Tiger barbs are a very popular freshwater tropical fish that are readily available to buy in most fish stores. These fish are easy to care for, making them a favorite for beginners and experienced fishkeepers alike. Unfortunately, Tiger barbs do come with a bad rep for being aggressive toward other tankmates. But is that really … Read more
The Denison Barb is a striking, active fish of medium size that has long been a popular addition to the community freshwater aquarium. Unfortunately, that popularity has led to many years of overharvesting, and consequently, the species is now on the endangered list in its native India. Read on to learn more about the origins … Read more
If you love your betta buddy’s bright colors, beautiful fins, and quirky character, you might wonder if your pet could get along with another betta. After all, that would mean twice the enjoyment and would really make your fish tank pop, right? However, these beautiful tropical fish are not known as Siamese Fighting Fish for … Read more
People who are new to the world of betta keeping are sometimes surprised to learn that the classic betta splendens fish with long, flowing fins are always male. The less showy female betta fish are rarely seen in the hobby and are only kept by specialists who wish to keep several of them together in … Read more
Hailing from Lake Malawi in East Africa, Electric yellow cichlids (aka. yellow labs) are understandably among the most popular of all African cichlids. Their radiant lemon-yellow color can evoke the atmosphere of a marine aquarium, especially when they’re kept alongside other fish with contrasting colors. But which types of fish can you successfully keep them … Read more
When it comes to setting up a community fish tank, mollies have to be at the top of the list for many hobbyists! These brightly colored, active fish add a wonderful pop of color to your aquarium, are easy to care for, and are prolific livebearers, providing you with lots of new fish. However, one … Read more
Neon and ember tetra are some of the most popular small schooling fish for community aquariums, but can they live together? The answer is yes! Neon tetra and ember tetra make great tank mates for one another, and both of these fish are a great choice for beginners. Let’s take a deeper dive into comparing … Read more
Rainbow fish are beautiful and energetic tropical fish that are often kept in community tanks with other community fish. But some fish keepers have reported problems with aggression in rainbow fish, especially from males that can get territorial at breeding time. Here we’re going to look at which species of rainbow fish are more prone … Read more
Goldfish are normally one of the greediest of all pet fish, so it’ll always be concerning if they completely refuse to eat. A lack of appetite in your goldfish is a classic tell-tale sign of a serious problem in your tank environment or your goldfish’s health that’ll need correcting as soon as possible. In many … Read more
You went to feed your fish their breakfast in your beautiful fish tank and spotted a thin, red thread poking out of your fish’s rear end! OMG! What is that?! The chances are that your fish has contracted a Camallanus infection. But what is Camallanus? Are they contagious? And how can aquarium owners treat and … Read more
With their bright colors, vibrant patterns, and livebearing habit, Mollies are among the most popular fish in the hobby. Mollies are usually displayed in large groups in pet stores, so many beginners assume that these are schooling fish. But is that so? Well, Mollies are actually not schooling fish, although they do like to shoal! … Read more
Whether you term angelfish ‘social fish’ or ‘schooling fish‘, it’s clear that they tend to enjoy the company of one another and should ideally be kept in pairs or groups. In no circumstances should an angelfish be kept completely isolated, though some aquarists have successfully kept a single specimen alongside other fish in a community … Read more
When I was a young boy, one of my first encounters with pet fish was with my neighbors who kept two goldfish. I can vividly remember the day when they told me, remorsefully, that one of the goldfish had died, and a week later, the remaining one had died of ‘loneliness’. Dying of loneliness. How … Read more
Guppies are sociable fish that don’t like to live alone. If you were to keep a guppy alone, it’d become prone to boredom, anxiety, and even depression. Several fish species can be kept successfully with guppies in a community aquarium, and guppies also like to be kept in groups with their own kind. But these … Read more
Beautiful, intelligent, with bags of personality. If there were a dating website for fish, Cichlids would have a great profile! But are cichlids so lucky when it comes to longevity? While their lifespans vary considerably, most cichlid species will live between 5-10 years in captivity when treated well. But since there’s so much variation, let’s … Read more
