Long
a favorite among aquarists, the angelfish is a tall fish that can be
kept in a community setting, as long as its tankmates are not overly
aggressive or habitual fin nippers. Fast-swimming fish may also make an
angelfish nervous and may out-compete it for food.
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The
Arowana (Osteoglossum bicirrhosum) is a long and beautiful fish known
for its voracious appetite and constant surface skimming, looking for
things to fit into its mouth. It is native to waterways of the Amazon
River and other areas in South America as well as Southeast Asia and
Australia.
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Also
known as the tricolor shark or silver shark, the young bala shark is a
staple item in most aquarium stores. However, this fish is a poor choice
for most aquaria.
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Barbs are freshwater tropical fish within the genera Barbus and Puntius.
They are very popular aquarium inhabitants, and the group includes
well-known species such as the tiger barb and cherry barb.
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The
betta, also known as the Siamese fighting fish, has become a popular
fish among hobbyists primarily because of the male’s beautiful colors
and lavish finnage.
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The black molly (Poecilia sphenops)
is a hybrid variation of the sailfin molly. It is a small fish, with
males reaching about three inches in length and females slightly
smaller.
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The
black tetra has been a popular staple of the aquarium hobby for many
years. Commercial breeders have developed different color varieties
(unfortunately, including the “blueberry” and other dyed fish), and
there are long-finned specimens.
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The
blackline penguinfish is also called Boehlke’s penguinfish, false
penguin tetra and hockey sticks. This species needs at least a 20-gallon
aquarium for a small group of six or more fish. This fish is hardy and
sticks to the upper waters of the community aquarium.
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The
bleeding heart tetra is a hardy, peaceful, schooling species that
should be kept in groups of six or more. It does extremely well when
kept with other peaceful fish, such as Megalamphodus, Corydoras and Nannostomus species.
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The
blind cave tetra is a schooling species that is a little too aggressive
for the normal tetra community. It is best kept in a group of three to
six individuals in a tank with other robust fish, such as small
cichlids, livebearers, barbs and catfish.
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The
blue gourami is a robust fish that should be kept with other hardy, but
mildly aggressive, community tank fishes. When kept with active,
aggressive fishes it will often retreat to a corner and hide. House only
one male per aquarium, as this species has a tendency to fight with one
another.
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Description: The front half of Melanotaenia boesemani's body is blue, and the back half is yellow-orange. In some specimens, you may also see a stripe or two of silver-black scales.
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Description: Neolamprologus brichardi
is called brichardi cichlid, princess of Burundi and fairy cichlid.
This moderately aggressive pale brown cichlid is elongate and has
clearly defined scales.
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In the wild, most Corydoras swim in schools of several dozen or more, and similar conditions should be duplicated in the home aquarium. The Corydoras aeneus should be kept in a group of six or more with other community tank fish, such as small characins, livebearers and rasboras.
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The
Buenos Aires tetra is now provided to the hobby almost exclusively from
fish farms in Florida, which means it usually has been raised in
alkaline, hard water. It will, however, adapt back to its original
conditions of neutral soft water.
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The
cardinal tetra is probably the world’s favorite tropical fish in terms
of numbers kept. Many hobbyists have at some point in time, kept
cardinal tetras. And, while they have been bred, they have never been
bred in commercial quantities.
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Catfish
are very recognizable and popular aquarium inhabitants. They belong to
the order Siluriformes, and include a wide variety of freshwater and
saltwater catfish families.
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As
with many other fish, the cherry barb is now almost exclusively raised
commercially in the Far East and Florida. If you ever have a chance to
procure wild stock, purchase them and you will see what their true
colors are. That said, the cherry barb that is in the hobby now is a
beautiful fish.
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Cichlids are mainly freshwater tropical fish from the family Cichlidae.
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The
clown barb is a very active, medium-size, elegant species that should
be kept with similar-size species that also prefers warmer water.
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The
Clown Knifefish is one of the true monster fishes that are available in
the aquatic hobby. The cute little ones that are sold at your local
fish store at 4” to 5” will very quickly grow, and grow, and grow, and
eventually you will have a 24” fish on your hands.
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The
clown loach is an active schooling fish that is best kept in small
groups (three to six fish). It will tolerate tankmates of other species,
although docile species may become agitated by the constant activity of
this fish.
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The
Colombian Tetra (also known as the Red-Blue Colombian Tetra – but since
it is the only fish called “Colombian Tetra” I see no reason to add
“Red-Blue” to its name) is a large, peaceful tetra that comes from the
Acandi River Basin in Colombian, in South America.
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The
Congo Tetra is one of the few “tetras” that comes from Africa, and is
definitely the best known and most frequently kept in aquariums; most
tetras come from South America. The Congo Tetra is a strikingly
beautiful fish, large and full-bodied with flowing fins.
