Practical Fishkeeping - April 2023

APRIL 2023
One man’s
extraordinary
passion
Alexander Gorz’s
outstanding piranha
collection
Oliver Lucanus’s South

American puddle
discovery
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www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/apr23
APRIL
64
INSPIRATION 28 DON’T USE THE ‘E’

WORD... 64 THE TOOTH GALLERY
Alexander Görz is a man with
06 THE MAGIC OF
MICROCTENOPOMA
What happens when obsession
takes over a fish house?
a passion, and that passion is
piranha. Meet the aquarist who
It’s the rarity that shouldn’t be A world-leading bounty of made a gallery from one of the
rare, and the oddball that very Poecilia wingei is what. We world’s most misunderstood fish.
few seem to know about. Elliott meet an especially focussed
CAN BLEACHED CORALS
Ball recounts his success with
the ornate climbing perch.
collector of livebearers.
72 BOUNCE BACK?
12 A QUIET PARADISE 52 THE IMPERMANENT

BIOTOPE
A tank full of white corals is an
aquarist’s nightmare. But what
Gabor Horvath shares his Not all habitats are vast lakes causes these inverts to lose
relaxing selection of secretive and flowing rivers. Oliver their colours? And can they be
livestock, housed in a calm and Lucanus encounters one restored?
tranquil setting. temporary oasis as densely
stocked as any aquarium. SUBSCRIBE!
SEE OUR SUBS
20 EIGHT STEPS TO
OFFER FOR THE
BORNEO
In the first collaboration
58 BOILING IN BOLIVIA
Amidst staggering heat and BEST DEALS.
between Finest Aquatics and swarms of hungry insects, Check page 3
PFK, we set the staff to task Daniel Konn-Vetterlein for details.
with creating a Borneo-themed discovers many aquatic
biotope. delights in Bolivia’s waterways.
4 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
THINGS 3 When to make
a choice about
YOU WILLL euthanasia of fish.
LEARN 1 What you need
to include for an
IN THIS authentic-looking
Borneo set-up and 2 How to breed the
he
ornate climbingg
4 Which fish inhabit 5 How to use
planting soils
ISSUE how to do it. perch. this South American
puddle
pu in the wild.
with catfish.
Welcome SOMETHING I love about

fishkeepers is just how obsessive we
can become over one particular
species. I’ll not bore you with mine
(it’s the shanny, Lipophrys pholis)
but rather draw your attention to
our cover feature this month—
20 Poecilia wingei. Scott Hall collects
them, and he hasn’t just gone down the rabbit hole, he’s
sprouted bunny ears and a pom pom tail. Better still, you can
read all about it on page 28. You might learn a lot; I know I
certainly did. Then there’s Alexander Gorz, with his massive
piranha collection over in Germany. Most people don’t have as
many tanks as him, let alone as many piranha tanks. Find out
more on page 64.
This rest of this issue largely champions small fish, it seems,
from Elliot Ball’s Microctenopoma breeding to Gabor Horvath’s
micropredator set-up. But if I’m allowed to have a favourite for
this month, it has to be Oliver Lucanus and his ‘puddle biotope’
58 on page 52. What a wonderfully unique wilderness find!
Nathan Hill, Editor

REGULARS 78 GEAR GUIDE:
BOOK REVIEW
38 FISHKEEPING Joost de Leeuw looks at
ANSWERS
This month the PFK experts
look at sturgeon legality, cory-
Fishes of the Okavango Delta
& Chobe River, Botswana, by
Mike Bruton, Glenn Merron,
Stay in touch
safe substrates, goatfish care, and Paul Skelton. Email us at
how to recycle your old filter editorial@practicalfishkeeping.co.uk
media, community choices
with Synodontis catfish, the
80 NEXT MONTH
Africa’s answer to the ram Watch us on
difficulties with octopus care, cichlid, the eyeless fish that youtube.com/user/practicalfishkeeping
a torpedo barb focussed live deep underground, an
tank, water hardness for tetra exploration of spiny eels, the Follow us at
spawning, a green brackish crazy characins of Roestes, and www.facebook.com/PFKmag/
tank, and more! more!
48 KNOW HOW:
EUTHANASIA TIMING
82 TAILPIECE
Events can only be a good
Deciding when to put a fish thing for the industry to
to sleep is less an objective heighten awareness. Thankfully,
question and more an ethical there’s a big one coming later ON THE COVER
one. Jack Flanagan shares his this year.
Poecilia wingei.
thoughts. Photo by Neil Hepworth
WWW.PRACTICALFISHKEEPING.CO.UK 5
XXXXX SHOWCASE
SPECIES
Microctenopoma
xxxxxxx
MICROCTENOPOMA It’s the rarity that shouldn’t be rare, and the oddball
that very few seem to know about. Elliott Ball recounts
his success with the ornate climbing perch.
The
magnificent
ornate climbing
perch.
ELLIOTT BALL
SHUTTERSTOCK
Owner-operator of
The Fish Barn at
Crawley, Elliott is an
accomplished breeder.
SPECIES SHOWCASE
Microctenopoma
N THE EARLY summer of 2022, I was offered Congo basin in shaded forest creeks. The creeks where
an array of fish by a friend of mine from a these fish are found tend to consist of slow-moving water,
Congo import that I had missed out on. With a forest canopy above, and plentiful leaf litter. The water is
fish room at home, it’s hard to not look out for fairly warm, up to 27°C, and somewhat low in oxygen
a few special fish for oneself, and I did just that. due to the lack of flow, which is also a good indication
A seldom seen species in the UK hobby that the pH will be slightly to fairly acidic.
(although seemingly increasing in availability I heat my entire quarantine room rather than heat
and popularity) was listed: Microctenopoma individual aquaria. As hot air rises, the tanks positioned
ansorgii, sometimes given the common name the highest are naturally going to be warmer than those
of ornate climbing Perch.
Microctenopoma, as the name implies, is a genus of FACTFILE
smaller species that live in the shadow of their larger
ORNATE CLIMBING PERCH
relatives, the Ctenopoma. Being anabantoids, they have 6Scientific name: Microctenopoma ansorgii
genetic ties to the likes of better-known fish such as 6Pronunciation: My-crow-ten-oh-pom-ah an-sore-gee-ee
gouramis and Betta. All of these fish possess a labyrinth 6Size: To 7cm
organ, a supplementary respiratory organ above the gills 6Origin: Possibly endemic to Republic of Congo and Democratic
which allows them to breathe atmospheric air. Republic of Congo
6Habitat: Slow moving forest streams under dense canopies and
surrounded by leaf litter
Little bundles of joy 6Tank size: 80x30x30cm
These are absolutely fascinating fish. Not only because of 6Water requirements: Soft and acidic to slightly alkaline water;
the unique air breathing, but also their breeding habits, 5.5-7.5pH, 4-18°H
colourful displays and cryptic feeding behaviour. It goes 6Temperature: 22-27°C
without saying that I quickly ordered 15 of them. 6Temperament: Males can be aggressive, Water volume
I used the quarantine facility at the shop and prepared otherwise too nervous for a bright
community tank 72 l+
a tank for my new arrivals. I like to replicate close to the
6Feeding: Wholly Small dry foods accepted
natural water conditions of where my fish are found, so but prefers tiny live and frozen meaty foods
just to blow the dust off of my brain and jog my 6Availability and cost: Not an easy find, look
PIEDNOIR AQUAPRESS
memories, I had a read up on their habitat. in retailer nano systems and blackwater BELOW: Hiding
This particular batch was imported from Congo and racks. Expect to pay £9.50 or more per fish. places will be
therefore likely from the tributaries that run off of the readily used.
ALL PHOTOS: ELLIOTT BALL
on the bottom. I opted for a 60-litre tank on the top row, and had a somewhat hard to see gold/green dust across CLOCKWISE
scattered a few Magnolia grandiflora leaves in there and them. Fortunately, I was equipped with a combination of FROM
ensured that the pH was kept at 6.5 and TDS was around eSHa Exit and eSHa 2000, and so the tank was covered BOTTOM LEFT:
150. This was so that they wouldn’t be shocked if the with a towel to keep them in the dark and treated Bubblenest,
supplier had been keeping them in water that was slightly accordingly (Oodinium is partially photosynthetic, and so eggs, hatchlings
harder and more alkaline than they usually like. keeping affected fish in the dark helps to slow the spread). and developing
They responded well to the medication and from here fry.
Velvet perils onwards they continued to feed well and put weight on.
They arrived well, quite small, drab looking, but all alive As soon as they cleared up it was time to move them to
and no more than a touch over an inch in total length. I their ‘forever home’ in my fish room.
acclimatised them slowly and after about an hour I let
them go and they all immediately darted to cover A new abode
underneath the leaf litter on the base of the aquarium. In order to keep the transition seamless from quarantine
I treated for internal parasites and I left it a couple of I made sure the tank they were being moved to had the
days before attempting to feed them, offering them same water parameters and I had decorated the tank with
Daphnia as their first meal after transit. It seemed to be some plants, including a handful of floating Salvinia
taken anxiously, but their quick snappy strikes at the fluitans, as well as Magnolia grandiflora leaves, sand, and a
small morsels reassured me that they were slowly settling. few seed pods for those final touches of my interpretation
Sadly, after two days I experienced my first mortalities, of what their natural habitat would look like.
for no reason that I could initially trace. I found two I tweaked the flow on the sponge filter so the water
individuals laying still on the bottom with no obvious movement wasn’t too intense for them and I acclimatised
signs of ill health or external damage, so I chose to treat them again for about an hour.
for external parasites just to be sure. Again a few days Not a lot happened for a little while, appreciating them
later another few were found deceased, but this time a for what they were, I was just keeping them, feeding them
little bit differently—these recent deaths were displaying and then not seeing them again until the next feed.
pinched caudal fins and looked slightly powdery.
ox ox ox o ox ox Where possible, after fresh rainfall I like to supplement
Upon closer inspection with a torch, I ox discovered that
o ox ox ox ox their water changes with it, and so I did. It ended up
these new fish were frosted in velvet disease, Oodinium,
o ox oxxxx becoming a key factor in the way I kept them thereafter!
SPECIES SHOWCASE
Microctenopoma
The day after I noticed increased activity. I could see the

fish out and about looking for food, picking at the leaves
and sand, then I opened the sliding glass covers and they
all rushed to the surface. A small pinch of flake and fine
granules were given and it was scoffed down.
Over the next few months, it was apparent that they
were growing well, doubling their size since they first
arrived with me in the summer. They were around 5-6cm
and the males were really starting to make themselves
known with their colours coming through and their
prominent displays of ‘I’m the daddy’.
Inroads to spawning
I liked the idea of spawning this fish, but it was a little
left-field considering my usual breeding consists mostly of changer. We had snowfall and cold weather that lasted a
cichlids and South American catfish. But never say never! week here in the south which, although my fish room is
In November I travelled north and stayed with friends well insulated and heated, reduced the temperature a
of mine which the host, PFK contributor Liam Roberts of couple of degrees—nothing to my fishes’ detriment.
Finest Aquatics, also conveniently has a fish room. He and Once it had warmed back up, and after a big feed, the
another friend, Andrew, showed me the use of a home- males were noticeably starting to flare and spar with one
made rig of floating tubes abutted against the glass so he another; they were almost white with bold black stripes
could monitor the fish inside—his male Betta brownorum barred up on the flanks.
had blown a bubble nest in there. It was the evening of 30th December 2022 that I went to
When I returned home I looked for something that I my fish room and noticed a collection of fine bubbles
could use to do the same sort of thing. These fish also floating in the top of the glass cup, but it was also
make bubble nests, whereby the male of the pair creates unattended, so I assumed it was devoid of eggs. However,
ABOVE: Striking
a nest formed of bubbles and adhesive secretions, which patterns make under closer inspection there were tiny 0.5mm glassy
eggs are placed into for safety and nurturing. these fish a pearls mixed in amongst the bubbles.
I ordered one of the glass aquascaping ‘cups’ that stick worthwhile Initially torn between leaving them in the tank and
to the glass and you can put plants in. My idea was that project. hoping for the male to return, or raising them separately,
if anything were to happen, at least I could see the nest. I found a takeaway tub and sourced an airline to give it
The top of the cup is cut at an angle, so when placed in OPPOSITE: an air supply. I added an alder cone to leach out tannic
on its side up against the glass, fish can still get in. Small and acid to assist with hatching and stop eggs from hardening
It went in and it sat there doing nothing, looking secretive. up. Lacking grace, I grabbed the glass, disturbed most of
somewhat stupid in a natural-themed layout. the eggs (which dropped into the base of the cup) and
I upped the live food feeding and also started buying in BELOW: Just like then carefully poured them into the container.
weekly bulk bags of Daphnia to condition all of my fish. a Ctenopoma I left them in a semi lit area of the fish room, mainly to
Like the use of rainwater, this turned out to be a game but in miniature! illuminate them enough so I could check on them
without having to keep taking them down and remove
the lid.
Mission success
To my astonishment, within 48 hours they had hatched!
Luckily, I’d thought ahead and ordered a culture of
Paramecium—a live food culture small enough to feed
even the tiniest of fry. This arrived a few days later, by
which time the young had absorbed their eggs sack.
The fry are currently fed every day, along with daily 30%
water changes on the tub. It’s easy for me to observe their
slow development as they stand out against the clear base.
That’s as much as I can offer for now as we’re up to
present day (writing this at the tail end of January).
Likely they’ll soon move onto microworms and grow
and develop from there. One of the more pressing
challenges I’ve faced has been water changing—the fry
are so tiny that siphoning them out by mistake is a real
hazard, and this would almost certainly damage their
fragile bodies. Initially getting the Paramecium culture to
start was fairly tricky, taking about a week before it really
started to gain momentum. It finally took hold and now
provides the much-needed nourishment to my young!
These are absolutely
fascinating fish. Not only
because of the unique air
breathing, but also their
breeding habits, fantastic
colourful displays and cryptic
feeding behaviour
INSPIRATION
Micropredator set-up
Leaf litter put to

