Results for “species”

Given its wide natural range it seems logical that this species is or has been available in the aquarium trade, although its correct name may never have been applied. It is told apart from congeners by the following combination of characters: two pairs of barbels; a continuous midlateral stripe from the tip of the snout to the base of the caudal-fin, with a conspicuous small blotch at the posterior extremity, faintly marked on the caudal-fin; a faint mark between the anus and the anal-fin origin in juveniles; a narrow mouth.

While some laterally-striped members of the genus look very similar to one another the combination of silvery body, dark-edged scales and dark caudal peduncle blotch set C. reticulatus uniquely apart. The names Crossocheilus tchangi, Epalzeorhynchos coatesi and E. stigmaeus are all now considered synonyms of the species but were erected because the fish vary, most often in minor aspects of patt...

In its natural waters, females have been observed caring for mixed broods containing both their own fry and those of another cichlid, Amphilophus bussingi. It is unknown if these are mixed by accident (as the two species have also been recorded tending broods in close proximity to one another) or if this represents an adaptive behaviour to increase numbers in a brood and therefore decrease the chance of predation.

C. hujeta is traded under various names including 'slant-nosed gar', 'hujeta gar', 'rocket gar' and 'freshwater barracuda' but it and other members of the family Ctenoluciidae have traditionally been referred to as 'pike characids'. They're all predatory fishes native to South America, included in the order Characiformes and currently spread across two genera; Ctenolucius with two species and Boulengerella with five. The two genera are ...

There are currently 20 species of Ctenopoma, most of which most are seldom seen in the aquatic trade. Originally the genus was significantly larger, but a number of original members were reclassified by Norris in 1995. Whilst describing what were apparently two new Ctenopoma, he discovered sufficient morphological anomalies in the fish to erect a new genus for them. The name Microctenopoma was chosen, although this does not relate to the size of the fish. Similar defining characteristics were al...

This species is also referred to by the alternative vernacular name of 'noble gourami' and is currently the only recognised member of the genus Ctenops. It is usually regarded as being very difficult to keep whereas in reality it is quite adaptable once acclimatised but appears to react poorly to the export and shipping process meaning it is often seen on sale in poor condition and susceptible to or already infested with secondary health issues such as Oödinium, to which it appear...

Endemic to a handful of natural springs in the Río Verde valley, San Luis Potosí state, Central Mexico. The valley is believed to have once been filled by a large lake and the relict springs are part of the elevated Río (river) Verde basin which later drains into the much larger Río Pánuco system. Much of the aquatic fauna found in the valley is endemic to the area but in many cases threatened by introduced species.

There are only two described species of Cyathopharynx, each with several colour forms. These should not be kept together in aquaria, as they can hybridise. They are among the most beautiful of all freshwater fish and are highly sought after in the hobby, although they are fairly delicate. The highest water quality is required for males to fully develop their stunning adult colouration, which happens when they are around 4" in length. This may take a good few months if you are buying young f...

In the aquarium trade this species may also be seen on sale as 'skinhead barb'. As with others in the genus little has been written regarding its captive care but it makes a peaceful and unusual addition to larger aquaria. The best way of obtaining it may be to keep an eye on shipments of wild fishes from Indochina and the Greater Sunda Islands as it's rarely imported in large numbers and most often arrives as bycatch.

This species is currently understood to have a considerable natural range extending eastwards from Myanmar via Thailand, Laos, Cambodia as far as Vietnam and to the south through Peninsular Malaysia and into the Greater Sunda Islands of Borneo and Sumatra. It thus occurs in the Mekong, Mae Klong and Chao Phraya drainages as well as a host of other river basins, lakes and reservoirs including the Tonlé Sap river...

In the exceptionally diverse Danau Sentarum lake system of the upper Kapuas River basin, West Kalimantan, sympatric species include Scleropages formosus, Barbonymus gonionotus, B. schwanenfeldii, Crossocheilus nigriloba, Cyclocheilichthys apogon, C. repasson, Epalzeorhynchos kalopterus, Labiobarbus ocellatus , Leptobarbus hoevenii, Luciosoma spilopleura plus various representatives of Barbodes, Rasbora and Osteochilus.

As with others in the genus little has been written regarding captive care of this species, but it makes a peaceful and unusual addition to larger aquaria. The best way of obtaining it may be to keep an eye on shipments of wild fishes from Indochina. It can be distinguished from congeners by possessing 20 circumpeduncular scales and lacking barbels entirely.

One of the favourite Tanganyikan cichlids among hobbyists, this species occurs in several geographical morphs. Each of these further exists in both blue and yellow-tailed forms. They congregate in large shoals of several thousand in nature, preying on zooplankton. In the hobby you may also see C. leptosoma sp. "Jumbo" for sale. These fish grow to the size quoted above, whilst the "true" leptosoma only reaches around 4" in length. Although it's likely we are deal...

The surrounding area is semi-arid and the Bolsón de Sandia was once a beautiful oasis with a number of springs, abundant vegetation and diverse wildlife but has dried up over the last twenty to thirty years due to indiscriminate water extraction for agriculture and other human uses. Three endemic species of Cyprinodon, namely C. veronicae, C. longidorsalis and C. ceciliae, have been described from separate springs within the system...

In the Barak River drainage, which flows through the north-east Indian states of Nagaland and Assam before bifurcating at the Bangladesh border, symaptric species include Barilius bakeri, B. barna, B. bendelisis, B. dogarsinghi, Laubuca laubuca, Esomus danricus, Devario aequipinnatus, D. annandalei, D. devario, Rasbora daniconius, R. rasbora,...

As far as we know this species has not been bred in aquaria although Pete Liptrot and Paul Dixon of the Bolton Museum Aquarium, UK, have achieved great success with an unidentified congener. They first noticed fry from their group of 24 adults after moving the school to a dedicated set-up planted with mature Java moss and have since rewarded with regular batches of fry.

The anatomical structure of miniaturised cyprinids can vary greatly; there are two putative groups with some species possessing intermediate features to some degree. The first contains those fishes which though small are essentially proportionally dwarfed versions of their larger relatives. The other includes those in which anatomical development stops at a point where adult still resemble a larval form of their larger ancestor, as in...

A. calobrensis is not as common in the hobby as some other species in the genus (most notably A. citrinellus). It was considered a member of the genus Cichlasoma for some time, before being restored to its original position in Amphilophus. However it exhibits several characteristics that seem to set it apart from its congeners. As a result many experts believe it will probably be moved into a newly-erected genus at some point in the future. You may also see it listed as a member of Astatheros oc...

This species has not appeared in the ornamental fish trade to date though has been maintained by a handful of private collectors and enthusiasts. It was known for some years prior to description and identified as Badis dario (as Dario dario was known at the time) but is actually much closer to D. hysginon.

This species is traded under various names such as 'red melon Dario' or 'flame red Dario'. Among congeners D. dayingensis is most similar since it differs only in a few meristic counts and by its slightly larger adult size. D. hysginon can be told apart by possessing 22-24, usually 23, lateral scales (vs. 24-25 in D. dayingensis), 8½ (vs. 9½) scales in the transverse scale row, a...