Blotch-like marking extending over the dorsal surface in certain fishes. Highly variable in number and form depending on taxon, and often used as an identifying feature.
Glossary: saddle
Glossary: saline
A solution containing dissolved salts.
Glossary: salinity
General term for the salt concentration of water.
Glossary: salt bath
Treatment against various parasites which involves placing a freshwater fish in a solution of saline water with the salt concentration and period of exposure variable depending on the size of the fish and severity of infection. Similar to a salt dip in that parasites are killed via osmotic shock, but of longer duration.
Glossary: sample
In ichthyology, a collection of fishes made from a particular locality or specified area.
Glossary: sand
Fine-grained silicate material commonly used as substrate. Often but not always chemically inert, and can therefore be used as a buffer.
Glossary: saprolegnia
Genus of aquatic fungi, some species of which attack fishes. Normally a secondary pathogen attacking previously damaged tissue and causing cellular necrosis alongside other epidermal damage. Generally visible as a whitish or greyish filamentous fungus and thus commonly referred to as cotton-wool disease.
Glossary: saprophagy
Feeding on dead or decaying organic matter.
Glossary: sarcoophagy
Feeding on flesh.
Glossary: savanna
Type of grassland ecosystem characterised by any trees present being spaced in such a way that they do not form a closed canopy, thus sufficient light reaches the ground to support unbroken herbaceous cover consisting primarily of grasses. Also spelled ‘savannah’.
Glossary: scalation
See squamation.
Glossary: scale
Dermal, plate-like structure covering the body in many fishes.
Glossary: scale count
Count of a given range of scales. Used in taxonomical studies to differentiate and identify taxa.
Glossary: scaly
Covered in or resembling scales.
Glossary: scaphium
A Weberian ossicle.
Glossary: scapula
Paired bone attached to the pterygials, actinosts or radials of the pectoral fin. Articulates ventrally with the coracoid and anteriorly with the cleithrum.
Glossary: scavenger
Animal feeding on dead or decaying organic matter.
Glossary: school
Tightly-aggregated group of fishes, normally of the same species, which tends to orient and move in the same direction; the act of schooling. Often confused with shoal.
Glossary: schooling
Behaviour exhibited by members of a school in which individuals move in a coordinated manner in the same direction.
Glossary: scientific name
Formal binomial or trinomial name of a species used in zoological nomenclature.
Laetacara curviceps – Dwarf Flag Cichlid (Acara curviceps, Aequidens curviceps)
The Laetacara curviceps will nibble on soft leaves of live plants as I have observed.
21st Jan 2019
Tetraodon miurus (Congo Puffer)
I own one of these guys and they are truly awesome. His name is Quagmire (given the squared-out jaw.) If you’re not keen on the idea of the fish bei...
5th Nov 2018
Poecilia reticulata – Guppy (Lebistes poecilioides, Girardinus guppii )
You recommend keeping this species with Rasboras, Tetras and Corydoras? Guppies do best in very high pH, while Tetras, Corydoras and Rasboras do best ...
1st Nov 2018
Aphyosemion striatum – Red-striped Killifish (Haplochilus striatus, Epiplatys striatus)
The default photo isn't indicative of how most populations of A. striatum look like in reality. That is a very washed out looking male in my opinion. ...
13th Oct 2018
Nothobranchius rachovii (Bluefin Nothobranch)
The image shown for "Captive-bred, adult male individual of the 'Beira 98' collection." is incorrect. That isn't a 'Beira 98' male. The picture is s...
13th Oct 2018