use by a pair of
flame red dwarf
badis.
Tanks don’t need to be bulging at the seams with fish to be exciting.
Gabor Horvath shares his relaxing selection of secretive livestock,
housed in a calm and tranquil setting.
ALL PHOTOS: GABOR HORVATH
GABOR
HORVATH
Gabor is PFK’s chief
product tester and
a prodigious fish
breeder.
INSPIRATION
RDERING FISH an entirely different species. At first species, I quickly found what I was
ONLINE is glance they looked similar—both looking for. I managed to identify my
always risky. belong to the Badidae family—but fish as a flame red dwarf badis, Dario
Without seeing my fish had no pattern on their hysginon. My research revealed that
them in flesh you bodies and some of them had a large they originate from Myanmar, where
can’t judge black blotch covering the first couple they inhabit shallow, slow moving or
condition or sex, of rays of the dorsal fin. They also stagnant bodies of water with dense
so you trust in had pinkish-red bodies, which is vegetation. These marginal waters
the seller’s definitely atypical for B. ruber. often have low oxygen content and
goodwill and hope that you get what Although they were small (just a bit a relatively high temperature
you ordered. Sometimes—after you over 1cm) my fish didn’t look like fluctuation, making the fish hardy
open the package—you realise that they were Badis fry. I had many of and also tolerant to low
even the species is wrong. those in the past and they never temperatures. Their comfort-zone of
Mislabelling (either accidentally or looked as developed (both physically 15-26°C also means that D. hysginon
intentionally) is frequent with and socially) as these newcomers at can be maintained in room
imports, making the life of importers the same size. They reminded me of temperature tanks.
a nightmare. Often, low value fish are another popular fish from the same Although the water they live in has
labelled as something else but family but from another genus: the low hardness (3-5°GH), it’s only
occasionally a rare fish is sold under scarlet badis, Dario dario. slightly acidic to neutral (between
some common name. 6.5-7.4pH), so treated tapwater fits
The fish in this article arrived in the ID confirmed them perfectly well (up to 10°GH
BELOW: Find UK as red badis, Badis ruber, but it I continued my search within the they should be fine). Add to this their
the fish! was clear from the beginning that it’s Dario genus and as there are only six small adult size—the larger males
The tiny
Indostomus
barely pass 2cm—and you may think
paradoxus.
that you have found the ideal low
maintenance candidate for your next
temperate nano tank.
Think again. They may be
undemanding regarding their
environment but are exceptionally
fussy eaters. Being micropredators
they spend most of their time in the
wild hunting for zooplankton, insect
larvae, and small worms. This is the
diet you will need to replicate in
captivity if you want to keep them
alive. Having a plankton-barrel in the
garden could definitely help but
having a good supply of microworms
and newly hatched Artemia is also
useful. If you have no access to any
live food, frozen foods like Daphnia
and Artemia are also accepted. They
also love bloodworm, but I only give
it to them as an occasional treat as
too much could lead to health issues.
Out of my eight fish only one shows pale and clamping their fins to show
a slight interest in dry food—he their submission whenever a
would sometimes eat the Hikari dominant male approached. Two
Vibra Bites—but the others would males emerged as dominant, forming
never touch anything ‘artificial’. territories at the two opposite ends of
the tank. Their colours turned bright
The learning curve orange-red (hence the flame red
I prepared a 60cm tank for my group moniker) and whenever another
as a temporary home, ensuring male approached the territory, they
plenty of plants to break up the line went into full attack mode.
of sight as the males can be quite Even if the trespasser showed no
aggressive with each other. sign of aggression the owner still gave
I soon realised that it wasn’t them a poke, or a quick nip of the
enough: having seven males and only fins before allowing them to move
one single female in a relatively small along. When the two dominant males
tank soon led to continuous sparring met a full-blown fight occurred,
and fighting. The weaker males frequently leading to teared fins.
assumed a female-ish stance, turning This wasn’t what I wanted so I had
Bloodworm
is only fed
sparingly.
INSPIRATION
to think about the best way to across the new Ciano Emotions Pro
separate them. Originally, I planned 100 (also called EN Pro 100)
to divide them into several tanks but aquarium set with a 201-litre
when I read of one of their known capacity, and it was agreed that I
habitats—Lake Indawgyi—that gave could have one for a review
me a new idea. I knew that one of whenever it suited me. It was the
my other micropredators, Indostomus right time to call upon the favour
paradoxus, also lives in that lake, as and within a week I had the set
well as a Microphis pipefish, so I delivered. Now I had something I
decided to create a biotope tank for could commit to my ambition.
them all together.
Although I didn’t Making nature
have any Microphis The marginal areas of
dunckeri from the Lake Indawgyi have a
lake I had rainbow muddy bottom with
bellied pipefish,
Despite housing such tiny fish, lots of decomposing
Microphis deocata,
Lake Indawgyi is actually huge, plant materials, but
that I could use as an
with a surface area of over as clay is very
‘authorised substitute’. one hundred square difficult to maintain
In theory I could have miles. in aquariums a
used the 60cm aquarium well-washed play sand was
(keeping only one pair of D. my choice of substrate. As the
hysginon in the community) but I sand itself is not ideal for rooted
wanted to go bigger—much bigger. plants (it lacks nutrients) I used
At the Aqua Telford show I came Dennerle Deponit-Mix 10-in-1 soil
My tank is like listening to your favourite music at home, alone, with your
Dario hysginon
males compete
for a female’s
attention.
Armoured
stickleback,
Indostomus
paradoxus.
eyes closed and allowing it to flow through your veins, enjoying every beat
mixed with JBL ProScape Volcano and Limnophila sessiflora. To create rimmed by trees with heavy ivy
Mineral chippings underneath. I the impression of decomposing infestation so the farmer regularly
created a gentle slope mimicking the matter, blanched oak leaves were cuts the ivy stems. The dead branches
banks of the lake. As I didn’t plan on scattered among the plants. I have then remain attached to the tree and
putting any bottom feeding sand- also used some ivy branches as décor. get perfectly dry in a year or two.
shifter fish into the tank I hoped that I know some of you will say that During this time any toxins bleach
the slope remains intact (it did). Ivy, Hedera helix, is toxic to animals out, leaving the nicely shaped
The plant choice was obvious, as the and should never be used in a fish branches ready to use.
lake has a thriving Vallisneria tank. Well, I have been using it for After collecting the wood I still soak
population and I happened to have decades without any issues. The key, I the ivy for several months in my
quite a lot growing in my other believe, is that you must collect dead plankton barrel just to be on the safe
tanks. For extra visual impact, I added and perfectly dried out branches. The side, but by then they will have rich
a few bunches of Pogostemon stellatus farm road on the hill above me is growth of aufwuchs on them—an
FACTFILE
ARMOURED STICKLEBACK
6Scientific name: Indostomus paradoxus
6Pronunciation: In-doss-toe-muss pa-ra-dox-uss
6Size: To 3cm
6Origin: Lake Indawgyi, Myanmar
6Habitat: Heavily planted, shallow banks of lakes
6Tank size: 40x30x20cm
6Water requirements: Close to neutral water;
6.5-7.5pH, 1-6°H Water volume
6Temperature: 22-27°C
6Temperament: Peaceful, shy, nervous, only 24 l+
suited to the quietest of tanks
6Feeding: Requires tiny live foods, will not
accept dry
6Availability and cost: Rare find, but
definitely available in the UK, prices from £4
INSPIRATION
extra treat for my shrimp and grazing of red here and there the aquarium
fishes. I had some large pieces looked devoid of fish—and it was
soaking outside so they went to the exactly what I had in my mind. The
tank. I also took a small bucket of tank became a piece of nature that
water (and a bit of sediment) from requires you to devote time for
the barrel to seed the tank with observation, just as you would do if
plankton, blackworms and various you were out there in the wild. It’s
other microorganisms. not an in-your-face instant impact
Within a week the aquarium was setup like say a busy Malawi tank.
full of life and as I also added some That’s like a nightclub with loud
mature filter media it was ready to music, crowd and sensory overload.
receive the inhabitants. My tank is like listening to your
Initially I added twenty wild favourite music at home, alone, with
coloured red cherry shrimp, your eyes closed and allowing it to
Neocaridina davidii. Although they’re flow through your veins, enjoying
not indigenous to the lake there are every beat. This tank forces you to
several other shrimp species sharing concentrate on it and close out the
the habitat with the D. hysginon in the external world.
wild. Shrimp are useful cleaners,
picking up leftover food and keeping Intimate antics
the tank tidy, as well as providing When you sit down by the tank at
tasty snacks (the micropredators first it looks empty, but soon enough
won’t hurt adults but may pick on you’ll spot a shrimp grazing on the
the newly hatched shrimplets). The wood, then other one fanning her
leaf litter ensures enough surviving eggs. A sudden flash of red draws
juveniles to keep the colony going. your attention to the action among
Two weeks later eight D. hysginon, the leaves, as a male flame red dario
ten Indostomus and half a dozen shows off for the female and tries
Microphis deocata joined the shrimp. persuading her to follow him to
Being such a large tank, it consumed under the selected leaf. Of course, the
them all and apart from a quick flash other males can’t allow it and they
Rainbow bellied
pipefish live up
to their names.
FACTFILE
FLAME RED DWARF BADIS
6Scientific name: Dario hysginon
6Pronunciation: Da-ree-oh hiss-gin-on
6Size: Males to 2cm, females to 1.5cm
6Origin: Endemic to Myanmar
6Habitat: Heavily planted, shallow banks of streams and lakes
6Tank size: 45x30x30cm for a pair
6Water requirements: Close to neutral water;
6.5-7.5pH, 1-6°H
6Temperature: Aim for 20-24°C Water volume
6Temperament: A little waspish between
males, otherwise a nervous little fish best
40 l+
suited to species tanks
6Feeding: May take tiny dry foods, prefers
miniature live and frozen meaty foods
6Availability and cost: Not an easy find, but
quite cheap from around £5
Initial Paramecium cultures can

be purchased for £6.99 from eBay,
and once you have a culture you can
keep forming new cultures
dart to the scene with stretched fins In a densely planted from it for a limitless want to risk losing
expressing their intentions to court aquarium some fry supply. the fry (the Dario
the female, too. After a short show may survive—that’s what could eat them) so I
off – during which the female leaves I’m hoping for—but if you moved the male to a
the arena - they all disappear back to wanted to play safe you would hatching tank, where he
their lairs to check for intruders. need to remove the parents after released the fry a couple of
Then you see a twig moving only spawning. days later.
to realise a second later that that’s What you would need for the I hope this all goes some way
actually a male pipefish drifting young is plenty of tiny live-food— towards showing that a tank doesn’t
along the gentle current. When he think infusoria, rotifers, Paramecium need to be busy or contain fish with
passes another ‘twig’ the male is and similar. The leaf litter will flashy colours to be entertaining.
greeted by a sudden burst of provide much of this until the fry are Sometimes a calm aquarium with a
beach-towel colours as a female large enough to take microworms well-selected community can be
pipefish stretches her underbelly flap and newly hatched Artemia. more relaxing and satisfying then a
to indicate her willingness to spawn. It’s not only Dario fry I hope to see bright and over-the-top one. It’s also
If you’re extra lucky you may even appearing in the tank: the elusive very easy to maintain. The plants
see their embrace as the female Indostomus paradoxus may also breed don’t require much gardening effort
passes over her eggs to the male’s in this environment. The only fry and the bioload is so low that no big
pouch to hatch. I’ve had from this tank so far have water changes are needed. I only
This isn’t the only embrace you may been from the pipefish. It was such a clean the filter once every month, so
witness: if a male Dario successfully great experience to follow the I can spend more time to observe the
woos a female, she joins him under development of eggs in the pouch of hustle and bustle of the biotope.
the selected leaf for a couple of the male, seeing the eyes of the The only snag is the constant need
embraces (just like a Betta) to lay her babies to appear and their bodies for live food, as the pipefish nor the
eggs. There is no parental care darken as they were ready to hatch. Indostomus just won’t eat anything
provided (don’t expect a Badis-like fry The newly hatched pipefish are very frozen, but it’s a small price to pay
protection), as the male will only tiny, hardly larger than a grindal for the enjoyment I get. I’m sure
guard the territory. worm with a knot at the end. I didn’t you’ll agree.
STEP BY STEP
Borneo biotope
In the first collaboration between Finest Aquatics and PFK, we

WORDS: LIAM ROBERTS AND NATHAN HILL
set the staff to task with setting up a Borneo-themed biotope.
Shadows,
straggly plants,
and debris—just
like nature!
LIAM ROBERTS
When not working at
Finest Aquatics, Liam
keeps a magnificent
fish house.
STEP BY STEP
Borneo biotope
HAT delighted at how well they settled in green (sometimes almost black) bars,
COMES to it! Please welcome the snakeskin and even hints of red in spawning
TO mind barb, Desmopuntius rhomboocellatus, males, these 8cm beauties are easy to
when you and the ‘kuhli’, half-banded, or eel identify. They’re easy to sex too,
think of loach, Pangio semicincta. females becoming a little duller than
barbs? Is the males, less contrasted in their
it fin Meet the cast markings, and somewhat plumper
nipping? Snakeskin barbs—sometimes called as they mature.
Aggression, rhombo barbs as a shortening of The ‘kuhli’ loach will likely be
maybe? Perhaps you imagine species their species name—are cyprinids better known to you. We use the
with notorious community tank that originate from the streams and name loosely as there’s a lot of
reputations. And what about loaches? lakes of Borneo. Shoaling fish, they confusion about the taxonomy of
Nowadays, many of us immediately can be found in considerable Pangio (to put it mildly), mainly
think of giants like the clown loach, or congregations in the wild, and go so down to the fact that so many of
the many coldwater species. far beyond peaceful that they’re them have overlapping markings and
In this article, we want to showcase almost a little bit shy. sometimes overlapping natural
BELOW: Pangio two incredibly peaceful and Resplendent in shades of orange, ranges. The species we have here—
are bold in this manageable species in a replica of subtle undertones of aquamarine P. semicincta— can be found in the
tank. their natural habitat. And we were and blue (especially on the eye), dark wild alongside the rhombo barbs.
To get the best from them, you
should do as we’ve done here and
aim keep them in as large a group as
possible. This tank we’ve used for this
set-up is 3ft long and houses no less
than 25 of these wriggly charmers.
Wilderness insights
The name Borneo is a Western
reference, and was first used by the
Dutch during their colonial rule of
this vast island—the third largest
globally. Given its size, it should be
little surprise that it has some of the
richest biodiversity known to man,
with 394 species of fish, 19 of which
are endemic to the island.
These crimson red snakeskin barbs
are found deep in Borneo’s
ABOVE: The rainforests, in sluggish blackwater marginal vegetation that transitions

distinctive rivers, shielded by dense foliage through from land to water—
markings of above that provides lots of natural Cryptocoryne, Barclaya, and various
snakeskin barbs. shade. These rivers are usually mosses are good examples of the sort
steeped with tannins and humic acid, of thing you would find.
with a pH below neutral and The river beds are generally made
typically around 5.0 to 6.0pH. GH up of a multitude of materials, from
and KH readings (general and soft sand with sporadic scatterings of
carbonate hardness, respectively) are gravel and biofilm-covered stone, to
correspondingly very low, if present familiar organic materials like leaf
at all, while water temperature litter, seed pods and twigs—fans of
ranges from 24°C to 28°C depending botanicals will be well aware of
on environmental factors like rainfall where we’re headed here.
and seasonal changes. In these habitats, snakeskin barbs
Aquatic plant life is sparse, with just can be found darting in and out of
small populations of grasses the current to feast on many small
throughout the river as well as some invertebrates, routinely using the
branches and overhanging foliage at
the water's edge for shade and
FACTFILE protection from overhead avian
predators.
‘KUHLI’ LOACH Whilst the barbs are somewhat
6Scientific name: Pangio semicincta
restricted in their habitat choice, the
6Pronunciation: Pan-gee-oh sem-ee-sink-ta
6Size: To 10cm ‘kuhli’ loaches are not. They can be
6Origin: Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo found alongside the barbs in these
6Habitat: Streams, swamps and oxbows, often heavily stained black water rivers, grubbing about in
6Tank size: 60x30x30cm large aggregations amongst the fallen
6Water requirements: Soft and acidic to leaf litter and branches. But they're
neutral; 4.5-7.0pH, hardness 0-6°H Water volume also found in large lakes and oxbows
6Temperature: 23-28°C
6Temperament: Peaceful community 54 l+ which are riper in vegetation both
species, sometimes territorial with its own above and below the water. The
6Feeding: Loves small meaty treats like water parameters of these other
Daphnia, Cyclops, bloodworm loach habitats can vary drastically,
6Availability and cost: Very common, usually ranging from the mentioned
under the wrong name, prices from £3 blackwaters above to gin-clear lakes
bursting with a variety of life. They
STEP BY STEP
Borneo biotope
BELOW: spend their time amongst the heads between PFK and the team at growing plants. As for water
Snakeskin barbs benthon, rooting through the fine finest, we had a few criteria we parameters, aiming for neutral to
can be shy. substrate and any leaf litter or plants, wanted to meet. We wanted a tank acidic and soft is the best option, as
looking for aquatic invertebrates. For with plants that didn’t need the care the barbs especially will not fare well
this reason, areas of soft substrate are levels of a planted aquascape. We in a pH much above neutral.
always recommended. wanted a mixture of dense cover and Because we’ve only opted to keep
open space, to provide both security two fish species in this tank, we
So why do you want one? and swimming space for our benefit in a couple of ways. Firstly,
Talking habitats is one thing, but to residents. We wanted to spotlight fish the tank doesn’t become confusing to
really experience the joy of a Borneo that sometimes become overlooked, look at. Communities are great, but
stream, you can do what we do and or are only kept as an afterthought even the most devout community fan
set one up. After some knocking of by many. And we wanted something would admit that they can become
that could showcase that even with confusing at times—with so many
debris and leaf litter, a natural different fish shouting out for
FACTFILE looking layout could have aesthetic attention, it’s easy to be distracted
SNAKESKIN BARB value. Given the appeal the tank has from just how nice one species is. But
6Scientific name: Desmopuntius rhomboocellatus had amongst store visitors, against secondly, you will always see the best
6Pronunciation: Des-mow-pun-tee-uss rom-bow-oss-ell-at-uss fierce competition from immaculate side of shoaling fish when they’re
6Size: Reported to 8.8cm in the wild, usually 5.5cm in aquaria nearby aquascapes, we feel we kept in greater numbers than the
6Origin: Endemic to Borneo certainly achieved the last. usual half dozen that many aquarists
6Habitat: Blackwater streams and swamps, often with aquatic
Most of all, we wanted something plump for.
grasses
6Tank size: 90x30x30cm for a decent shoal easy to replicate at home, and with In the case of the snakeskin barbs,
6Water requirements: Soft and acidic to just above neutral water; minimal effort. what we see is best described as a
4.0-7.2pH, 1-4°H In the home setting, keeping both social hierarchy—dominant fish need
6Temperature: 20-28°C of these fish is pretty simple. Both subdominant fish to ‘chest beat’
6Temperament: So peaceful that it can be Water volume species prefer medium to low light against every now and then. It
intimidated in a busy community tank
6Feeding: Loves small meaty foods like 81 l+ (ours is actually a little ‘hot’, but they happens in the wild and helps with
don’t seem to mind it), and this can shoal cohesion, but when fish are
Daphnia, but will readily take flake and pellet
foods be achieved by subduing the light kept in small numbers, it often comes
6Availability and cost: Quite an easy find, and with some floating plants or taller across as bullying.
worth the price of around £4.95 each
How we made our Borneo stream
1 2
We’ve used an MBM aquarium design ‘lowboy’ with built-in filtration. The To raise up one side of the substrate, we’ve used Ista aqua soil in a bag.
first chamber has a coarse sponge on top of bags of ceramic rings. The Being porous, this will help to avoid anaerobic patches, and will help to
second chamber is all sponge and the last chamber is the pump and keep a high bank in the left half of the tank. Inert rocks will do a similar
heater. The lighting used is two AI primes. job, but will be heavier.
3 4
For a substrate we have gone for a lightly coloured sand substrate in the One single, large piece of decorative redmoor wood has been used. After
form of Finest Aquatics natural sand. Being inert, this will not alter the pH toying with the placement, we felt that using it to create a dark mass at
or hardness of the water, and being smooth it allows the Pangio to the far end of the tank would give nervous fish somewhere to bolt to.
rummage and bury in it.
5 6
Because we want a more exciting substrate than plain sand, we’ve opted To create a transition between the sand and the coarse Aqua One gravel,
to sprinkle over 2kg of Aqua One natural brown gravel. This mixing of we have also added a few handfuls of Finest Aquatics own brand natural
substrates can create a much more natural look than a single material. gravel to add further texture. Again, any inert substrates will work here, so
be creative!
7 8
With the tank filled, plants are added. Across the substrate, numerous Lastly, leaf litter (torn up catappa leaves) is added. This degraded over
tufts of Eleocharis have been used to emulate Borneo grasses, while coming weeks, looking weathered and settling as it would in the wild—
Bucephalandra was glued to the wood. Some Java moss was later date to exactly as we wanted it to! To further emphasise the look, we added bark
enhance shadowing, along with a few floating plants. and some home-made blackwater tannins (catappa soaked in RO).
STEP BY STEP
Borneo biotope
Planting at
the water/
The Pangio are also best kept in habitat destruction. According to the surface
groups, but they won’t shoal in the U.N. FAOSTAT, palm oil cultivation interface.
same as Corydoras catfish do. Instead, has grown rapidly in Indonesia from
they form lose social groups and 600,000 hectares in 1985 to more
mingle throughout the tank as a than 8.6 million hectares by 2015.
whole. But because of this network Then there’s the use of timber for
of loaches at every turn, their various products like furniture. Palm
confidence soars, and they’ll become oil production also involves various
bold, exploring the open regions as other chemicals which inevitably end
much as they hug beneath leaf litter. up on the rainforest floors before
When it came to photographing this being washed down into the
tank, the Pangio were more obliging surrounding waterways, killing many
than the barbs, milling about in the and sometimes all inhabitants. Then
open, carefree as we snapped image we have the use of the water
after image. itself—the very life blood of the
Unfortunately, this mighty rainforests—with many plantations
Indonesian island is far from a haven pumping directly from the streams,
to its inhabitants. The small streams leaving them dry and devoid of life.
and dense rainforest are under threat The reason we mention this is
from various factors, with palm oil simple. We lose the habitats and we
plantations being a leading cause of lose the fish.
The finished
product,
complete with
roaming barbs.
Pangio love soft
substrates.
EQUIPMENT AND COST

Whil we’ve
While ’ gone allll outt with
ith our hardware
h d
here, much of the following can be substituted
for cheaper alternatives (such as the lighting).
6Tank (with integrated filter): MBM ‘lowboy’

custom made - Priced to size
6Heating: Hidom 300W heater £13.49
6Lighting: AI Prime 16HD freshwater £249.99
6Substrates: Aqua One natural brown gravel
£7.99 for 2kg; Ista Premium Soil Aquarium
Substrate 8L for £37.99; Finest Aquatics
natural river sand 10kg for £11.99
6Decoration: Extra large redmoor root £99
6Plants: Tropica hairgrass £5.95 per pot;
Tropica Java moss £5.95 per pot; Tropica
Bucephalandra £5.95 per pot
6Fish: Khuli loach, £2.95 each or 4 for £10;
Snakeskin barbs £4.95 each or 4 for £18 -
size dependant.
) , 1 ( 67
READER VISIT
Scott Hall
What happens when obsession takes over a fish house?

