The species name pulcher means “the beautiful one”. And that actually says it all. We can currently offer this really beautiful armored catfish, which, along with a whole range of species with which it can easily be confused, comes from the Rio Purus drainage in Brazil.
Corydoras pulcher grows to about 6-7 cm in length. It is distinguished from similarly colored species by the combination of a long, pointed snout and cream-colored dorsal and pectoral fin spines. One should beware of being stung by these spines, it hurts a lot. But the peaceful armored catfish would never actively use their spines to attack.
For our customers: the animals have code 241704 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Since a few weeks pictures of bright red Nannostomus are circulating, which seem to be unnaturally colorful. However, these are actually wild forms from Peru, which are very close to or even identical with the Nannostomus rubrocaudatus (the “Purple”), which is also found there. Like the latter, the novelties have a prominent black spot in the lower caudal fin lobe, a feature lacking in other Nannostomus of the form circle around N. marginatus and N. mortenthaleri.
Two forms are involved: one is called “Super Red Cenepa”. Their exact locality is still unknown. These animals have a deep black bar across the back and along the ventral edge, the fins are transparent or whitish. As far as we know, they have only been exported to Hongkong so far. The second form, of which we can show pictures here, because already small numbers reached Europe, comes from the Rio Amaya in Peru. We owe this information to Oliver Lucanus, who visited the catchers on site. Many thanks for this!
In the first imports we could see, all (80) fish were extremely red, only in some of them the head and the front fifth of the body was yellowish-whitish. We do not yet know if this is a sex difference or a variance in the coloration of the males. Elsewhere, females were included in shipments that were not outwardly different from Nannostomus rubrocaudatus females. We cannot decide if these are true females of Nannostomus sp. “Super Red” or if the exporters simply met the request for females from their customers in Europe, Asia and America by supplying females of N. rubrocaudatus. In the opinion of O. Lucanus, the females of the „Super Red“ are merely paler red in color, but otherwise resemble the males. As said, we do not know. But they are beautiful fish, that has to be said!
Again we succeeded in importing the unfortunately very rarely offered, very attractive Hyphessobrycon micropterus from the Rio Sao Francisco in Brazil.
So far we could import this probably most beautiful of all Leporinus only once: Leporinus sp. “Strawberry”. That was in the season 2010/2011, in which we managed two imports in small numbers. For these fishes please see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/leporinus_sp_strawberry__en/ An interesting side note: five of the fishes imported at that time we got back in top condition only a few weeks ago and were able to resell them. So they are very long-lived fish!
Now there is a chance that more people will be able to enjoy these beautiful fish in the future, because we have been offered offspring for the first time. Of course we bought them and we didn’t regret it in any way! Already with their 4-6 cm length (the photographed specimens are about 4 cm long) they are extremely colorful goblins. We are quite sure that this species will become a perennial favorite if the breeding continues to be successful and the prices drop a bit as a result.
For our customers: the fish have code 265892 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Only rather rarely – every few years – and if, then always in the summer months June-July-August, we receive Hyphessobrycon socolofi from Brazil, in which the back shines conspicuously green; besides, the second cherry-red spot on the tail root is colored particularly intensively red with these animals. We have been observing this phenomenon for many years. We have not found an explanation yet.
In any case they are beautiful animals, an enrichment for every aquarium with peaceful fish!
For our customers: the animals have code 261994 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
In the last years we reported more often about Corydoras imports, which are similar to Corydoras armatus (= sp. aff. armatus or cf. armatus), but not identical. Now we received again the “real” C. armatus from Peru. The enormously high dorsal fin is really an eye-catcher. In addition it is always carried tautly upright, which reminds involuntarily of a group of dwarfs with a pointed cap.
The care of C. armatus, which grows to about 5-6 cm long, is the same as for other armored catfishes, but there are two special features. Firstly, C. armatus is one of the most social Corydoras and should therefore be kept in groups of 5 or more. Single animals do not feel well! And second, this species is somewhat sensitive to high water temperatures. The range between 22 and 26°C is correct, but for most of the year the lower value should be used as a guideline.
For our customers: the animals have code 222105 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
This beautiful and – by Pao standards – peaceful freshwater pufferfish originates from the Mekong River basin in Laos (type locality: the Xe Bangfai River near Ban Geng Sahwang); it is considered endemic (= only occurring there) in the Xe Bangfai. In contrast to Pao turgidus, which occurs in the same river, P. abei has a large eye spot (ocellus) below the dorsal fin. In P. turgidus, all spots on the body are the same size. Unfortunately P. abei can only be identified without any doubt if it shows a mood dependent coloration. This coloration occurs during courtship and when the fish is very excited. If the fish is not in this mood, it cannot be distinguished from the “common” Pao cochinchinensis, which also occurs in the Xe Bangfai. That is why there are always doubts about which of the two species one is looking at.
However, this is not only of academic interest, but also has quite practical significance. While Pao cochinchinensis is a rather aggressive species, which can often only be kept singly in the long run, a permanent group keeping of P. abei is quite possible.
The external unique point of P. abei is therefore only one of several possible mood-related colorations, which consists of yellow or orange dots on a dark background. Otherwise, we can only rely on our supplier to send us puffer fishes under this name. Fortunately one of the two specimens of our current import in the photo tank did us the favor to show itself in typical abei coloration for some time!
Pao abei grows to about 10 cm in length. They are substrate spawners, the clutch is guarded by the male until the larvae hatch. The breeding of P. abei has been successful more often. Regarding water chemistry the animals are undemanding, any tap water is suitable, pH should be between 6 and 8, water temperature around 24°C.
For our customers: P. abei has code 461245 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
Predatory catfishes exude a special fascination to many a catfish lover. Unfortunately, many species simply become too large for permanent care in a normal sized home aquarium. However, there are also species that grow to only 20-30 cm in length and for which it is therefore not necessary to flood the entire basement to meet their space requirements. Platysilurus mucosus belongs to these species.
Two characteristics make Platysilurus mucosus special: the very long maxillary barbels and the huge caudal fin. The latter, however, is more pronounced in juveniles than in adults. When catching one must be very careful, because the pectoral fins are needle-sharp and probably also slightly poisonous. It is best to catch the animals in a comparatively very large net with as fine a mesh as possible and then scoop them out with a cup or (for larger specimens) bucket. This way you save yourself and the animals a lot of stress.
They will eat any meaty food that fits in their mouths, even smaller fish and shrimp! Among themselves the animals are peaceful. In community tanks you have to take care that the P. mucosus get enough food, because they are – compared to other predatory catfishes – very shy. The home of P. mucosus is the Amazon and Orinoco, where the species is widespread. Our animals come from Peru. There is a second species, P. malarmo, which is only found in Venezuela and Colombia and which becomes remarkely larger (around 50 cm).
For our customers: the animals have code 280583 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply to wholesalers.
Similar to the fact that there are several red-backed angelfish populations, there are also several red or yellow-spotted wild forms. The ancestors of Pterophyllum sp. “Guyana Red Dragon” came from the Essequibo River in Guyana. Number and intensity of dots vary individually in each fish, but all specimens we currently received (they are now 5-7 cm long and just sexually ripe) are very nicely and intensely spotted. They are German offspring.
The coloration of the red spots of the Pterophyllum sp. “Guyana Red Dragon” changes with the incidence of light. Sometimes they look more orange, sometimes black-red, sometimes cherry-red. Exactly the same phenomenon is known from the red dotted Green Discus (Symphysodon aequifasciatus). And just like discus, red-spotted and un-spotted specimens occur together in nature. These are not special local variations, nor are they sex differences or even species differences. However, as the magnificent Pterophyllum sp. “Guyana Red Dragon”, which we are currently able to offer, show abundantly clear: this characteristic is hereditary and can be increased in its expression from generation to generation in the hands of experienced breeders.
For our customers: the animals have code 699793 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
There is a lot of interest in special wild forms of the angelfish. Among the best known is the “Manacapuru Redback”, a very striking form. Because of the strong need for revision of the genus Pterophyllum, it is better not to call it “Pterophyllum scalare” scientifically, because what exactly this “real” scalare is has yet to be researched.
The city of Manacapuru, after which this redback is named, is the fourth largest city in the Brazilian state of Amazonas. It is located directly on the Amazon River, but about 80 km above the confluence of the Amazon and Rio Negro. Until there, the Amazon is called Rio Solimoes. However, red-backed angelfish are not only found there and unfortunately different red-backed local forms have been crossed with each other in the past, either intentionally or unintentionally. The Manacapuru redback is characterized by the fact that the caudal fin is almost completely featureless or at most delicately striped (more or less strongly striped in many other redback local forms). The “Amapa redback”, very similar to the “Manacapuru redback”, is less intensely colored and, when fully grown, is of “eimekei” appearance. As juveniles, these two forms are almost indistinguishable.
Care of the Manacapuru Redback is no more difficult than that of the “common” angelfish breeding forms. They become most beautiful in high tanks (around 60 cm). Young animals often do not show much red in the back yet, this depends on the strain and feeding. One pays attention with purchase above all to the thread-like belly fins. If they are nice and straight and about as long as the anal fin, then they will be nice animals. Crooked, shortened ventral fins indicate bad growing conditions. This is not hereditary, but it also never really grows out. Feeding a lot of small crustaceans (Daphnia, Cyclops, Artemia, Mysis etc., whether live or frozen) will intensify the red colors in the back. Our pictures show young adult animals and juveniles.
For our customers: the animals have code 699673 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
The julies (Julidochromis) belong to the most popular cichlids from Lake Tanganyika. They are very beautiful, colorful and comparatively peaceful animals. Of course, for reproduction territories are formed and defended against other fish. All Julidochromis are recommendable aquarium fish, there is a suitable species for every aquarium. The largest is J. marlieri, of which we can offer just magnificent, almost adult animals of 7-10 cm length. The maximum length of the species given in literature is just under 15 cm (including tail fin).
Julidochromis marlieri are mostly monogamous, but there are also polyandrous females, which live in polyandry. In this case, the males defend the spawning territory (usually a rock crevice or the like) and the female swims the territories and occasionally spawns with one or the other male.
The Three-spined Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) is the most interesting and beautiful native aquarium fish. Its behavior has been intensively studied scientifically and the courtship, nesting and mating behavior of the species are still an integral part of school lessons today. The stickleback is a model organism for instinct research.
Systematically-scientifically, the three-spined stickleback remains poorly understood. Over the centuries, 47 species of threespine stickleback have been described, but only a few of them are valid, the vast majority are seen as synonyms. In terms of behavior, a distinction is made between a stationary freshwater form and a migratory form that spends large portions of the year in the sea and returns to freshwater only to breed; in addition, there are apparently purely marine populations. Anatomically, there have been repeated attempts to use the number of lateral body plates as an identifier for species. For example, Gasterosteus gymnurus was for a long time considered a valid species lacking these plates on the caudal peduncle. However, recent DNA-based studies could not find any differences between G. gymnurus and G. aculeatus.
Three-spined sticklebacks live in practically all of Europe, large parts of northern Asia and North America. Our animals come from German fish farms. Unfortunately, nowadays most students and adults know these animals only from movies and books. Now is a good time to buy these fish for your home aquarium and watch this fantastic animal live.
For our customers: Three-spined sticklebacks have code 884005 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
For the first time we can offer this interesting and attractive tetra novelty: Hyphessobrycon sp. aff. bifasciatus “Ghost”. The origin of this fish is not known to us. Our breeder received the parents from Vienna. When the young fish obtained with them developed strong red fins, which they lost again when growing up, the close relationship to the Yellow Tetra (Hyphessobrycon bifasciatus) could no longer be overlooked. The “Ghost” has indeed, as one can see with certain incidence of light, still the black pigments, which form the species-characteristic double shoulder stripe of H. bifasciatus. The “Ghost” looks very attractive as an adult fish due to its ghostly transparency in combination with the deep black eyes.
The Yellow Tetra (Hyphessobrycon bifasciatus) was kept and bred in aquariums as early as 1925. It is very similar to the Flame Tetra (Hyphessobrycon flammeus). In fact, the Flame Tetra was misidentified as H. bifasciatus when it was first imported in 1920. It was not until the “true” H. bifasciatus was imported a few years later that the error was noticed and it was realized that the Flame Tetra was an undescribed species at that time. Both species grow to 4-5 cm in length and come from Brazil, state of Rio de Janeiro. However, the red is a blackwater form and therefore acutely threatened with extinction, while the yellow is very adaptable and still manages well even in nature destroyed by man. Wild catches for aquaristics have, as always in such cases, no influence on the natural populations.
Interesting about H. bifasciatus is that many of the juveniles have bright red fins. This disappears with the growing up. One only wonders: what is this good for? Because what we humans like very much, is noticed by predators: red fins! While taking pictures we noticed that it is mainly young females that have the red fins; during the random catch for the photo session all red-finned animals were indeed presumed females (because of the clearly smaller anal fin), while all animals with a large anal fin were presumed males; they did not show any red in the fins. All fish were about 2 cm long at this time. From then on, the females also lost more and more of their red until there was none at all.
In former times the Yellow Tetra was a popular aquarium fish, because it does not need additional heating in living rooms. 16-22°C is its comfort range, only for breeding it wants it a bit warmer. Nowadays the species is not colorful enough for many. But who knows, maybe the Yellow Tetra experiences a renaissance because of the enormously rising energy prices? Right now is one of the rare opportunities to acquire this fish, because we have wild catches in stock.
