Results for “species”

P. hystrix is sometimes sold as P. sp. "C", and is much sought after in the hobby. The species is usually recommended as a good beginners' ray due to its relatively small adult size. However due to current Brazilian legislation regarding the export of rays it's almost never available at present, and tends to command a high price when it is. The fish sold as hystrix in the trade are almost always Peruvian in origin and erroneously labelled. We've seen P. humerosa, P. yep...

P. leopoldi is aruably one of the most stunning freshwater species in the hobby and comes with a price tag to match. A fully grown one of these makes a jaw-dropping sight. Sadly exports from Brazil are now illegal under the IBAMA regulations, although captive bred fish are available occasionally. The price tends to be even more expensive as a result. A rare form in which the light spots appear as rings with black centres is known as P. leopoldi "eclipse" is more costly still. The stunn...

P. motoro is one of the most popular members of the genus with aquarists. Whilst it is quite easily obtainable and hardy once settled in, it does grow very large so make sure you can house it adequately long term. It should also be noted that the males of this species are among the most violent when in the mood for spawning and females can end up on the wrong end of a serious beating. If you're keeping a pair or group of these keep a close eye on proceedings and be prepared to separate them...

P. schroederi is one of the most attractive and sought after members of the family. Due to current export restrictions in Brazil it has become very scarce in the hobby and commands a high price when it is available, usually from captive breeders. There is another fish sold under the name "flower ray", presumably to boost sales. This is a potentially undescribed species imported from Peru and is usually referred to as "Peru flower" or P40 by ray enthusiasts. Some believe this ...

This stunning fish is one of the more sought after rays in the hobby. Taxonomically it remains unclear whether it is a geographical variant of P. leopoldi or a distinct species. It has a smaller adult size and both pups (see section above) and adults exhibit different patterning than it's relative. In P. leopoldi the light spotted markings tend to be quite large, spaced out and do not extend to the edge of the disc. In P14 they are typically much smaller, more randomly distributed and prese...

P. maxillaris is one of the more popular tetras in the hobby, and is easily obtainable from most aquatic shops. It must rank among the very best choices for the newcomer to fishkeeping as it's peaceful, hardy and inexpensive. There's a selectively-bred "golden" strain available which is actually a semi-albino fish. Care is much the same as for the standard form. Currently the only species in the genus, in older literature it's often referred to by the now invalid name...

Also known as the common catopra, this is still quite a rare species in the hobby, although it's becoming more readily available due to captive breeding efforts. It makes an interesting addition to the larger community or oddball tank....

This species has an interesting method of feeding in nature. It 'blows' at the top layer of the substrate (usually sand) and feeds on any invertebrates or other morsels that are uncovered. It is rare in the hobby and little information regarding it's care is available....

Mostly collected in the in the rio Negro basin, Amazonas state, Brazil, and in particular the rio Demini, a northern tributary flowing into the central Negro in the municipality of Barcelos. P. leopardus was described from the Rupununi River in Guyana and the identity of this fish thus remains unconfirmed. This 'species' is also traded simply as 'leo...

This species is not often seen in the hobby, which is a pity as it is a stunning fish with interesting behaviour. If you do manage to get some, be sure to provide the best possible conditions from the start, as they appear to travel quite badly and losses are common. There are currently 3 subspecies, Pseudocrenilabrus philander philander, P. p. dispersus and P. p. luebberti. However, recent studies suggest as many as 11 distinct populations exist, differing in location, colour, patterning, be...

This species is traded under various vernacular names including 'Chinese hillstream loach', 'Chinese butterfly plec' and 'Hong Kong Otocinclus. It's the commonest member of the genus in the hobby but has been frequently misidentified as the congener P. cheni in the past with the two often said to be indistinguishable in terms of colour pattern. Some sources additionally suggest the sole defining external character to be that in P. cheni the distance between the resp...

H. sexmaculata is very similar to H. leonardi but can be told apart since it possesses 2 simple and 12-14 branched pectoral-fin rays (versus 6 simple and 11 branched rays). Both of these species are sometimes misidentified as H. yunnanensis which has 7 simple and 12 branched pectoral-fin rays.

This species is also traded as 'forktail rainbowfish' or 'yellow forktail', and it's also undergone several changes in scientific name since description. Pseudomugil furcatus is the original designation, but Allen (1980) created the genus Popondetta for it on the basis of morphological characters including number of anal-fin rays (16-20 in P. furcatus, 8-12 in other Pseudomugil spp.), absence of anterior...

This species is most easily told apart from its only congener P. dayi by lacking (vs. possessing) two dark, irregular lateral stripes on the head and body, and a shorter caudal-fin in males. The results of phylogenetic analyses by Rüber et al. (2006) suggest that Pseudosphromenus is most closely-related to Malpulutta in an evolutionary sense.

Engmann (1909) mentions that the type series was collected from 'Malakka' but this is considered an error which probably should have read 'Kerala' since this species is known only from coastal drainages of the Western Ghats mountains in southern Kerala state, India.

There is ongoing debate as to the true genus of this species, it having been variously grouped in both Maylandia and Metriaclima as well as the currently valid Pseudotropheus. It is unlikely it will remain in Pseudotropheus, however. One interesting feature is the presence of additional rows of teeth when compared to others in the genus. Also, the rows of bicuspid teeth, used for rasping algae from rock surfaces, extend further back into the mouth than in other Pseudotropheus. P. fainzilberi...

A popular mbuna that has been in the hobby for many years. There is ongoing debate as to the true genus of this species, it having been variously grouped in both Maylandia and Metriaclima, as well as the currently valid Pseudotropheus. It is unlikely it will remain in Pseudotropheus, however, and many sources already consider it a member of Metriaclima. As with other members of the genus, it possesses flat, bicuspid teeth which are designed for scraping algae and other organisms from the surface...

This common mbuna also goes by the names "Eduard's mbuna" and "Pindani". It is one of the most popular Rift Lake cichlids in the hobby due to its striking colouration and somewhat peaceful nature (for a mbuna). Wild fish can now be quite difficult to find, as the vast majority of specimens offered for sale are tank-bred. An albino form exists in aquaria and has achieved a fair degree of popularity. A highly recommended beginner's mbuna....

This species occasionally appears in the aquarium hobby, but the trade is largely reliant on commercially-produced 'tiger barbs' of questionable origin. It is distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: lateral line complete; 14 circumpeduncular scales; 21-23+2 scales in the lateral row; dorsal-fin black with red outer band; pelvic fins red.

This species occasionally appears in the aquarium hobby, but the trade is largely reliant on commercially-produced 'tiger barbs' of questionable origin. It was considered a synonym of P. anchisporus for a number of decades following Alfred (1963), but revalidated by Kottelat and Tan (2011).