Cockatoo Cichlids

Cockatoo Cichlids: Intriguing and Colorful Swimmers

Named after the colorful pet bird with frilly feathers, cockatoo dwarf cichlids match their feathered namesakes with their exotic colors and impressive crested fins. But while they may be alluring, cockatoo cichlids are not the ideal beginner’s fish, and won’t fit in any old community aquarium. Their complex requirements and aggressive streak mean that this … Read more

Alien Betta

Full Alien Betta Care Guide (+ Related FAQs)

A few years ago, a new hybrid betta arrived on the aquarium scene. Boasting intricate markings and otherworldly colors, the newcomer was branded the ‘Alien Betta,’ although nobody knew exactly why. Much confusion and controversy still surrounds the alien betta: Where it came from and whether it’s an ethical breed. What we do know is … Read more

Rainbow Cichlid

Rainbow Cichlid: Our Care Guide for These Colorful Fish

Cichlids are some of the most beautiful, intelligent, and exotic freshwater fish in the world, but it can be frustrating how many species are also highly aggressive fish. Not so with the rainbow cichlid. These colorful dwarf cichlids are so peaceful they can be kept in a community tank with other medium-sized species. Let’s take … Read more

Severum Cichlid

Our Care Guide for the Severum Cichlid (Tank Mates + More)

Severum cichlids are among my favorite species of tropical fish. Big and beautiful, with bags of personality, these glorious fish are also relatively peaceful for a large cichlid. But severums also demand exceptionally high water quality, high water temperatures, and soft, acidic water to thrive. Feeding them plenty of vegetable matter is also key for … Read more

Elephant Nose Fish

Elephant Nose Fish: Singular, Intelligent, and Challenging

Elephant nose fish are one of the classic ‘oddball fish’ of the aquarium trade. Hailing from the murky waters of African rivers, they use electrical signals and their iconic long ‘nose’ to navigate, find food, and communicate. But be warned that elephant noses are very intelligent fish with highly specialized requirements. Their tank mates, tank … Read more

Keyhole Cichlids

Full Care Guide for Keyhole Cichlids

The humble keyhole cichlid may be less glamorous than some of its dazzling relatives, but this aquarium relic was once more popular than today, and deservedly so! Keyhole cichlids are one of the most peaceful cichlids that you could hope to find. They also remain relatively small, so can be kept with medium-sized community tank … Read more

Japanese rice fish

Japanese Rice Fish: Complete Care Guide (Tank Size + More)

The Japanese rice fish, or ‘medaka ricefish,’ has been attracting considerable attention over the last few years. Although these tiny fish have been available in the aquarium trade for decades, they’ve suddenly become one of the most trendy species in fish keeping. Thankfully, the Japanese ricefish is up to the challenge of being kept by … Read more

pearl gourami

Pearl Gourami: Maintenance, Diet, Habits, and Habitats

Elegant and beautiful, pearl gouramis could be seen as a pearl in the crown of the gourami family. But while their good looks make them popular, are pearl gouramis the ideal fish for a community tank? In this care guide, I’d like to dispel the myth that pearl gouramis are model community fish. Although some … Read more

fish from finding nemo

Identifying the Fish From Finding Nemo – Our Fun Guide

If you’ve ever watched Finding Nemo, you’ve probably wondered which fish species the characters are based upon in real life. It turns out that the animators at Pixar really did their homework in researching marine fish for the movie, making their depictions appear amazingly similar to their real-life counterparts. But while the fish in the … Read more

Hillstream Loach

Hillstream Loach: Habits, Habitats, Tips and Techniques

There are many different types of Hillstream loaches belonging to a family of bottom-dwelling fish that hails from the clear, rapidly-flowing waters of Asia. The Reticulated Hillstream loach is a beautiful, unusual-looking fish that makes an eye-catching addition to any freshwater community setup. These fish are hardy and pretty straightforward to care for, too, making … Read more

alternanthera reineckii 'mini'

Alternanthera Reineckii ‘Mini’: Pretty and Easy to Care for

Alternanthera reineckii “mini” is a beautiful red-leafed plant that’s perfect if you want a plant that grows slowly and doesn’t get too tall for a small tank. Unlike many red plants, this variety isn’t especially difficult to care for, making it a good choice for a novice aquarist. The plant is readily available and not … Read more

Cyperus helferi

Cyperus helferi: An Elegant, Pretty Addition to Your Tank

If you’re looking for a tall, elegant background plant that you can grow in your tropical fish tank, Cyperus helferi could be a species that’s worth considering. This large-sized aquarium plant species can be tricky to settle in a new environment, so we don’t recommend it as a beginner plant. That said, if you’re new … Read more

do tetras eat shrimp

Do Tetras Eat Shrimp? Tank Mates or Tasty Treats?

Now there have been some reports online of tetras eating dwarf shrimp species, especially cherry shrimp. Are these stories true, and how can we protect our precious shrimp from the ravages of our hungry tetras? The truth is that tetras can sometimes eat dwarf shrimp, but usually only when larger tetras are kept with the … Read more

White Skirt Tetra

The White Skirt Tetra: A Complete Care Guide

The white skirt tetra is a beautiful tropical fish for the freshwater community tank. The graceful shape and attractive schooling behavior of this fish make it a popular choice for aquarium hobbyists around the world. Here we’ll take an in-depth look at these translucent fish, how to best care for them, and also discuss the … Read more

Male vs Female Betta

Male vs Female Betta Fish: How To Tell the Difference

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