For our customers: Hyphessobrycon bifasciatus WILD have code 259653, H. sp. aff. bifasciatus “Ghost” code 259713 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Finally we were able to import once more one of the most charming dwarf tetras at all: Tyttocharax cochui. These very lively and absolutely peaceful blue flashes become only 1.5-2 cm long. The story how T. cochui was discovered is quite interesting.They were imported for the first time in April 1949 to Germany – as feeder fish! The mean importation was of the leaf fish, Monocirrhus polyacanthus. This species is a well known predator. It was not intended to let the leaf fish hunger during the long journey (at that time by ship over the ocean) and so a number of „young fish“ was accompanied in the transport can to feed Monocirrhus.
However, some survived the trip and proofed to be a dwarf species new to science. They were described as „Microbrycon cochui“ scientifically only a short time later. Obviously Monocirrhus polyacanthus became sea-sick. Great luck for the feeder fish!
For our customers: Tyttocharax cochui has code 298952 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
The nothobranchs (Nothobranchius) represents with N. furzeri one of the shortest-lived vertebrates of the world. Only the marine goby Eviota sigillata tops it, with it (in nature) never an animal became older than 59 days. In the case of N. furzeri, the time between hatching from the egg and death from old age is also only 12 weeks (84 days). No wonder that researchers, who study processes during aging, are obsessed to work with this animal.
But we aquarists love Nothobranchius for their magnificent appearance. Of course, we also enjoy their behavior, which is an adaptation to waters that periodically dry up completely. The fish survive the dry phase in the form of eggs in the bottom. Because they hardly live longer than one year (Latin: annus), the short-lived killis are called “annual” species. This has been taken from botany, where annual herbs that die off after flowering and seed formation are referred to as annual species.
Nothobranchius patrizii belongs to the already long known species of the genus, which currently comprises 90 species and occurs in southern and eastern Africa in savannas. In 1927 the species was described, in 1981 it was imported for the first time. The occurrence includes Kenya and Somalia. The species is not the most colorful of the genus, but it is considered very robust and therefore very suitable for beginners in the care and breeding of annual killies.
For our customers: the animals have code 337502 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
The Blue Daisy (Oryzias woworae) is known by almost every aquarist child and we have this beautiful and easy to care fish regularly in our offer. Our current stock, offspring from Indonesia, consists of particularly large animals, which color themselves splendidly almost black in the courtship display. Apparently one has successfully crossed the attractive “Black” strain, which unfortunately mostly had no dorsal fin.
The females (recognizable by the smooth-edged anal fin) look quite normal and even frightened males or those that are not currently courtship active show only the classic blue sheen, orange belly and red caudal fin stripes.
For our customers: the fish have code 340134 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
The cute Flame Red Dwarf Badis (Dario hysginon) we have quite regularly in our stock. It originates from Burma (drainage of the Irrawaddy, Myitkyina District, Kachin State). More pictures of the species can be found here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/fischarchiv/dario_hyginon_2__en/
Partly together with the Flame Red another dwarf badis occurs in nature, which is already mentioned in the first scientific description: the “Black Tiger”. Concerning the measurable values the Flame Red does not differ substantially from the Black Tiger and therefore both were led for a long time “officially” also only as color variants of the species Dario hysginon. However, aquarium observations suggested that they are separate species, because they do not interbreed in the aquarium.
Now the discoverers of the “Black Tiger”, who originally classified it only as a variant of D. hysginon due to the paucity of material and the fact that it occurs together with Dario hysginon, have described it as a distinct species after all. It is now officially named Dario tigris Britz, Kullander & Rüber, 2022. The main differences from D. hysginon are in coloration and genetic differences, there are also minor anatomical differences between the two (fewer dorsal fin spines and vertebrae on average in D. tigris). In addition, the authors noted that Dario tigris only sometimes coexists with D. hysginon. Type locality of Dario tigris is an unnamed stream in Kachin State south of Mogaung.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to distinguish the two species in startle coloration from each other with certainty, which is why a certain mix arrives with us from time to time. Colored animals on the other hand are hardly to be confused. By the way, the females of the Black Tiger have, just like the males, a dot pattern in the neck, which makes it quite easy to distinguish them from striped females of the Flame Red.
For our customers: Dario hysginon has code 413783, D. tigris 413796 on our stock list. Please note that we cannot sort Flame Red and Black Tiger 100% and only supply wholesale.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Literature:
Britz, R., Kullander, S. O. & L. Rüber (2022): Dario tigris and Dario melanogrammus, two new species of miniature chameleon fishes from northern Myanmar (Teleostei: Badidae). Zootaxa 5138 (1): 001–016
Some botias, among them B. kubotai, are available only seasonal and for a quite short time per year. The very beautiful species B. kubotai originates from the Salween-tributary Ataran in the border region between Burma and Thailand. It becomes around 8-10 cm long, maximum length reported so far is 13 cm. This species is one of the most social species in the genus and should be kept under all circumstances in groups.
For our customers: the animals have code 401304 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
For the first time ever we can offer Glyptoperichthys parnaibae, so far known exclusively from the Rio Parnaiba in Brazil. The Rio Parnaiba is located in the northeast of Brazil and has a high proportion of endemic, i.e. only there occurring fish species, because there is no connection to other river systems.
The juveniles of Glyptoperichthys parnaibae are, like all sailfin plecs, quite delightful fish. They grow to 40-50 cm in length and are then probably the most beautiful of all Glyptoperichthys species. We have received them in sizes between 4 and 6 cm. Of course you need large aquariums to keep large fish, but otherwise Glyptoperichthys parnaibae are very easy to care for. Investigation of the stomach content showed that this species eats not only aufwuchs, but also insect larvae. In its distribution area the species is very common and serves as cheap food for poorer population groups.
For our customers: the animals have code 254631 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Spiny eels enjoy an increasing popularity. More and more aquarists are discovering that it is not always the colorful, constantly visible fish that are fun to watch, but also the more hidden fish personalities that are often only seen when feeding. Among these fish personalities are definitely the spiny eels.
There are spiny eels in different sizes: from the only about 10 cm long Macrognathus pancalus from India to the “giant spiny eel” Mastacembelus armatus with up to 90 cm. Unfortunately, a rule of thumb for size that was very helpful for a long time no longer works. Until scientific revisions of the genus in the last 5 years one could always say well: Asian spiny eels with a clearly separated caudal fin remain small, with those with a circumferential dorsal tail and anal fin one must watch out, they can become half a meter long and as thick as an arm. In the meantime, small species of the latter group are known as well as large ones of the former (the recently described Macrognathus kris from Borneo, which can reach a length of 40 cm).
Macrognathus maculatus has a circumferential fin and originates from Indonesia and Malaysia; reports from other parts of Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Vietnam) probably refer to similar other species. Size-wise, the species is in the middle range. Our animals are fully sexually differentiated (males are much slimmer than females) and 15-20 cm long. In the literature one finds size data up to 28 cm. The variable colored species is in any case very nicely patterned and very peaceful. Only very small fish should not be kept together with them: sooner or later they will end up in the stomach of the spiny eels.
For our customers: the animals have code 425253 on our stock list. Please note that we supply only wholesale.
The dwarf cichlid Apistogramma agassizii has a distribution area that extends through practically the entire Amazon. With many of its genus comrades it is completely different, they often occur only locally and form then also location variants. Agassiz’ dwarf cichlid has so far successfully resisted all attempts to divide it. It is true that some particularly striking colorings are known – for example the “Tefe” with its zigzag pattern or the red-backed “Santarem”. But it is shown again and again that even with these extremes only relatively few males correspond to the ideal picture and with a larger number of wild-caught there are always also normally colored males. And the females all look the same anyway….
The matter does not get easier if you consider that almost every Apistogramma species in nature shows polychromatism (= multicolorism) of the males. So there are males with e.g. a higher proportion of red, those with a higher proportion of blue, etc. Under aquarium conditions one can select for the desired color within a few generations and then get uniform looking strains. But in nature it is not like that.
We have very pretty wild-caught Apistogramma agassizii from Peru, i.e. the upper reaches of the Amazon, in the stock right now. As is usual with wild-caught fish, they are about 30% smaller than their cousins that grew up in the aquarium when they reach sexual maturity. In the wild, there just isn’t as abundant food. But the coloration of the „wild ones“ is really very, very pretty, both the animals with more red and the animals with more blue in the tail fin.
For our customers: the fish have code 614073 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
The snarling zebra catfish – this is how Platydoras armatulus could be popularly called. However, it is actually called the striped raphael catfish. All spiny catfish can make distinct growling or croaking sounds when taken out of the water. They vibrate their whole body. Presumably this serves as a defense against enemies. But even without this behavior Platydoras are well protected against predators. Their whole body and especially the fins are covered with spines and thorns, which are even poisonous and can cause painful stings and lacerations. It is said that there have even been cases of poisoning in humans, so one should never catch these animals with bare hands. It seems that the catfishes are aware of their inedibility: usually they are lying around in a shady cave and hardly get disturbed. We have never observed the occasional warning in the literature that these catfishes could be dangerous to their aquarium mates by secreting poison, although we have had thousands of these animals with us over the decades. But at least: we have hereby pointed out to you that such a thing could exist.
Until 2008 the striped raphael catfish was called Platydoras costatus and still today this name can be found on most stock lists. Stock management systems just can’t be changed that easily. The “real” P. costatus is only found in coastal rivers of Surinam and French Guyana, is monochromatic brown-black and has only along the lateral row of spines a thin light line. Platydoras armatulus, on the other hand, is originally from the lower Orinoco, Amazon, and Parana-Paraguay systems. Nowadays, however, almost only captive-breds from Southeast Asia are on the market. It is distinctive and contrasting black and white striped.
The care of P. armatulus is very simple. The water temperature can be between 20 and 30°C, any drinking water is suitable for care. The species is extremely long-lived, you can look forward to several decades with them. The maximum length is said to be up to 30 cm, usually they grow around 20 cm. They are sociable animals, which should be kept in small groups (5-7 specimens). They will eat any common ornamental fish food and also small fish if they fit in their mouth. Co-inhabitants should therefore be adapted to the size of the catfish. The sexes are externally hardly distinguishable, the females are a little plumper, that’s it. These free spawners do not practice brood care.
For our customers: the animals have code 280522 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
Currently we have beautiful CW 51 in different sizes in the stock. The extension of the saddle patch towards the belly edge is individually quite different. In some specimens the saddle patch actually extends to the belly edge, in others only just to the middle of the body.
For our customers: the animals have code 240183 (lg) and 240184 (lg-xlg) on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
The small remaining, nicely marked Hypancistrus debilittera from the Rio Bita (a tributary to the Rio Meta, Colombia, Orinoco drainage) enjoys a great popularity since years. Already with 7 cm length the males become sexually active, the maximum length is given with about 12 cm. We import this species regularly.
Recently we received a “Hypancistrus sp.” from Colombia, unfortunately without concrete locality information. The animals are 6-8 cm long. In this import were specimens which can easily be assigned to H. debilittera, but also completely spotted animals – and all conceivable transitions! All photos in this post were made from specimens from this import.
Therefore we decided to list these fishes as L129-variant. No question: if all animals would have been spotted, we would have seen a new L-number behind them. But this is not possible, because if we receive an order of only a few specimens and the customer happens to receive only “normal” L129, we become untrustworthy. Nevertheless it is an exciting phenomenon. Will the Hypancistrus of the Orinoco basin hybridize with each other as happily as their cousins in the Rio Xingu, for example, have been shown to do?
There is still a lot to explore about these catfishes, which only became known to science thanks to aquaristics. For this, however, one needs again and again also wild catches, in order to be able to judge the natural variation. So it shows again: serious aquaristics is a joyful science, without which the thorough research of biodiversity (species diversity) in small fishes is not possible. Biodiversity research, in turn, is the indispensable prerequisite for species conservation. And so the trade – also and especially with wild catches – is pure species protection. Species are never endangered by this.
For our customers: the fish have code 26480-L 129A-2 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
The strange narrow hatchetfish of the genus Triportheus belong to the flying fishes of freshwater. This is already indicated by the mighty pectoral keel with the muscles attached to it and the very long pectoral fins. The fish are predominantly silvery colored and grow to about 15 cm in length, which is why they are only suitable for owners of large aquariums. Here, however, they enliven very much the upper area and are therefore excellent company fish e.g. for catfishes, cichlids or silver dollars.
The identification of the 16 species is tricky and there have been many mix-ups in the past. We have received a species from Brazil that is most likely Triportheus rotundatus according to the current revision of the group by Malabarba 2004. This species is quite widespread in South America and colonizes practically the entire Amazon basin. With a maximum of 17.8 cm standard length (plus the tail fin) it belongs to the larger species of the genus.
The care is not difficult. Apart from the space requirement, it is best to keep the animals in larger groups, otherwise they become quarrelsome, like many other tetras. They will eat any common ornamental fish food, but only very reluctantly from the bottom. Water temperature can be between 22 and 28°C, chemical water composition is indifferent, any drinking water is suitable for keeping. The sexes hardly differ, females grow larger.
For our customers: the fish have code 298703 on our stock list. Please note that we supply only wholesale.
The Coffee Bean Tetra is an exceptional species within the so-called Rosy Tetras: no other species has even a hint of such a large shoulder spot. The distribution area of the species is in the lower Amazon basin, the border area between Brazil and French Guyana. There you can find the Coffee Bean Tetra in the tributaries of the rivers Araguari and Oyapock – if you can find it! Because what sounds so easy on paper is not really easy to realize in the huge water worlds of the Amazon.
