Probably one of the most beautiful and most popular species of freshwater fish is the Boesemani rainbowfish. These fish are easily recognized by the male’s signature gradient of blue and orange. They are active schooling fish that would make a great addition to planted tanks with lots of open water to swim. Keep reading to … Read more
If you have a large tank and you’re looking for an interesting, characterful fish that’s strikingly attractive and super-intelligent, you might want to consider the South American Lemon Oscar cichlid (Astronotus ocellatus). Oscars are also very friendly fish that can bond with their keepers, watching as you move around the room, reacting to your voice, … Read more
Most pufferfish are known for their bold personalities and beautiful colorations. The Congo puffer is no exception and is becoming an increasingly popular species within the freshwater aquarium hobby. Like other pufferfish, the Congo puffer does best in a tank by itself; this can be boring for some hobbyists, but any puffer-keeper knows that these … Read more
Living plants are a great asset to any freshwater fish tank. Plants help clean the water by using chemicals that are harmful to your fish as fertilizer, and they oxygenate the water as part of the process of photosynthesis. A lush green carpet of living aquarium grass not only looks beautiful, but also provides shelter … Read more
Too many times, beginner hobbyists believe that fish tanks require little to no maintenance after setup. While some experienced hobbyists do run tanks that sustain themselves over years at a time, the rest of us usually need to perform some kind of maintenance at least twice a month. However, fish tank maintenance doesn’t need to … Read more
Poor water quality is the biggest killer of pet fish, and new tank syndrome (NTS) is one of the most common causes of bad water in your fish tank. Overzealous cleaning of an established aquarium and filtration system can cause NTS, too. Did you know that new tank syndrome doesn’t just affect new setups? No … Read more
The guppy is just about the most popular tropical aquarium fish kept by hobbyists. As a result of selective breeding over many years, the once dull-colored guppy is now one of the most brilliantly colored and sought-after fish you can find in your local fish store. Guppies are generally hardy and resilient to a wide … Read more
Watch your betta for a while, and you will undoubtedly notice him sucking in gulps of air at the water surface. But don’t panic! Bettas are labyrinth breathers. That means they can breathe atmospheric air, and this evolutionary quirk enables wild bettas to survive in poorly oxygenated water during the dry season. Bettas are also surface … Read more
The popular GloFish have been around for quite a few years, much loved by hobbyists who want to create a colorful tank without having to spend a fortune on expensive exotic fish species. The latest addition to the GloFish stable is the GloFish shark, and it’s that variant we focus on in this article. In … Read more
If you have a freshwater aquarium and you’re experienced in keeping the conditions in your tank perfect and well-maintained, you might fancy taking on one or more Farlowella. These weird-looking, twig-like fish certainly have a very unusual appearance, and they certainly make a good conversation starter in any home tank! So, if you’re up for … Read more
The pike cichlid also named the Crenicichla lepidota, is a striking, attractive fish that can make an impressive addition to a large aquarium. Unfortunately, these fish are aggressive and predatory, so they don’t generally make suitable candidates for a peaceful community tank. However, the enigmatic pike cichlid is popular with many hobbyists who enjoy keeping these … Read more
Goldfish come in many shapes and sizes and it can be difficult to correctly identify the true name and variation of your goldfish. The calico goldfish is one of these variations and can be easily identified by their usual tri-color patterns. It should be noted that sometimes shubunkin goldfish are referred to as calico goldfish … Read more
If you want an unusual, beautiful freshwater fish to add to your collection, you might want to consider the albino rainbow shark (Epalzeorhynchos frenatum). In this care guide, we tell you everything that you need to know about this perennial aquarium favorite. What’s in a name? The rainbow shark is known by many names, including: … Read more
The rainbow shark’s appearance is far from the colorful array that you might expect from its name, but these fish make a fascinating addition to the freshwater aquarium nevertheless. This species is commonly confused with other similar-looking fish but is easily identified if you know what to look for! Otherwise, a single rainbow shark can … Read more
If you’re limited on space or if you just want a clean design for your fish tank setup, then an inline aquarium heater will help keep some equipment out of the display. While these heaters are currently used by many hobbyists, their popularity has not fully caught on in the aquarium trade just yet. Because … Read more