A world-leading bounty of Poecilia wingei is what. We
meet an especially focussed collector of livebearers.
ADDITIONAL WORDS: NATHAN HILL
Pure strain
Poecilia wingei
are a world
apart from
their hybrid
counterparts.
READER VISIT
Scott Hall
COTT HALL NH: And what’s the deal with P.

LOVES Poecilia wingei we see in stores, are they
wingei, and the hybrids?
wilder the better. SH: Yeah, it’s very rare you’ll see a
You and I might pure bred wingei in any stores.
know the fish
better as ‘Endler’s NH: Did you have store fish bought
guppies’ but that initially?
won’t wash in this SH: Yeah, I had some Endler’s—
house. ‘We don’t use the ‘e’ word,’ actual Endler’s—hybrids, at various
Scott warned me the day before my times, tigers and what have you. And
visit to his west midlands home. then I found some available online,
Behind his house sits a shed, Scott’s including fish from Phil.
pride and joy, and a genetic
repository that would make any NH: Pause. Who’s Phil?
livebearer aficionado lustful. 87 SH: Phil Voisin, an original collector.
tanks, all modest in their He went out to Venezuela five times,
proportions. All packed. in 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2016.
It's a claustrophobic but alluring The first year he only collected in
collection of life which, frankly, Campona. And then on his other
outshines any fish house I’ve ever expeditions he visited both Cumana
seen for sheer colours. 75 different and Campona.
strains of wild caught Poecilia wingei
line four walls and a central column, NH: Pause again. Cumana and
all meticulously separated, all Campona? Are they regions?
carefully ordered. This little oasis of SH: Cumana city is where wingei
life nestles away as a testament to were originally found, in the Laguna
one man’s obsession. It’s safe to say de Patos, which is a really messy
that there’s no collection like this lagoon; there’s sewage running into
anywhere on UK shores. Of course, it, litter ingress, drainage from a
I had to know more. mine, landfill. It’s hideous, the water
is like soup in terms of algae, the
NH: Scott, how did you get into salinity is up and down all over,
Poecilia wingei? That’s a pretty depending on sea level and breaches
niche fishkeeping corner. in the lagoon wall. Every report you
SH: Originally, I kept them as dither hear of it reveals different conditions.
fish for my Corydoras. Then I had a But then the thick, dark water can
disaster in the fish shed where I lost make for bright, metallic colours.
all my catfish through an overheat. In our Facebook groups we get
It simply followed from there. folks who want to set up a biotope,
Poecilia wingei
‘N33’.
FACTFILE
POECILIA WINGEI
6Scientific name: Poecilia wingei
6Pronunciation: Po-ess-ill-ee-ah wing-ee-ee
6Size: Males to 2.5cm, females to 4.5cm
6Origin: Restricted to Campona and Cumana, Sucre State, Venezuela
6Habitat: Highly adaptable and found in pools, ditches, limestone springs, swamp and more
6Tank size: 30x30x30cm
6Water requirements: Will accept all but soft and acidic tapwater Water volume
6Temperature: 20-28°C (ideally 24°C)
6Temperament: Peaceful, great in a community tank, great in a species 27 l+
tank
6Feeding: Omnivores, though food offered should be fine. Flakes and
micropellets accepted, as are small live and frozen foods
6Availability and cost: Pure bred fish very hard to source, though many of
Scott’s can be found at Sweet Knowle aquatics from £3.95 upwards.
and we have to ask: ‘What do you NH: And is this the entire natural
want to do? Open sewer from range of P. wingei?
Cumana?’ Because that’s literally all SH: Yeah, that’s it. It’s two small
it is, and it’s heaving with fish but it’s pockets separated by about 90km. Or
only six inches deep. That’s what rather two patches along a 90km
they’re living in outside of the pond stretch. They’re very vulnerable.
in Cumana.
Campona is a long valley. You’ve NH: I notice in the literature
got hills on the north and south side you have here that Phil uses a
of it containing Poecilia, but they’re numbering system to ID the fish.
in cooler, faster flowing waters that Are they numbered by region?
run down to lakes which are more SH: Numbers 1-71 are the Campona
swamps than lakes. There’s not a lot fish and the Cumana ones he’s only
of open water there, and it’s all just started numbering. Cumana is a
anaconda infested. If you look at it bit more complex as other people
on google maps, you’ll see it’s a big have also started to collect them, and
swamp and you’ll see patches of open he won’t number other people’s fish.
water here and there. The famous El So, Adrian Hernandez in Florida is
Tigre strain was collected from a the American source of them, and
drainage ditch in Campona. instead he gives them complex
There are also limestone springs names. He’ll do ‘red/yellow top
with super hard water. Limescale sword’, whereas it could be simply ‘it’s
forms naturally on the banks. number 40 and it looks like this.’
Assorted males
in one of Scott’s
rare mixed
tanks.
READER VISIT
Scott Hall
NH: What sort of distance are we

looking at between the different
numbers?
SH: The first 24 were all collected at A LITTLE BACKGROUND
one spot, right on the Campona In everyday parlance, Poecilia wingei are often referred to as ‘Endler’s guppies’. For a
bridge. Phil has collected elsewhere. while it was disputed if these fish and common guppies, Poecilia reticulata, were
Some are right up into the system, one and the same species, though later research discovered that they were indeed
but he hasn’t disclosed where from. distinct. Appearance wise, there are definite similarities, albeit P. wingei is much
slenderer. Interestingly, while domestic guppies have been line bred to have a
NH: What’s the price point of an variety of caudal fin shapes, like swordtails, many of these variants occur naturally in
authentic, wild caught, non-hybrid P. wingei populations.
wingei? Genetically speaking, P. wingei are surprisingly basic. With one exception—that of
SH: Mine go for £3.95. The local shop a ‘snakeskin’ gene found in females—all the patterns and colours are hardwired to
I supply (Sweet Knowle Aquatics) the Y-chromosomes of male fish. They breed with any P. wingei female and their
worked out that if they put £5 on sons will be just like them. The same doesn’t hold if P. wingei are hybridised with P.
them, interest vanishes, and it’s really reticulata, creating larger but paler fish. These offspring are in turn fertile, though
only the serious enthusiasts that this type of inter-species fertility is nothing new in livebearers.
recognise the differences between Sexual selection is the choice of the females, and they tend to favour the most
these and hybrid types. You see them colourful males. Even so, not all populations are rainbow bright, as predation (bright
listed at some places for silly money, fish are easy prey to spot) takes its toll, as do periodic droughts and floods, which
though. One problem now is getting can mix or outright destroy populations.
them into the UK post-Brexit. Wild fish are often found in surprisingly warm water, at times up to 35°C, and
although many originate in incredibly hard conditions, they appear to adapt readily
NH: Some of your fish are more to most types of tapwater.
intense than others. What’s the
drive behind bright and dull fish?
Cumana fish
like this Miyuki
can have more
metallic colours.
SH: Campona waters aren’t as murky NH: Pause again. What’s NPK? for wild type P. wingei? P. wingei ‘N24’
as Cumana. Many fish from Cumana SH: N is a pure fish, documented SH: Nothing. They’re adaptable, they with the snake
are bright, bright, bright, and often from a known source, P is a fish that prefer harder water. My water comes gene from a
super metallic. El Dorado (which is looks pure but isn’t documented from the tap, goes through an HMA female.
golden yellow) and the Silverado are (essentially everything is assumed to filter and that’s all it gets. In summer
all common to Cumana. Metallic is be P), and K is for the hybrids— I do direct fills, in winter I put the
much less common with Campona known hybrids, which is what you water into a couple of tubs on top of
fish. When it comes to breeding, see most of. the racks, in the fish shed, then
colouring is direct from the males, change 8-10 tanks at a time. I use a
the females don’t hold any of the NH: How about collection now? gravel cleaner in every other one,
colouration, though some keepers SH: There is a guy, Ferdinand Mago, otherwise I just siphon water with a
get very obsessed about keeping who collects and releases them. The sponge on the end of the hose, so I
particular females with problem is, this isn’t the safest don’t pull out any fry. That’s also why
particular males. part of Venezuela. I don’t do an open, connected system
with my tanks, because the fry will
NH: Do these fish NH: What about just get everywhere. I do separated
have a long hobby wild predation tanks, with dividers above the tanks.
history? The original collection site, Laguna pressures? Are
SH: They were first de Patos, at Cumana, Venezuela, there any NH: How about filtration and
found in the 1930s began life as a brackish lake, localised threats heating?
(I think), then the though it has become entirely from other SH: I just use air powered sponge
next person to freshwater over time. animals? filters. The individual tanks are
rediscover them was SH: From what I 20-litres, though the Germans don’t
John Endler (hence the gather, there are now like that—the minimum legal tank
name) who collected them in quite a few cichlids— size in Germany is 54 litres.
the mid-70s, though most of his fish Caquetaia—in Cumana, that have Ambient heating comes from LED
became hybridised. Then Armado been introduced. Not many P. wingei lighting and drivers, plus a central air
Pou, an American, was collecting will survive one of those, so now pump—I did have a blower, but now
from 1995 to 2004, and his fish were they’re all confined to the margins, it’s a piston one. Shed is set to a
going to Adrian Hernandez in struggling with pollution and so on. minimum of 20C (air temp).
Florida. Hernandez created the NPK Bottom row at this time of year
system after declaring his were the NH: What about tank care? What varies between 21-23°C. Top row
only ‘true’ fish. special requirements are needed between 23-25°C. In summer it’s
READER VISIT
Scott Hall
P. wingei ‘N61’ is generally between 26-27°C and the 20-litre tank, IF you know what SH: Old females produce more fry,
a subtly marked fish are much more prolific. Max was you’re doing, you keep on top of but old females can be predatory, and
fish. about 30°C in last years heatwave, maintenance, and have nothing else once one starts it’s hard to break that.
though 35°C is not unknown in in there. They’re actually quite clean The best bet is to get rid of old
shallow water in the wild. fish. I have super red bristlenose too, females, but you can sometimes
which is a bit heavy. But in summer isolate them, feed them heavily and
NH: What kind of stocking density a lot of the fish go into the introduce them to week old fry, and
can you get away with? conservatory in tubs. With mixed sex they can learn to get over it. They all
SH: If you’re just keeping males, I groups you can do an awful lot to produce much fewer fry than
reckon you can easily get 50 in a keep the breeding down by standard guppies, though.
controlling feeding. If they’re fed, fed,
fed, they breed, breed, breed. NH: Is there an ideal sex ratio?
SH: I like to keep numbers of males
NH: What do they like, food wise? low—it’s easier to select them then.
CAN I MIX THEM? SH: Algae and small inverts— With 20 males in a tank, it’s harder to
Keeping multiple male phenotypes in any aufwuchs—in the wild. I use a assess which is best and which you
tank for breeding purposes is pointless. As mixture of flakes and granules, but want to keep. It’s a lot simpler when
sexual selection is the choice of the female, I also add microworms most days. you have three males. And note that
and as the female will only reproduce with They love microworms, I’ve the females choose—mix all the
the most colourful fish, any phenotype she something like a dozen tubs down different types up and the females
doesn’t fancy will soon be driven to local there. All the flake is ground up in a will decide which colours prevail.
extinction. food processor so that they all get
Pure bred P. wingei should be kept in something. Put in a big flake and the NH: Why don’t we use the ‘e’ word?
isolated groups and not intermixed, assuming female will gobble the lot, but lots of SH: Because if you Google it, you get
you wish to sustain your populations. small bits means that everyone gets a hybrids. The first two pages on
Likewise, fish from the two regions—Cumana chance to eat. Google only show two P. wingei and
and Campona—should be kept apart from one of those is dubious. A search for
each other. NH: What’s the fecundity of Poecilia wingei isn’t much better—
In all cases, P. wingei should be kept females like? even Glaser has a hybrid on show!
completely apart from guppies, P. reticulata.
Given the chance, wingei males will
Sucre State sits
reproduce with female guppies and produce
at the far north
hybrid fish, at which point that bloodline is
of Venezuela.
immediately lost. While these hybrids have a
market value (being larger than a standard
wingei), the pressures on wild stocks mean
that these fish face a real danger of extinction
in the wild, and it will fall to aquarists to keep
the species alive.
Of course, if you’re only housing males
together, then it’s not a problem.
CAPTIVE CARE
A small fish that requires little space, a small colony can be kept
in as little as 20 litres of water, although the aquarist can go
larger if they so choose.
Choice of substrate is down to the individual, and while
Scott’s tanks contain a dark gravel substrate, Phil Voisin keeps
his fish in bare-bottomed set-ups. Importantly, plants should
feature, as these will act as a hiding place for any fry. Dense
plants like Java moss will be of particular use for this.
Phil advises against using rainwater, which he considers a
pollution risk, so tapwater or remineralised RO water are better
options. Ideally the tank will be set to somewhere close to 24°C,
though Phil observes that they’ll be okay some 4°C either side of
this. Notably, it’s difficult to find submersible heaters small
enough to maintain a 20-litre volume reliably (they tend to swing
the temperature up and down, or outright overheat) and so a
constant temperature room approach is advised, where the
entire fish room is heated to a constant temperature.
Filtration is strongly advised although, controversially, not
aways essential, and the best format is air driven sponge filters.
These are gentle enough not to pull in weak-swimming fry
(whereas internal power filters or external canisters will quickly
suck them up), as well as oxygenating the tanks sufficiently for
the eventual high stocking levels—especially as fish reproduce
and fry start to grow!
Scott blends his foods in advance to ensure fine grains
ABOVE: Insulation and water processing at the entrance accessible to all mouths, and microworm cultures are invaluable
of Scott’s fish house. in raising young. Any sufficiently small food will suffice, but an
omnivorous diet should be offered, and adding the occasional
BELOW: 87 small but delightful tanks contain 75 piece of courgette won’t go amiss.
different strains between them.
When it comes to breeding, there’s little the aquarist need do
but sit back and wait. Young are produced at roughly 24-day
intervals, with somewhere between 10-20 young released at a
time. The only real concern is ensuring you have ample space
for the abundant offspring.
READER VISIT
Scott Hall
P. wingei ‘Miyuki’. P. wingei ‘N24’.
P. wingei ‘N67’.
P. wingei ‘N33’. P. wingei ‘N65’.
P. wingei ‘N28’
with snake
gene.
P. wingei ‘N30’
red.
ADVICE
The Question of the

Got a fishkeeping question? PFK’s crack team of aquatics experts Month gets a Tetra
are on hand to answer whatever you need to know... goodie box!
questions@practicalfishkeeping.co.uk
THE EXPERTS
MARINE
DR PETER
BURGESS
Peter is our disease
Is this whiskery fish a reef-safe option?
expert. Send questions I recently saw a bicolour goatfish for sale at my Your tank is the minimum size necessary to keep
his way if you have pathogen problems. local store. Could I keep it in my reef tank? It’s a juvenile, but you’ll need to feed lots of frozen
currently stocked with a yellow tang, flame angel Mysis, Krill and live river shrimp to keep it healthy
BOB and three chromis, and has several soft corals. — and with that comes waste.
The base is sand and there’s plenty of rockwork. While it’s certainly an interesting fish, and
MEHEN The tank is 120x45x38cm in dimensions. Would undoubtedly very atttractive to look at, it’s sadly a
Bob is a master of one of these fish work in my tank? poor choice for reef aquaria of any size.
fishkeeping general PETER CROSBY
knowledge and community tanks.
JEREMY SAYS: Goatfish look fascinating, but grow
JEREMY large, need to feed almost constantly and they may
predate on any clean-up crew you have in your
Did you know?
GAY tank. The bicolour goatfish grows to 25cm, so it’s Goatfish have a ‘beard’ under their chin in the form of
Jeremy is more than pretty big. As it’s a bottom dwelling fish in the wild,
adept when it comes to
a pair of long barbels, which they use to explore the
it would ideally need to be quarantined and treated substrate in search of food.
cichlids, goldfish and marine species.
for worms before adding it to the main aquarium.
JORDAN
STIRRAT Bicolour
goatfish.
Aquascaping prodigy
Jordan is the man to
go to for all your planting issues.
MAX
PEDLEY
Max is like a living,
breathing search engine.
Cichlids are his speciality.
NEALE
MONKS
Neale is the man for your
technical queries. He
loves brackish fish, too.
DAVE
HULSE
Dave is a consultant for
the Tetra Advisory Board
and a research fellow at Keele University.
ALAMY
Send your questions to: Fishkeeping Answers, Practical Fishkeeping Magazine,

EVERYTHING YOU NEED Warners Publishing, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, PE10 9PH.
38 FOR HEALTHY FISH Email us at questions@practicalfishkeeping.co.uk
ADVICE
COLDWATER
Is it illegal to sell these fish?