After Hyphessobrycon takasei had disappeared from the export lists for many years, we have now once again succeeded in importing a larger number of animals. According to our supplier it is still the same catcher who brought the animals before the export stop.
When the fish arrived at our place, we were skeptical at first, if they really were coffee bean tetras, because a big part of them hardly showed a shoulder spot. Within a few days, however, this changed and the H. takasei looked like you would expect them to. But it is interesting how drastically the tetras can change their coloration when disturbed!
Anyway, we are happy to finally offer again this beauty, which reaches about 4 cm in length and is an ornament in any well maintained community aquarium with peaceful fish and abundant plant growth. Our animals are still youngsters and thus do not yet show the whole beauty of the species.
For our customers: the fish have code 262092 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Whoever coined the name “Princess of Burundi” for this beautiful small cichlid: it is a brilliant name! The fish commonly known as Neolamprologus brichardi is by no means found only in Burundi, but is distributed in numerous color variants in Lake Tanganyika, which led to several scientific descriptions: Lamprologus savoryi pulcher, L. olivaceus, L. elongatus savoryi, Neolamprologus daffodil, Lamprologus crassus and just L. brichardi. If one follows the opinion of Ad Konings, these are all members of the same species, which should then be correctly named Neolamprologus pulcher according to the rules of naming.
Fortunately, the little noblewoman does not care, because she does not read. And so the beautiful, including the long extended caudal fin only about 9 cm long fish delights now already the third or fourth aquarist generation with its wonderful appearance and the highly interesting breeding behavior. Both parents (which by the way hardly differ externally) defend together the spawning place (usually a stone crevice) and the young. In contrast to most other cichlids, the young, when they become independent, only partially migrate, the rest stay at home and take care of the younger siblings with mom and dad. Thus, over time, a fantastic picture emerges, a teeming of several ages that you really should have seen at least once in your life.
For our customers: the fish have code 542502 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Now it is season again for one of the most beautiful of all loricariid catfishes: Acanthicus adonis. The species name “adonis”, which is reminiscent of the ancient god of beauty and vegetation, Adonis, is aptly chosen. For like the god described as a beautiful youth, the Adonis catfish is such a beauty only when young. The animals certainly reach over 50 cm in length, one even hears of specimens twice that size. But then the catfishes are only monochrome black.
Acanthicus adonis was described from the Rio Tocantins in Brazil. Mostly the animals come from Peru into the trade. They should differ from the Brazilian cousins by the smaller eye. Occasionally, the distribution of dots is also cited as the difference between the two populations, but this makes little sense since the distribution of dots – the number, arrangement and size of the white dots – varies extremely from individual to individual and is as unique in each specimen as a fingerprint is in a human.
Maintaining Adonis catfish is easy, but you need to be aware of the size these animals reach. They are also quite aggressive fish, both against conspecifics and against non-species fish.
For our customers: the catfishes have code 201203 (5-7 cm) and 201204 (7-10 cm) on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Among the aquarium fishes that have been kept already in the 1890ies belong the two species of bullhead catfish Ameiurus melas and A. nebulosus. Both species are very similar to each other and even specialists have problems to tell them apart. Initially bullhead catfish were brought to Europe as foodfish in the 1880ies from the USA, together with rainbow trout, pumkinseed, and brook trout. But the bullheads don´t grow as large here as they do in the original home country. They tend to reproduce early and develop mass populations of dwarfish animals that stop or at least reduce) growing after the first spawning. So the bullheads are considered to be unwanted invaders in European waters and as pests. One should never release unwanted aquarium kept bullheads, but one should never release any type of fish at all, may it be native or not.
But anyway: we are interested in keeping the fish in tanks or garden ponds, not in releasing them. Of course one may ask after a first examination of the fish, why a hobbyist should keep such a dull colored, predatory, large (over 20 cm) and basically night active species? But the bullheads have a fan community on their own. For example Nobel Prize winner Karl von Frisch studied the abilty of fish to hear on bullheads. Bullheads become tame and can be trained for sounds (for example a whistle). Once they are trained they leave their hiding place at any time of the day when they hear the whistle to search for food. Anyone who likes to keep an animal with character that is completely undemanding in respect of food (virtually any type of fish food is taken readily) or water chemistry (in fact a tank for bullheads needs no technical features at all) makes a good choice with bullheads.
Barring another miracle, the trade in bullheads will be banned throughout the EU from May 2022. The species is considered invasive (which is quite true) and it is expected from a trade ban that the number of feral catfish will decrease noticeably (which is almost impossible). So if you are interested in catfish, you should stock up on the specimens you need as soon as possible, as long as it is still legally possible.
For our customers: the fsh have code 820103 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
The first reports about the brood care behavior of this dwarf cichlid in the early 2000s were a sensation. Mouthbrooding Apistogramma – one had never heard of it before. Later it turned out that things are complicated. Some of the females of A. barlowi, as this species is now called, show quite normal Apistogramma brood care behavior. They spawn in burrows, the male guards the territory with his harem, and the female cares for spawn and young. However, some of the females take the young into their mouths after hatching and keep them there until they are independent. These females are thus so-called larvophilic mouthbrooders. And in isolated cases it even happened that also the male takes parts of the brood into the mouth and takes part in the brood care!
So with Apistogramma barlowi, which originates from the Pebas district in Peru, one can make really exciting observations. It is by no means understood yet if brood care behavior is inherited or if it is a plastic behavior linked to certain environmental factors (yet to be explored).
For our customers: the fish have code 624983 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
The taxonomic status of this small cichlid, which has had quite a respectable aquaristic career as Amatitlania sp. Honduras Redpoint, is controversial. It is currently assumed that it belongs to the species scientifically described as A. siquia. Now this species is itself controversial and is seen by some scientists as a synonym to the old familiar A. nigrofasciata, accepted by others as a distinct species.
Of course we can’t decide that, but the two forms look different and therefore one should be careful not to mix them accidentally. In contrast to A. nigrofasciata A. siquia shows a beautiful blue-green shining patina at least in the female sex.
Aquaristically, A. nigrofasciata and A. siquia are similar in size, water values, diet and brood care.
For our customers: the animals have code 674452 (4-5 cm) and 674453 (5-6 cm) on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
In the north of India there are two Badis species, which are indistinguishable by color: B. blosyrus and B. assamensis. The only discernible difference that exists is the size of the mouth cleft. It is much larger in B. blosyrus and reaches below the center of the eye margin, whereas in B. assamensis the mouth opening reaches only just to the anterior margin of the eye.
It is problematic that practically always the two species are exported mixed, because they both live in the same region. Whether they are two species at all or “only” two ecotypes is uncertain. We are just completely unable to sort the animals here. To do so, each individual animal would have to be subjected to a thorough examination with a strong magnifying glass. The amount of work required for this is simply not affordable.
Since Badis assamensis is the largest of all Badis species known so far – it reaches a total length of 8-9 cm! – we therefore usually refer to the imports with jumbo fish as B. assamensis. Badis blosyrus remains much smaller, the largest specimen we measured has a total length (i.e. including caudal fin) of 6 cm.
Although we offer Badis assamensis and B. blosyrus on the stocklist, you always have to expect to get a mix of both species for the reasons mentioned above. Both species belong to the most beautiful Badis. If you intend to breed, you must acquire a larger number of animals, feed them vigorously until the females become recognizable by their outwardly curved ventral line (there are no other sex differences), and then put the breeding pairs together under close scrutiny with a magnifying glass. B. assamensis and B. blosyrus are typical cave breeders, with the male guarding the spawn until the young hatch.
For our customers: B. assamensis has code 368304 and B. blosyrus 368123 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Unfortunately only very rarely we can offer this cute dwarf livebearer from Costa Rica. The males grow to a length of about 1.5 cm, the females to a maximum of twice this size. The species name “quadrimaculatus” refers to the typically four spots these fish have on their flanks. However, many variations also occur in nature. Some specimens have only one spot, others five, but in most the pattern looks like that of the females photographed for this post.
In nature, the dwarfs have to go through all sorts of things and are exposed to extremely different water conditions there. In the scientific original description, Bussing describes several biotopes, including a partly shaded, partly sunlit forest stream with clear, 20°C cool water, and turbid, fully sun-exposed residual water puddles where the water was 34°C. He also mentions that this species is shy in the aquarium, but sheds the shyness when kept with other, less shy fish in a densely planted aquarium.
We now have a few German offspring of this rarity in stock.
For our customers: the animals have code 278253 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply to wholesalers.
Within the genus Fundulopanchax, which was established already in 1924, but then was seen as a synonym to Aphyosemion for a very long time, there are very large species, like F. sjostedti, which can reach 12 cm (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/fundulopanchax_sjostedti_usa_blue_en/), but also many small species, which do not grow longer than 6 cm. Among the latter is Fundulopanchax scheeli. This small beauty was described in 1970 from aquarium specimens of unknown origin. Only much later it was found out that F. scheeli has only a small distribution area at the lower Cross River in southeastern Nigeria.
This killi is relatively popular because of its good breedability and beauty. It can be recommended, similar to the “Cape Lopez” even with restrictions for community aquariums. However, the company in such a case must be selected very carefully. In a colorful “teeming tank” or with aggressive fishes F. scheeli must not be housed under any circumstances. They need calm, densely planted aquariums with soft, dark substrate (peat fibers) to feel safe. In such an aquarium you will have a lot of fun with the animals.
For our customers: the animals have code 313702 on our stock list. Please note that we supply only wholesale.
Are you in a phase of the hobby, in which nothing at all wants to work out concerning breeding? Then it is time for the emergency rescuer in all situations, the convict cichlid Amatitlania nigrofasciata. Although it is no longer available everywhere and at any time, especially in its natural form, it hardly ever disappoints with regard to breeding intentions. Any male and just as any female (recognizable by the copper-red spots on the belly) almost always form a pair. A tip: the greater the size difference, the less chance of serious quarrels. So choose a large male and a much smaller female.
After a few days in the fresh aquarium with slightly increased temperatures (26-28°C compared to 22-24°C for normal care) it is usually already so far: the pair cleans a flat stone or a root, one spawns and the keeper enjoys the sight of a caring pair with many, many young.
For our customers: the natural form of A. nigrofasciata has code 655902 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Widespread species often show coloration differences in the different parts of the distribution area. So also the beautiful Corydoras sodalis, which is reported from Peru, Brazil and Colombia. From Colombia we could now import C. sodalis, which differ quite clearly in color and figure from e.g. animals imported from Brazil (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/corydoras-sodalis-2/).
For our customers: the fish have code 246705 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
One of the most beautiful and largest botias besides the well known and popular Chromobotia macracanthus is the Redtail botia Yasuhikotakia (formerly: Botia) modesta from Southeast Asia. These are gorgeous fish, usually with a very unusual dove blue base coloration that contrasts very nicely with the red fins. But there are also green, yellow-finned variants or lead-gray ones with transparent fins. A very nice mackerel variant we present here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/yasuhikotakia-modesta-2/
The species is distributed in the drainages of the big rivers Mekong, Chao Phraya and Mae Klong, the distribution area includes the countries Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.
With a record size of 25 cm, Y. modesta is not a small fish, but sexual maturity occurs much earlier, at 8-10 cm in length. These are also the usual maximum sizes of the animals in nature. However, these loaches can become quite old in the aquarium, much older than in the wild and certainly older than 10 years and then really large animals are possible in large aquariums.
You should always keep all botias in social groups of as many specimens as possible, otherwise it can happen that they let out their social vein on other tank inhabitants and get on their nerves. They will eat any common ornamental fish food and have no special demands on the water chemistry. The water temperature can be between 22 and 28°C, but during the acclimation it is better to choose the upper temperature range, because all botias are somewhat sensitive to the spot disease (Ichthyophtirius), but tolerate medication against it only poorly. Ichthyophtirius does not like high water temperatures.
For our customers: the animals have code 404004 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
The humpheaded Frontosa (Cyphotilapia frontosa) from Lake Tanganyika has enjoyed great popularity for decades, although (or: because!) the species belongs to the bull class among the cichlids. Old males, which look downright bizarre with their forehead hump, can grow 30 cm long. Females generally remain smaller. In addition, C. frontosa is a crepuscular predator that prefers to feed on small fish and shrimp. Nevertheless: hardly any fan of the cichlids of East Africa, who has a larger tank at his disposal, can refrain from having his own experiences with these imposing animals.
Thereby C. frontosa has always belonged to the more expensive fishes. Wild catches have to be dived with compressed air tanks, because they live at a depth of 30-40 meters. And they have to be decompressed slowly over days, which is cost-intensive, because you have to drive to the catch site every day, dive down to the net cages with compressed air bottles, at least in the beginning, see if the animals are doing well and move the net cage a few meters towards the water surface again. Breeding of the mouthbrooder in the female sex succeeds relatively easily, but the fish are not very productive and the young fish grow very slowly.
There are several geographic color varieties of the species distributed throughout Lake Tanganyika. One has six body stripes plus a stripe through the eye, for a total of seven stripes; most have five body stripes plus the eye stripe, for a total of six stripes. If you are looking for a specific variant, you have to be careful here, because the designations in the trade sometimes refer only to the body stripes, but sometimes – so with us – to the total number of stripes. So we have – besides frontosas named especially after the locality – six-striped and seven-striped frontosas on the stock list, other dealers designate the same animals according to the number of body stripes as five- and six-striped frontosas.
