Every species

The severum is one of the most poular and readily available cichids in the hobby, however not everyone realises that these fish can attain a fairly large size and are therefore not suitable for every aquarium. The fish is normally sold in the standard green variety and also gold. Severums make good fish for a South American community setup, as long as there are no fish small enough for them to eat. They grow quite quickly, so should be housed in an adequately sized tank from the start....

A rarely seen, although attractive member of the severum family. This species is occasionally offered for sale through specialist cichild or South American dealers.

Relatively common in the hobby, the Rainbow Cichlid makes an ideal CA cichlid for those who do not wish to manage the challenge of the more aggressive CA species.

Also known as the mosquito fish, least killifish or dwarf top minnow, H. formosa is the smallest known livebearing fish species, and one of the smallest overall fish species in the world. It's not often seen for sale these days, although it's quite widely available in hobbyist circles. When buying these, ensure they have been identified correctly as they're sometimes confused with the much more aggressive mosquito fish of the genus Gambusia....

One of the largest freshwater fish species found in Africa, this is not a very good aquarium inhabitant. It is suitable only for the truly dedicated hobbyist able to house it properly or for public aquaria. It can be distinguished from similar members of the genus by its very long adipose fin....

Also known as the stinging or fossil catfish, H. fossilis is not recommended to the inexperienced due to its venomous nature. The venom is contained in sacs at the base of the pectoral spines. A sting from one of these is very painful indeed, in some very rare cases fatal. It goes without saying that extreme care must be exercised when performing tank maintenance, or if you need to move the fish for any reason. If stung, the wound should be immersed in water as hot as you can stand, as this will...

This rarely-traded species is a member of the H. ocellata 'group' of closely-related congeners, an assemblage which currently comprises H. ocellata, H. bilineata, H. confuzona, H. orthogoniata, H. ogilviei and H. parclitella. Following Tan and Ng (2005) these share possession of a colour pattern with reddish tints and dark brown head markings, elongate head, slightly compressed body, 61-77 lateral line scales and dorsal-fin origin placed in advance of pelvic-fin origin.

Most records pertain to the Mekong River basin downstream of the Khone waterfalls in Laos and Cambodia, but this species is also known from some smaller river drainages in southern Thailand, including parts of the Mae Klong system. Type locality is 'Khlong Fit at Ban Kraduk Chang, road 3157 from Trat to borai, about 2-3 kilometers after junction w...

The reason that the paired fins are orientated vertically, as opposed to horizontally in other members of the genus, is unclear but Roberts (1989) suggest it may be an adaptation to this species' ecology, in that it displays a preference for submerged vegetation or woody structures as opposed to rocky environments. They're certainly adapted for a rea...

This species appears is rare in the aquarium hobby with the majority of images both online and in the published literature instead depicting H. confuzona or H. parclitella. All three are members of the H. ocellata 'group' within the genus which currently contains H. ocellata, H. bilineata, H. confuzona, H. orthogoniata, H. ogilviei and H. parclitella. Following Tan and Ng (2005) these share possession of...

The water at the type locality is described as 'clear and fast-flowing over a rocky substratum'. H. parclitella was observed in shallow water among the rocks, and sympatric species included Garra cambodgiensis, Neolissochilus soroides, Poropuntius smedleyi, 'Puntius' binotatus, Homaloptera nebulosa and Amblyceps mangois.

Homalopteroides spp. are specialised micropredators feeding on small crustaceans, insect larvae and other invertebrates. In captivity some sinking dried foods may be accepted but regular meals of live or frozen Daphnia, Artemia, bloodworm, etc., are essential for the maintenance of good health.

The genus Homalopteroides was revalidated by Randall and Page (2012) and is told apart from the related Homaloptera by the following character combination: dorsal-fin origin above pelvic-fin; ≤ 60 lateral-line scales; ≤ 30 predorsal scales; oral morphology consisting of two thin and widely separated rostral barbels on each side of the mouth, thin crescent-shaped lips, the absence of any structure such as a mental pad or lobes between the lateral portions of the lower lip, and a chin that extends anterior to the lateral portions of the lower lip.

Described from close to the village of Ban Khiri Wong, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, southern (peninsular) Thailand but since recorded throughout much of the country, including the Chao Phraya and Mekong river systems. It's also known from Peninsular Malaysia and parts of the Mekong basin in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Rainboth (1996) considered it 'probably the commonest member of the genus in the Mekong' and in a 2008 study of balitorid habitats in centra...

Tan (2009) redescribed H. stephensoni and it possesses the following unique character set: sub-inferior mouth with thin barbels; five principle, 12-13 secondary pectoral fin rays (usually 12); scaleless belly; pattern of keeled scales on anterior, dorsal portion of body consisting of a single central keel in the posterior third of each scale; 43-50 lateral line...

Described from Kota Tinggi district, Johor state, Peninsular Malaysia but since recorded throughout much of the country as well as parts of the the Mekong river system in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam plus the Kapuas and several other river basins in Kalimantan Barat (West Kalimantan) province, Indonesian Borneo. In the Kahang River, part of the Endau drainage in Jo...

An obligate dweller of swiftly-flowing streams and headwaters containing clear, oxygen-saturated water. It often inhabits riffles and runs and is likely to display a preference for shallower zon...

Type locality is given as 'Lake Meninju, Sumatra, Indonesia', currently known as Danau (lake) Maninjau, but conceivably the fish may have been obtained from the outflowing Antokan river rather on its western side than the lake itself.

Fowler (1940) described this species as the unique member of his new genus Homalopterula on the basis of a single specimen, separated from related genera by the curved shape of the jaws, truncate caudal-fin and scaleless ventral surface.

Also known as the golden trahira, H. unitaeniatus is the only one of the three recognised species currently in the genus to appear in the trade with any regularity. It's really a fish suitable only for the specialist, and as with any predatory species, care must be taken when performing tank maintenance. It's a representative of an ancient group of fishes, and possesses a modified, highly vascularised swim bladder that acts as an accessory breathing organ, allowing the fish to survi...