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The convict cichlid is often the first fish a budding aquarist breeds — they are almost impossible to keep from reproducing.
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Cories
are South American catfish of the family Corydoradinae. They are
temperate and tropical armoured catfish. Cories are the most popular
catfish for aquaria, and most species remain relatively small. It is
recommended that they be kept in small schools rather than individually.
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Danios
are small schooling fish that bring a lot of activity to freshwater
aquariums. The most popular type is the zebra danio, which is a very
hardy pet species, and long-finned varieties have added to the danios’
popularity.
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The
diamond tetra’s lack of color is more than made up for by its other
attributes. The scales located on the sides of this fish are reflective
and almost shimmer. Its overall color is a glittering silver with
highlights of greenish-blue.
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Although
the discus is a peaceful, schooling species, it is best kept in a
species tank because its temperature needs are much higher than most
other species can stand.
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The
dwarf gourami is a peaceful, timid species that should be kept in pairs
with fish of similar size and temperament. Avoid housing this fish with
some of the more active characins and barbs.
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Description:
The false julii catfish is not Corydoras julii. The false julii cory
catfish is easy to distinguish from C. julii because it has a darker and
more mazelike pattern of black stripes on a white or silvery body.
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The
firemouth is one of those fish that does not look like much when small,
but when they mature — and especially when they are in breeding colors —
they are spectacular to behold.
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Description:
Cyphotilapia frontosa is one of the most popular cichlids from Lake
Tanganyika, and with good reason. This species is outgoing and will eat
out of the aquarist’s hand. It is not as active or as aggressive as
other Lake Tanganyika cichlids.
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The
giant danio is a fast swimming fish that reaches up to 4 inches in
length. In addition, the giant danio is a big bodied fish with a length
commensurate with its girth.
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The
glass catfish is one of the most unusual fish commonly kept in the
hobby, and it is certainly the most transparent. All of the bones and
the sac that holds the internal organs are clearly visible through the
transparent flesh of the glass catfish.
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The
glowlight tetra is one of the most beautiful and easy to keep fish
offered in our hobby. If you want an absolutely spectacular tank, put a
school of glowlights in with black gravel, lots of plants and subdued
lighting. You will understand the “glow” part of their name.
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The
goldfish is a form of wild carp that has been kept by humans as pets
since at least 970 A.D., which is the first recorded instance of keeping
and breeding them. The Chinese have developed different varieties of
goldfish since then, as have the Japanese shortly thereafter.
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Gouramis
are freshwater fish in the family Osphronemidae. They are labyrinth
fish, having the ability to breathe air through their labyrinth organ.
Gouramis are typically found in Asia, India and South East Asia.
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Although
they are ideal community tank residents with fishes of similar size and
temperament, if you intend to breed guppies, it is best to house them
in a species-only tank. You can house three pairs in a 10-gallon tank or
five to six pairs in a 20-gallon tank.
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These
great little colorful fish have been in the hobby for more than 100
years, believed to have been introduced to the aquarium hobby in 1906.
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Hatchetfish
are freshwater fish belonging to the family Gasteropelecidae. They are
characterized by their large sternal region, and are known to be
excellent jumpers.
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The
head and tail light fish has been in our hobby for a very long time,
and was probably one of the first tetras to be spawned because it spawns
easily. The fish is available from both aquacultured and wild-caught
sources.
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The
Jack Dempsey is one of the most popular “pet” fish (a fish that is
often kept alone and develops a relationship with the owner). Oscars are
another, probably even more popular, fish that is kept this way.
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Jewelfish, also know as jewel cichlids, are members of the genus Hemichromis.
They are native to West Africa, and are known to be aggressive in the
aquarium. Generally, jewelfish do best in a monospecies setup, as other
species will likely find them too difficult to live with.
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The
kissing gourami is a peaceful species that should be housed with fish
of similar size and temperament. Males will occasionally fight by
"pressing" their mouths together — hence the common name.
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The knight goby is not brightly colored, but it is very attractive and interesting.
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Description:
Koi are large domesticated carp commonly kept in backyard ponds. Some
koi are exceptional specimens, called "show koi" and can be very
expensive. Many pondkeepers keep less expensive pet koi; they may not
have perfect colors and markings, but they are great pets.
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The “krib” is one of the most common and easy to keep of the constellation of Pelmatochromis/Pelvicachromis genera in the hobby. This fish is very hardy, adapt to almost any water conditions and will breed in wet cotton.
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Although
it will live for several years in an aquarium where it is the only fish
of its kind, the kuhli loach will seldom come out in the open under
these conditions.
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The
lemon tetra is not seen much in the hobby anymore, most probably
because when young, the fish does not show much in the way of colors.
Also, the commercial breeding of this fish in Florida and the Far East
has taken what was already a very subtle range of colors and made them
even less notable.