The six-stripers, which we currently offer as captive bred specimens from Taiwan, stand out due to the beautiful blue coloration of the fins. The dark body stripes contrast very nicely with the light background, which is also bluish in color. Of course, there is no sign of a head bump on the 4-6 cm large animals yet. A sex determination is still impossible with young animals of this size.
For our customers: the animals have code 517002 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
What the Corydoras are in South America, the Schistura loaches are in Asia. In hundreds of species they populate practically every stream and smaller river of the tropical and subtropical regions of the continent. In many cases, identification is difficult or impossible. Not so with Schistura savona from India. Its “half band” pattern with white belly makes it almost unmistakable despite all intraspecific variation.
In contrast to many other Schistura species, S. savona is a peaceful fellow and also remains very small with about 4 cm maximum length. Thus it fits into every community aquarium with stream character. The species is very sociable, therefore it should be kept in groups of 10 or more. The males are clearly smaller than the females.
The substrate should consist of fine sand at least in places. Some roots and flat, rounded stones should also not be missing. Any fish food of suitable size is eaten, plants are not bothered, at most accidentally dug up. Schistura savona is a fish of the subtropics, so it does not need additional heating in room aquariums: temperatures between 16 and 26°C occur in the natural habitat of the fish. However, the fish should not be exposed to sudden temperature changes, changes up or down should be gradual. No special demands are made on the water composition, any tap water suitable as drinking water is also suitable for the care of S. savona.
For our customers: the animals have code 438701 on our stock list. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
The tetra Hyphessobrycon cyanotaenia was originally imported as “Lapis-Tetra” from Brazil; that was more than 20 years ago (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/?s=cyanotaenia). Since the breeding was successful this beautiful and easy to keep fish is now a common sight in the trade. The origin was mysterious for a long time, because the scientific description was based on offspring, but today it is known that H. cyanotaenia is native to the upper parts of the Rio Juruena (basin of the Rio Tapajós) and the Rio Guaporé (basin of the Rio Madeira) in the state of Mato Grosso in Brazil.
The species characteristic of Hyphessobrycon cyanotaenia is the massive black longitudinal band extending from the posterior margin of the eye to the posterior margin of the caudal fin. This band is accompanied above by a bright blue band across the back.
As wild catch H. cyanotaenia is only rarely on the market, because it belongs to the fixed assortment of many breeders. We have now once again received wild-caught specimens, which differ quite clearly from the offspring we are familiar with due to their very bright yellow colored back. In the few golden animals, which are also included in the import, the back shines particularly intensively.
For our customers: the wild caught specimens have code 259843 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
The two species of the genus Rhinelepis – R. aspera and R. strigosa – belong with over 60 cm attainable final size to the largest armored catfishes at all and are therefore predestined as show objects in zoos, public aquariums and of course also for owners of gigantic private aquariums. Color-wise they have nothing to offer, they are monochromatic blackish, but they are imposing and whimsical creatures.
There are only a few Rhinelepis specimens in museum collections worldwide and therefore the fine systematics of these fishes is very poorly studied. Scientific doctrine holds that there are two species that occur in quite different river systems of South America: Rhinelepis aspera from the Rio Sao Francisco and R. strigosa from the Rio Parana and Rio Uruguay systems. We have now been able to import animals from Paraguay, which should therefore be Rhinelepis strigosa.
The difference between R. aspera and R. strigosa is that R. strigosa has many odontodes on the bony plates of the body and R. aspera does not. In the six specimens imported by us (four 16-18 cm, two 25-30 cm long) some correspond in this respect more strigosa, others more aspera, which is why we call all of them R. cf. strigosa as a precaution. Possibly this “species difference” is rather a sex difference after all, who knows. But we cannot clarify such questions here.
For our customers: the fish have code 287575 (16-18 cm) and 287578 (25-30 cm). Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Because of the still bad flight connections imports from India come in only sporadically. Now once again an import worked out. It contained among others the common panchax, Aplocheilus panchax. A. panchax is the most common fish in large parts of India and can be found literally everywhere, from the smallest puddle to the shores of large rivers and lakes, even the salty water of estuaries can be tolerated by the panchax. The water temperatures especially in the small waters vary enormously, in the sun they easily rise to well over 30°C, at night they can cool down to 12-14°C.
So it is not surprising that Aplocheilus panchax was one of the first tropical ornamental fishes ever. It came to us for the first time in 1899 and was quickly bred. The great color variability of this 6-7 cm long fish caused heated, sometimes polemic discussions about whether they were species, subspecies or color morphs. Today we know: they are color morphs, reddish, orange and white fin seams occur within a single population, also the number of orange-red spots on the scales varies.
After World War 2, the Panchax gradually disappeared from aquariums. People had electric heaters (instead of spirit burners under the aquarium), filters and aeration, and especially lighting. Previously, aquariums were placed at an angle to the window, so that the sunlight coming from the side illuminated the aquarium. In such light panchaxes are quite colorful, because many scales shine blue. This is quite different in fluorescent light from above, where the Panchax appear quite gray, especially if they are not yet acclimated. We’ve also attached a shot to this post where the lighting conditions are like they used to be, so you can see what we mean.
Care from the Panchax is simple. They are surface-dwelling fish that will happily accept any bite-sized fish food. The water values and the temperature play practically no role (see above). Mostly A. panchax are peaceful, but there are sometimes quarrelsome males, so by-fish should not be too delicate. Well suited are e.g. rosy barbs and zebra danios, which come from the same biotopes. Plants leave the Panchax unnoticed. Males differ from females by the shape of the anal fin (see photos).
For our customers: the animals have code 303703 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
One of the still very expensive tetra novelties in the aquarium is the very, very pretty Hyphessobrycon procyon from the Rio Aripuanã in the middle basin of the Rio Madeira. It looks confusingly similar to the kitty tetra, H. heliacus, at first glance. H. procyon and H. heliacus form a species complex together with the also very similar H. peugeoti and H. lowae. For differentiation see the article of Hans-Georg Evers in the journal Amazonas No 99/2021: 22-27, there is also a detailed breeding report on H. procyon.
Here therefore only the most important key data: H. procyon reaches a length of 4-5 cm. They are easy to keep tetras, which have no special demands on water and food. For optimal color and fin development soft, slightly acidic water (pH 6 – 6.5) is favorable, as well as secondary plant matter (peat, dead leaves, alder cones). Aquatic plants are not damaged, H. procyon are very peaceful among themselves and against other species of fish. The males like to display among themselves, which is wonderful to look at and ends without injuries. The best way to keep these tetras is in groups of 10 or more, the sex ratio is not important, but there should be at least two males.
This Corydoras belongs with 9-11 cm of total-length to the biggest and most splendid species of the genus at all. Both sexes develop, when they are sexually active, long dorsal fins. The males can be recognized by the additional long ventral fins.
There seems to be a consensus among armored catfish enthusiasts that L92, which is very widespread in the Orinoco drainage of Colombia and Venezuela and later received another L-number, namely L194, is identical to Lasiancistrus tentaculatus, which was described in 2005. However, L. tentaculatus is described as more or less monochromatic brown, while L92 is quite differently colored: on the front half of the body, approximately up to the base of the dorsal fin, there are many bright spots, but not on the rear half of the body. That is why the name „headspotted delta catfish” fits very well. Typical for Lasiancistrus is the coloration of the caudal fin: the lower half is much more pigmented than the upper half. In the case of L92, the lower half of the caudal fin is rusty red.
Lasiancistrus species are typical algae eaters, but also need soft wood to supplement their diet. They are perfect for discus aquariums as „glass cleaners”, as they cope well with the usually somewhat higher temperatures in discus aquariums. At around 10-12 cm L92 is fully grown, making it one of the smallest Lasiancistrus species.
We can now offer this cave spawner, which likes to use stone crevices for spawning, as a German offspring.
For our customers: the animals have code 26480-L 092-3 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
From Peru we could import very nice Hypoptopoma. Most of the import consisted of H. gulare (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/fischarchiv/hypoptopoma-gulare/), but there were some specimens with very conspicuous, broad bands in the dorsal fin and contrasting caudal fins. Unfortunately the identification attempt based on the current revision of the genus (Aquino & Schaefer, 2010) did not give a satisfying result and new species have not been described since then. However, the species is already depicted, mostly under the name H. sp. III, with the remark that the origin of this fish is unknown or that the locality is “Brazil”. Since we now know that this species comes from the Rio Ucayali in Peru, we have designated it with the corresponding information.
According to Aquino & Schaefer the species Hypoptopoma bianale, H. steindachneri, H. gulare, H. thoracatum, H. psilogaster and possibly also H. brevirostratum occur in the Rio Ucayali. Our fish does not fit to any of the mentioned species, so that it is probably to be assumed that it is a scientifically still undescribed species. According to the few data in the aquaristic literature Hypoptopoma sp. Ucayali (= H. sp. III) becomes 10-12 cm long (total length, thus including tail fin). Our import fish are currently 5-7 cm long, so they are just half grown.
For our customers: the fish have code 262315 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale. Only available in very small quantities!
Hyphessobrycon notidanos from the upper drainage of the Rio Tapajós in Brazil, which was scientifically described only in 2006, is apparently a quite multicolored animal. So there is the “Red Devil” with much red in the body and blue iris and the “Yellow Devil” with red iris. Both color forms are said to occur together in nature, but they are exported separately. They are really pretty animals, not at all devilish!
In collections from nature there were no specimens over 3 cm length (measured without caudal fin). Characteristic for the species is the pointed, extended dorsal fin of the males, which reaches almost to the adipose fin.
The care of the unfortunately still quite expensive fish is easy and corresponds to that of e.g. king tetras (Inpaichthys kerri). For feeding, the animals greedily accept any common fish food of suitable size. Hyphessobrycon notidanos is completely peaceful and does not damage plants. The water temperature in the wild is around 26°C, a value that certainly deviates occasionally by a few degrees up or down due to weather and seasonal conditions.
For our customers: the “Red Devil” has code 261263 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Large puffer fish are always a cause for joy among our staff. The animals are not only beautiful, but they communicate with the keeper and the hall visitors. Their eyes are always in lively motion and it is difficult to avoid the impression that the fish in the aquarium looks at the person outside the aquarium with the same curiosity as the other way around.
Chelonodontops bengalensis was only described scientifically in 2018, at the same time as a very similar species from Burma, C. alvheimi. Since the two author teams apparently did not know about each other, there were doubts whether both puffers were not the same species. This doubt has now been dispelled. Both species are similar, but can be distinguished by the type of skin spination.
Chelonodontops bengalensis was originally found in the sea off Bangladesh, later also off the coast of India. The up to about 40 cm long animals are therefore marine fishes, but like many other marine puffer fishes they like to swim in river mouths. We keep our two 20-25 cm long newcomers in slightly salted fresh water. They feel quite comfortable, but we assume that this will only work for a relatively short time (a few weeks). For permanent care, you need a brackish or saltwater aquarium. It is important that the pH never drops below 7, and when feeding, care must be taken to keep the nitrite level under control.
So, these are very special fish and their care is reserved for specially interested, very experienced aquarists. All others will enjoy the beautiful coloration and the clever eyes, if you are lucky enough to meet a Chelonodontops bengalensis.
For our customers: the animals have code 409753 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply to wholesalers.
Hatchetfishes are normally wild caught. They are very common, easy to transport and therefore a welcome addition to the sustainable ornamental fish fishery in Venezuela, Colombia, Peru and Brazil. This is also true for the “Common” Hatchetfish, Gasteropelecus sternicla. For general information on the species, please also see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/fischarchiv/ein-grosser-klassiker-gasteropelecus-sternicla/.
For some years now, offspring of this species have been coming from Indonesia, which is a very popular way to bridge supply bottlenecks from the wild. Such supply bottlenecks occur seasonally once in a while during high water etc.. It was actually only a question of time until albinos appeared among the offspring with their thousands of offspring. Et voilà: We can now offer albinos of Gasteropelecus sternicla as offspring for the first time.
For comparison on some photos you can see normal colored G. sternicla. These are wild caught specimens from Colombia, the albinos are offered pure.
For our customers: the albino hatchetfishes have code 254422 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
From Thailand we just received once again the dwarfish brilliant redfin rasbora, Rasbora rubrodorsalis. This species was recognized as a distinct species only late, in 1997, although it is widely distributed in Southeast Asia (Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam). It was formerly thought to be a juvenile form of the similar species Rasbora borapetensis. Unlike R. borapetensis, R. rubrodorsalis has a red spot in the dorsal fin and remains much smaller with a maximum standard length of 3 cm (not including the caudal fin). R. borapetensis grows twice as large to 6 cm standard length.
Rasbora rubrodorsalis is an excellent schooling fish for planted aquariums with Southeast Asian character. This extremely peaceful species is very adaptable. In nature the water temperatures vary seasonally in the range of below 20°C (November to February) and above 30°C (March to October). There are also no special requirements regarding the water values. Females become sexually mature at about 2 cm in length. Males are generally somewhat smaller and more delicate. In the wild, these animals are short-lived and reproduce year-round. In a scientific study that intensively studied these fishlets in Laos for a year, the oldest specimen found in the wild was 121 days old (a female), the oldest male was 92 days old, and sexual maturity sets in at around 50 days of age. In the aquarium, however, the fish grow much older, 2-3 years.
For our customers: the animals have code 452862 on our stock list. Please note that we supply only wholesale.