I was sold a sturgeon by a fish shop, and I’m currently keeping it in a reach a hefty 3.6m and even the ones available to us in the UK may
tank. But I’ve recently seen that these fish are endangered and comfortably hit 1.5m in length.
shouldn’t be sold. Please can you advise me on my next step? They need cool, fast flowing, well-oxygenated water akin to a large
HARLEY O’KEEFFE salmon river. Large bare koi ponds are about the closest you can get
to that, with koi-sized filtration and aeration. Feed them on sterlet
JEREMY REPLIES: All sturgeon and sterlet offered for sale in the UK pellets, cockles, mussels and prawns.
are captive bred and are allowed to be kept in people’s homes and If you only have an aquarium, I’m afraid you will need to take it back
ponds so long as they are not released or kept in natural waterways to the shop or find someone with a huge pond that’s free of
that they could escape from. blanketweed—sturgeon and sterlets can get entangled in
As you are probably aware, some sturgeon species are among the blanketweed, which, along with high temperatures, is one of their
biggest fish on the planet. Some reach a colossal 6m in length, many biggest killers.
Siberian Sterlet, a smaller

sturgeon. species.
SHUTTERSTOCK
SHUTTERSTOCK
TROPICAL
Will this substrate cause problems with corys?

I'd like to add some aquasoil, such as Tropica Aquarium Soil or Fluval them to display natural digging, foraging
Stratum, to my new tank set-up. Please could you tell me whether this behaviours.
sort of substrate is okay for Corydoras? I know I can top it with sand, I'm not sure how coarse either of the
but I'm worried that if it works its way to the surface, it might wear away planted tank substrates you mention are, but
their whiskers if it’s a bit rough. Please can you advise? I do know that a problem that often occurs
KATY HAWKINS when this type of substrate is used with
Corydoras is cloudiness. The fine, clay dusts
BOB SAYS: Barbel erosion is generally a result of poor water quality and that are often part of them become stirred
dirty substrates causing a bacterial infection, rather than physical wear. up into the water column by their feeding
However, coarse, sharp substrates can cause wounds and abrasions that activity. Some aquarists provide a 'sand pit' area in their tank for the
allow these infections to take root, so I would always recommend a fine, corys to dig in if using this sort of substrate, and it can be worth adding
soft sand substrate (in a shallow layer of around 2cm max) for this the corys last so that plants have had time to root and establish. That
reason. It is also close to what these fish feed over in nature, so allows way disturbance by the catfish foraging is kept to a minimum.
A sandy area
will help stop
Corydoras
stirring up dust.
SHUTTERSTOCK
SCAN ME FOR EXPERT

39
AQUARIUM CARE AND ADVICE
ADVICE
TROPICAL Question of
the Month
Can I recycle old filter media?
I’ve been a fishkeeper for about six sometimes use carbon as a soil carbon and put what remains into the
years now. I have a 260 l and a 60 l improver, so there’s no reason to expect compost. But I’d probably hold off until a
freshwater community tank and a 59 l spent carbon from a fish tank to do any really wet and rainy day, and then put
saltwater tank. As we’re now trying to harm. the rinsed carbon onto the pile
keep items which we send to landfill to When it comes to filter media, ceramic somewhere it’ll get further flushed with
the minimum, I’m wondering what to and sintered glass ’noodles’ essentially water. A little salt won’t do any harm, but
do with all our carbon and filter media last forever, so I can’t think of any large quantities can cause problems for
that we eventually need to throw out. If reason to throw them out, and sturdy your compost heap, so you’ll need to
we’re sending all of this to landfill then plastic media such as ‘bio balls’ should use some common sense here.
we’re not helping the environment, so also have an extremely long life –
I’m wondering if there’s anything we decades really, if cleaned periodically.
can re-use or which can be recycled in Filter floss, on the other hand, does
some way.
RICHARD NELSON
have a somewhat limited lifespan, and
I think recycling this will be very difficult.
TETRA PRIZE
Richard wins a box of Tetra goodies: 100ml
Even if you could determine the plastic
NEALE SAYS: At an industrial scale, that’s been used to make the stuff, I TetraMin and TetraPro Colour foods, Holiday
activated carbon is often recycled, can’t see the council making much of Food, Pleco Algae Wafers, FunTips Tablets,
simply by heating up to very high an effort to ensure clumps of muddy 100ml SafeStart, EasyBalance and AquaSafe
temperatures (anything up to 1000˚C) filter floss end up anywhere other than water treatments and Tetra Test 6 in 1.
and driving off whatever organic in landfill.
molecules the carbon adsorbed. But Media taken from saltwater tanks is
that doesn’t make any sense at all for more of a
the small quantities aquarists challenge. In
use. The carbon from the theory, you could
freshwater tank, at least, can be soak the salt out
used in the garden. It won’t of the
decompose, but it holds
moisture well and
provides a good
habitat for
microbes of all
sorts.
Horticulturists
PLANTS Anubias is an
easy grower.
What’s the best way to plant this tank?
I have a 180x50x50cm aquarium which has Also, as this is an established tank would I
been set up for a couple of years. I have be best to soak the aquasoil for a few days
loads of bogwood in the back with some in a bucket to leach out the ammonia? Are SHUTTERSTOCK
Java fern, Anubias and suchlike growing on there any soils that don’t leach ammonia?
the wood and doing really well. I’d like to Your advice would be much appreciated.
plant the front of the tank. I have JBL SAM HUMPHRIES
Sansibar as a substrate which I’d quite like You may want to cap the aquasoil with an
to keep, but I’ve been reading JORDAN REPLIES: There are inert substrate with no or negligible nutrient
online about aquascapers many ways to achieve a similar content, such as the JBL Sansibar but this
putting aquasoil into filter goal, but instead of using media isn’t required, and you may experience better
media bags and planting into bags I would simply pour a good growth without doing so.
them, then covering with a top quality aquasoil in as it is. The Using new aquasoil in an established
layer of substrate. The media media bags don’t allow for good aquarium is okay, so long as you perform
bags apparently keep the root penetration and, especially if regular water changes. The best aquasoil to
aquasoil in place. I’m you are considering a foreground use in this scenario is one without large
wondering what your thoughts carpeting plant. using the amounts of ammonia. Products such as
are on this, as it would allow aquasoil by itself will provide the Tropica Aquarium Soil or Fluval Stratum
me to plant just the front of the best growing conditions. would work well but soils such as ADA
tank and also keep the Some hobbyists fill media bags Amazonia would leach too much ammonia
Sansibar. I’m really happy with with soil to provide stability to for livestock to stay in the tank. Please note
the back of the tank so don’t hardscape but as for good plant that soaking the aquasoil isn’t required. Now
want to strip everything down. growth there are no benefits. it’s time to pick the plants! Enjoy.

AWARD WINNING Warners Publishing, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, PE10 9PH.
40
PRODUCTS Email us at questions@practicalfishkeeping.co.uk
TROPICAL
Which fish could I add to this tank?

I’m hoping you could give me some What often works well with them are
advice on adding livestock to my tank. peaceful, but faster, fish. The more active
I currently have two Cherry barbs and
two Synodontis—one is a nicely
small tetras, such as X-ray tetras,
shouldn't have any problems, and
Did you know?
matured S. nigriventris and the other emperor tetras might make an inspired Upside-down catfish, Synodontis nigriventris, do best in groups of four
an undoubtedly mislabelled nigriventris, choice, being very different in behaviour or more. The name ‘nigriventris’ is a reference to the fish’s underside
since it’s now 15cm in length. and bringing very different colours to being darker than its dorsal area, making it more difficult for predators,
They are in a well-established 60 l the mix. Since emperors are also such as birds, to see the fish from above while it’s feeding from
column tank. I did have more cherry relatively sedentary, they won't be quite the surface. Known as counter-shading, this type of camouflage is
barbs that simply died of old age at so bothered by the shape of the tank as, common in fish, but that of the upside-down catfish is unusual due to
around four years old. I haven’t had say, penguin tetras, which would its inverted swimming habit. As a rule, fish have a darker dorsal area
much luck with gouramis—they seem otherwise make excellent companions. and a pale belly so that predators find it harder to spot from above,
to lose out on the food to the barbs, Alternatively, species that don't feed when they blend into the substrate, and from below, when they blend
which have become somewhat in the same way can be added. into the light. But then, most fish swim the right way up…
territorial (the catfish have sinking Livebearers that graze algae as well as
foods), so I think I’m going to avoid take flake food should work well with
gouramis for now and go for some cherry barbs, assuming you had the
interesting, smaller-to-medium fish to right sort of water chemistry. I've kept
build up the tank. Please could you give Limia with them, and they got along
me some ideas on what will work? fine. One of the small, schooling
MATT G. Corydoras species, such as C. habrosus
could work too, though not with the big
PIEDNOIR, AQUAPRESS.COM
NEALE REPLIES: One issue here is catfish there. There's much to be said
that your tank is relatively small. A 60 l about keeping two different schooling
aquarium in a ‘column’ format is likely to fish that occupy different levels of the
have more depth than surface area, aquarium. It keeps the tank busy
which means fish have less space to without being chaotic, as the two
claim territories. species are each doing their thing in
Cherry barbs are social, like most separate areas.
barbs, but relatively sedentary Thinking about the catfish, I'd have
compared with most other barbs. When moved on the big specimen a while point of swimming upside-down, but as
kept in small numbers, they're less likely ago—anything that large shouldn't really it matures, it grows into a fairly
to properly school and seem to choose be in a 60 l tank. Given its size, I suspect nondescript sort of catfish around
a favoured spot and hang out there. This it’s a Synodontis nigrita, which is a 15-20cm long. While not a bad pet in a
may be why yours seem to be a bit species that strongly resembles the community of large, robust fish species,
pushy at times, and like most barbs, classic upside-down catfish, Synodontis its size and territorial nature does mean
they're greedy feeders. nigriventris, when young, even to the it needs a biggish sort of tank to do well.
Cherry barb. Corydoras

habrosus.
SHUTTERSTOCK
SHUTTERSTOCK
SCAN ME FOR EXPERT

41
POND CARE AND ADVICE
ADVICE
TEMPERATE
What’s the best way to keep Torpedo barbs?

I’d like to set up a 1.2m tank for a large ideally be kept in a temperate tank. you could consider, but I will always
group of torpedo barbs. Please could Keeping them at full tropical levels suggest Panda garra, Garra flavatra.
you advise me on tank set-up? What’s leaves them running at ‘high speed’, These stripey little fish are great
the best temperature for these fish, as I potentially shortening their life characters, especially when kept in
understand they are subtropical and expectancy. I have kept them myself larger groups where they constantly
also need lots of oxygen, so what with a heater set at 18°C which means spar and squabble while helping to
would you advise in terms of filtration? that in a typical house they won’t get keep algae levels under control.
How many can I keep in a tank of this chilled in winter, but the tank
size? temperature will rise over 20°C in the Panda garra.
LIZ RYAN summer, giving them seasonal
variations like they’d have in the wild.
BOB REPLIES: Torpedo barbs, This also means the tank is considerably
Sahyadria denisonii, are wonderful fish, cheaper to run.
and grouped together in a suitable tank With relation to flow, you really can’t
they can make a striking display. They overdo it. I used a large external with
SHUTTERSTOCK
grow to a maximum of around 12cm the return directed along the length of
given sufficient space and good the tank and added a marine type ‘flow’
conditions. You don’t mention the other pump to increase movement. More
dimensions of your proposed aquarium, traditional powerheads with a Venturi
but assuming a minimum of at least device will also help with aeration.
30cm depth and 45cm width (which is Hardy, easy to grow plants such as
the minimum size tank I’d recommend
keeping them in) would give you a
Java fern and Anubias can be tied to
rocks and wood, and both do well at the
Did you know?
volume of around 160 l. A group of eight lower temperatures and high flow. A
A similar looking, but more aggressive fish, Sahyadria chalakkudiensis,
would make a wonderful centrepiece for simple substrate of fine gravel and flat
is occasionally confused with the torpedo barb. The red stripe of S.
your tank. rocks will add to the river theme.
chalakkudiensis lacks both the intensity and the length of that of the
You are correct that they should There’s a wealth of lovely tankmates
true S. denisonii, and its colours are more muted overall. It also has
a black patch in its dorsal fin which S. denisonii lacks. There is a key
difference in the mouth too: S. chalakkudiensis has an underslung, or
Red line torpedo inferior, mouth, while S. denisonii has a slightly downward, forward
barb. facing, or subterminal mouth.
SHUTTERSTOCK

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42
PRODUCTS Email us at questions@practicalfishkeeping.co.uk
Octopus may be
MARINE best left in the
wild.
SHUTTERSTOCK
Can I keep an octopus?
Are there any octopus that come into anything other than live crabs. You’ll
the trade that I can keep in a marine need tight fitting cover-glasses with a
set-up at home? If so, what would I
require in order to keep one? I’m
brick placed on top to prevent them
from escaping.
Did you know?
getting conflicting opinions on whether Being an invertebrate, the tank must Despite reaching just 12-20cm in size, the bite of a blue-ringed
they are suitable for home aquariums, be free of copper, and also low in nitrate octopus carries enough tetrodotoxin in its venom to kill more than
so I’m hoping you can advise. I’m an and phosphate. 20 adult humans within minutes. Tetrodotoxin is an extremely
experienced fishkeeper of 14 years – They are short-lived in nature but, powerful neurotoxin which causes muscle paralysis, rendering
I’ve kept Malawi cichlids and a reef sadly, most go on hunger strike in home the victim unable to breathe.
tank in the past among other things. aquaria, wither away and die. Octopus
SHAUN PERRY aren’t expensive but I think the lack of
tank mates, live feeding and escape
JEREMY SAYS: There are several risks lessen their appeal in captivity.
octopus species available in the UK, And you never see anyone rehoming
including the deadly blue-ringed them, probably because they die
octopus, which should be avoided. prematurely. I think they’re best left in
Specialist stores can either import them the ocean.
direct or buy from specialist wholesalers
like TMC. For an octopus, the latter
would be the better option as your store MIND THE GAP!
will be able to visit the animal in person, Because the body of an octopus
check the species, and make sure that is so soft, it can squeeze through
it’s healthy and feeding. They are usually cracks and holes that appear
shipped quite small at a size between
much too small for it to fit into.
10-20cm when their arms are fully
stretched. The only hard part of an octopus
There is no doubt that they are is its beak, which is used to
amazing, although the ones I’ve worked crush the shells of its crustacean
SHUTTERSTOCK
with have always looked and behaved prey. So, as long as its beak can
like they were in prison. These highly fit through a hole, the rest of the
intelligent animals need environmental
octopus is likely to follow...
enrichment and many refuse to eat
TEACHING CHILDREN ALL

43
ABOUT FISHKEEPING
ADVICE
TROPICAL
Is my water too hard to breed tetras?

I have a 45 l tank which I’m hoping to where the water is moderately hard, you
breed X-ray tetras in. I’ve checked the might not find many of the eggs hatch.
parameters in my main 280 l tank and
they came out at GH9, KH5 and pH7.5.
The fry are rather small, and relatively
tricky to rear.
Did you know?
SHUTTERSTOCK
While I have tetras happily living in this You will need to start off with a decent There are a few tetras that live
tank, I guess the question is whether sized group of at least six, but ideally and breed in hard water, but apart
they will actually breed in water at this more. Once you identify gravid females from the blind cave fish, Astyanax
chemistry, or if they need soft and (which should look nice and chunky) mexicanus, they’re not much traded.
acidic conditions? and males showing an interest, you can Even A. mexicanus is only seen in its cave-dwelling form, though it’s
J. SMITH transfer pairs to the spawning tank. If an interesting fish that’s well worth breeding. Curiously, the fry have
they’re ready to spawn, they will, usually eyes when they hatch, but lose them as they develop.
NEALE REPLIES: Yes, there’s a within a day or two.
difference between what tetras will
tolerate and what they breed readily in.
Taking your X-ray tetras, these do X-ray tetra need
perfectly well in moderately hard water soft water to
aquaria, and in the wild, have been spawn.
found in coastal habitats where the
water is much harder than the typical
rainforest stream. How well they breed
in such conditions is hard to say,
because it’s likely they spawn when
there’s heavy rain and the water
becomes softer. It may even be that the
fish that swim into the (very) slightly
SHUTTERSTOCK
brackish creeks do so only temporarily,
and who knows if they breed there.
In any event, while the fish might
spawn in a quiet, well-planted tank
TROPICAL
Why has my brackish tank turned green?

I have a 70 l brackish tank with a variety of moving the tank can solve the problem, The steriliser needs to be cleaned periodically
small fish and invertebrates. The salinity is especially if the tank is relatively small and (debris inside the device will block the UV
around 1.007. Although there’s limited easily moved. light) and depending on the design, the UV
submerged vegetation, it has lots of Excessive aquarium lighting can cause tube may need replacing periodically. You
emergent greenery in the form of algal blooms. The sort of algae we see in don’t need to run them 24/7, at least not once
mangroves, spider plants, and samphire. aquaria are the types that attach to rocks and the initial bloom is dealt with, which means
The tank has been persistently plagued by plants, primarily blue-green algae, and red that running costs aren’t too high.
green water since the end of summer. A full algae. These will often become unsightly long If your fish are otherwise happy, you could
blackout of 8 or 9 days clears it up, but only before the water turns green. Nonetheless, choose to simply do more frequent water
temporarily. No sooner is it uncovered then the usual triggers apply here, with some changes to dilute the problem and see if the
the water becomes deep emerald again, to combination of high nitrate and phosphate, tank settles down. Algae blooms are
the point that the livestock are all but slow plant growth, and potentially insufficient sometimes transient phenomena, clearing up
invisible unless they are with a centimetre or water circulation all coming into play. Algae, when the water chemistry and water quality
so of the glass. Unfortunately, it is so green on the whole, thrive where the water is become more stable.
that getting a reading off my liquid test kits relatively still, even stagnant. Adding an extra
for nitrate or phosphate is all but impossible. filter or a powerhead can keep water moving
How can I get rid of it? Would a UV be worth briskly enough that algae finds it hard to gain
A dreaded
investing in? a foothold. green water
ANONYMOUS READER While plants tend to outcompete algae bloom.
when it comes to nutrients, in brackish water
NEALE REPLIES: Algal blooms are primarily tanks this can be hard to replicate, with few
related to the physical and chemical truly brackish plant species being traded.
parameters of the tank, and this can make As you suggest, a UV steriliser might be an
them challenging to solve. In fairness, they’re option. These can work well, killing planktonic
SHUTTERSTOCK
relatively uncommon in fish tanks compared algae and bacteria and reducing blooms
with ponds, which is a bit of a clue to one within days. However, they are expensive and
common trigger: direct sunlight. Sometimes, do require a certain amount of maintenance.

