Results for “fin”

There are currently 4 described subspecies of Melanotaenia splendida. The principle differences are generally in colour, pattern and fin counts, although even these vary depending on the locality of the fish. The different forms and subspecies should not be mixed in the aquarium, as they may hybridise. Adult specimens are rarely seen for sale, and it's the much drabber juvenile fish that are almost always offered in dealers tanks. However, exercise some patience (even on a good diet, full c...

There are currently 4 described subspecies of Melanotaenia splendida, of which this species is one of the most colourful. The principle differences are generally in colour, pattern and fin counts, although even these vary depending on the locality of the fish. The different forms and subspecies should not be mixed in the aquarium, as they may hybridise. Adult specimens are rarely seen for sale, and it's the much drabber juvenile fish that are almost always offered in dealers tanks. However,...

There are currently 4 described subspecies of Melanotaenia splendida. The principle differences are generally in colour, pattern and fin counts, although even these vary depending on the locality of the fish. M s. splendida in particular also exhibits a wide variation in colour and patterning depending on locality within the subspecies, and the species name is often suffixed with a place name when the fish are seen for sale. The different forms and subspecies should not be mixed in the aquarium,...

There is some debate that this species is actually the fish that finds its way into aquatic stores under the name of the Flag cichlid (normally attributed to m. festivus). The two fish look very similar and, in reality, it is likely that both species are sold under the same name - depending on the area where the fish were originally caught and exported from....

It's unclear if this species has ever been exported for the aquarium hobby outside of India but there may be a chance of finding the occasional specimen mixed in with shipments of M. guentheri or M. triangularis. It was earlier considered synonymous and may still be confused with M. guentheri since both species share similar body patterning consisting of rows of yellowish, dark-edged spots.

This species can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: 18–20 (vs. 10-18) branched anal-fin rays; 49–55 (vs. 35-48) lateral-line scale rows; 33–36 (vs. 15-20) predorsal sca...

This species is traded under various names including 'Vietnamese multi-banded zebra loach', 'hovering zebra loach', 'Laos pygmy multi-stripe loach', and 'banded dwarf loach'. It can be distinguished from related species by the following combination of characters: body with distinct vertical bars; 8 branched dorsal-fin rays; 3-10 pored lateral line scales; one pair of large papillae in median portion of upper lip; two pairs of large papillae in median portion of lower lip; lower posterior edge of opercle with 3-4 prominent indentations.

There are a dozen described species of Microsynodontis but most are not seen in the hobby. This species is one of the commoner ones however. Microsynodontis are much smaller than Synodontis species, with M. batesii being the largest. They can be distinguished from Synos and the similar Mochokiella by the rounded or slightly forked caudal fin. The is highly forked in the other genera. Interestingly in Microsynodontis the eyeball is fixed and cannot be moved unlike in Synodontis which has a moveab...

There are a dozen described species of Microsynodontis but most are not seen in the hobby. This species is one of the commoner ones however. Microsynodontis are much smaller than Synodontis species, with M. batesii being the largest. They can be distinguished from Synos and the similar Mochokiella by the rounded or slightly forked caudal fin. The is highly forked in the other genera. Interestingly in Microsynodontis the eyeball is fixed and cannot be moved unlike in Synodontis which has a moveab...

Not to be confused with the other species commonly sold under the name "blue tetra", Knodus borki, this species is much scarcer in the hobby. It also makes a better resident of the community tank than its cousin, being less boisterous and lacking the tendency to nip the fins of other species....

An incredibly-adapted species, this fish is camouflaged to mimic a dead leaf, both in body shape and pattern. It can change colour to match its surroundings and has a projection from its bottom lip that resembles a leaf stalk. When hunting, it stalks its prey in a head-down stance, appearing to drift towards it like a dead leaf drifting in a current. In reality, the fish is propelled by tiny movements of its transparent fins. When it strikes at an item of prey the entire mouth protrudes outwards...

This species can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: body relatively slender, depth fitting 3.4-3.8 times in SL; 32-33 + 2 lateral line scales; 14 circumpeduncular scale rows; presence of a single pair of barbels; black distal margin on dorsal-fin; numerous body scales with dark, crescent-shaped markings.

This species superficially resembles the more common (in the hobby) M. vittatus, but can be distinguished by its larger adult size and much longer adipose fin. It is an ideal peaceful catfish for larger communities and as with many other bagrids, is in our opinion somewhat underrated in the hobby....

This large Mystus is not often seen in the hobby. It makes a fine bottom dweller for communities containing other robust species. It is used as a food fish in many of it's native countries....

This species is traded under various names including 'Chinese banded shark', 'Chinese sucker', 'freshwater batfish', 'high-fin banded loach', etc. It's currently illegal to import or own privately in several countries, including the UK, but continues to be available with only the attractive juvenile form traded, and almost always without information regarding adult size of almost a metre or potential lifepan of 25 years+. Myxocyprinus is a monotypic genus and the only Asian representative of the family Cato...

This species is poorly-known in the aquarium hobby but is sometimes exported as bycatch among shipments of other species, especially Nannostomus beckfordi to which it appears quite similar. The easiest way to tell the two apart is that N. grandis lacks pale white or bluish tips to the ventral fins. It can be further distinguished from all congeners by the following combination of characters: body size up to 46.2 mm, the largest in the genus; bo...

There also exist a number of minor differences in colour pattern between populations. For example some Peruvian forms have yellow pigmentation on the body and fins, and those from Guyana and Suriname possess a short red stripe on vertical scale rows 6-9, above the central dark stripe on the body. Rio Negro forms have a similar red stripe but overlapping the central dark stripe and extending along most of the flank, while a form from Colombia has an elongate red stripe which is broken in two beneath the dorsal-fi...

This species has been referred to the genera Poecilobrycon and Nannobrycon in the past and in the aquarium hobby is also known as 'oneline' or 'red fin' pencilfish. It's a popular aquarium fish and has an interesting oblique swimming-style, a behavioural trait shared only with N. eques among congeners. The most recent diagnosis of the species appears to be that giv...

'N.' anguilla can be told apart from other Indian members of the genus by possessing dark flank markings which are partially or completely merged to form a lateral stripe, and an almost-complete lateral line extending to the anal-fin. Kottelat (2012) states that its generic placement requires additional study hence the genus name i...

This species was originally named Nemacheilus masyae but following ICZN rules the spelling was later corrected to N. masyai because it's named after a man. It can be distinguished from the majority of congeners by body patterning comprising 14-18 short, dark vertical bars on each flank, 12-17 saddle-like markings running along the dorsal surface, a dark spot on the caudal peduncle at the termination of the lateral line and a dark blotch in the lower half of the first few dorsal-fin rays.