Something is happening with the South American bumblebee and frog catfishes! In former times they were assigned to the long-whiskered catfishes (Pimelodidae), today they are placed in an own family, the Pseudopimelodidae. Often in the trade are the striking yellow-black marked, only 3-8 cm large South American bumblebee catfishes (Microglanis, 23 species), and the similarly colorful, but with up to 20 cm significantly larger South American frog catfishes (Batrochoglanis). Predator fans appreciate the whimsical Lophiosilurus alexandri and the marbled Cephalosilurus, both genera whose representatives sometimes exceed the 30-cm mark.
Recently (2017), a new genus of stream-loving Pseudopimelodidae was described, Rhyacoglanis, with 7 assigned species (5 of which are new, 2 transferred to Rhyacoglanis from other genera). These are pretty, often yellow-black ringed species, growing 5-8 cm long. And in 2021, a phylogenetic study (i.e., a paper analyzing the more precise relationships) of the Pseudopimelodidae was published.
We could just import again four specimens of a pseudopimelid catfish from Venezuela, whose determination seemed to us very complex in the light of the new work. In the meantime, however, we are of the opinion that it is a representative of the genus Batrochoglanis; earlier we would have certainly addressed it as Cephalosilurus apurensis (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/cephalosilurus_apurensis_en/ and https://www.aquariumglaser.de/fischarchiv/cephalosilurus-apurensis-2/), now, due to the unclear situation with Batrochoglanis, more cautiously as Batrochoglanis sp. Venezuela.
For our customers: the animals have code 214644 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
At present the small tetras of South America experience a new boom. Numerous species have been and are being described scientifically. Thus also the ornamental fish collectors leave their beaten tracks and look for these animals, particularly since currently peppered prices are paid for the novelties. Naturally, such a thing only works for a short time, then offspring of the particularly attractive species come onto the market, the less attractive ones disappear again and wild catches only come to us once in a blue moon as rarities for a few specialists. But we are still in phase 1 of this development and welcome the novelties enthusiastically.
One of them is Hyphessobrycon negodagua, which was scientifically described in 2001. Its area of origin is in the northeast of Brazil, in the state of Bahia. There, this tetra with a maximum length of 3 – 3.5 cm inhabits the Rio Pratinah, a tributary of the Rio Santo Antonio, which in turn drains into the Rio Paraguaçú, which is one of the important coastal rivers of Brazil without connection to other river systems. H. negodagua differs from almost all other Hyphessobrycon species by the absence of the typical tetra adipose fin in most specimens, the unique coloration of the males in courtship display also makes them distinctive. Freshly imported and not yet acclimated animals are silvery, but acclimated males show already after a few days their fiery courtship dances, during which they turn black, which contrasts very effectively with the white fin seams. The fluttering courtship swim of this pretty species prompted Hans-Georg Evers to call it the “Butterfly Dwarf Tetra”.
The care of the animals is simple and corresponds to that of other small tetras. Incidentally, the species name “negodagua” refers to a mythical man-like monster (Nego d’agua) that lurks at the bottom of rivers and attacks inattentive fishermen at night. Why scientists associated the small, peaceful tetra with this monster, they do not reveal….
For our customers: the animals have code 261232 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale. Only available in small quantities!
Corydoras armatus is a rather distinctive cory from Peru. We have also received this beautiful species, which is notable for its particularly high dorsal fin, from Venezuela from time to time (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/fischarchiv/corydoras_armatus_venezuela_de/). Geographically this all fits together well, the catching regions both belong to the upper drainage of the Amazon.
However, there is a sibling species of Corydoras armatus from Brazil. It inhabits the Rio Abuna in the border area between Brazil and Bolivia. The Brazilian was given the invalid trade names “Corydoras dorsalis” and “Corydoras ogawae”, freely invented names without scientific meaning. In addition, the form received the number CW86.
The Brazilian lookalike is hardly distinguishable from the “real” Corydoras armatus. However, there are about 2,500 km as the crow flies between the Rio Huallaga (the type locality of C. armatus) and the Rio Abuna! Additionally CW86 has somewhat coarser spots than its cousins.
We have now after a long time again this beautiful armored catfish imported.
For our customers: CW86 has code 222113 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
When the first black and white “Tatia” appeared in the ornamental fish trade some years ago, they were celebrated as a sensation. (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/centromochlus_sp_ninja_en/ and https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/tatia_musaica_en/). We identified these fish, which originated in Brazil, as Tatia musaica. In 2017, a team of scientists published a study on Centromochlus species and described the species previously known as Tatia musaica from Brazil (Rio Nhamunda drainage) as a new species Centromochlus orca. However, they confirmed Tatia musaica as a valid species from the Rio Orinoco. The “real” Tatia musaica differs in color from C. orca by the higher proportion of black in the coloration. It was astonishing that these two species, so similar to each other, were placed in different genera.
Unfortunately, this team of scientists had overlooked a 2015 paper by Steven Grant in which Grant established several new (sub)genera, including Sauronglanis for the species then identified as T. musaica. So now there were already three generic names for the small (5-6 cm long) black and white Tatias!
In 2019, another team of scientists published a study on the relationship classifications of the driftwood catfishes, in which both species (orca and musaica) were reassigned to Tatia, and Sauronglanis was declared a synonym of Tatia.
This did not go unchallenged; in a study published in 2020, both species were regrouped and this time placed in Centromochlus, so should now be called C. orca and C. musaicus. And Grant is not yet convinced that his genus Sauronglanis is really a synonym, as he writes in his 2021 book on banjo-catfish, doradids, and driftwood catfishes.
In any case, we now have pretty black and white driftwood catfishes from the Orinoco in the stock that are undoubtedly the species originally described as Tatia musaica, to whichever genus one may assign them.
For our customers: the animals have code 295842 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Literature:
Calegari, B. B., Vari, R. P. & R. E. Reis (2019): Phylogenetic systematics of the driftwood catfishes (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae): a combined morphological and molecular analysis. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society v. 187 (no. 3): 661-773.
Grant, S. (2015): Four new subgenera of Centromochlus Kner, 1858 with comments on the boundaries of some related genera (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae: Centromochlinae). Ichthyofile No. 3: 1-16.
Grant, S. (2021): Banjos, Dorads and Woodcats. Aspredinidae, Doradidae and Auchenipteridae Catfishes. ATS-Aquashop, Neustadt am Rübenberge: 1-300.
Sarmento-Soares, L. M., Lazzarotto, H., Rapp Py-Daniel, L. H. & R. P. Leitão (2017): A new Centromochlus Kner, 1858 (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae: Centromochlinae) from the transition between Amazon floodplain and Guiana shield, Brazil. Neotropical Ichthyology v. 14 (no. 4): 1-11.
Sarmento-Soares, L. M. & R. F. Martins-Pinheiro (2020): A reappraisal of phylogenetic relationships among auchenipterid catfishes of the subfamily Centromochlinae and diagnosis of its genera (Teleostei: Siluriformes). Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia v. 167: 85-146.
The largest and most splendid of all snakeheads belong to the relationship of Channa marulius. This species occurs in India and attains a maximum length of about 120 cm. The largest specimen ever collected is said to have had a length of 183 cm and a weight of 30 kg. But most often the fish become „only“ 40-60 cm long. The counterpart of that species in Southeast Asia is Channa marulioides (in fact the specific name means „similar to marulius“). We were able to import that beautiful species now from Thailand. We are sure that is has the potential to grow as large as C. marulius, but the largest specimen recorded so far scientifically was only 65 cm long. Currently our fish are 12-15 cm long.
These snakeheads are piscivorous. Against other fish that are too large to be eaten C. marulioides are usually peaceful. The large snakeheads are highly appreciated as food fish in the countries where they occur, but they are also often kept in temple-ponds. Here the Channa become very tame, they are fed by the visitors of the temple and they can be even stroken. The elegant predators also become very tame in private aquaria. Due to the size one has to expect a very large tank should be at hand, but it is avisable to let the tank grow with the fish. A small fish is lost very fast in a too big tank…
For our customers: the fish have code 409134 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
The small fishes of North America are rather unknown in Europe. Yet the genus Notropis alone includes 91 accepted species! Many of them are very colorful at spawning time. In their native country Notropis species are called “shiners” in the sense of a shining object, so much do the colors of these fish shine. But unfortunately they only show this from time to time. Especially the juveniles are quite inconspicuous.
Notropis lutipinnis is native to the Atlantic side of the continent in the USA and is found from the Santee River in North Carolina to the Altamaha River, upper Chattahoochee River and upper Coosa River system in Georgia; further occurrences are known from the Little Tennessee River system in North Carolina. Here it inhabits smaller standing and flowing waters with rocky bottoms and clear water in the headwaters of the above rivers. The species reaches a length of about 7.5 cm including the caudal fin. They are peaceful schooling fish, roughly comparable in aquarium biology to our native minnows (Phoxinus phoxinus). Feeding is done with all common ornamental fish food of suitable size, any tap water suitable as drinking water is also suitable for the care of the fish.
We can now offer for the first time offspring of this beautiful species and thank the breeder very much for providing us with pictures of the courtship active parents. The whitish animals are by no means the females, but simply specimens that are not in spawning mood. Females that are ready to spawn differ only slightly in color from the males.
According to their origin, Notropis lutipinnis are “energy-saving fish” that do not require additional heating in the indoor aquarium. In summer they can also be kept outdoors. The occurrence of the species between 35°N – 33°N corresponds – very roughly speaking – to the climate in the Mediterranean region, i.e. with mild winters, in which, however, snow may well fall once in a while.
For our customers: the animals have code 439691 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Text Frank Schäfer, photos Aquarium Glaser & Frank Schäfer
One of the most attractive Ancistrus species is this so far not scientifically identified species from the middle Rio Negro in Brazil. There the beautiful fish is not rare, in some places even very common, but the species apparently prefers biotopes which are avoided by the local fishermen; otherwise it can hardly be explained why L184 is imported only so comparatively rarely. In the meantime, however, offspring are more frequently available, including the fish we can currently offer in small numbers.
While L184 has been found in nature in stately specimens of 15-18 cm length, the offspring always stay smaller, breeding already with 6-8 cm length and usually stop growing with 10-12 cm length. The reason for this is unknown, almost all other fish species usually grow larger in the aquarium than their wild cousins.
Apart from a high level of attention required by these Ancistrus for breeding and during rearing – very soft water with a pH around 5 and extremely low bacterial water loads – L184 are not particularly demanding when maintained “normally” without breeding intentions and are well suited for maintenance in community aquariums. However, one should not keep other, possibly even aggressive loricariids together with L184, because the “Brilliant Ancistrus”, as L184/L107 is popularly also called, is a very defensive species, which can be easily suppressed.
L184 differs from all other similarly marked Ancistrus species by the combination of the following characteristics: very flat body, broad head, white spots in the dorsal fin, no white fringe in dorsal or tail fin, pointed tail fin ends (white in juveniles).
For our customers: the animals have code 26480-L 184X-1 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
The double stripe (= the translation of the word diplotaenia) is still a rare occurrence in the aquarium. For successful breeding you have to reach pretty deep into the bag of tricks of water chemistry and the animals are also relatively unproductive. This unusual Apistogramma species originates from the black water of the Rio Negro, where it lives mostly over bare sandy bottoms in larger breeding colonies. With a maximum total length of 5 cm (i.e. including the caudal fin) it belongs to the smallest cichlid species at all.
For the first time we were able to import a beautiful Aequidens from Venezuela, which is probably Ae. superomaculatum. This species has been described scientifically only a few years ago – in 2015. Unique in the genus and also giving the name (superomaculatum = with a spot above) is the combination of a continuous lateral stripe and a lateral spot positioned far above. In the other Aequidens species the lateral stripe is either interrupted or/and the lateral spot is located in the middle of the longitudinal band. However, our new imports differ from the first description specimens in that they have two side spots: the eponymous one below the dorsal fin and additionally one within the longitudinal band. Thus they show a striking similarity with the to our knowledge still scientifically undescribed Ae. sp. “Jenaro Herrera” from Peru, which was found near the locality Jenaro Herrara at the Rio Ucayali. Between the occurrences of the two Aequidens is a good 500 km as the crow flies. Also Ae. diadema from the Rio Negro in Venezuela is very similar and also fits geographically. Certainly some more research is needed before we can be sure about the name of this cichlid.
Our new imports look particularly attractive because of the orange markings, which on the one hand frame the side spot located within the longitudinal band, and on the other hand decorate the back…. About the behavior of the animals, which according to the first description can become about 15 cm long (the largest specimen available to the describers had a length of 133.8 mm without caudal fin), we cannot say much yet, but they show themselves with us – typical Aequidens – reserved and somewhat shy. According to Uwe Werner, who could bring Aequidens superomaculatum already once privately, it is a larvophilous mouthbrooder, i.e. the fish spawns in the manner of an open brooder on a solid object as adhesive spawners and takes the hatched larvae for further care in the mouth.
For our customers: the animals have code 611174 on our stock list. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
For the first time we can offer the breeding form “Red Dun” of the Chocolate Whiptail Catfish. This new breeding form goes back to a wild-caught male that we were able to import from Paraguay in November 2015 (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/rineloricaria_lanceolata_en/). We gave it, together with some normal females of the same import, to our breeder Kurt Jülich. We hoped Kurt could breed an attractive new strain from it.
Kurt could, but it took time. As he had guessed before, it took four generations to get a hereditary pure red strain. We can now offer this F4.