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Livebearers
are any omnivorous fish that retain eggs inside the body and give birth
to live young. This group includes some of the most well-known and
widespread fish in the freshwater aquarium hobby, including guppies,
Endler’s livebearers, mollies, platies and swordtails of all types.
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Loaches
are freshwater fish belonging to the family Cobitidae. They are
generally small, benthic fish, and they have barbel organs similar to
those seen in catfish. They are generally hardy and will scavenge in the
aquarium.
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Fish
breeders have developed many forms of long-fin swordtails, as well as
platies and guppies. By making use of the fact that these fish are
prolific and produce mutations quite often, expert aquarists have
managed to selectively breed for the longer fins.
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Fish
breeders have developed many forms of long-fin swordtails, as well as
platies and guppies. By making use of the fact that these fish are
prolific and produce mutations quite often, expert aquarists have
managed to selectively breed for the longer fins.
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The
marbled hatchetfish found in the local fish store are all caught in the
wild — they have been spawned, but not on a commercial basis. Also,
there are at least two species, and probably some others, that come in
under the common name of marbled hatchetfish.
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Mollies are live-bearer members of the genus Poecilia.
They are popular aquarium species and do best in warm freshwater
aquariums. The black molly is the most common, and the sailfin varieties
are especially attractive.
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The
Montezuma swordtail is one of the true wild swordtails originally
introduced into the hobby. Today almost all of the swordtails available
at local fish stores are many generations removed from wild fish such as
this and have many different colors.
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The
Montezuma swordtail is one of the true wild swordtails originally
introduced into the hobby. Today almost all of the swordtails available
at local fish stores are many generations removed from wild fish such as
this and have many different colors.
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The
neon tetra was the first wild-caught fish that really set the tropical
fish hobby into a dither, and contributed much to establishing the
"tropical" fish hobby. When the neon was first introduced in Europe and
then America, this fish commanded incredibly steep prices.
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The
orange-finned loach is a schooling species that does best when kept in
small groups (i.e., six or more individuals) in a tank with more active
fishes, such as barbs and armored catfish. It becomes very active at
night.
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The
oscar has become one of the most popular “pet” fish because it will
learn to recognize its owner/feeder and will become extremely tame.
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This
is a shy, schooling species that should be kept in groups of six or
more, in an aquarium with similar peaceful species. It does not do well
when housed with more active species, such as cichlids.
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A
paradise fish can be kept with other paradise fish when it is a
juvenile, as well as with other similar-size community tankmates with
the same temperature requirements. However, as a male paradise fish
matures, it will engage in fierce battles, so only one male should be
kept per aquarium.
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The
pearl gourami is one of the most beautiful anabantids -- bubble nest
builders. It is peaceful and can be kept with any other community tank
fish, displaying only mild aggression toward others of its species, and
then usually only from males in breeding colors.
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The penguin tetra is a lovely fish that comes from many places in the Amazon River drainage throughout South America.
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The hobby still imports most Corydoras
species from the wild, but the peppered cory was one of the first
tank-bred cory catfish. Peppered cories sold in shops are now almost
always farm-raised. The albino cory cats seen in shops are almost always
C. paleatus, too.
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The
pictus cat is also sometimes referred to as the “angel cat”, but
nowadays there are a few other “angel” catfish that are very different
(some come from the African lakes), so referring to this as the pictus
cat is probably best.
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The
platy probably comes in more sizes, colors and finnage types than any
fish available to hobbyists today. The fish farmers in Florida and the
Far East (primarily Singapore and Hong Kong) are constantly coming up
with different platy varieties.
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The
plecostomus is a peaceful species that can be housed in a community
tank as a single member of its species. As an adult, it is extremely
intolerant of its own kind, although two can be kept together if they
are added simultaneously as juveniles and allowed to "grow up" together.
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The
porthole catfish is a very nice fish that has been available for many
years, but has never really been all that popular. The problem is
probably that they have never been bred in large numbers commercially,
so virtually all of the fish that come into the hobby are wild-caught.
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Originating
from Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea, rainbowfish are so-named
because of the iridescent colors they display under the proper lighting.
The various types may range in size from a couple to 6 inches in
length. Rainbowfish are schooling species that should be kept in small
groups.
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The
ram may be the most beautiful of all the dwarf cichlids, with its
iridescent blue scales, golden chest, exquisite black markings and
brilliant red eyes. The blue ram has the coloration of a wild fish. A
golden tank-raised strain is also common.
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Description:
This active shoaling fish inhabits the aquarium’s middle waters and is a
peaceful addition to a community aquarium (although it may nip at slow
fish with long, flowing fins). The red-eye tetra has a mostly silver
body, but its back displays green iridescent scales with dark edgings.
