Practical Fishkeeping 2018-12 PDF

Electric fish with a long trunk!
Advice
21 COMMON
MISTAKES
PIRANHA!
Ambush predators
Tanganyika’s
‘gobies’
Secret lives
of Jawfish
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WelcomeTHE EXPERTS
STEVE
BAKER
AND PAY JUST
£3.50* A MONTH
See page 42
*based on purchasing
print option with direct debit
Steve has been getting

stuck in to the world of
piranhas, as well as listing some of the
common errors fishkeepers make. See if
you’re making any on page 74.
GABOR
HORVATH
Gabor has been doing
what he does best –
breeding and photographing fish in his
fish house. This month it’s halfbeaks,
and you’ll find them on page 50.
NEALE
MONKS
NEIL HEPWORTH
We asked Neale to tell
us all about what we
can stick on the bottom of our tanks,
and what a result! Find out all about
different substrates on page 70.
‘SHNAUZENORGAN’ MAY well ON THE COVER

AD
be my new favourite word.
KONINGS I never even knew it existed
Red bellied piranha.
Photograph by Amazon-
We tasked Ad with
delivering some of his until I read about it this month, Images/Alamy
vast knowledge on Goby cichlids. After and then it made me realise
a lifetime of study, he can share some how this hobby is riddled with
revelations with us on page 98. cool facts – cool facts and
cooler-sounding words.
DAVE Did you know, for example, that elephantnose have the
WOLFENDEN heaviest brain to body ratio of any animal on Earth? We
Dave has been used to think it was us humans that packed the biggest
investigating the brains, but it turns out we got trumped by fish.
world of elephantnoses. Learn about As for other awesome words, I’m reminded of
the fascinating lives of these snouty ‘schreckstoff’ which I came across a few years ago when
mormyrids on page 78.
researching pain and stress. It turns out that when some
fish are hurt they release a chemical that acts as a
CHRIS warning to others not to get near, and that’s the name of
SERGEANT the chemical.
Chris has delivered yet Anyway, enough about me. What new words are you
another masterpiece,
learning this month? Let me know. Letters please!
this time all about ambush predators
in the underwater world. Find out the
sneaky fish with the fastest and biggest
bites on page 28.
Nathan Hill, Associate Editor
Which fish
clings to a rock af
Stay in touch it has died?
Find out on page 22
Email us at editorial@ Watch us on youtube.com/ Follow us at www.facebook.
practicalfishkeeping.co.uk user/practicalfishkeeping com/PFKmag/
WWW.PRACTICALFISHKEEPING.CO.UK 5
s DECEMBER
28
22
ELECTRIC ELEPHANTS
INSPIRATION scientist goes about setting up
a flowing stream tank for agile
Editor’s
78 With their bigger-than-average
RARE BEAUTY
08 The Crystal rainbow tetra is
hillstream loaches.
Pick brains and peculiar trunk-like
snouts, elephantnoses are
THE ART OF THE
still something of a mystery
to science, but it’s pretty as a 28 AMBUSH
simply unforgettable. Oh, and
they’re electric too!
stained glass window. A captivating look at aquatic
JAWS
BITING FOR
ambush predators of all
86
14 THEIR LIFE
shapes and sizes, and the
specialised strategies they’ve
Packed with personality,
meet the colourful, diverse,
Its reputation precedes it, but developed to catch their prey. burrow-dwelling members of
is the Piranha an aggressive, the jawfish family.
THE RUMMY-NOSE TRIO
cold-blooded predator or a
much misund softy? 44 As a perennial old favourite,
92 JEWEL OF AFRICA
Rummynose tetra are Let’s hear it for Pelvicachromis
HO
22 sometimes overlooked, but
these three little ‘Rudolphs’ are
subocellatus, the lovely but
lesser-known cousin of the
h well worth a second glance. Read editor Rainbow kribensis.
Nathan’s
favourite article
HAPPY HALFBEAKS ‘GOBIES’ OF LAKE
50 Distinctly odd-looking, slender
this issue:
Rumeynose tetra
98 TANGANYIKA
Wrestling halfbeaks are highly PAGE 44 Cute as a button, these
recommended if you want to attractive little fishes’ shared
keep (and breed) something parenting behaviour is
just a little bit different. fascinating to watch.
5
THINGS 1 The incredible
speed of the 2 The uses of
different kinds of 4 That a piranha
sheds its teeth
YOU WILL Bluestripe pipefish
when it’s in hunting
substrates and how
to prepare them.
3 How to tackle
the problem of
feeding your fish
in sets, a quarter at
a time. 5 The voltage that
an ‘electric’
LEARN IN mode when you go on elephantnose will
holiday. What are give off if you
THIS ISSUE your options? touch it.
14 86
diffuser set from Colombo and up three different popular
NEWS & VIEWS a Vultron airpump. Plus a look canister filters.
AQUATIC NEWS Practical
10 at three brands of polymer
Fishkeeping KNOW-HOW: ALL ABOUT
Fascinating deep-sea species
discoveries, ecstatic octopuses,
balls – are these spheres
the future when it comes to delivered to 70 SUBSTRATES
speedy sharks and a tribute maturing your pond? your digital From silica sand to aquatic
to the late Jack Wattley, the device soil, what’s the best type of
‘godfather of Discus’. REGULARS PAGE 42 substrate for your plants and
your livestock?
20 ETHICAL DEBATE
PFK associate editor Nathan 42 SUBSCRIBE TO PFK
Enjoy Practical Fishkeeping HONEY, I HURT THE FISH
Hill and staff writer Steve from just £3.50 a month – and 74 The 21 most common mistakes
Baker go head to head on the never miss an issue. in fishkeeping – and how to
question of water testing. avoid them.
FISHKEEPING ANSWERS
LETTERS 57
39 Thoughts from a young
PFK’s crack team of aquatics
experts are on hand to answer 107 NEXT MONTH
Ram cichlids, Panaque catfish
fishkeeper, biotope snobbery all your questions. This month: and Tiger barb alternatives.
and in praise of live food. keeping ricefish, nitrite testing,
GEAR & REVIEWS

