Tropical Fish Species

Small Corydoras for Small Tanks

Corydoras catfish are wonderful fish, but the most common species, such as the Bronze Corydoras and the Peppered Corydoras, grow too large for tanks of much under ten gallons if you’re to keep them in a group. Since Corydoras are schooling species and prefer to be in groups, it is good that there are [...]

Crayfish In Your Aquarium

Crayfish are crustaceans that look much like small lobsters or large shrimp and come from freshwater streams and rivers around the world. They can make very good inhabitants for the aquarium, but they do have special requirements that must be met.   In particular, they require aerated water, space, are often aggressive, and will eat small [...]

Conservation of the Asian Arawana

The Asian Arawana, Scleropages formosus, is endangered, mainly due to habitat destruction. It is listed under CITES Appendix 1, which means that trading this species across national boundaries is illegal unless the individual fish are captive bred. The Asian Arawana is captive bred in Kalimantan, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.
Unfortunately, it is also illegally wild caught [...]

A Better Deal for Bettas

Bettas are probably the fish most commonly kept in small unheated and unfiltered bowls or tanks. At first sight, they seem the ideal fish for this situation. Bettas stay small, growing to approximately 3 inches in length. The waters from which they come are naturally slow-moving or still, and shallow. Bettas have the [...]

The Walking Catfish (Clarias batrachus): Pet, Food Fish, and Invasive Pest

The Walking Catfish, Clarias batrachus, is a very large catfish sometimes seen in the aquarium trade. It is also used as a food fish. It is native to Southeastern Asia, but it has been introduced to numerous other places where it has become an invasive and predatory pest. Once in an area, it is [...]

Now for Something Different: Songs of the Aquarium

The Corydoras Catfish
Catfish leaps upward
Hovering in mid-water
Hoping for some food.
The Betta
The betta dances
Before the glass’s mirror
Rival dances back.
The Neon Tetra
Swimming together
To confuse bigger fishes
They sparkle with light.
The Guppy
Tail streaming behind
The small fish wiggles onward
Looking for a mate.
The Goldfish
Slow and yet graceful
They sail on through the water
Each alone yet not.
Note: Next week’s post will be a [...]

How Big is That Tropical Fish Part 2: Fish 10-16 Inches in Length

Many of the tropical fish seen in pet stores are not fully grown.  The final size of the fish varies dramatically between species.  This is a list of the sizes that individual species are likely to grow to.  Only some species are listed here, and adult fish of the same species vary somewhat in size.  This is [...]

Corydoras in the Aquarium

Corydoras are among the best tropical fish for the home aquarium. They are small, they aren’t aggressive toward smaller fish, they are hard for bigger fishes to eat, and they help keep the tank clean by scavenging food off the bottom.  Despite rumors to the contrary, they do not eat fish poop and they do [...]

How Big is That Tropical Fish Part 1: Fish Over 16 Inches

Many of the tropical fish seen in pet stores are not fully grown. The final size of the fish varies dramatically between species. This is a list of the sizes that individual species are likely to grow to. Only some species are listed here, and adult fish of the same species vary somewhat in size. This is [...]

Breeding the Cherry Barb, Puntius titteya

The cherry barb, Puntius titteya, is a common aquarium fish that is an easily spawned egg layer. The fry are somewhat hard to rear as they require extremely small food and protection from their parents, but when these needs are met they do very well. This is a description of my experiences in spawning and [...]