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The
red tailed chalceus (also sometimes called the pink tailed chalceus) is
a very beautiful, fast-moving fish that is often imported from South
America.
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This
is a gorgeous fish. The red-tailed shark has a deep black body,
white-tipped sharklike dorsal fins, and, of course, a bright red tail.
However, this fish doesn’t usually show its true colors in dealers’
tanks.
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The
redtail botia is a schooling species that does best when kept in small
groups (i.e., six or more individuals) in a tank with more active
fishes, such as barbs and armored catfish. It becomes very active at
night. As yet, there have been no reported spawnings of this species in
the home aquarium.
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The
rosy barb was one of the first fish to become popular in the hobby.
Though this fish fares well at typical aquarium temperatures, it is not a
tropical fish. It prefers cooler temperatures and usually requires no
aquarium heater. The rosy barb is peaceful, very hardy and best kept in
groups.
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The Rummynose Tetra (Hemigrammus bleheri) is a small and popular tetra known for its ruby red coloration that exhibits well in a heavily planted aquarium.
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The Sailfin Molly (Poecilia latipinna)
is perhaps the most beautiful of mollies. It is a small sized fish,
with males reaching about 4-5 inches in length and females reaching
closer to 5-6 inches in length.
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The Serpae tetra (Hyphessobrycon eques)
is a small and popular tetra known for its propensity to nip at other
fish, especially those with long, flowing fins. It is native to
waterways of Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay with stark colors. It gets its
name from the Amazonian village of Serpa.
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The
Siamese fighting fish, also known as the betta, has become a popular
fish among hobbyists primarily because of the male’s beautiful colors
and lavish finnage.
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The Silver Arowana (Osteoglossum bicirrhosum)
is a long and beautiful fish known for its voracious appetite and
constant surface skimming, looking for things to fit into its mouth. It
is native to waterways of the Amazon River and other areas in South
America.
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The
silver dollar is a peaceful, schooling fish that can be kept in groups
of three to six with most other community tank species of similar size.
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Because the skunk cory is shy and easily frightened when kept as a single specimen, Corydoras arcuatus
should be kept in small groups (i.e., six or more individuals) with
other community tank fish, such as small characins, livebearers and
rasboras.
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The
Spotted Headstander is a very interesting fish, but it is not seen very
frequently in the hobby. This is probably because a) the majority of
these fish in the hobby come from the wild, and b) they can be difficult
to get to adjust and thrive in an aquarium.
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The swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii)
is a popular live-bearer that gets its name from the males’
distinctive, elongated tailfin, which appears sharp and pointed. Various
types are available, including the green, red, red wag and pineapple
swordtails.
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Tetras
are freshwater tropical fish that include both small South American
fish belonging to the family Charcidae and African fish belonging to the
family Alestiidae. There are numerous species that are referred to as
tetras, including the very popular neon and cardinal tetras.
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The
three-spot gourami is a robust fish that should be kept with other
hardy, but mildly aggressive, community tank fishes. When kept with
active, aggressive fishes it will often retreat to a corner and hide.
House only one male per aquarium, as this species has a tendency to
fight with one another.
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The
tiger barb is a lively, playful, schooling species that should be kept
in groups of seven or more. It may become aggressive if kept in too
small a group, and may harass slow-moving fishes and peck at the fins of
gouramis and angelfish.
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There
are a large number of “suckermouth cats” sold in the hobby, and they in
fact represent a variety of different genera and species.
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The
Tropheus moorii is often territorial and may be intolerant of members
of its own species. However, it seldom harasses its tankmates. It is
best to keep this species in groups, with only one male to several
females.
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The
Twig catfish is an absolutely perfect case of camouflage. Long and
slender, with an extended nose, this fish completely blends into the
background when it attaches itself with its sucker mouth up on a stick
of wood, or a wide leaf of a plant.
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The
upside-down catfish is a peaceful, schooling species that should be
kept in small groups (i.e., three to six individuals) with other
peaceful community tank residents.
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The
whiptail catfish is a very peaceful, at time shy and retiring, fish
that will do very well in any community tank. There are probably a
variety of different closely related fishes that are sold as whiptail
cats, but they are all the same in disposition and care.
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New
hobbyists often see a dealer’s tank with the white cloud label and look
fruitlessly for a white fish. The scientific name means “Tan’s fish”
and “white clouds.” A boy named Tan discovered the fish in a stream on
White Cloud Mountain in China.
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Distribution:
The wine red fighter comes from Southeast Asia, in southern peninsular
region of Malaysia, notably from Muar, and also from near Jambi in
central Sumatra.
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The
zebra danio is a active fish that can be housed in groups of three or
more with other peaceful community tank residents of similar size. It
should be housed in large aquariums that are long, rather than wide or
tall. Provide a coarse sand or fine gravel substrate.
HAVE a fishy day Regards
v.m.k
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