and how to tempt out a shy
catfish, to name just a few. 114 TAILPIECE
Nathan takes a friend to visit
a public aquarium and comes
108 GEAR GUIDE
The latest fishkeeping products 66 KNOW-HOW: SETTING
UP EXTERNAL FILTERS
out full of self loathing. Are
these once-loved attractions
reviewed, including a CO 2 A step-by-step guide to setting now their own worst enemy?
FASCINATING FISH
Trochilocharax ornatus
R We still know very little about the mysterious Crystal rainbow tetra.
What we do know is that it’s stunning as a stained glass window.
WORDS: STEVE BAKER
8 PRACTICAL FISHKEEPING
I
T’S OFTEN said that, as T. ornatus was first bought to the in these kind of conditions in
humans, we know more attention of ichthyologists when it aquaria. There’s some thought that
about space than we do was shipped from Peru in 2003 by their true distribution lies in the Rio
about the oceans on the German importers Aquarium Glaser. Nanay basin, though preferred water
planet we inhabit. In reality It was originally considered to be of conditions would be near identical
that’s probably not strictly the Heterocharax genus, before being to those mentioned.
true; we don’t even know the described to science by Zarske in The new tribe is placed in the
size of the cosmos, let alone 2010. Zarske opened a new genus, subfamily Stevardiinae, a group of
what might exist within it. Trichilocharax, and tribe, over 300 species of Central and
But it continues to surprise me Trochilocharacini, for the Crystal South American tetras with many
how little we know of what’s much rainbow tetra due to rather members that adopt an internal
closer to the surface, and this bonny individual-looking dentition and insemination strategy. It’s believed
little tetra is one creature we know some hooked fin rays that relate to that the Crystal rainbow tetra
of, but still know very little about. no other characin – to this day we does that too.
I look at this fish and think of a know of no closely related tetra. In the tank, this diminutive
stained glass window, but in terms Other than just ‘Peru’, scientists delicacy (1.7cm maximum) displays
of a common name, Trochilocharax aren’t sure about the distribution. stunning colours under full-
ornatus caught on as the Crystal The specimens used by Zarske to spectrum lighting, with blues and
rainbow tetra, Orange-tailed glass describe the species came from an greens reflected in their bodies, and
tetra, or the Hummingbird tetra, imported group, and while they males displaying beautiful burnt
depending on who you talk to. know the import came from Iquitos, oranges and yellows in their finnage.
Beware of researching by that they don’t know where the fish were Sexes are easy to distinguish,
last common name though, as caught, or from what kind of habitat. with males harbouring longer,
Characidium fasciatum, the Darter It’s widely believed T. ornatus hails more colourful fins, especially
NEIL HEPWORTH
tetra, is also sometimes called the from small blackwater streams with the dorsal and pelvic fins, while
Hummingbird tetra, and it’s a little flow, low conductivity and females develop a slightly more
very different fish. negligible hardness, and it does well rounded body.
Above: The subtle hues