Kurt suggested the name “Red dun” to distinguish the new strain also linguistically clearly from the already existing strains of red Rineloricaria. A dun is the name for a horse with a light coat base color, dark long hair (mane, tail) and other dark markings. Because in contrast to other red Rineloricaria, the “Red dun” often still has markings in darker red on the body, just like the grand-grandfather.
The “Red dun” will surely find many friends because of its beautiful coloration. Very special is the fact that here the origin of a new breeding form is documented from the beginning.
For our customers: the animals have code 288522 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
This cute dwarf tetra was described in 1913 from the Rio Madeira, where it was collected near Porto Velho. It is a typical companion fish of the two neon species Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans and, as we know today, occurs throughout the range of the two neons, i.e. in the upper Orinoco and the Rio Negro drainage of Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil. The maximum size given for Axelrodia stigmatias is 23 mm. Sometimes these tiny specimens are more yellowish, sometimes deep reddish in color. Very red specimens are mostly traded as A. riesei (see also https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/axelrodia_stigmatias_colombia_en/). The true A. riesei comes from the upper Rio Meta, a large Orinoco tributary.
Some Axelrodia stigmatias have an additional intense red stripe above the luminous spot in the caudal fin. It is possible that this represents a sex difference, but this has not been investigated.
The care of the dwarfs is easy, but they need very small food. The reproduction succeeds best in the species aquarium. Here the fish spawn daily in small portions in fine-feathered plants, if the water values are suitable (extremely soft water, pH around 5). An efficient breeding method is not yet known, but in biotope-fairly furnished aquariums (plentifully dead leaves at the soil, fine-sandy underground, moderate current, damped light) usually without assistance of the keeper a few young animals come up.
For our customers: the fish have code 209922 (yellow) and 209913 (red, riesei) on our stocklist. Please note that we supply only wholesale.
In the last years we received horseface loaches (Acantopsis) mainly from Thailand, where the genus is represented by several species, which are difficult to distinguish. Now we have once again received specimens from Indonesia. It is A. dialuzona, the best known species of the genus by name. In older aquarium books this species can be found under the synonym A. choirorhynchos.
The pretty and peaceful animals should be kept on sandy bottom. When disturbed and for sleeping, they like to burrow completely. Horseface Loaches grow quite large (by ornamental fish standards), 15 cm should be expected over the years. The largest horsehead loach ever measured was 22 cm long. The aquarium should therefore not be chosen too small. Young animals prefer to live in groups, later these fish become rather loners.
For our customers: the fish have code 360993 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
The tiger breeding forms of the Endler guppy enjoy special popularity. There are multicolour, blue and also selected for yellow body color strains. The latter is called “Bengal Tiger”. The manifestation of pure yellow animals is not easy, there is a tendency to revert to a gray-blue base coloration. But these are also very pretty fish. The caudal fin shape varies between round tail, spear tail and upper sword tail. We supply this breeding form in pairs, so that every keeper can work on his dream guppy by further breeding and further selection.
For our customers: the animals have code 419129 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
The Amano shrimp (Caridina multidentata, formerly known as C. japonica) is one of the most popular freshwater shrimp for the aquarium. It feeds on Aufwuchs, eg microorganisms and is therefore absolutely harmless to fish and plants. Instead, through its grazing activity, it frees plants and decoration from annoying algae growth or ensures that algae do not appear at all. The species is native in Japan and Taiwan; from Taiwan we receive wild catches of this species. Important note: according to the International Red List (IUCN: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/198258/147797329) this shrimp species is not endangered.
Up to now we have only received wild collected Amano shrimp from Taiwan, because for hobby breeders the rearing of the larvae of this shrimp, which are living in the sea, is too costly. We are very pleased now be able to offer Amano shrimp from the company “Rheingarnelen” (https://www.rheingarnelen.de), which are completely bred in Germany. This company breeds shrimp with the highest ecological, holistic standards and – this is a decisive plus – with a part of the proceeds tree plantations (mainly) in Africa are supported! (see https://www.rheingarnelen.de/baum-partner/)
By the possibility to buy now also German offspring of the Amano shrimp, you, dear customer, become independent of seasonal supply shortages, as they can occur with wild catches e.g. during the typhoon season. Although we support the “Rhine Shrimp” project 100%, we will continue to work with our long-time trading partners in Taiwan, as loyalty dictates, so that we can offer both captive bred and wild caught shrimp in parallel. In similar cases, for example with Cardinal tetras, this has been working without any problems for many years. In this way we can meet both main demands of the animal trade, i.e. species protection locally through sustainable income from nature (wild catch) and environmental protection through local production and short transport routes (offspring).
For our customers: the animals have code 481494 (md) and 481495 (lg) on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
From the lower Rio Ventuari in Venezuela – the largest tributary of the Orinoco – as well as from the Orinoco itself in the Ventuari estuary comes a beautiful Hypancistrus. It has large, bright spots on a deep black ground. The coloration of the spots is varying between shy white and orange-pink. There is a high similarity to L201, which was imported earlier from Venezuela, but from the upper reaches of the Orinoco River. L201 has much smaller spots. L201 has remained scientifically undescribed to this day. The large-spotted fish from the Ventuari was therefore called L201a in the trade; by the way, exported species are often mixed, which can give the impression that they occur together in nature, which is not the case according to current knowledge. A “proper” L-number was never given to “L201a Big Spots”, it is also superfluous, because L201a was already scientifically described as Hypancistrus contradens in 2007.
But nothing is as long-lasting as a proper provisional designation: the designation L201a will not be eradicated in the trade.
By the way, L471 looks completely identical (see: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/hypancistrus-sp-l471-dwarf-big-spots-2/), which also originates from Ventuari, but remains much smaller. L471 is said to reach only 5-6 cm total length (at least wild caught), while for H. contradens a maximum length of 10 cm is given. One always has to be careful that scientific papers only talk about “standard length”, i.e. body length without caudal fin, because one never knows if the caudal fin of a fish caught in the wild is complete (usually it is not), while aquaristic sources usually give the total length, i.e. including caudal fin. For example, the animal photographed for this post from our current import has 8 cm standard length and 10.5 cm total length. It is, as you can tell by the long interopercularodonts (“whiskers”), a sexually mature male.
Hypancistrus contradens is such a popular L catfish because its beautiful coloration remains throughout its life, whereas many other species become increasingly dull and washed out as they age.
For our customers: Hypancistrus contradens has code 26480-L 201A-3 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
More than 20 years ago (1999) Mario Wilhelm brought back from an expedition to Brazil for the first time this beautiful dwarf cichlid from the Rio Abacaxis. An alternative name to Apistogramma sp. Wilhelmi is therefore A. sp. Abacaxis. This river, a well known area for discus fishes, belongs to the drainage of the Rio Madeira. A. sp. Wilhelmi is not yet described scientifically, consequently there is no scientific name for the species.
Apistogramma sp. Wilhelmi belongs, together with the numerous variants of A. agassizii, A. gephyra and A. pulchra in the closer relationship of A. agassizii. A. sp.Wilhelmi differs from the other species of this complex, among others, by the much broader longitudinal band and a unique sexual dichromatism: the males A. sp. Wilhelmi have a purple chin patch.
Unfortunately A. sp.Wilhelmi is a bit shy and therefore needs time to get accustomed and to develop the full color splendor. But then it more than compensates the patience of the keeper. For the care of the fish the usual Apistogramma rules apply: germ-poor water, secondary plant materials (dead leaves, peat, alder cones), sandy soil, varied nutrition. With animals maintained in this way, no significant problems are to be expected.
At the moment we have nice offsprings of this dwarf cichlid in stock.
For our customers: the animals have code 630703 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply to wholesalers.
Text: Frank Schäfer, photos: Dieter Bork and Frank Schäfer
The golden albino breeding form of the sailfin molly (Poecilia velifera) was created in the early 1980s. At that time it was celebrated as a sensation. Nowadays it is one of the most popular breeding forms of this molly.
Particularly color-intensive golden sailfin mollies are called “Blood Red”. These animals are currently brought to the market in very good quality from Southeast Asia.
For our customers: the fish have code 432864 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply only wholesale.
Some time ago a small Synodontis appeared in the hobby, which is called “White Polli”. But the “White” has little in common with the actual Synodontis polli. The dorsal fin spine of “White” is bicolor, black in the lower half, white in the upper half. This species is distributed in the hobby almost exclusively as offspring. The strain goes back to animals imported by the Dutchman René Krüter from Lake Tanganyika near Mpulungu in Zambia. Krüter bred the animals with good success and spread them in this way.
The “White Polli” remains small, it hardly grows beyond 8-10 cm in length and is not a cuckoo catfish, but reproduces “normally”. Although there is hardly any doubt that it is a scientifically undescribed species occurring in the wild, it has also undoubtedly been heavily bred in recent years and selected for very light, even white body color, which is why the offspring look only very little like the original wild specimens. Adult specimens show a small occipital hump, which caused Erwin Schraml to call the animals “Humphead Synodontis”. Probably, however, the name “White Polli” (or the other way around, “polli White”) cannot be eliminated.
We currently offer the “White Polli” as a cute offspring in 3-4 cm length. You should always keep these fish in company of conspecifics, because they are really very sociable!
For our customers: the fish have code 185701 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply only wholesale.
Snowball plecos belong to the largest Hypancistrus species. They can reach up to 20 cm in length. Members of the group are easily recognized by the conspicuous black fringes in the dorsal and caudal fins.
Distinguishing the aquaristically known form, on the other hand, is tricky and sometimes simply impossible without knowledge of the origin. The most common aquaristically is L102, the actual Snowball Pleco, which originates from the Rio Negro in Brazil. It typically has snow white spots, small on the head, large on the body, usually the dorsal fin is also adorned with large white spots. The second form, Hypanacistrus inspector, comes from the Orinoco drainage in Colombia and Venezuela (type locality: Río Casiquiare, drainage of the Amazon, about 10 river kilometers above the Rio Negro mouth). It has very small white spots all over the body and the black colored zones of the fin seams are much narrower than in L102. And then there is L501, which comes from the rapids of the Rio Cuduari near Mitu (Colombia). Here the spots, which are relatively small all over the body, are mostly orange-pink in color, and the dorsal fin in adults is usually spotless. But these color distinctions are ideal imaginations. There are all conceivable transitions in the import shipments.
In any case, we now have very attractive L501 from Colombia in the stock, which correspond well to the color expectations one has of them.
For our customers: the fish have code 26480-L 501-4 (10-12 cm) and 26480-L 501-5 (12-15 cm) on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Now is the season for the very beautiful and relatively small remaining loach Botia dario from India. Usually the species grows to a length of 6-8 cm, as record size 15 cm are given in literature, but it is not clear if this is not a case of confusion.
In India and adjacent countries the species is common in the system of the upper Brahmaputra, i.e. at the foot of the Himalayas. There it can occasionally get quite cool; Botia dario is therefore an energy-saving fish, which, if the aquarium is located in a living space, does not require additional aquarium heating. Water temperatures between 16 and 28°C represent the comfort zone of the lively schooling fish, which is by the way an eager snail exterminator. However, it is important that the water temperatures rise or fall slowly – over a period of days. Botia dario does not tolerate rapid temperature changes any more than any other fish.
For our customers: the animals have code 399005 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
We have now been able to import genuine tiger barbs from Central Sumatra (Jambi Province) as wild-caught specimens. When looking at the pretty and extremely lively animals, it is immediately clear that it is something other than the “aquarium tiger barb”. We are very happy that we succeeded in importing this “real” tiger barb, eg Puntigrus tetrazona!
The tiger barbs have always made life difficult for ichthyologists and aquarists when it comes to correct naming. At the genus level, they were “pushed around” for quite a long time, until finally a separate genus was created for them: Puntigrus. This is certainly the best solution and so far remains unchallenged.
In Puntigrus the following scientifically described species are distinguished: P. anchisporus from West Kalimantan, Kalimantan is the part of Borneo belonging to Indonesia (system of the river Kapuas); P. navjotsodhii from the central part of Kalimantan (systems of the rivers Katingan and Barito); P. partipentazona from Malaysia and Thailand; P. pulcher from Kalimantan Timur Province, Borneo (systems of the Mahakam and Kayan Rivers); and finally P. tetrazona, the only species from Sumatra (the animals used for the species description were from Palembang Province near Lahat, system of the Musi River).
The fish, which already generations of aquarists know, love and breed as „tiger barb”, cannot be assigned for sure to any of these scientifically described species yet. The only certainty is: it is NOT P. tetrazona.
For our customers: the real tiger barbs have code 372263 on our stock list. Please note that we supply only wholesale.
There is no doubt that Astatheros macracanthus is a fish for connoisseurs. This 20-25 cm long cichlid is distributed quite widely from southern North America to Guatemala and El Salvador. The species was scientifically described already in 1864, but in the aquarium it has always remained an absolute rarity. The reason is clear: in the normal coloration this cichlid is pretty, but by no means striking. Only those who know how the parents present themselves during breeding – namely almost snow-white with contrasting, pitch-black lateral markings on the hind body and likewise pitch-black lips – will acquire Astatheros macracanthus.
The care of the typical open-breeders with parent family corresponds to that of all Central Americans of the bull class: as large as possible aquaria dampen the aggressiveness. Sand, stones and roots form the main furnishings. Strong filtering provides for hygienic conditions and a varied nutrition (almost everything is eaten, which fits into the mouth, whereby vegetable components are usually hardly touched) let power packages grow up, which let the heart of each cichlid friend beat faster. The water values are of secondary importance, if extremes are avoided.
