Although many aquarium fish live relatively short lives, some enjoy impressive lifespans as long as you provide your pets with a high-quality diet and optimal living conditions. So, before taking on any of the following fishy friends, remember that you could be taking on a lifelong commitment, and in some cases, your pet could outlive … Read more
When this beautiful male betta sees an image of himself in a mirror, he starts flaring at it. That certainly gives this gorgeous specimen the wow factor, but is flaring a good or bad thing for him? Many commenters reckon the fish is stressed and that encouraging him to flare by showing him his reflection … Read more
You’ve most likely heard that goldfish have an attention span of just a couple of minutes and probably a memory to match. So, fish can’t be that intelligent, right? You might be surprised to learn just how intelligent your fishy friends are! Read this guide to discover how fish intelligence is measured, learn how to … Read more
There’s so much to learn about routine aquarium maintenance that it can take a while to learn the ropes, and longer still to become a maintenance master at all times! In reality, most of us have made many routine maintenance errors, especially when we were starting out with our first fish tank. Occasionally, even experts … Read more
Mystery snails are one of the most popular aquarium snails in the world, and one of the reasons is that they’re fairly easy to keep. That said, even the most robust mollusks can suffer from health issues now and then. If your mystery snail is producing copious amounts of slime, it usually means that it’s … Read more
If you have a reef tank, you’ll likely enjoy having a few snails in your tank as good company for your other invertebrates and as part of a cleanup crew. However, Vermetid snails are quite another matter. These snails are pests, and you must get rid of them immediately. But what’s so bad about Vermetid … Read more
The Midas blenny is a beautiful golden saltwater fish that many people with marine tanks love to keep. These gorgeous fish not only bring a brilliant splash of color to your setup but are a great choice for beginners to the hobby. Read this detailed guide to learn everything you need to know to keep … Read more
The Diamond tetra makes a dazzling addition to any peaceful community tank, especially when you keep these stunning little fish in large groups. These fish are relatively straightforward to care for, making them a good choice for beginner aquarists, and you can breed them pretty easily in the aquarium. Keep reading to learn everything you … Read more
There’s been a growing interest in unusual crustaceans in recent years, and, unfortunately, this sometimes results in new species being kept in inappropriate conditions. Sadly, there’s been much misinformation about how to keep purple Thai devil crabs, and these terrestrial crabs are sometimes even seen immersed in water in pet stores. In this article, I’ll … Read more
The Bucktooth tetra looks cute and innocent enough, but these are actually some of the most aggressive fish in the hobby! For that reason, although they can make an interesting addition to your home tank, they are also challenging to keep successfully, largely because of their nasty behavior. Needless to say, this species is not … Read more
The Odessa barb is a brightly colored freshwater fish that’s easy to care for and relatively hardy, making them the ideal candidate for a peaceful community tank. Not surprisingly, these fish have grown in popularity over the last few years, so it seemed right to put together this guide so that you can learn more … Read more
The Tiger Shovelnose catfish is a large freshwater fish with a unique look many fishkeepers fall for. But are these fish suitable for beginners, and will one thrive in a tank environment? There’s so much you need to know before you buy a Tiger Shovelnose catfish, so we’ve compiled this comprehensive guide to the species … Read more
What if I told you that there’s a family of beautiful community fish, closely related to tetras, but rarely kept, even by advanced fish keepers? Introducing the pencilfish – a fish tribe that’s largely overlooked, yet brimming with potential for freshwater community tanks. In this guide, we’ll explore the most commonly kept species, and learn … Read more
Recent years have seen wild betta fish species becoming more popular. One of the most popular types is Betta imbellis. Because of their relatively relaxed temperament and docile character, Betta imbellis has earned the common name the ‘Peaceful Betta’. Peaceful bettas can be kept in a wider variety of tank setups than other bettas, including … Read more
Pearlscale goldfish are famed for being one of the roundest of all fancy goldfish varieties. But this pronounced deformity has led some animal welfare advocates to question the ethics of keeping fish whose traits could affect their health and well-being. In this guide, I’ll explore some of the issues with keeping pearlscale goldfish and share … Read more