of Trochilocharax ornatus.
Aquatic News
NEWS
Latest news and events from the world of aquatics

DISCOVERY
PREDATOR
FISH OF MANY WATCH OUT,

THERE’S A
MANTIS
COLOURS
Scientists delighted but puzzled by new, strikingly coloured,
ABOUT!
Scientists studying wildlife in
Karnataka, South West
‘emerald in a coal mine’ Anthias. India, have observed a
praying mantis
A stunning catching and
discovery. eating fish for
the first time.
The famously
predatory insect was
already known to feast
SHUTTERSTOCK
on other insects, small birds,
amphibians, reptiles and
mammals, but had never been seen to
prey upon fish – until now.
The team spotted the 5cm-long male,
thought to be Hierodula tenuidentata,
the giant Asian mantis, striding out
among lily leaves in a roof garden pond
and grabbing its guppy victims from just
below the surface. It wasn’t a chance
meal either, as the same mantis
returned for several nights in a row to
© LUIZ ROCHA
do a bit more fishing.

As well as another reason for fish to be
wary, it leads to further questions about
R
ESEARCHERS FROM the goddess of beauty and love. This the cognitive abilities of insects and the
California Academy of is only the fourth Tosanoides species eyesight of mantises.
Sciences, diving on the
DR LIUZ discovered, and the first to be
St Paul’s rocks, a deep-water reef ROCHA found in the Atlantic (the others
1,000 miles off the Atlantic coast of “In a time of live in the Pacific).
Brazil, have discovered a brilliantly crisis for coral Females are a solid reddish-orange
coloured new species of Anthias. reefs, learning – typical of many ‘twilight zone’
The divers were 130m down more about dwelling fish as red and blue light
when the small fish caught their unexplored reef can’t penetrate to this depth, so it
eye – its neon pink and yellow body habitats helps with camouflage.
HENRY MARCUS, CREATIVE COMMONS
and green fins made it stand out However, the reason for the males’
“like an emerald in a coal mine”.
is critical ‘highlighter pen’ colouration is still
Further morphological investigation to our being explored as it goes against
alongside DNA analysis confirmed understanding this theory. The scientists are
the fish is indeed new to science, of how to sequencing the fish’s vision genes to
and has been named Tosanoides protect them.” try to better understand the benefits
aphrodite in honour of the Greek of their extravagant colour scheme.
WORLD’S MOST
MYSTERY POLLUTION IN WALES
EXPENSIVE KOI SOLD SANCTUARY FOR PARISIAN GOLDFISH
An as-yet-unidentified pollutant has caused the
A 90cm Kohaku called S Legend has Upset by the poor conditions many goldfish are
deaths of thousands of fish in a 5.5-mile stretch sold for a record £1.4 million (203 kept in, the Paris Aquarium is offering them a
of the River Clywedog, near Wrexham. Natural million Yen) in Hiroshima, Japan. All new home. Any fish handed in undergo a 40-day
Resources Wales (NRW) has described the deaths we know of the buyer is that she’s quarantine before being introduced to a large
as a “major pollution incident”. NRW will remain called Miss Yingying and is from display aquarium that currently holds over 600
on site to monitor water conditions and assess the ‘rescued’ goldfish. It’s hoped that the facility
impact on wildlife and the environment, as well as
Taiwan, and intends to keep will help to educate people about the adult size,
investigating the source of the pollution. the Koi in Japan, where it’s lifespan and care needs of the humble goldfish.
expected to compete
in shows.
NEW SPECIES
OBITUARY
Trio of fragile JACK WATTLEY