GLOBAL LEADER Warners Publishing, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, PE10 9PH.
44 IN AQUATICS Email us at questions@practicalfishkeeping.co.uk
PLANTS
How do I beat this stringy algae?

I have a Juwel Lido 120 with standard
LED lighting and Bioflow 3.0 filter
system. The lights are on six hours a
day. The substrate is sand over Tropica
substrate and the aquarium was set up
in September 2021 with Tropica plants
which have grown really well. I fertilise
them at each water change. I carry out
a 20% water change every 10 days or
so and until the last two months the
aquarium has been doing really well. I
have 12 neons, three Corydoras, three
bleeding heart tetras and a bristlenose.
The water test readings are: ammonia
1.0, nitrite 0.5, nitrate 25, GH 250, KH
100 and pH 7.6.
The problem I have has developed
suddenly and without any changes to
lighting and maintenance regime. It’s
an outbreak of green filament algae as
shown in the attached photos. I’ve tried
removing it manually and picking off An
affected leaves, but it grows back
otherwise
within 24 hours. There is also a green
film on the glass every day that I
thriving
remove with an algae magnet. Do you tank.
have any advice as to what I should
do? I don't want to change the lighting, larger water changes. Similarly, your The instructions on the manufacturer's
maintenance or fertilisation regime in nitrate level is on the high side, but that bottle should help with this. Providing
case I make it worse. doesn’t concern me as much as the plants regularly with smaller amounts
CHRIS WAY ammonia or nitrite, and it will also be allows them to absorb the nutrients
reduced by means of increased water more effectively when compared to
JORDAN REPLIES: Algae can appear changes. The high nitrate levels would dosing it all at once.
in both immature and mature set-ups also explain the green dust algae During the first few months the
with little notice, but there is always a appearing on your glass. nutrients within the substrate are high
root cause. Establishing this is the tricky The KH and GH in your aquarium are but these get depleted quickly. The
part, but I find that the best way is to fairly high, but this is common in some addition of root tabs directly to the
make a list of all the possible issues that areas with harder tap water. I don’t substrate every few months is a sensible
might be affecting your system. expect you will have any issues growing solution to keep the nutrients within it
The ammonia and nitrite levels within most commercially available plants. topped up.
your aquarium are high and I would While I don’t recommend changing To conclude, I think you’re on the right
suggest increasing the frequency and too many factors all at once, I might also track with manual removal, but I think if
amount of your water changes. Once a suggest dividing up your weekly you perform larger water changes, more
week and between 30% to 50% is good fertiliser dose and adding it to the frequently, most of your problems
practice but if issues arise you can do aquarium daily or every second day. should disappear.
Algae on plants.
Hardscape is
also affected.
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45
INSTAGRAM: TETRA UK
ADVICE
HEALTH
What’s causing these lumps on my tetras?

I’ve been having problems with my
ember tetras for the past 18 months. I A healthy
currently have 12 in my heavily planted ember tetra.
123 l tank, and every few months one
will develop a lump in its chest area
and start to breathe more rapidly than
normal. At first, they still eat and
behave normally. But they slowly lose
body mass, and as the illness
progresses, it seems to affect their
ability to eat and even close their
mouths. They just spit out any food
they take in as if they can’t swallow it.
The entire process from initial symptom
to death takes over a month.
I haven’t been able to find information
on an illness that exactly matches
these symptoms, although I am worried
about the possibility of fish TB or even
neon tetra disease. It only happens to
the embers and only to one at a time; it
SHUTTERSTOCK
hasn’t occurred in any of their
Corydoras or Betta tankmates. I have
attached a few pictures of the latest
patient . Usually the lump in the chest
PIEDNOIR AQUAPRESS
doesn’t have any colour; this is the first microscope. If hundreds and thousands not to have spread to your non-
fish that has shown a black colour to of spores are seen, then a characoid fishes, then we might hope
the mass. I would love to know what’s microsporidial infection is a likely cause. that the disease is specific (or largely
causing this and if there’s any way to You also mention mycobacteria (the specific) to tetras.
treat it. Here in Vancouver, vets that will cause of fish TB). I can’t rule this out. Assuming one of my hunches above
see fish are very hard to find. Certainly, pathogenic mycobacteria is correct then treatment will be
The water parameters are pH 7.0, GH typically cause a slow wasting problematic. We don’t yet have a
6, ammonia and nitrite 0, nitrate 5ppm, disease. way of treating tumours in fish,
temperature 25°C. Another possibility is a and mycobacteria infections are
For now, I’ve set up a UV unit in the digenean fluke infection. Unlike notoriously difficult to treat, even
tank.It’s definitely not powerful enough the better-known surface- when using a cocktail of
to offer full sterilisation, but I hope it will dwelling skin and gill flukes antibiotics. Similarly, there are no
reduce the pathogen load in the tank (monogenetic flukes), digenetic treatments to eradicate digenetic
somewhat. I’ve also moved the flukes typically occur within the flukes from fish tissues, and
currently affected fish to a quarantine tissues of fish rather than on the microsporidial infections are also
tank. body surface. However, they are very difficult to cure. Given this
KRISANDRA GLYNN relatively harmless unless present in gloomy news, and in the absence of
large numbers. Also, they tend to affect any veterinary input, I would refrain
PETER SAYS: I don’t have a definite wild-caught or pond-raised fish, rather ABOVE: Tumour from using chemical treatments,
diagnosis, as it would involve examining than aquarium-reared fish, as their in a danio. although I know it’s frustrating not to be
the lumps microscopically, but here are life-cycles involve aquatic invertebrate able to help these fish.
my best guesses: hosts such as water snails and RIGHT: Black So, I would let this problem run its
It could be a microsporidial infection: copepods. I don’t know whether your swelling visible. course and avoid purchasing any tetras
You mention Pleistophora Ember tetras would have been while you still have embers present.
hyphessobryconis (the cause of neon wild-caught or pond/aquarium-raised.
tetra disease) and that is a possibility. Tumours, of course, can slowly
There are numerous Pleistophora spp. develop into visible lumps. But given
that affect fish and they are very hard to most tumours are non-infectious (a few
tell apart, even using a standard light are the result of a viral infection) it
microscope. So, the ones affecting would be highly unusual for several
aquarium fish often get lumped under ember tetras to develop tumours.
the name P. hyphessobryconis. Or it The black colour of the lump in your
could be another sort of microsporidian, latest patient might be due to a host
such as Glugea. All these parasites reaction, culminating in the laying down
produce tiny spores (hence the name of black pigment, melanin, around the
micro-sporidia). It’s a pity your vets are tumour mass. We see this host reaction
unwilling to help as they could look for with certain diseases such as some
spores (after crushing a section of the digenean and bacterial infections.
lump) under a good high-power Given the cause of the lumps appears

EVERYTHING YOU NEED Warners Publishing, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, PE10 9PH.
46 FOR HEALTHY FISH Email us at questions@practicalfishkeeping.co.uk
TROPICAL
How do I keep these nosey oddballs?

I'd like to set up an aquarium around they will settle down and become more
elephantnose fish. Would a tank of 1.2m outgoing in time. Leopard
length fit the bill? I'm thinking of a dimly I’d suggest a tank of at least 180 l for a bushfish.
lit tank with river sand substrate and singleton, and much bigger if you plan
driftwood as decor. Please could you on keeping a group. Regarding water
give me some advice on filtration, water chemistry, 2-12˚dH, and a pH around
chemistry and feeding? Is there 6.5-7.5 is about right, though softer,
anything I can keep with them? more acidic conditions would reflect
JON REYNOLDS their natural habitat better.
While good water quality is required,
NEALE REPLIES: The paradox of they don’t need torrential water currents
elephantnoses, and indeed, the or anything like that, so a decent
Mormyridae in general, is that they’re internal or external canister should do
essentially hardy and undemanding fish the job.
in most ways, but acutely sensitive to Newly imported specimens can be
ALAMY
the small number of things you might picky eaters but will take a range of
do wrong. If you plan ahead, they’re frozen and live foods. I’ve seen adult
quite easy to keep. But if you lob one specimens that went wild for newly as Congo tetras, plus a few docile
into a generic community tank, you’re hatched brine shrimp, while other climbing perches (I’m a big fan of
likely to come a cropper. specimens, once settled in, have taken Microctenopoma fasciolatum, with its
Like most catfish and loaches, these good quality flake and pellets. They can lovely metallic blue colours) but the
bottom-dwelling fish are at risk of be a bit slow on the uptake, though, leopard bushfish, Ctenopoma
scratching themselves on sharp which is a good reason not to mix them acutirostre, would also work well if not
substrates such as gravel. These fish with other bottom-feeding fish until kept with bite-sized tankmates. Once
can be difficult to treat if they come they’re properly settled in and eating you have your elephantnose eating well,
down with fungal infections or finrot, so well. you could add some Synodontis catfish,
prevention is better than cure here. You I’m on the fence about ‘dimly lit’ tanks either a small group of dwarf synos, or a
could probably create a realistic look by because they often wind up plagued single specimen of something more
combining a bottom layer of sand with with blue-green algae. I’d instead dramatic, like Synodontis flavitaeniatus
a top layer of leaf litter, and over time, suggest combining good quality lighting or S. angelicus. Avoid anything that is
the tannins released from the leaves with a dense canopy of vegetation, even likely to compete with the
would help to give the water an floating plants if these were the easiest elephantnoses for food.
authentic colour as well. to grow. Install some bogwood and I would certainly not attempt to
In the wild, the species is probably hollow ornaments to create some combine them with any other electric
gregarious, but they have a very genuinely shady spots where the fish, not just other Mormyridae, but also
hierarchical social structure that means elephantnose can hide, but otherwise fish from other families that generate or
in small groups they can be terrible allow the plants to moderate the light use electric fields, which includes many
bullies. Half a dozen or more might well levels deeper down the tank, while also kinds of knifefish. There’s too much risk
work things out and coexist fine, but suppressing the growth of algae. of the fish harassing one another.
twos and threes usually don’t. Unless Elephantnoses do work well in
you have a really big tank they are often carefully constructed communities. They
kept most easily as a singleton. This have small mouths and pose no real
Elephantnose
doesn’t seem to cause any major threat to anything except perhaps needs soft
problems; they’re likely to be shy at first newborn livebearers. Obvious substrates.
but, kept with docile tetras and other tankmates, if you were after an African
midwater and surface-dwelling fish, theme, would be a school of tetras, such
NEIL HEPWORTH
READ THE LABEL!

Be very careful with elephantnoses and medications, as
these and other mormyrids are sensitive to treatments
containing copper and formalin. The best approach is to
quarantine them on purchase, but if you must medicate,
choose a product explicitly stated as safe for things like
stingrays and reef tanks. Such medicines should be safe
for elephantnoses, but keep a close eye on the fish, and if
there are signs of distress, do a series of water changes to
SHUTTERSTOCK
flush out the medication while maintaining water

chemistry and temperature as far as possible.
Congo tetra.
SCAN ME FOR EXPERT

47
AQUARIUM CARE AND ADVICE
ADVICE
EUTHANASIA:
how do you know
it’s the right time?
Deciding when to put a fish to sleep is less
an objective question and more an ethical
one. Jack Flanagan shares his thoughts on
every aquarist’s nightmare.
O FISH FEEL as sound, whether or not we are it from further suffering.

PAIN? It’s part there to hear it. Thankfully, there is a greater
of an early By a similar token, we know that awareness of this side of fishkeeping
philosophical some fish feel pain as we understand than there has been before. Indeed,
question that it. Knowing that these fish feel pain older resources that would have
caught my is informative for us when been available to early hobbyists
JACK attention. Do considering another philosophical may not even mention the option
FLANAGAN other animals choice. To wit: when is the right time of 'destroying' sickly fish.
experience pain to euthanise a dying fish? It's not meant to be an easy or
Jack is an aquarist the way I do? It lies in the vein of 'if necessarily palatable decision.
living in Berlin where a tree falls in a wood, does it make it Palliative care No-one wants to say farewell to a
he tries to make good
with the incredibly
sound?' Of course, through physics, First of all, what do we mean by loved pet—much less be the one
hard water supply. we know that a tree falling in a euthanasia? We are talking about who actually does the dirty job of
wood does indeed make a sound: a fish whose standard of life has ending its life. But it can be
waves of pressure travel through the dropped such that killing it understood as sparing the animal
air in a manner our brains interpret humanely might be best to spare unnecessary suffering.
Extreme
tumours like
these are
inoperable.
ALAMY
The question is, how? Knowledge method puts the fish to sleep slowly some doubts with certain species.
of how best to euthanise a fish across and lets it ultimately die of Betta have been reported to respond
the hobby is generally lacking, and asphyxiation. The fish is gently badly to clove oil, while Danio rerio
some suggestions you might receive, placed in water which is gradually have been recorded avoiding
online and even in pet shops, can mixed with the appropriate 2-phenoxyethanol.)
actually do more harm than good. anaesthetic (typically clove oil or There is also another option, but
To that point, there is a long list of 2-phenoxyethanol), during which which is only suitable for
methods that are now outdated and process it will gradually lose experienced hobbyists (a strong
should under no circumstances be consciousness. stomach doesn't hurt, either): blunt
used. Boiling, freezing and drowning Unlike many other methods, there trauma. This is largely done by
in alcohol, for example. And, of is research into the application of sudden catastrophic force to the
course, that old staple—flushing anaesthetics, which shows that fish’s head.
down a toilet—is out of the question. common ornamental fish largely do
Based on what we know from not find it noxious, and are therefore Measuring suffering
research, the most preferred method unlikely to be uncomfortable during Knowledge that fish possess pain
for euthanasia is anaesthetic. This its application. (Though there are receptors, and so have a capacity for
ADVICE
pain, goes back twenty years. Since whether something is potentially

a 2003 landmark survey of the harmful? Scientists are now
existing scientific literature, promoting the view that we should
conducted by Lynne Sneddon of the move on from an understanding of
University of Gothenburg, scientists 'higher' and 'lower' organisms, and
have created a compelling picture of that fish have evolved their own
how pain in fish functions. approaches to pain.
The consensus now is that many
fish not only experience pain, but Making the call
react to it in ways that are familiar to How do we make the call? Exactly
us as humans. For example, they how do we know when the animal is
avoid sources of pain. They release suffering so much that we need to
hormones to dull excruciating pain, euthanise it? The assessment has to
While heavily
just as we do: after a severe burn or a made on the health of the fish, as
infected, this
major lesion, for example. And they well as its quality of life and overall fish can still be
SHUTTERSTOCK
show signs of bodily stress, in our satisfaction. cured of white
case, a parallel would be something Being optimists, we have to spot infection.
like an increased heart rate. And fish establish the probability of recovery.
are capable of learning. Many species What's the prognosis? Certain
of fish can learn how to avoid ailments, like viral hemorrhagic
sources of pain in the future. septicemia, have a very low They say that many
Most hobbyists will not be likelihood of recovery. Others, like
surprised by this. You are likely to constipation, are unlikely to be fatal fish not only experience
have observed some or all of these
behaviours in your pets after years
and are for the most part
straightforward to cure.
pain, but react to it in
taking care of them.
A certain amount of common
Steps should also be taken to
improve the animal's quality of life,
ways that are familiar to
sense also can be instructive. If not and if there is the possibility of us as humans
through pain, how do fish establish recovery, these options must be
Tumours need
to be assessed
individually.
SHUTTERSTOCK
Painless ‘Pineconing’
deformity or is often a sign
something more of incurable
sinister? dropsy.
exhausted first. But when the options allows us to make an overall Do no harm
have been exhausted, or in the case assessment of the animal's quality It's apt to couch this as a
of an unknown malady, at what of life. philosophical question, because
point should euthanasia be If an animal is expressing one or at the end of the day, there is no
considered? many of these, is suffering from an objective consensus on when the
We can look to appearance and illness with a poor prognosis and right time is. We can make
behaviour. For example, we can look is not showing any assessments, and the better
for changes in physical appearance. improvement, or declining, While clove oil can be used to informed we are, the better
Severely damaged fins, deep lesions, euthanasia should be induce a painless anaesthetic death those will be. But we
necrotic flesh, 'pineconing' scales, considered. in fish, it needs to be mixed can't see the future.
swelling, or emaciation are all signs Of course, if we lack thoroughly—as an oil it will To illustrate, I have an
that an fish is in a bad way. experience, we should turn float uselessly anecdote from my own life.
Is the fish acting as it usually does, to an expert for a second (or I came back from holiday last
otherwise.
or is it behaving abnormally, or third, or fourth) opinion. Avoid December to find that two of my
otherwise engaged in behaviours the jury of social media and instead mollies were seriously ill. They had
that endanger its health? Is it ask authorities—fish vets, fish white lesions over their bodies, swim
lethargic, refusing food, lying at the consultants, qualified industry staff. bladder problems and had lost about
bottom or floating on top? Does it Seek out those with a track record of half their weight. A week later,
breathe slower or faster than healing fish, and ask them to help following treatment, they were clear
normal? Making these observations you make the call. of lesions but mostly still unable to
swim. They were getting thinner and
thinner, more lethargic. They didn't
seem to be in distress. They were
trying, mostly unsuccessfully to eat,
and otherwise resting.
They both seemed to be striving to
survive. But it was clearly not a good
life they were living, and getting
worse. Still, I held off making the
final call. After two troubling weeks,
one recovered, but the other died.
Up until the final two days, I don't
think I could have assessed which
way it would have gone. Had I been
anxious to spare them suffering, I
would have doomed one and spared
the other. As it was, I doomed one to
a slow death, while affording the
Inability to move other the opportunity to recover.
SHUTTERSTOCK
offers a poor It's not an easy decision. We can

prognosis. only do our best.
HABITAT
Colombian puddle
THE
IMPERMANENT
BIOTOPE
Not all habitats are vast lakes and flowing rivers.
Oliver Lucanus encounters one temporary oasis
as densely stocked as any aquarium.
OLIVER
LUCANUS
Explorer, collector,
photographer, video
maker and aquarist
extraordinaire.
Corydoras
melanotaenia
and the puddle
they’re stuck in.
HABITAT
Colombian puddle
UR Feeding floodplains mountains, and then descends into

