Aquatic Wonders: A Blog for Aquarium Fish Enthusiasts

Platies (Xiphophorus maculatus and Xiphophorus variatus) are very popular tropical freshwater fishes held by aquarists around the world. They are extremely beautiful, small fish and come in every single color imaginable. Part of their popularity is due to the very low experience needed to keep them. Males grow to about 4 – 5 cm and females, being a little bigger, can grow up to 5 – 6 cm. Platies are native to both Central America and North America. There are numerous types of platies, but all are hybrids of two species heavily interbred in order to reach their full potential. The two most common species are Southern Platy (Xiphophorus maculatus) and Variable Platy (Xiphophorus variatus). Like most other species from the Poeciliidae family, platies are great fish for both beginners and experienced aquarists. They are easy to keep and breed and their potential is great. Although platies are very small, they are extremely active species. They love being in groups, but they are ...

Symphysodon, colloquially known as Discus, is a genus of cichlids native to the Amazon river basin in South America. Due to their distinctive shape, behavior, and bright colors and patterns, discus are popular as freshwater aquarium fish, and their aquaculture in several countries in Asia is a major industry. They are sometimes referred to as pompadour fish. Discus can grow to 20 cm in diameter and live up to 15 years. They are available from 5 cm to 20 cm and currently, there are more than 20 varieties to choose from. It is a very common misconception that Discus are difficult to keep, and whilst this remains the case for wild-caught fish, the European and Asian Discus have a worldwide reputation for being robust and easy to keep. If you are new to this hobby then please enter it with an open mind. Our Discus are kept in Glasgow tap water! This makes their care so much easier and means that almost without exception where ever you live in the UK you can keep these fish with a litt...

Corydoras davidsandsi , commonly known as Davidsand's Corydoras, is a captivating and attractive species of catfish that originates from the Tapuruguara region in Brazil, specifically the Rio Inambu. It was scientifically described by Black in 1978. This species is highly sought after by aquarium enthusiasts due to its striking appearance and interesting behaviors. Natural Habitat and Origin : The native habitat of Corydoras davidsandsi is the Rio Inambu in Brazil. This freshwater fish is found in slow-moving streams and rivers with sandy or gravelly substrates. These areas are often well-vegetated, providing ample hiding places for the fish and suitable conditions for breeding. Physical Characteristics : In the wild, Corydoras davidsandsi typically reaches a size of about 40.0 mm standard length (SL) for females and 55.0 mm SL for males. The males are generally smaller than the females, which is a common trait in many Corydoras species. These fish are known for their distinctive...

For breeding purposes, the aquarium size should be at least 15 – 20 liters for a pair or a trio. This fish is not aggressive, although there might be an occasional aggressive male that might need to be separated from the group. Hypsolebias gardneri are quite prolific spawners if conditioned and fed well on live foods. These fish are substrate divers when spawning. The layer of peat needs to be at least 4 – 5 cm or even deeper if you want the fish to feel comfortable while spawning. Peat moss or coir is the preferred medium, but any other suitable type of spawning substrate can be used. The eggs are small in size, from 0.6 to 0.8 mm, and can withstand much abuse. The eggs are not adhesive and can be seen in the substrate with a bit of effort. Please note that the eggs incubation period of this species can be as long as 5 – 10 months and even longer, depending on the incubating temperature, substrate moisture, and other factors. You need to be patient and to check the eggs every 2 –...

This is probably one of the most beautiful South American annual killifish. This particular fish originates from a temporary pool close to a small stream of Lagoa de Maricá system (Road RJ-106) at Inoã, a small town in Maricá municipality located in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro. As far as we have been told by a few Brazilian killifish breeders, this biotope is going to disappear quite soon due to new building projects in this area. For breeding purposes, the aquarium size should be at least 25 – 30 liters for a pair or trio (1 male and 2 females). This fish is not aggressive in general, although there always will be a dominated male, and it’s not necessarily required to remove him if you keep this species in a large group in spite of occasional aggression from the dominated male. Nematolebias papilliferus are quite prolific spawners if conditioned and fed well. These fish are substrate divers when spawning. The layer of peat needs to be at least 8 – 10 cm or even deeper i...

For breeding purposes, the aquarium size should be at least 30 – 40 litres for a breeding group of a few pairs. Males can be at times aggressive towards their kin’s and in that case, it is better to separate them or transpose them into larger tanks before casualties are allowed to occur. After having spent some time in a tank, each male establishes his own territory, which he eagerly defends against intruders. Relatively speaking, Nothobranchius eggersi is not as aggressive as some other Nothobranchius but they certainly can be aggressive to the point where females can suffer fatal damage. Wild specimens generally tend to be more aggressive than aquarium-raised specimens of the same species. In general, the best way to deal with aggression is to raise and breed them in groups (e.g. 5 – 6 males and 10 – 12 females) and do not at any time separate them. Taking one male out of a group and placing him back say a week later will assuredly create trouble. Raise them together as fry and as t...