For our customers: the fish have code 631503 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Text: Frank Schäfer, Photos: Frank Schäfer and Marc Kranz
The cactus plecos (Pseudacanthicus) are popular with owners of large aquariums. L185 originates from the Rio Xingu and is also called Belo Monte Cactus Pleco, because this catfish used to be caught there. We do not know if the species still exists there, or if it was wiped out by the construction of the Belo Monte Dam. This species was never very common in aquaristics. It is said to reach lengths around 40 cm.
For the first time we can now offer some German offspring of this rarity. The fish are at a length of 8-10 cm very dark, almost completely black, colored. Only in the fins you can see some dark spots. Mood conditioned the body coloration can lighten later and numerous black spots cover the whole fish, but one and the same specimen can be colored sometimes like this and sometimes like that even as an adult.
For our customers: the animals have code 26480-L 185-4 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale. Only available in small numbers!
Few fish show as clearly how dynamic things can get in aquaristics as Cichla. These large cichlids are among the most popular food fish in South America, but until the turn of the millennium they were not considered very suitable for aquarium care: they were considered too large and too sensitive.
In the meantime, however, the 5 species known until then have become 15 species and this increased the interest of aquarists interested in biology and nowadays the demand for these magnificent animals has grown so much that for some of them even commercial breeding in SE Asia is worthwhile!
Of course these magnificent fish are and remain animals for specialists and show aquariums, because they easily break the 40 cm mark, as maximum length 80-100 cm are given for record animals. But one should not underestimate how many enthusiasts are willing to set up really large aquariums for their favorite animals. And so also local offsprings come from time to time into the trade.
We have received an absolute speciality from a German breeder: Hybrids between Cichla ocellaris and C. melaniae. Especially interesting is how these hybrids present themselves externally, namely in all possible intermediate levels between the coloration of the parent species. Some look almost like pure C. ocellaris regarding juvenile coloration, others almost like pure C. melaniae, but most somehow in between. There are also patterns that have not yet been described from any free-living Cichla species. This is significant in that hybrids must always be expected in the wild as well, since Cichla were and are widely shipped as stock fish within South America as popular food fish.
The pictures show juveniles (9-12 cm) from our current stock, as well as a 10 months old specimen, whose picture was provided to us by the breeder.
For our customers: the animals have code 636534 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
At the moment we can offer magnificent, fully grown bred specimens of Hyphessobrycon melanostichos.
Hyphessobrycon melanostichos is very eye-catching due to its bright sky-blue back coloration. The species was scientifically described in 2006 from the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, where it occurs in the upper drainage of the Rio Tapajós. The species is distinguished from all other Hyphessobrycon species by the combination of the following features: a broad, black longitudinal band that begins at the posterior margin of the eye and extends to the posterior margin of the caudal fin; an oval shoulder spot; 16-18 soft fin rays in the anal fin.
It is very interesting that in this fish, similar to Hemigrammus coeruleus, the males develop a distinctly different coloration during courtship; many thanks to Peter & Martin Hoffmann for providing us with the picture of a courtship active male. Such changes in coloration are unusual in tetras of the Hemigrammus-Hyphessobrycon group, usually the colors intensify only insignificantly during courtship.
For our customers: H. melanostichos has code 261834 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply to wholesalers.
Text: Frank Schäfer, Photos: Frank Schäfer, Peter & Martin Hoffmann
Literature:
Carvalho, T. P. and V. A. Bertaco (2006): Two new species of Hyphessobrycon (Teleostei: Characidae) from upper rio Tapajós basin on Chapada dos Parecis, central Brazil. Neotropical Ichthyology v. 4 (no. 3): 301-308.
Micropoecilia parae belongs to the very few fish species, whose breeding in the aquarium over numerous generations has not succeeded so far. Basically the reproduction of the viviparous fish is not difficult, but from generation to generation the animals become smaller and smaller, until finally no further breeding is possible, because the fish die before reaching sexual maturity.
The reason for this is unknown. Two main factors are discussed: feeding and lighting. Since these problems do not occur when breeding in outdoor ponds in Southeast Asia, the lack of certain components of sunlight – probably from the UV range – seems to be the key to solving the problem. The German offspring we offer are large, strong animals that do not yet show any signs of this degeneration.
The care of Micropoecilia parae is easy. The beautiful animals, which superficially remind somewhat of Guppys, do not cause any problems. The animals, which are very common in the wild (Guyana countries to Brazil) and widespread near the coast, do not make any special demands on the water composition. Some populations even tolerate light brackish water. An exciting phenomenon is the polychromatism of the males, the biological meaning of which is still completely unknown. The offspring we can offer right now are yellow or blue longitudinally striped, but there are also red, tabby, solid color and spotted males (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/beautiful_new_varieties_of_liverbearers_arrived_en/ and https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/micropoecilia_parae_red_tiger_en/).
For our customers: the animals have code 268472 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
The cute Tatia catfishes are quite popular in the hobby. Keepers put up with the fact that you can hardly see them outside feeding times, because they are extremely addicted to hiding. But they make up for it with their pretty coloration and good breedability.
Tatia galaxias comes from the Orinoco river basin in Colombia (including the Rio Meta) and Venezuela, where our current stock comes from. The coloration is unique. On a dark background there are numerous bright spots, like stars in the galaxy – hence the species name. There is a possibility of confusion to some individuals of Tatia intermedia, but the spots are longitudinal oval in the latter species, round in T. galaxias.
The maximum size of T. galaxias is 12 cm, sexual maturity occurs at a length of about 5-6 cm. Every usual ornamental fish food is eaten, the water values are negligible for the care, if extreme values are avoided. The water temperature should be 24-30°C.
For our customers: the animals have code 295664 (4-6 cm) on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Herring can usually only be kept in the aquarium with enormous effort; moreover, most species live in the sea. Denticeps clupeoides is a small freshwater herring, it grows to a maximum length of 15 cm, but specimens over 8 cm in length are very rarely encountered. It lives in larger shoals near the surface in rivers in western Africa, our specimens come from Nigeria.
The species is somewhat sensitive to transport because of the high oxygen demand, but is imported from time to time. These restless swimmers are interesting aquarium fishes with much to be explored. They are peaceful animals that should only be kept together with other completely peaceful fish. Feeding is easy, any commercially available ornamental fish food, including dry food, is accepted, however Denticeps do not like to eat from the bottom. These fish love strong currents. The chemical water composition is of secondary importance for the care. Breeding reports are not available yet.
For our customers: the fish have code 120973 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
For the first time we could import this magnificent Heros from Venezuela in 2016. The animals should originate from a Rio Curare, therefore the name; however, no Rio Curare is known to us. We suspect the Rio Ventuari as origin.
The fish are extremely colorful, otherwise everything speaks for the fact that it concerns the “genuine” Heros severus. Practically all Heros mentioned so far under this name in the hobby belong in reality to other species.
Only in very few cases is such confusion around fish names as there is around the horizontically striped barbels of Southeast Asia. The beautiful animals belong according to current opinion to two genera: the species with clearly visible, long barbels belong to the genus Desmopuntius with currently seven accepted species and the form without (or very short) barbels and a fleshy upper lip is in the genus Striuntius, to which according to molecular data otherwise only the aquaristically well known species S. lateristrigata should belong. However, the latter must be based on a mistake, these two species have not much in common. Further information concerning the name confusion around these barbs can be found here: https://www.aqualog.de/blog/namen-dramen-die-linienbarbe/ (unfortunately only in German).
Because of the many confusions it is not clear how big Striuntius lineatus gets. The largest scientifically determined animal was 5-6 cm long (exactly 5.3 cm without caudal fin). Striuntius lineatus is a peaceful, somewhat shy fish, which especially appreciates water enriched with humic substances (dead leaves, peat, alder cones). The species is best kept in a group in a community tank. Other, more impudent, but peaceful fish (e.g. harlequin barbs) take away their shyness there.
Striuntius lineatus is widely distributed in Malaysia and Indonesia, but is only very rarely imported.
For our customers: the fish have code 369873 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
The range of small, peaceful catfishes from Asia is much smaller than from South America, but they do exist. Moth catfishes (Hara, Erethistes) for low flow aquariums and wasp catfishes (Akysis) for tanks with more flow are becoming increasingly popular.
Akysis get their name “wasp catfish” from the most famous species, Akysis vespa, whose sting with the poisonous pectoral fin spines really hurts. But also the other species (there are 24 accepted and scientifically described species so far) can sting nasty, therefore caution is required when catching them. But the small catfishes never attack actively!
Akysis prashadi belongs to the longest known species of the genus, the maximum 6-7 cm long fish was already scientifically described in 1936. It originates from Burma, where it lives endemically (i.e. only there) in the tributaries of Lake Indawgyi. Care is unproblematic, any common fish food is readily accepted. The animals like to bury themselves in fine sand, if the possibility exists. Akysis are egg layers, they do not practice brood care. Due to their origin the fish can be kept very well at room temperature, the temperature should not exceed 25°C permanently.
For our customers: the fish have code 362352 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
For many Betta imbellis is the prettiest wild fighting fish at all. Of course, “the” Betta imbellis does not exist at all, because the widespread species looks somewhat different everywhere. It is the sister species to Betta splendens and in fact no human being is able to distinguish completely decolorized specimens of both species from each other. The only sure difference between Betta imbellis and B. splendens is the coloration of the gill covers of the males. These are blue in B. imbellis, while in B. splendens they have two red vertical stripes.
Often Betta imbellis is called the “peaceful” fighting fish, so to speak as a counterpart to the “warlike” B. splendens. But this is nonsense. It is possible to keep several males together in all wild forms of fighting fish – provided there is enough space and good structuring of the aquarium – also in the case of B. splendens. Conversely, territorial males of Betta imbellis can also attack male rivals quite violently. However, in such cases (as well as with wild forms of B. splendens) it usually remains with quickly healing fin damage.
We have just very nice offspring (xlg) of B. imbellis in the stock.
For our customers: the animals have code 382014 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Finally we managed to import Wimple Piranhas (Catoprion mento) once again. In nature C. mento is a scale eater – at least at certain times. In terms of feeding, right now is a good time of year because there are plenty of live white mosquito larvae now, which are an ideal food for Wimple Piranhas. Acclimated specimens will take all the usual varieties of frozen and live foods of suitable size.
The thorny catfishes are a very interesting and diverse group of catfishes. We were able to import from Peru the species Nemadoras humeralis, which can reach a total length of about 15-20 cm. At first sight the fishes remind very much of the Hassar species, which they also resemble in behavior. They are peaceful schooling fish that move around a lot and appreciate some current in the aquarium.
Nemadoras are omnivores that can be fed on all common aquarium fish foods, although the emphasis should clearly be on a meaty diet. Water composition plays a minor role in their care. You can maintain the animals in any tap water.
The aquarium for Nemadoras should have plenty of free swimming space. Plants will not be damaged, but with very dense plant growth there is a risk that the fish will become entangled in the underwater plants. Nemadoras are ideal community fish for larger aquariums with tetras etc.
For our customers: the fish have code 272484 on our stock list. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
From Peru we have received exceptionally nice knifefishes of the species Steatogenys duidae. According to current knowledge the genus Steatogenys comprises three species, all of which have zebra-like stripes. With a final length of about 20 cm they remain comparatively small, only S. ocellatus grows significantly larger at 30 cm. The three species are very similar in color. The best way to distinguish them is by the anal fin coloration. S. elegans has a mostly colorless anal fin, this fin is strongly marbled/striped in S. duidae and dark with light spots along the ventral side in S. ocellatus.
Steatogenys are considered comparatively peaceful towards each other and towards other species of fish. Mainly small invertebrates, like mosquito larvae, crustaceans or worms are eaten.
Around the mouth the animals have extremely distinctive sensory pits. With this they can still perceive the electrical activity of the muscles of a wriggling worm. The eyes are overgrown with a fine skin and are not very functional. This clearly shows that these knifefishes, which are found in nature in the terra firme forests of the entire Amazon and Orinoco basins in smaller flowing waters, do not search for and find their food visually, but sensory.
For our customers: the animals have code 293824 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
A new fashion trend in the hobby is emerging: tetras from the Congo! The region was already often in the focus of the hobby, but it was about killifishes or cichlids. The large flock of silver glittering open water species was of less interest. With the discovery of the unbelievably colorful Phenacogrammus sp. “Fantastique” (in courtship dress) a few years ago, this changed. Because also the “Fantastique” looks rather unspectacular in the normal pattern.
Now, in the wake of the “Fantastique” all kinds of other species come to us, mostly under invented names. It is then often difficult to decide which species it is. Unfortunately, the animals are quite expensive.
One of the species, which has never been imported before, is the relatively small Phenacogrammus cf. taeniatus. It looks confusingly similar to Alestopetersius smykalai from Nigeria, but unlike the latter it has a black pigmented longitudinal banding that is either barely visible or intensely black, depending on the mood. In preserved specimens, this band is very prominent because the pigment cells relax in death. The rapid color change of many fish is due to the fact that the pigment cells can contract – then the color becomes almost invisible – or expand – then the color suddenly shines.
Phenacogrammus taeniatus is so far only known from Cameroon. Possibly the fish from the Congo is therefore a scientifically still undescribed species. However, all externally recognizable characteristics of the new import fit very well to P. taeniatus.
Who knows, maybe this tetra will also develop such a beautiful mating dress like the P. sp. “Fantasique”? The photographed male (recognizable by the anal fin shape, females have a “normal” triangular anal fin) is fully sexually differentiated with a total length of 5-6 cm, so the species probably does not grow very large.