AQUARIUMS When collectors and explorers visit the lowlands that flood into a single
ARE often the habitats of our aquarium fish, we shallow pan of water in the rainy
compared to a do so during the dry season. By season. At this time, when the
puddle, which timing visits this way it is raining less, floodplain of the Orinoco is filled
isn’t really water levels are low, and it is easier to with water, millions of fish arrive
unjustified. In find, catch, or observe fish. from the major rivers into the new
all too many But the information and photos we formed habitats to feed on the
community bring back from such expeditions abundant riches of plants, insects,
aquariums you’ll find a variety of really only tells part of the story of and other fish, and the breeding
species kept together, given too little the habitats. The dynamic changes season for many species is initiated
space and sustained by inadequate that the habitats undergo are often by these events.
filtration. Anyone who has ever forgotten. In the peak of the rainy
observed fish in nature, whether that season small creeks can become A land of many biotoes
be in the tropics or in a temperate torrents, several metres deep, with silt The vicinity of Villavicencio, a town
local lake or river, can see just how laden water, and it is not unusual for at the foot of the Andes in Colombia,
much water is exchanged in a natural the fish community (and other is home to numerous fish which are
and dynamic environment. In a fauna) to completely change during caught for export to the aquarium
crowded aquarium, as any good this time. Indeed, it is often after such industry. Almost all Panaque
aquarist knows, problems are events that many fish breed. There nigrolineatus, Corydoras metae, C.
inevitable without regular water are usually many problems with melini, C. melanotaenia, C. axelrodi,
changes and filter maintenance. assumptions made about any habitat Apistogramma alacrina, A. macmasteri,
In nature, only extreme events can during peak dry season. Chaetostoma spp., Otocinclus and a
lead to this kind of situation, where The small creeks and rivers large number of tetras come from the
high volumes of fish are crowded draining the piedmont of the mountain streams and rivers that
into a confined space. If the situation Colombian Andes are good examples flow directly from the Andes in the
does not resolve itself in good time, of habitats that can change rapidly. lowland floodplain, known as the
either an extreme of heat and a lack The steep slopes above mean that ‘Llanos’.
of oxygen will kill the fish, or even small rains can bring silt and Fishermen collect along the road
opportunistic predators such as birds, debris from higher elevations, and directly below the mountains, and at
reptiles or even some larger fish will cloud the rivers in the lowland. The the end of the dry season fish are
quickly reduce the number of fish elevation drops quickly from the plentiful. The ‘quebradas’ (mountain
likely to survive. piedmont to a shelf just below the streams) are cooler than ‘caños’
ABOVE LEFT: (streams in the lowlands of the During our visit, the dry winter meanders leisurely through cattle
Quebrada Llanos) and therefore a great biotope months and high demand for water pastures and a small village before
streams are for Corydoras. from plantations led to extremely joining into the nearby Rio Ariari.
relatively cool. For much of the year, these streams low water levels in the quebradas But it was a shock to see that this
are about 40-60cm deep and about 3 around Villavicencio and Acacías. time around, in February 2022, there
ABOVE RIGHT: metres wide, with relatively mild Such events, where an intense dry was no running water at all in the
Spot the current. Closer to the mountains at season lasts long enough to cause biotope. The creek had come to a
Ancistrus in the their points of origin they are extreme draught, are becoming more complete stop, with the riverbed
puddle. interrupted by small waterfalls and frequent even here in a region exposed in varying patches of fine
have cold, exceptionally clear water. usually known for lush growth, sand and the typical fist- to
BELOW: Tetras At only around 12°C they are less rainforests full of rivers, and creeks grapefruit-sized round cobbles found
thriving, despite diverse, and home to fish such as of various sizes. in all the rivers of this region.
the confined Dolichancistrus, Astyanax, and Parodon. Several hundred metres of walking
space. As the creeks arrive in the lowlands Goodbye, flowing creek in the dry riverbed finally turned up
of the Llanos, the temperature rises A small dirt road leads from the some remaining puddles, shaded by
and the biodiversity increases. Just a paved main road to a Corydoras the creek’s steep banks and enabled
few kilometres from the mountains, melanotaenia biotope that I have by the low-lying depressions of the
the temperature will increase as visited before. The small stream in river’s bends. Hundreds of fish of
much as 10°C, changing the fish which they live is about 1500m from varying species were living here in
community in the stream. the foothills of the Andes, and these tiny oases, awaiting the return
HERE’S WHAT OLIVER FOUND

LIVING IN THE PUDDLE…
6Corydoras melanotaenia
6Ancistrus sp.
6Agamyxis pectiniformis
6Hypostomus sp.
6Hypotopoma sp.
6Otocinclus sp.
6Farlowella sp.
6Loricaria sp.
6Apistogramma macmasteri
6Aequidens pulcher
6Crenicichla sp.
6Astyanax sp.
6Hoplias malabaricus
6Hemigrammus sp.
6Curimata sp.
6Pyrrhulina metae
6Characidium fasciatum
6Hemigrammus rodwayi
6Apteronotus leptorhynchus
6Eigenmannia virescens
HABITAT
Colombian puddle
RIGHT: of the water brought by the onset of and likely helping to keep the these ‘rubber nosed plecos’ need
Apistogramma the rainy season. temperature in this small body of higher oxygen levels, and do not
macmasteri At some points, where the trees water at a reasonable and roughly normally enter these habitats,
making itself at around the creek had been removed, constant 27°C. remaining in the shallow, fast flowing
home. there were only a few fish left in the major rivers of the region.
puddles—likely because direct Life prevails Apistogramma macmasteri and
BELOW: exposure to the Colombian sun had Groups of up to twenty Corydoras and Aequidens metae also appeared to
Dolichancistrus raised the temperature killing the Astyanax swam in the open water— thrive in the limited space of the
as seen in a fish, or because the lack of cover despite the limited space and high puddle. Apistogramma occur along
cooler, more made them easy to access for herons temperature for these species, the the edge of the piedmont, and vary
elevated and other predators. oxygen saturation was sufficient for from species to species. While A.
mountain At three metres long and less than the tetras. The Astyanax and other macmasteri is found here, near
stream. one metre wide, one puddle, no more tetras would frequently catch insects Acacías, just a few kilometres south,
than 30cm deep, was home to around at the surface, so even in the limited it is replaced by A. alacrina. In the
twenty different species of fish, space, enough food seemed to be Llanos lowlands, where temperatures
including around 150 trapped available to the dense fish are higher and the habitats are more
Corydoras melanotaenia. The puddle population. lakes and lagoons formed by the
had an unbelievable population Loricariids of various species could receding water of the floodplain,
density. Currents from the now quiet be seen feeding on algae between the other species such as A. viejta prevail,
river had carved a deep overhang stones, but unlike in the major rivers only to be replaced again by another
under the outside riverbank, of the region (such as the Guejar) no group that occupies the rivers closer
affording shelter to many of the fish, Chaetostoma were observed. Likely to the Orinoco.
Under the embankment, in the
somewhat deeper water, fifteen
centimetre long wolffish, Hoplias
malabaricus, were lurking, waiting to
ambush smaller fish as they ventured
into the shadow of the overhang.
This deeper water was also home to
some larger Hypostomus and
Crenicichla cf. anthurus.
It was fascinating to see, that for at
least some weeks, when these types of
creek habitats stop flowing altogether,
the unique fish community found
here is still able to survive. Three days
after our visit to the biotope it started
to rain in the upland, and only two
weeks after this visit the small creek
was running again. Fish from the
nearby Rio Ariari can then migrate
back into the stream, and little
evidence of the extreme events of the
dry season remain.
NATHAN’S TIPS TO
MAKE YOUR OWN PUDDLE
While only a temporary habitat, picking a couple of these
species to make into a biotope tank would be a rewarding
project, and requires minimal outlay.
For best effect, aim for a larger tank, so that you can up the
numbers of fish a little. I’d suggest 120cm, but 90cm would
suffice.
To decorate, cobbles are the order of the day. I’ve always found
river cobbles from my local garden centres to be pretty cheap,
and with a decent rinse they can go straight in over a bed of fine
silver sand. Don’t be shy about using lots of them, the habitat
Oliver shows here looks to be 90% cobble based.
Next, get yourself heaps of leaf litter and keep soaking it and
draining off the stained water (if you have blackwater tanks
elsewhere, retain the tannin-steeped water as a ready to use
‘tea’ to add to them). Oliver’s puddle habitat is notably
clearwater, despite the leaf presence, and this is what you want
to emulate.
For lighting, a couple of decent LED white strips will do the
job. Note the abundance of algae of all types growing on the
rocks. If you want it to be natural, just let the lights to their thing
and let the growth flourish.
For filtration, I’d suggest a decent sized external canister (like a
Fluval 307/407) with the return flow blowing across the middle
to upper layers of water. Too much flow across the base will not
More Info only upset the settled leaf litter, but also hinder the growth of
some of the algae that you want on the stones.
Check out Oliver’s amazing video
And for the livestock? From Oliver’s provided list, I’d definitely
footage from the locations mentioned…
make the Corydoras melanotaenia the stars of the tank,
Corydoras puddle: combined with a pair of Apistogramma macmasteri and a decent
tinyurl.com/mvp5m7jw shoal of Hemigrammus.
Rio Guejar, Chaetostoma habitat: And just like that you’ll have a puddle of your own.
tinyurl.com/368529z4
HABITAT
Bolivian Pantanal
Río Otuquis was

reassuringly
plentiful in
fishes.
BOILING
IN BOLIVIA
Amidst staggering heat and swarms of hungry
insects, Daniel Konn-Vetterlein discovers many
aquatic delights in Bolivia’s waterways.
ALL PHOTOS: DANIEL KONN-VETTERLEIN
DANIEL KONN-
VETTERLEIN
Daniel is president
of the Association of
Barbs, Loaches, Tetras,
and Catfish.
HABITAT
Bolivian Pantanal
ES, WE’D THROWN ourselves at the but with a temperature of 38°C (and water chemistry of
mercy of the Bolivian heat to collect 7.2pH, 4–8°dH) it was very inviting and we hopped in.
killifish, but some nice Corydoras and a We used a large net to chase a group of them into a
few other pleasant surprises made the small bay and then scooped them out of the water with a
trip much more enjoyable than it canister, making sure they didn’t leave the water or come
would have been without them. into contact with the air for even a moment. We had
I have already written about most of made that mistake in the past, and knowing that
the killies we collected during apparently P. hasemani is particularly sensitive, so we
‘CuFundulus 2022’ (Ed’s note: See the wanted to avoid any incidents.
January 2023 issue of PFK for this), but I can’t resist the Females grow larger than males, reaching up to 25mm,
opportunity to write about some more. while our biggest male was only 22.5mm (in total length).
The eastern part of the area we sampled, bordering Neither are particularly colourful, but the males show
Brazil and in the vicinity of the Bolivian town of Puerto some yellow in the dorsal fin. That’s all you get. But it is
Suárez, has been an important centre of commerce and unlikely you’ll ever see these fish in the flesh anyway.
industry for more than a hundred years. The possibility to
ship goods southwards via the Río Paraguay remains a
huge benefit for inner Bolivia and this area has been FACTFILE
accessible for much longer than most other areas of the RAINBOW ACARA
country—and that applies to ichthyologists too. 6Scientific name: Bujurquina oenolaemus
One of those ichthyologists was Dr. John Haseman, and 6Pronunciation: Bujj-err-kee-na oh-no-lee-muss
in May 1909 he collected the type-material for a species 6Size: To around 7cm
6Origin: Parana River basin, Bolivia
later known as Pamphorichthys hasemani. The type locality,
6Habitat: River dweller, amongst vegetation and rocks
called Aguas Calientes, is better known as a public bath 6Tank size: 80x30x30cm
nowadays, rather than a site of scientific value. But it 6Water requirements: Close to neutral water; 7.2, 4-8°H
wasn’t the best time of year for bathing, and we could 6Temperature: Has been found in water up to
approach the stream without any problems. 41°C Water volume
6Temperament: Peaceful community species
Killi beginnings 6Feeding: Offer flakes, pellets, live and frozen 72 l+ BELOW:
Daphnia, bloodworm
Bujurquina
The water was slightly greenish, but we could still see fish oenolaemus
6Availability and cost: Rare find, most likely
from the riverbanks. Not one, not two, but hundreds. It found through specialist cichlid clubs and has been
was the fish we were looking for—the rare and endemic private keepers successfully
livebearer, of which we know little in the hobby. It was so conserved in
easy to catch that we could have stayed out of the water, aquaria.
This location was intense
in many ways: the recorded
diversity of almost 50 fish
species; the untouched
nature of the surroundings
as we could see them thanks
to our drone; and the
unrelenting attacks of
mosquitos
further south of our position and entered a swamp-like
area connected to Río Otuquis, the western extension of
the famous Pantanal, the world’s biggest wetland.
This river is essentially the same as the one I wrote
about in my previous article about Bolivian killifish, but
more southerly. Shortly after it exits the valley of
Tucavaca the name changes to Otuquis, eponymous for
Trading this species in Bolivia is illegal, the export is ABOVE: Rio the Otuquis National Park, the largest park and protected
strictly forbidden. This will be a species that becomes Otuquis as seen area in the Pantanal.
important to breed and conserve in the hobby, should from a drone. Within the first twenty minutes after arrival, we had
there ever be any legal exports. netted Corydoras cf. bilineatus, C. geryi, C. aurofrenatus and
BELOW: C. polystictus. They all shared the same biotope and were
The egg dragging cichlid Prochilodus even mixed in groups. C. polystictus was the most common
Likely one of the best studied cichlids of the whole lineatus from Rio species and present in a range of different ages and sizes.
country is Bujurquina oenolaemus. It’s officially threatened Otuquis. Río Otuquis was extremely rich in fishes in general and
in the wild because of its small distribution range, which across several families—fish like Aphyocharax rathbuni and
overlaps with that of P. hasemani. This mouthbrooder Apistogramma commbrae, to name two well-known species.
doesn’t exceed 12cm in total length, is easy to breed, and
is peaceful to boot. Forest pools
The female positions her eggs on flat stones or leaves, It wasn’t just the main river that was rich in fish. On both
and whenever they feel there’s danger lurking, the pair sides of it we found holes and hollows in the forest, and
drag it to a safer space or even grab the leaf and flee. they were loaded with fish. Up to 30m from the main
This cichlid, with its blueish speckles and the black ‘tear’ stream, sunk two metres below the forest floor now,
bar beneath the eye, first came to Europe around the year
2000 and has been successfully bred since—this is maybe
one of the few cases in which organised aquarists really
managed to continuously breed an endangered species
for over two decades.
The demand was never high enough to elevate the price
in stores, nor is the fish so intensely coloured that it could
have become a real aquarium highlight (or even worse, a
fad). This helped to conserve the fish in the hobby
seriously, with attention to bloodlines. It is a suitable and
rewarding species for those that want to keep something
off the mainstream. Cichlid fans would love it.
Of pools and cories