DIES, AGED 95
Snailfish found
An international team of and fragile that they ‘melt’ if
Jack Wattley, the ‘godfather
of Discus’, has passed
away, aged 95, on October
3rd, just seven days before
his 96th birthday. An author,
researchers investigating one of brought to the surface. This aquarist, businessman,
the deepest parts of the Pacific apparent weakness is actually a competition judge and
Ocean has discovered three new strength, as the immense public speaker, Jack was recognised as a pioneer in
species of abyssal fish. The team crushing pressure at such depths the field of Discus breeding, producing some of the
used remote underwater cameras would instantly kill more unique strains that are so popular today.
to probe the Atacama Trench, conventional fish. Jack started out as a hobbyist – he was originally
which runs for over 3,000 miles Growing 20-25cm in length the owner of many clothes stores – until he began to
at depths of over 8,000m along they have temporarily been venture to the Amazon. It was here that he sought out
the coast of Peru and Chile. named the Purple, Pink and Blue and found green Discus strains he’d heard lived in
The new species are all from Atacama snailfish, pending lakes in Brazil. After taking these home and
the Liparidae family, commonly formal classification. succeeding with them, he returned to South America,
known as Snailfish, and have this time in search of blue strains, which he also
made some startling adaptations found, collected and shipped back home.
to survive in this extreme, They are so By crossing the green and the blue, Jack created the
deep-water environment. first turquoise Discus to great acclaim within the
They are scaleless, translucent, soft-bodied and industry. Demand – and Jack’s reputation – grew
and their bodies are made of a
gel-like substance, with the
fragile that they considerably. His fish acquired near-legendary status
and he remains a household name in Discus circles.
hardest parts being their teeth
and the bones in the inner ear.
‘melt’ if brought His other successes include the technique of raising
Discus fry without parents, a method he kept secret
Otherwise they are so soft-bodied to the surface for many years. Through this technique Jack went
from being ‘just’ a breeder of high-quality fish to a
Snailfish look as successful producer on a commercial scale.
ungainly as they Jack will also be remembered for the books ‘Discus
sound. for the Perfectionist’ and ‘Handbook of Discus’, which
developed an almost cultish following. Some readers
might also remember his contributions to the
magazine world over his long career.
ALAMY
SHUTTERSTOCK
Aquatic news
NEWS
NEUROSCIENCE
ECSTATIC OCTOPUSES
Neuroscientists researching
similarities in animal brains have An octopus
found that octopuses appear to outside its usual
rave habitat.
react to the drug ecstasy in much
the same way as humans, despite
being separated by 500 million
years of evolution. Octopuses
are notoriously intolerant of their
own kind, and are thought to be
the most behaviourally advanced
invertebrates.
The research team first observed
the interactions of octopuses for
30 minutes in a tank with three
connecting chambers – one
contained a plastic action figure,
SHUTTERSTOCK
the other an octopus of the same
species in a safety cage.
They then exposed the same
octopuses to MDMA (ecstasy)
in a separate tank, before that they normally wouldn’t. these behaviours, just as it is in
reintroducing them to the three- The octopuses were also observed humans, and the team believes
chambered aquarium. ‘fondling’ an airstone or floating this study shows serotonin has an
After exposure to the drug they around with all eight arms extended important role in social interactions
spent far more time in the chamber in what the team described as a right across species. This is not
with the other octopus, and were ‘water ballet’. just a human or mammalian
far more tactile, hugging the cage The brain chemical serotonin characteristic, but one of brains
and exposing parts of themselves is believed to be fundamental in in general.
BEHAVIOUR
SHARK SHOWS SURPRISING TURN OF FIN