For our customers: the fish have code 159122 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
These beautiful tetras were called Copella nattereri in literature for many years until a scientific study found that C. nattereri is in fact the species previously known as C. nigrofasciata and that the “C. nattereri” from the Orinoco and Rio Negro belong to a scientifically unnamed species called Copella meinkeni. We regularly offer this attractive species (further information here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/copella_meinkeni_en/).
For our customers: the animals have code 219803 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
The strange sucking catfishes of the genus Acestridium – there are currently seven recognized species in the genus – could also be called “dwarf needle catfishes”, because they look like a miniature version of the needle catfishes of the genus Farlowella.
Unfortunately, these animals are still an aquaristic challenge, which only very experienced aquarists should approach. But now they have the chance to try them again, because we have very stable and well acclimated Acestridium dichromum from Venezuela in our stock. Further information about the animals can be found here: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/acestridium_dichromum_arrived__en/
For our customers: the animals have code 201533 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
The Rainbow Emperor Tetra (Nematobrycon lacortei) is certainly one of the most attractive tetras in South America. Its home is in western Colombia where it is caught in the catchment area of the Rio San Juan. Males and females can be easily distinguished by the color of the iris. Already in small juveniles the males have a red, the females a blue iris.
To the same genus belongs the usually better known emperor tetra Nematobrycon palmeri. Nematobrycon can only be described as schooling fish to a limited extent, since the males at least occasionally defend territories against conspecifics – and this can happen quite violently. Your aquarium should therefore contain structure-forming elements such as roots and large plants.
Emperor tetras can be kept in medium hard water, but for breeding it should be soft and acidic. They will eat almost all offered foods, for a good spawning it is recommended to feed black mosquito larvae (Culex) regularly.
For our customers: the fish have code 272504 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
From Venezuela we received very nice Myloplus torquatus. The up to approx. 25 cm long species is scientifically known for a very long time (since 1858) and in the course of time it was already assigned to the genera Myletes and Myleus. A very good recognition feature is the black fringe in the caudal fin, a color feature that is not known so far in any other silver dollar species. However, small juveniles look completely different (see: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/fischarchiv/myleus-cf-torquatus/).
Our animals are currently about 7-10 cm long and are already beginning to differentiate sexually. The males develop a more extensive anal fin and the dorsal fin – compared to the dorsal fin of the females – takes on a broader, blunted shape.
Myloplus torquatus is widely distributed in tropical South America and is found in the basins of both the Amazon and Orinoco rivers.
For our customers: the fish have code 270635 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Tetras, which – as Hans-Georg Evers so aptly put it – are magnificently white wine colored, have a hard time in aquarists. In the dealer’s tank there is usually nothing to be seen of the discreet colors and why, many ask, should one buy colorless fish when there are so many colorful species?
This opinion changes, if one gives oneself a jerk, and maintains a troop of perhaps 15 or 20 specimens of such white wine fishes in a well planted community aquarium together with the colorful classics (cardinal tetra etc.). Then you will notice that the “ugly gray ducklings” do not develop into magnificent swans, but they attract at least as much attention as their brightly colored cousins. The magic word is: contrast!
One such contrast fish is Hyphessobrycon dorsalis, which circulated in the hobby as “Hyphessobrycon minor” before its scientific description in 2014. It is the slimmest representative of the so-called “Rosy Tetras”, which are well characterized within the large group of small tetras by their white-black-white dorsal fin coloration. By the way, the fish from which the scientific description is based came from our facility. We imported them from Brazil via Manaus at that time, and our current import also comes from this source.
For our customers: the animals have code 261362 on our stock list. Please note that we supply only wholesale.
Besides the orange colored breeding form of this gourami from Burma (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/colisa-labiosa-orange-2/) there is also a very attractive, deep red colored breeding form. In order to keep these wonderful animals in their bright coloration permanently, it is necessary to provide certain types of food (e.g. Cyclops, Spirulina or also special flake food). Without the natural substance astaxathin contained in it, the colors will otherwise fade in the long term, just as in the case of flamingos, whose red coloration is based on the same substance. In addition to its positive effect on coloration, astaxanthin is also very healthy, as it is a natural antioxidant that reduces inflammatory processes. In human nutrition, astaxanthin is considered a dietary supplement.
But back to the Colisa! They are very beautiful and peaceful gourami, perfect for well-maintained community tanks with rich plant growth and also peaceful by-fish.
For our customers: the animals have code 411434 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
We have received beautiful offspring specimens of this magnificent Nanochromis from the Congo. Since the experts are not yet agreed whether this species is a color variant of Nanochromis teugelsi or a different species, we have chosen the name Nanochromis cf. teugelsi.
The beautiful dwarf cichlids reach a length of about 7 cm in the male sex, females remain smaller. The sexes are easy to distinguish, as you can see on the pictures. Sandy bottom in places, caves and low-germ water are the basic requirements for successful care and breeding of these beautiful fish.
For our customers: the animals have code 554643 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
The cockade pufferfishes are a very complex group of freshwater pufferfishes. Formerly they were called the “Tetraodon-leiurus group”, but since 2013 they are in the genus Pao. The genus name Tetraodon is now only applied to the freshwater puffers of Africa.
Throughout Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia), Pao freshwater puffers can be found. They are predatory fish, usually very incompatible with each other, and are quite variable in color. Many have a prominent eyespot or ocellus below the dorsal fin that looks like a cockade – hence the popular name. Exactly how many species of cockaded puffers there are is disputed. Before about 1990, all cockaded puffers were called Tetraodon leiurus or T. leiurus brevirostris. Several species were synonymized, which are now seen as valid again. A very distinctively marked cockaded puffer was described as Tetraodon barbatus from the Mekong River in 1996. Special recognition feature of this species are the dark spots on the lips (barbatus = the bearded one). Already a short time later this species was declared as synonym to the species Tetraodon cambodgiensis, also originating from the Mekong. Only in 2013 a re-description of the species T. barbatus, the transfer into the newly created genus Pao and the validation of P. barbatus took place.
We have now received very nice cockaded puffers from Thailand, but not from the Mekong, but from the Chao Phraya. Therefore our exporter called them Pao sp. Chao Phraya. But apart from the “wrong” distribution they fit perfectly to P. barbatus, both concerning the coloration – including the “beard” – and concerning the anatomical detail that the caudal peduncle has no spines. This is the most important difference between Pao barbatus and P. cambodgiensis.
Pao sp. Chao Phraya has one peculiarity: the “cockade spot” is extraordinarily large. At least for a short time Pao sp. Chao Phraya get along well with each other, a pleasant difference to many other cockaded puffers, which are often downright biting among themselves. The maximum size of P. barbatus is given with about 12 cm, it can be assumed that also Pao sp. Chao Phraya reaches about this size. The photographed animals are between 8 and 10 cm long.
For our customers: the fish have code 462613 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
From Paraguay wonderful, partly very large sturgeon catfishes (Sturisoma) are imported. Two Sturisoma species are known from the Rio Paraguay: S. barbatum, described already in 1853 by Kner, and S. robustum, described in 1904 by Regan. The two species differ from each other only insignificantly.
The most important anatomical feature distinguishing the two species is the structure of the nuchal and anterior dorsal shields. In S. barbatum, they consist essentially of three massive bone claspers (plus two smaller bone plates), whereas in S. robustum they consist of 17 bone plates.
S. barbatum is said to have much longer extended fin filaments than S. robustum. Today, however, we know that such fin filaments can be very differently pronounced both ontogenetically and individually and are not very suitable for species differentiation. If one looks at the illustrations attached to the original descriptions, it is also noticeable that S. barbatum (a male is shown) appears altogether more slender, the species name “robustum” is well chosen by Regan (a female is shown with him). In living specimens from Paraguay one sees very well that the males correspond better to S. barbatum, the females better to S. robustum. Possibly, therefore, S. barbatum and S. robustum are synonyms of each other. In that case S. barbatum would be the valid, because older name.
Our currently (2021/22) imported animals correspond to S. barbatum regarding the nuchal and anterior dorsal shields, as you can see well on the photos.
Sturgeon Catfishes are fantastic aquarium fishes that can grow up to 28 in length and require appropriately large aquariums. Males are easily recognized by their distinctive whiskers during the breeding season, but even outside of the spawning season it is not difficult to distinguish between the sexes, as can be easily seen in the photos. The diet is varied with a clear emphasis on plant foods.
With fish from Paraguay it is generally to be noted that the water temperatures there fluctuate seasonally and are quite low in the winter there. After successful acclimation the fish should be adapted to our seasons and kept at 24-26°C in summer and 16-18°C in winter. Then they usually breed willingly. They like to spawn at the front glass of the aquarium, the male guards spawn and newly hatched young. For the rearing of the young fish it is inevitable to feed excrements of the parents, because they need the bacteria and fungi (endosymbionts) living in the intestine to be able to digest plant food. If this is not observed, the young animals starve to death after the change from meat food (Artemia nauplii etc.), which they need as initial food, to plant food in spite of a full stomach.
For our customers: the animals have code 294805 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
The golden barb (Pethia gelius) is an aquarium old-timer that found friends even before the First World War. It is one of the smallest barb species in India. Males rarely grow longer than 2.5 cm, females slightly larger. The record of 5 cm total length, which has been haunting the literature for decades, is probably due to a mix-up.
In fact, it has recently been found that “the” golden barb does not exist at all, but that it is a complex of species very similar to each other. The names of these species are Pethia gelius, Pethia canius and P. aurea. These three species are hard to distinguish, in the trade they are all called “P. gelius”. The more inconspicuous P. guganio also belongs to the complex. Common to these species is that they spawn – like the harlequin barbs – with the belly upwards under plant leaves.
No matter which species of the complex you acquire, they are delightful, extremely peaceful schooling fish. You’ll be doing them a big favor with humic substances in the water (dead leaves, peat, alder cones) and you should allow some mulm in the aquarium. Otherwise they are completely undemanding little animals, which should be maintained in the temperature range between 18 and 24°C.
This snakehead, often traded under the name Channa cf. barca, originates from the northern Indian province of Assam. C. stewartii can reach a length of up to 30 cm (usually around 20 cm) and as a predatory fish should only be kept along with fish that are at least 2/3 of its body length. Besides living and dead fish they accept as food insects, worms, coarse frozen food and after habituation also food sticks.
Since their area of occurrence is not in the tropical area, they can be kept well in the unheated aquarium. They tolerate temperatures between 15 – 30°C, also to the water parameters only small requirements are made. Since they can breathe atmospheric air in addition to gill breathing, the oxygen content of the water is of secondary importance.
Sometimes it happens that even we run short in finding superlatives: in any case this fish deserves to create one! It is so beautiful…. H. compressa is a sleeper goby that lives free swimming in the water column. In contrast to many other gobies this fish is not a bottom dweller. In Germany the genus Hypseleotris is called “minnow goby”, for the fish live like schooling minnows in the open water.
Males of this goby – it occurs in the wild in northern Australia and southern New Guinea – literally switch the light on while displaying. It is highly recommended to keep several males together in one tank, so at least one is in the mood to show the fantastic colours. The females are not so deep bodied and have a rather dull coloration.
Sadly it is very difficult to breed this fish under aquarium conditions. The fish spawn readily (they are substrate brooders), but the eggs and the fry are extremely small and the offspring is able to survive only in strong brackish or marine water. Here they can be fed with live marine plankton (for example oyster larvae).
On the other hand the fish are extremely hardy and undemanding. They tolerate temperatures between 18 and 35°C and almost any water chemestry. However, medium hard water will fit best.
For our customers: the fish have code 421682 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Hypseleotris: ancient Greek, means “deep Eleotris”; Eleotris is another genus of goby. compressa: Latin, means “compressed”.
This beautiful loricariid catfish comes from the Rio Tapajós in Brazil. Usually, 4-5 cm long youngsters are imported from these catfishes, which look very attractive with their large, white dots on a deep black ground and fully deserve the name “Snowball-Pleco”. In addition to high water temperatures (not below 28°C), these catfishes should be kept in water that is as low in germs as possible. They also need to be fed properly. The food also includes soft (!) wood, which the animals grate off. In the nature these catfishes can become up to 30 cm long.
For our customers: the animals have code 26480-LDA 033-7 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
When you first see this slender, splendidly colored swordtail wild form, you involuntarily think: this is no X. hellerii! And yet, when X. hellerii was first described in 1848, exactly such animals became the type specimens. The traveler of the royal imperial horticultural society Karl Heller discovered and collected the animals in clear streams of the mountain Orizaba in Mexico (the highest mountain of Mexico and third highest of North America) and was already enthusiastic about the colorfulness of the fish at that time. At that time, however, aquaristics did not yet exist, so Heller could only send his new discovery to Vienna dead and faded in alcohol.
About 50 years later, in 1902, Meek described the Jalapa swordtail again under the name Xiphophorus jalapae, which is of course a younger synonym for the typical X. hellerii. On the other hand, it’s not so sure whether the “ordinary” Green Swordtail, which we have in the aquarium since 1909, is actually the same species as the “real” X. hellerii (the Jalapa form).
In comparison to “ordinary” green swordtails, the colors of the Jalapa swordtail look like painted on the body with neon pencils. They are really wonderful fish. Regarding care and breeding the Jalapa swordtails do not differ however from the “usual” green swordtails.
We get our specimens from a German breeder.
For our customers: the animals have code 476595 on our stocklist. Please note that we only deliver to wholesalers.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
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