The balmy waters were a welcome change from the
normal conditions of an expedition, and we were happy
to find both of the above target species relatively easy. But
others on our list were just as important.
Corydoras, for example. After six days of
oxsearching,
ox ox o oxweox
were desperately disappointed that we hadn’t
ox o oxcaught
ox ox any.
ox
But one day at breakfast we decided to head slightly
o ox oxxxx
HABITAT
Bolivian Pantanal
several of these pockets held the last water of the rainy TOP LEFT: oxygen levels thanks to expanding lips that increase the
season. Bursting bubbles and ripples on the surface Triportheus cf. intake capacity for oxygen, enabling the fish to survive
revealed the presence of fish. nematurus under conditions killing most others. Triportheus
Most pools were easy to check from the edge, without nematurus is another species adapted to these conditions.
stepping into the leaf-loaded water. Trees shielded the TOP MIDDLE: Dermal lip protuberances—looking like maxillary
water surface from the sun, but the water level was low Steindachnerina barbels—that only expand when water conditions
already and I don’t think the pools would have lasted brevipinna, decline, allow the fish to absorb more oxygen. These fish
longer than ten days after our visit. a toothless are oriented towards the water’s surface, using the mouth
Normally fish in such biotopes are in a very poor characin. and pectoral fins to swirl up the water and increase the
condition, with fins bitten off or infected, murky eyes, oxygen level at the same time.
and smaller fish sometimes missing whole body parts. TOP RIGHT: The presence of Astyanax lacustris and Moenkhausia
The longer a pool lasts the less fish survive, and in the Forest pool australis proved the absence of predators. In some pools
end there’s only one left—often a Hoplias species like alongside Rio the smaller tetras were not as lucky though.
Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus. Otuquis. This location was intense in many ways: the recorded
On this occasion, several of the pools did not house diversity of almost 50 fish species; the untouched nature
a predator. This presented an incredibly fortunate of the surroundings as we could see them thanks to our
opportunity for us to collect fish which are difficult to drone; and the unrelenting attacks of mosquitos. We were
catch in the main river, either because of their speed or thankful for every breath of wind that blew the insects
the depth at which they usually live. away for a few seconds, but the fish were in the pools, the
One of them is Prochilodus lineatus, adapted to low- pools were in the forest and there was no wind at all.
Setting records BOTTOM LEFT: The whole Pantanal drains off into the Río Paraguay,
In the Tucavaca and Otuquis we recorded two new species Pamphorichthys which flows into the Río Paraná and finally forms the Río
for Bolivia. One is Hypostomus khimaera, belonging to the hasemani de la Plata in Argentina and Uruguay. In the rainy season
cochliodon group. It was described from Mato Grosso in the area covers more than 200,000 square kilometres,
Brazil and is a common and well-known fish over there. BOTTOM equalling the expanse of England and Scotland combined.
Despite this, and even though the water systems are MIDDLE: This whole area is known as the distribution range of a
connected, this species has never been reported from Leporinus fish I only knew from its name, and prior to this
Bolivia before. One can assume that the real distribution lacustris from expedition I had never seen it before.
of this loricariid is approximately twice the size of what Río Tucavaca Steindachnerina brevipinna is a toothless characin, and
we originally thought. despite its lack of colours was one of the species I would
The second species is Leporinus lacustris, commonly BOTTOM have loved to take home with me if we would have
mistaken for Leporinus friderici. Every now and then RIGHT: The brought back anything. We observed plenty of them
exports of this fish reach us via Paraguay, but it is not a predatory during our snorkelling tours, and they were almost tame,
popular species. The type locality lays in the Brazilian Hoplerythrinus not shy at all, but instead actively interested in us and
state of São Paulo, and large parts of the Paraná basin are unitaeniatus. what we did. Groups of them followed us to check if we
home to this headstander. Now it has been found in had possibly uncovered a few insect larvae when we
Bolivia too. It is always a thrill to find a totally new turned branches upside down to look for plecos.
species, but it is almost as rewarding to be able to add to Somehow this fish put its mark on the trip, it was living
the existing pool of knowledge, helping to understand in every river and creek we sampled, was great to
distribution ranges and the ecological context. photograph and cute in its appearance.
READER VISIT
Alexander Görz
Black piranha,
Serrasalmus
rhombeus.
Alexander Görz is a man with a passion, and that passion is piranha. Meet the
INTERVIEW BY NATHAN HILL
Geryi’s piranha,
Serrasalmus
geryi.
Shoulderspot
piranha,
Pygocentrus
cariba.
man who made a gallery from one of the world’s most misunderstood fish.
Serrasalmus
brandtii, the
white piranha.
READER VISIT
Alexander Görz
ALEXANDER GÖRZ
Age: 40
Location: South Germany
Time keeping fish: I’ve kept fishes since
I was 11. First were goldfish in a little pond
I built together with my dad in our garden,
and ornamental fishes from 14.
All-time favourite fish species: Piranhas!
If money was no object, what would be your dream set up?
In 10 years, I’ll have a 400x200x200 cm, and it’s going to be a part
of a coldwater stream with big trout and other fishes from Germany
and Austria. Huge artificial rocks, real wood, and a strong current—
cooled via an existing rainwater basin deep in the ground and
always below 15°C.
NH: Alex, how did you first get into every day. There’s so much to ABOVE: Wimple as the recently discovered
piranha keeping? discover about their behaviour and piranha, ‘Megapiranha’, which went extinct
AG: A friend of mine had five their individuality. Even individuals Catoprion some 8 million years ago. Of course,
Pygocentrus nattereri, the so-called from the same species can have mento. S. rhombeus does not reach the same
red-bellied piranha. When he decided unique and different traits! size; scientists estimate that
to give them away, I overtook the BELOW: Megapiranha could have reached
group including the aquarium. I was NH: How many species do you Compressus 70cm. But at 50cm at the max, a
15 years old. own, and how many are there? piranha, black piranha with its impressive bite
I started with them because I’ve AG: There are currently 35 known Serrasalmus force is still a formidable predator.
been fascinated by the rumours species, divided into two main compressus. Besides Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus,
about these ‘dangerous’ fishes. groups: the Serrasalmus and the there are close relatives like
Watching the P. nattereri of my friend Pygocentrus. These are all real, true Pygopristis and Catoprion. In the past,
I soon saw that public opinion about piranhas, the most famous being the they were also called piranhas, but
them is totally wrong. I realised black piranha, Serrasalmus rhombeus, now they’re just classed as being
there’s an expanse of missing and the red-bellied piranha, related to them.
information. about these fish. Pygocentrus nattereri. The late Frank Magallanes was one
Even after keeping piranhas for In my opinion, Serrasalmus of the greatest experts on piranhas.
some years, I am fascinated by them rhombeus is essentially the same fish He redefined the family structure,
based on genetic analysis (amongst
other diagnostics) over the last 60
years. We were frequently in contact,
and I (as well as the whole world of
piranha keepers) miss him deeply.
Out of the 35, I have 16. And now,
sadly, I am running out of space.
NH: What are the smallest and

largest species you own? What’s the
most you’ve spent on a single fish?
AG: The smallest are my so-called
wimple piranha, Catoprion mento. I
love these little fellows, always
swimming around with grumpy faces
and some special, long fins.
My largest is an 8-year-old
shoulderspot piranha, Pygocentrus
cariba. At 40cm and 2kg, he’s the only
Piranha I use a non-scientific name
for: I call him Brutus. They can attain
30 years, and I expect that Brutus
could eventually reach the 42-44cm.
The most expensive fish I own is a
Serrasalmus rhombeus from Suriname.
If I remember correctly, I paid about
Pygocentrus
cariba in their
display.
Alexander’s
basement
piranha gallery.
READER VISIT
Alexander Görz
BELOW: €500 for this beauty. Why so much? piranha gallery. It would be a shame have less time to enjoy my fish.
Alexander’s This particular rhombeus matches the to keep such a beautiful and strong Mostly I keep solitary Serrasalmus
3,000 litre first described fish, while everything fish in a smaller aquarium. species. With the following formula
Pygocentrus which followed and is named I’ve brought down the maintenance
cariba aquarium. ‘rhombeus’ is part of a complex and NH: What sort of habitats do they time to only three hours per week for
not the real thing. South America is inhabit in the wild? all of my 19 aquariums in total. It’s
huge, and so is the variety within the AG: Piranhas are spread widely simple—a big aquarium with a good
Serrasalmus rhombeus complex. They across South America. You’ll find bacteria base + lots of plants to
all look superficially similar, but the them in deepwater areas of the rivers reduce the bio load = quality fish
devil is in the details. and lakes, with low light, few plants, time with less maintenance.
sandy ground. My S. rhombeus from Of course, I have to choose plants
NH: How much tank space does a Lake Brokopondo in Suriname is with low light demands. Piranhas do
piranha require? such an example, but you also find not like intensive lighting and
AG: It depends on the species. My six piranhas in rapids with high oxygen, become shy when overexposed to it.
little Catoprion mento are in a and everything in between.
paludarium-style 430-litre aquarium, NH: What do you feed your
and have plenty of space. On the NH: What’s your preferred choice piranha on?
other hand, my 19 Pygocentrus cariba of substrate and decoration, and AG: In the wild, mostly piranhas
have a 3,000-litre set-up, this species why? mostly eat carrion, shrimps, or
requiring 150-litres per fish. AG: Depends largely on where the mussels. Research found that around
Completely different is a solitary piranha originally comes from, 20% of their food is a mix of birds
living Serrasalmus compressus. I have though I prefer to use a mix of gravel and mammals like capybara. Under
one at 24cm in a 540-litre aquarium. and sand, and a lot of plants. This is the trees and beneath breeding bird
It likes to swim, is curious, and mainly a timesaving measure to colonies you will also find
follows me when I’m working in my reduce maintenance, otherwise I’d congregations of piranhas. When a
chick falls into the water, it’s a
welcome snack for the fishes.
I feed them different kinds of fish
filet, whole trout, shrimps, mussels.
Rarely they get some pieces of fat-free
chicken and some predator tabs. It’s
important not to feed them too
much fatty fish—they can become
overweight, with fatty deposits on
internal organs. Feed poorly and a
piranha will become lazy, sick, and
die before it turns 10 years.
NH: How do you go about

filtration?
AG: A good running biotope-like
aquarium helps to keep the whole
system quite stable. The filtration
itself is an add-on.
All my aquariums are running with
small or mid-sized internal filters.
The advantages include stopping the
spread of disease from one tank to
another, as can happen with
centralised filtration. Easy cleaning
and low energy costs are additional
benefits. I tried airpump driven
filters, but I was unhappy with the
noise produced.
My main 3,000-litre aquarium has this, it’s an automated waterchange of ABOVE: Cleaning the glass and feeding is
a sump located underneath. It was 400 litres three times a week. As my Eigenmann’s what I do most. Compared to other
running 18 months before its first system has the extra security of an piranha, fish I’ve kept in past, a piranha in a
clean, and even then, I only had to overflow, it’s entirely safe. Serrasalmus low-tech aquarium is just easy and
wash the first two filter mats. I never In my gallery, I do water changes eigenmanni. wonderful.
had a sump before, but now I’m less frequently. Some of the
absolutely a fan. aquariums with shoals need more BELOW: NH: Have you ever been bitten?
regular water changes, while solitary Slender piranha, AG: Brutus tried it one time when he
NH: What sort of maintenance piranhas only need one every 4-6 Serrasalmus arrived as a small 5cm fish. I shocked
routine do you do? weeks. And I always only change 20% elongatus. him when I was trimming plants in
AG: In my main aquarium, I of the old water. his aquarium, and he went for me.
installed a controller—it’s a system to Cutting plants isn’t necessary, Luckily, he was tiny at this time.
water the plants in the gardens. With because they’re all slow growing. Nowadays, he could easily hurt me—
it’s little effort for Brutus to take off
and eat a whole trout’s head in one
bite, including the bones.
I should point out that piranhas
don’t normally attack humans. They
are skittish, at least mostly, and only
strike if they feel stressed. Take care
when working inside your aquarium,
and do not underestimate them.
Avoid any sudden movements that
might spook them.
Other species may attack just
because they’re territorial. It’s
important to know about the exact
type you’re keeping.
NH: Which of yours are shoaling?

And what is the correct number
for a piranha shoal?
READER VISIT
Alexander Görz
AG: Overall, we can say that

Pygocentrus are all schooling species.
But I add that piranhas are not true
schooling fishes. They are grouping
fishes, coming close together when
threatened. Once the danger
disappears, they move into a loose
formation again.
Group size really depends on the
space you can offer. For Pygocentrus
nattereri, I recommend at least 100
litres per fish, for Pygocentrus cariba,
at least 150 litres per fish, and for
Pygocentrus piraya, at least 200 litre
per fish. I also advise groups of at
least five fish.
You can keep Serrasalmus geryi in a
group. Sometimes, Serrasalmus
eigenmanni, Serrasalmus maculatus,
and Catoprion mento have been kept
in groups, which is how I keep mine.
Other Serrasalmus species are more
difficult, they’re very often driven by
extremely territorial and/or
interspecific aggression. The ones I
suggest keeping alone are S. rhombeus, ABOVE: NH: Where do you source your fish so far. But I’m working on this. Not
S. marginatus, S. gouldingi, S. brandtii, Serrasalmus from? that I’m throwing special ‘blue pills’
and, frankly, most of the others. geryi would AG: They’re nearly all wild caught. into their water, but rather I’m
There are zoos that keep different be lucrative to Only my two Serrsalmus eigenmanni experimenting with rainwater, special
Serrasalmus together in one tank, but breed. are captive-bred. I purchase them nutrition, increased temperatures
we’re looking at tanks in excess of from private sellers in Europe, and and waterchange frequency. My
50,000 litres. BELOW: sometimes from specialist traders. To dream is to breed some of the rare
Pygocentrus build up a big piranha collection, you species and to make them available
NH: Is it harder to look after the cariba are need a good network, otherwise the on the market for real piranha
grouping or the solitary species? ‘grouping’ fish. special fish sell before you get a enthusiasts.
AG: I’d say a group is slightly harder chance to even see them.
to look after. Although most of the NH: Which species would be most
time they cohabit peacefully, they can NH: Have you had much breeding worthwhile for other aquarists to
become aggressive when feeding or activity? start breeding?
spawning, and injuries can occur. AG: Both my Pygocentrus cariba and AG: Serrasalmus geryi would be a
This reduces with increased space and Serrasalmus geryi have shown promising business. So far as I know,
a natural layout. breeding activity, but without success there’s only been one known captive
Nowadays, he could easily hurt me—it’s little
effort for Brutus to take off and eat a whole
trout’s head in one bite, including the bones
outside of the water I heard them group or a single fish. BELOW:
grunting. It was a bit like the sound If you prefer a group, but don’t Serrasalmus
of a frog. have vast amounts of room space, maculatus.
Piranhas don’t only communicate the red-bellied piranha, Pygocentrus
through colour and behaviour; they nattereri, are always a good choice.
also create these sounds. It can They’re readily available at low
happen while feeding and when prices, and you might be able to get
threatened, and also whilst breeding. a group from a private seller.
I think they rely on sounds partly If you prefer solitary piranha, I
because some of their habitats are definitely recommend Serrasalmus
dark, allowing underwater vision of rhombeus. They are available from
just a few centimetres. time to time, not too expensive and
the best thing is to get them as
NH: What parameters—pH, GH, youngsters. Serrasalmus grow slowly,
KH–do you keep your fish at? but the nice thing is that when you’re
AG: My parameters are 7.5pH, getting one as a smaller fish, you can
13.8°GH, and 11.5°KH Some build up a relationship and it will be
piranhas in are found in surprising interactive with you.
spawning in the world. S. geryi are conditions—up to 9.0pH and 25°GH
known for their special shape, their in some regions—and South America NH: What advice would you give
glamourous colour and the unique certainly doesn’t consist only of soft someone looking to start their first
stripe along the back and through water with a tea-like colour and low piranha tank?
the face. They’re rare, and this year pH. Piranhas are flexible regarding AG: Never forget that you’re the
(after three years of being unavailable the water parameters, as long as the reason why this fish isn’t living in a
for import or export) I saw the first water is clean. nice big river. It’s your responsibility
S. geryi in Europe. It was on sale for to give it a good home, try to offer
€500, and there was only one NH: Which species would you something that matches the fish’s
available. recommend as the best for a original habitat, and always feed your
beginner? fish a good variety of healthy meals.
NH: Are any of your piranhas AG: That depends on available space Be patient and give the little fella
noisy? and whether you’d rather keep a enough time to acclimate.
AG: Yes, sometimes I hear little clicks
from my group of Pygocentrus cariba.
One time, I had to move them into a
bigger tank, and whilst in a net
MARINE
Bleaching
CAN
BLEACHED
CORALS
BOUNCE
BACK?
A tank full of white corals is an aquarist’s
nightmare. But what causes these inverts to
lose their colours? And can they be restored?
TIM SMITH While tissues

remain,
An ichthyologist and bleached
oddball fan, Tim has
been involved with
corals lose their
fish for over 15 years. photosynthetic
symbionts.
ALAMY
MARINE
Bleaching
E’RE COMING INTO a A rapid increase in temperature—or a prolonged

golden age of understanding exposure to excessively high temperatures—is one of the
coral health. Although there better-understood mechanisms in bleaching scenarios. It
has been a keen interest since doesn’t have to be a drastic change, either; as little as 2°C
some of the earliest mass to 3°C above a coral’s tolerance may be enough to trigger
mortality events many bleaching to occur.
decades ago, there has been Likewise, excessive light levels appear to cause damage
a remarkable effort from to coral cells. Light-induced damage appears to have a
modern scientists to similar or concurrent role to the processes seen in high
understand the dynamics that lead to a number of coral temperature scenarios. Prolonged periods with little to no
pathologies. Perhaps the most concerning events are light may cause corals to expel zooxanthellae due to the
bleaching episodes, where entire reefscapes take on physiological burden of maintaining symbionts without
ghastly pale shades under rapidly changing their productivity.
environmental conditions. After reaching a saturation point, corals aren’t able to
This increased interest in coral health has helped us photosynthesize more; in fact, too far beyond this
hobbyists to understand similar problems within the threshold becomes detrimental. Under high light or high
confines of our aquaria; conversely, many aquarium temperature conditions—or a combination of the
experiments have helped scientists to understand the two—coral cell function becomes compromised and the
bleaching reef from a smaller scale. symbionts create free radical forms of oxygen, which can BELOW LEFT:
So, we know that corals can bleach, and we know that damage coral tissue. Once this damage starts taking place, Zooxanthellae
it’s not a good thing. But can they recover? corals begin to eject their symbionts to prevent further under a
damage. microscope.
What is bleaching? The other risk factors are less common, but worth
Simply put, bleaching is a visual sign that something is considering in any bleaching scenario. BELOW:
going wrong with a coral. It’s characterised by the loss of Trace element levels may have a part to play in Anemones
the coral’s zooxanthellae and other pigment-carrying bleaching, where insufficient levels may interfere with aren’t immune
structures, resulting in a pale-to-white appearance. proper algal functioning, leading to zooxanthellae death to the effects of
Contrary to popular belief, bleached coral is not dead—it and expulsion. bleaching.
still has its tissues—but its health is most certainly not in
a good place.
A number of agents have been implicated in coral
bleaching, both in nature and the aquarium. Poor
environmental conditions, disease, malnutrition, or
exposure to toxins can individually or concurrently cause
a coral to bleach. However, light intensity and ambient
temperature appear to be the main contributors to
zooxanthellae loss.
ALAMY
Exposure to certain chemicals can be a risk, too, but
results may differ depending on the chemical in question. CORAL ANATOMY
Some substances are outright toxic to corals, while others Mesogloea
increase susceptibility to bleaching. This can include a
range of compounds, from medications to excessive trace Nematocyst
metals, and the intensity of the effects vary with dosage
and mechanism.
Tentacles Mouth Zooxanthellae
Some microbes and parasites have been implicated in
bleaching, although the dynamics of these interactions
can be difficult to decipher. It is worth noting that an
already-bleaching coral may be more vulnerable to
disease, and so elucidating the cause or effect in this Pharynx
scenario may be challenging. Septum
Bleaching effects and bouncing back

The dependency of any given coral species on its
zooxanthellae varies dramatically, largely depending on
SHUTTERSTOCK
the type of environment it would naturally be found in CaCO3 Skeleton
and its ability to feed itself by capturing prey in its polyps.
Owing to differing species requirements, different corals
may bleach under particular conditions.
How long a coral will last without its The dinoflagellates that dwell in coral tissue are not ABOVE:
zooxanthellae will be determined by its reliance all the same species, and in fact between different Zooxanthellae
on these organisms as a source of energy, corals these algal representatives can be is found close
alongside the presence of other factors that substantially unrelated to one another. to the coral’s
may have initiated the bleaching, which Although the taxonomic standing of surface.
can have other dire physiological While not cheap, most coral these symbionts is unimportant for
effects on the coral. bleaching events at home can be this discussion, it is worth
avoided by purchasing a high quality mentioning because each species
chiller for the summer represented among the
months. zooxanthellae may have differing
temperature, lighting, and nutrient
requirements, usually correlated with the
types of conditions its host coral is typically
exposed to.
Coral tissue, should it survive the bleaching event,
can acquire new symbionts. Acquisition occurs when the
coral polyp ingests one or more zooxanthellae from the
water column. Through a poorly-understood mechanism,
the symbiont avoids digestion and sets up in the coral
tissue, where it begins photosynthesising and multiplying.
This mechanism, it has been proposed, may be the
reason why bleaching evolved in the first place—to allow
a coral to expel the zooxanthellae that are ill-suited for
particular conditions, with the hope of picking up more
situationally-adapted symbionts.
The presence of free-swimming zooxanthellae is very
likely dependent on other corals (or other zooxanthellae-
bearing organisms) being present in the aquarium and
seeding the water column through their own, albeit
slower and non-stress related, expulsion of symbionts.
The type of zooxanthellae may not strictly be the same
species that it hosted in the first place, nor is there a
guarantee that new symbionts may be taken up. If
reacquisition occurs, the time frame may be measured in
months before ‘normal’ operations resume within the
coral tissue.
Even in the event of losing their symbionts, corals can
still feed. However poor conditions often lead to polyps
remaining retracted and so need to be corrected to
ALAMY
facilitate recovery.
MARINE
Bleaching
Corals that do get back to feeding recover from Stable conditions

bleaching much faster than their unfed If you do intend to change the environmental
counterparts. Iodine supplementation has conditions of your aquarium, do so slowly. Corals
Over and above feeding capabilities, most tolerate changes far better over a prolonged
been hinted at as a means to assist
corals have some amount of stored energy in timespan, and should be accommodated as
bleaching corals, particularly those
the form of lipids. A coral without symbionts such. Of course, not all changes are planned.
that might be doing so under
will likely use much of its energy reserves Lapses in stability, although potentially
excessive light
during recovery, so gentle care is required while damaging, are less impactful if the conditions are
they recuperate.
conditions. rectified sooner rather than later.
In the face of energy loss, a bleached coral is vulnerable Part of achieving this is to ensure you have equipment
to disease and will be particularly affected by further backups. Having backup equipment—and not putting all
disturbances. Correcting the offending conditions won’t your eggs in one basket—helps prevent rapid changes in
immediately stop the bleaching event, but even minor ABOVE: A conditions while you find a solution to the problem at
adjustments in the right direction can slow down the bleached reef hand. Failing equipment is a sure-fire way to allow
progress and put the organism on the path to recovery. shot six months conditions to run away from you, and prolongs the
apart. time-frame that the poor conditions will prevail.
How do you prevent bleaching? Less-than-ideal conditions can cumulatively hasten the
It all comes down to homework before acquiring your BELOW LEFT: bleaching process, even if each of the concerning factors
corals. Understanding the preferred range of conditions
Disease will are not too far off the preferred range.
destroy actual
for a given species of coral is the first and most important
tissue, unlike
step to keeping it healthy. Knowing which part of the
bleaching.
Light acclimation
world and which part of the reef it hails from tell you all Although corals can adapt to different light levels, these
you need to know about its temperature and lighting mechanisms work slowly; as such any changes in lighting
BELOW RIGHT:
requirements. Bleaching will should be done as gradually as possible.
Being aware of its dependence on lighting will also give slowly claim a A simple error made by many a hobbyist is changing
you a hint on its vulnerability to bleaching, and whole colony. out long-expired lights for brand new ones. The change,
requirements for dietary supplementation. from the corals’ perspective, can be immense. Similar
ALAMY
ALAMY
ALAMY
caution must be used when upgrading your lighting

system, or adding more illumination.
To ease your corals into a new light, mount new lights
ALAMY
several centimetres above the eventual intended height.
This height can be successively dropped over the coming
days and weeks, depending on the intensity of the new
light (which, if you can measure it with a light meter, can way in aiding the recovery period. Remember that new ABOVE: The
guide your progress). Conversely, and if possible, the coral corals from a supplier may have had limited exposure to difference
can be placed in deeper or more shaded areas of the tank, light for a prolonged period, and as such should not be between a
and be brought into progressively ‘sunnier’ spots over the brought under full reef lighting immediately. bleached and
course of the next few weeks, depending on how it healthy Fungia.
handles the changes. Such practices are much easier to A vigilant eye
achieve in a separate quarantine space. Keeping an eye on tank parameters and carefully BELOW: A
monitoring coral health can help you catch small healthy coral
A gentle arrival problems before they become big problems. Rapid system will
It would be an understatement to say that corals undergo changes usually occur by accident, but if caught sooner show rich, deep
a harrowing journey before they arrive in your aquarium. can ensure corrective measures are put in place, allowing colours.
The animals would have been exposed to less-than-ideal recovery to begin ASAP.
water quality, handling, and very little light during this Early signs of bleaching, such as paleness of coral tissue,
time. New corals, therefore, may be expected to bleach can be a hint to check on lighting and temperature
during this process or not long after it. changes, alongside other stressors that may be affecting
Gentle care by both you and your supplier can go a long your corals.
ALAMY
BOOK
GEAR & REVIEWS
REVIEW
Our experts take a look at fishkeeping literature.
FISHES OF THE OKAVANGO DELTA

& CHOBE RIVER, BOTSWANA
(MIKE BRUTON, GLENN MERRON,
PAUL SKELTON)
Reviewed by: Joost de Leeuw
ISBN: 9781775845058
Price: £7.99 (paperback on Amazon) or £4.99 (Kindle version)
More info: www.penguinrandomhouse.co.za
If it is your dream, like it is mine, to It is visible from the moon and,

own a library with books on all more achievable for most of us,
freshwater biotopes in the world, from the most zoomed-out view of
and all fish that inhabit them, the Google Earth. Slowly closing in on
little field guide called ‘Fishes of the it, it unfolds as this baroque hand,
Okavango Delta’ should be in it. reaching from tropical Angola into
Firstly because of its marvellous sandy, dry Botswana. As such, it is
illustrations. Liz Tarr and Dave also the southernmost limit of
Voorvelt provide some beautiful various tropical African fish
drawings of most of the 87 fish species.
species that live in the Okavango The delta is both riverine and
Delta region. This area in southern swampy, perennial and seasonal.
Africa hosts some of the most This has resulted in the presence
colourful cichlids and spectacular of a wide variety of fish types,
catfish you can find and it is a fact even though strictly speaking 87
that photographs seldom do justice species is not a considerable
to fish, especially when the species number. The top predator fish of the
in question is not readily available in Okavango River is indubitably the My favourite is the little Okavango
an aquarium near the photographer. local tigerfish species Hydrocynus suckermouth, Chiloglanis fasciatus,
I would gladly order some of these vittatus. Though considerably which has all the charm (and
illustrations in poster format to smaller than its Congolese relative perhaps even the utility) of an
decorate my fish room. Hydrocynus goliath, this is an Otocinclus, but with more colour.
The Okavango Delta is the largest awe-inspiring fish, hunting in For some reason it is common in the
inland delta in the world. It is the schools, swallowing tiny barbs and wild, but rare in the hobby, which is
mouth of the Okavango River, which top minnows whole, or tearing perhaps better than the opposite,
disappears there into air and earth, larger prey apart. Reportedly, even but still regrettable.
ever since tectonic plate shifting baby crocodiles aren’t safe. For those who can house big
obstructed its escape into the Indian Such fish, both size-wise and in cichlids, there is the spotted
Ocean millions of years ago. It is one terms of behaviour, are largely largemouth cichlid, Serranochromis
of Africa’s most important wildlife unsuitable for any kind of captive longimanus. Its patterns are
conservation areas, home to the ‘Big setting (though both are surprisingly remindful of African ambush
Five’ (lions, leopards, African buffalo, available in UK stores). So, let’s predators like the Malawian
elephants and rhinoceroses) and move on to the smaller species this Nimbochromis venustus and the
many other iconic animals. book makes one greedy for. leopard bushfish, Ctenopoma
e,
acutirostre. This, and its large,
extendable, upturned mouth
dator,
suggest it is an ambush predator,
too.
Specifically labelled in the book as
a ‘potential aquarium species’ s’ is the
mbelus
ocellated spiny eel, Mastacembelus
vanderwaali, and I’m inclined d to
concur. Spiny eels are likeable,le,
tameable and trainable fish, and
some species from South East ast Asia
atively
and Lake Tanganyika are relatively
common in our hobby. They usually
grow quite large though, while ile M.
vanderwaali maxes out at 18 cm
shbase)..
(book) or even only 15cm (Fishbase).
Interestingly, it seems not to be a
abitant.
swamp fish, but a rapids inhabitant.
Midway between Asia and
America, Africa has an amazing zing mix
of fish families: cichlids and
anabantoids, tetras and barbs. bs. In
contrast to the Congo drainage age to itss
north, the Okavango seems to lean
towards barbs. This makes sense,
ango
given the fact that the Okavango
once was an Asia-facing river. er. Some e
an
of these barbs, like the African
banded barb, Enteromius fasciolatus,
make excellent aquarium fish, and and the Beira barb, E. radiatus— underwater cave system sheltered
are readily available in the trade. unless I am getting carried away from light and birds, but patrolled by
Other pretty species include the here by that great artwork. These enormous sharptooth catfish, Clarias
copperstripe barb, E. multilineatus, barb species should be easy to gariepinus, and crocodiles, and
breed at home as long as you can occasionally redecorated by hippos
collect eggs and control water ploughing through. (There is a great
chemistry, but my guess is that documentary about this on the ‘Real
parameters don’t even matter that Wild’ Youtube channel.)
much with these fish, used as they Most (if not all) aquatic habitats
are to varying water flows and are much messier than our
fluctuating temperatures. aquariums, and algae and detritus
For the biotope enthusiasts need not necessarily be frowned
among us, the book provides some upon. I am picturing a large, shallow
useful information by dividing the tank, with an island of reeds floating
region into nine habitat types. Per on the surface and blocking almost
habitat it lists a few plant species all light. Among the particle-
and other characteristics useful for catching roots lives a group of
the aquarist at home (substrate, striped topminnows, Micropanchax
water level, etc). The most katangae. In the inevitable muddy
distinguishing Okavango biotopes mess below, some swamp-loving
would be the perennial swamps ‘squeakers’, sound producing
and the seasonal floodplains, and Synodontis catfish, which come in
though such habitats are not easy various leopard-like prints.
to reproduce, and arguable not The pleasure alone of spending a
pretty to behold, they would be weekend contemplating such a
rewarding projects. thing, searching the internet for
Imagine this: the seasonal influx information and sources, coming
of water from the vast Angolan across unique video footage,
catchment north-west of the delta reading about fish usually far off our
causes entire river beds, mostly radar, makes buying this well-
reeds and papyrus rooted in mud, produced book a no-brainer. It is a
to detach from the substrate and little treasure trove for the excitable
float around, creating an armchair traveller.
NEXT On Sle CONTACT US
MONTH
Practical Fishkeeping,
Warners Group Publications,
The Maltings, West Street,
April 20th Bourne, PE10 9PH
Email: editorial@practicalfishkeeping.co.uk
2023
EDITORIAL
Phone 01778 391194
Editor Nathan Hill
In the May issue Art Editor Katie Wilkinson

Websites Laura Wright/Lara Cracknell
Publisher James Buzzel
ADVERTISING
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BUTTERFLY
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CICHLIDS
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6The underground lives of blind cave tetras

GABOR HORVATH
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Open 5 days a week 10am to 6pm. Closed all day Thursday and Sunday
TAILPIECE
Tailpiece Nathan Hill is

editor of Practical
Fishkeeping
NATHAN HILL magazine as well as
fish magazine. He’s
Events can only be a good thing for also on the jury for
the Biotope Aquarium
the industry to heighten awareness. Design Contest.
Thankfully, there’s a big one coming
later this year.
F THERE’S ONE thing that this Now for 2023 we see a new event in the Of course, some store owners don’t seem
industry has been missing (in the form of Water Alive, a sister event to the too happy about it, viewing such an event
UK at least), then that’s a large- trade-only show AQUA, held biennially at as competition. But I’d have to say to the
scale, open-to-the-public the Telford International Centre, handful of naysayers I’ve seen across social
fishkeeping event. For sure, there Shropshire. It’s been a long time coming media—if folks are going to pay to travel
have been some open days, meets —I think that every AQUA I’ve attended, all the way to Telford, and potentially pay
and showcases laid on by retailers, I’ve had the discussion that it needed to be out for an overnight stay just because
often involving guest speakers, opened up to the public. they’d rather shop elsewhere, then a
workshops and suchlike—and Notably, this year sees the first opening of moment of reflection might be needed.
some of these have been really good—but a ‘retail mall’ as well as the traditional show Such events as these are good for the
there’s hasn’t been what I’d call a stands for businesses. That means that Joe hobby, and for the wider industry. On the
monument to fishkeeping for some time. Public can attend over two days, see the back of the old Aquatics Live events, I still
Aquatics Live had a stab around a decade latest releases from manufacturers and have friends from those gigs who went in as
ago, and even teased us with the prospect wholesalers (without having to wait for non-fishkeepers but now have enviable
of a return, but that came to nothing. The them to trickle through to retailers) and tank collections. That’s all money going
Festival of Fishkeeping had a long run, purchase a mixture of dry goods, plants, into stores, into the trade.
throwing in the towel only in recent years, corals and other invertebrates. No fish? Alas I feel I should also hold a candle for fish
although that was largely an event that not, but that’s not contrived. There are strict clubs and their respective auctions around
hosted the finals of fish shows from clubs criteria for selling vertebrates that require the country. Not long after this mag hits
all around the country. I don’t say that as a pet shop licenses, and licensing the Telford the newsstand, I’ll be making my merry
pejorative. The Festival was an outstanding International Centre as a pet trader for the way to the annual convention of the Catfish
event and is deeply missed, but for a two days it’s open to the public just isn’t Study Group, for three days of hardcore
newcomer to the hobby, and naive to fish feasible. But hey, they couldn’t sell fish at catfish immersion with speakers from
clubs, it could be quite a surreal experience. Aquatics Live either, and that was fine. around the world. These hobbyist
conventions are usually a goldmine for fish
enthusiasts, with their livestock auctions,
See the latest
typically involving fish raised by some of
gear at a new
public event. the best breeders in the world. And at the
risk of starting a stampede, some of those
fish are absolute bargains. Do they tread on
retailer’s toes? Largely not, I’d say. The types
of fish I tend to see at these events are often
the sort of rarities and one-offs that
retailers don’t even have access to.
If you are to have but one resolution for
this year, let it be that you attend an event,
big or small. It might not be to your taste,
but you won’t know if you don’t try. And
for those keen on visiting Water Alive—
running 13th and 14th October—tickets
NATHAN HILL
will be available at the end of March at

www.aquatelford.co.uk. I’ll see you there.
PFK
MEMBER
SHIP
FROM £2
.50
A MONT
H
A literary celebration of scale and fin
Habitats and history, conservation

and culture, art appreciation,
current affairs and cooking, ‘fish’
contains all of this and more. For
anyone with a passing interest
in the piscine world — angler,
aquarium hobbyist, even the lay
natural history fan — ‘fish’ offers
in-depth stories that are carefully
crafted as much for their literary
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In a world of stuffy writing and
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entertainment. ‘fish’ is the long read
for the long reader.
BECOME A MEMBER AND READ FISH

ISSUE 2 BEAUTIFUL & UGLY
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APRIL 2023

Oliver Lucanus’s South

MAKE A BORNEO BIOTOPE

6 Marine Beginners Guide COMING SOON

GET FULL ACCESS FOR JUST £2.50 A MONTH!

INSPIRATION 28 DON’T USE THE ‘E’

12 A QUIET PARADISE 52 THE IMPERMANENT

Welcome SOMETHING I love about

Nathan Hill, Editor

The day after I noticed increased activity. I could see the

Leaf litter put to

ALL PHOTOS: GABOR HORVATH

Initial Paramecium cultures can

In the first collaboration between Finest Aquatics and PFK, we

ABOVE: The rainforests, in sluggish blackwater marginal vegetation that transitions

EQUIPMENT AND COST

6Tank (with integrated filter): MBM ‘lowboy’

What happens when obsession takes over a fish house?

COTT HALL NH: And what’s the deal with P.

NH: What sort of distance are we

P. wingei ‘Miyuki’. P. wingei ‘N24’.

P. wingei ‘N33’. P. wingei ‘N65’.

The Question of the

Send your questions to: Fishkeeping Answers, Practical Fishkeeping Magazine,

Is it illegal to sell these ﬁsh?

Siberian Sterlet, a smaller

Will this substrate cause problems with corys?

SCAN ME FOR EXPERT

Send your questions to: Fishkeeping Answers, Practical Fishkeeping Magazine,

Which ﬁsh could I add to this tank?

Cherry barb. Corydoras

SCAN ME FOR EXPERT

What’s the best way to keep Torpedo barbs?

Send your questions to: Fishkeeping Answers, Practical Fishkeeping Magazine,

TEACHING CHILDREN ALL

Is my water too hard to breed tetras?

Why has my brackish tank turned green?

Send your questions to: Fishkeeping Answers, Practical Fishkeeping Magazine,

How do I beat this stringy algae?

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK &

What’s causing these lumps on my tetras?

Send your questions to: Fishkeeping Answers, Practical Fishkeeping Magazine,

How do I keep these nosey oddballs?

READ THE LABEL!

flush out the medication while maintaining water

SCAN ME FOR EXPERT

O FISH FEEL as sound, whether or not we are it from further suffering.

pain, goes back twenty years. Since whether something is potentially

offers a poor It's not an easy decision. We can

UR Feeding floodplains mountains, and then descends into

HERE’S WHAT OLIVER FOUND

Río Otuquis was

Of pools and cories

NH: What are the smallest and

NH: How do you go about

NH: Which of yours are shoaling?

AG: Overall, we can say that

TIM SMITH While tissues

E’RE COMING INTO a A rapid increase in temperature—or a prolonged

Bleaching effects and bouncing back

Corals that do get back to feeding recover from Stable conditions

caution must be used when upgrading your lighting

FISHES OF THE OKAVANGO DELTA

If it is your dream, like it is mine, to It is visible from the moon and,