Basking sharks, Cetorhinus maximus, are Great white shark. Once video footage of twice that of the average Olympic 50m
well known as the second-largest species these leaps were studied in combination swimmer. When the animal’s size and
of fish in the world, but few people had with data from tracker tags on the fish, weight (8m long; 2,700kg) were taken
them down as fast swimmers – until now. surprised scientists worked out that some into account, it was shown to be
When your major prey is plankton, of these apparently sedentary sharks directly comparable to Great whites in
speed isn’t really required, so the ocean were reaching speeds of 11mph – terms of expended mechanical energy.
giant is more typically associated with a
laid-back, languid swimming style, with
little more than the occasional
tail fin flapping on the surface
in terms of dynamic action.
However, recent studies of the
species have recorded them ‘breaching’
SHUTTERSTOCK
– hurling themselves right out of the

water in a manner usually associated with
faster-moving predatory species like the
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SPECIES SHOWCASE
Piranha
Bit nig for
The world can’t make its mind up about this South

American shoaling predator. What’s the truth? Is it a
cold-blooded predator or a much-misunderstood softy?
WORDS: STEVE BAKER
their l
ife
ALAMY
The fearsome
teeth of a Red
bellied piranha.
SPECIES SHOWCASE
Piranha
W
ELL, IT’S a peril! The name ‘piranha’ means
cold-blooded ‘tooth fish’ in the Brazilian language
predator, literally. Tupi, and while few of us will come
And it’s mostly into contact with these feisty fish in
misunderstood. the wild, if you do, approach with
But I don’t think real care. There are many, many
I’ll go so far as to fishermen in South America with
say it’s a softy. bits of fingers or toes missing, and
While the films ‘Piranha’ (1978), even more with scars to prove these
‘Piranha 2’ (1981) and ‘Piranha 3D’ fish demand our respect.
(2010) depicted our fishy friends as The largest species – the Black
the most organised, hyper-aggressive piranha, Serrasalmus rhombeus – has
killing machines freshwater has ever a bite force of more than 32kg.
seen, now we’re bombarded by That’s from a fish whose record
documentaries aiming to redress the catch weight is 3.83kg, putting it
balance. I’ve seen a presenter wade ahead of the Great white shark in
into a swimming pool with a shoal jaw strength comparative to body
of piranha, and jumping into a river mass. Their teeth are made for
seconds after catching them to show cutting – each tooth is only about
they’re not just mindless killers. 4mm long, but they’re sharp as
So should we ignore the films? razors and fit snugly, interlocking to
Nothing to fear? At your slice through flesh and steal a piece
before moving on to let another fish
take a bite.
It’s not unusual to find piranhas
with missing teeth. Several times
over their life, they replace any
missing tricuspid (three-
pointed) teeth, but rather
than do it individually,
like sharks, they do
Red-bellied piranhas make three
it by quarters, growing and replacing
distinctive noises – a ‘bark’ at all the teeth on one side of a jaw at a
competitors, a low grunt time. These replacements are ready
when circling, and a snap developed in the jaw, waiting for
of the teeth. when they’re needed.
As with most opposing views, the
truth about piranha behaviour lies
somewhere in the middle. They
are ferocious, voracious predators,
who can strip all the flesh from a
cow’s carcass in minutes, but at
the same time, the diet of the
Red-bellied piranha, Pygocentrus
nattereri, is largely made up of
aquatic invertebrates, crustaceans,
insects, seeds, nuts and fruits.
The classic Piranha ‘feeding
frenzy’ comes down to feeding
pressure. Through the best part of
the year, Red-bellies swim in small
shoals. Contrary to popular belief,
they don’t shoal as an aggressive
tactic to overcome prey, but rather
MP&C PIEDNOIR, AQUAPRESS.COM
for safety from the likes of giant

river otters, caiman, river dolphins,
eagles and predatory fish species.
A shoal comprises around 20
individuals. Food is plentiful and
aggression levels are low, so you
They don’t shoal as an aggressive
tactic, but rather shoal for safety from
the likes of giant river otters
space to spread out, shoals BELOW: external filters rather than

of piranhas meet shoals of Piranhas are one massive one; not only
hundreds of other species, prey themselves. does this safeguard in case
and where mass shoals of one filter fails, but two lots
piranhas congregate, the of flow makes it easier to
feeding pressure results avoid dead spots.
in the annihilation of It’s ideal if heating is
meaty passers-by, integrated with the
dead or alive. filtration, either
You’ll never by using in-line
see this in heaters or a
captive fish. For a thermofilter – this
start, there just isn’t also provides peace
same pressure to feed. of mind that there are no
You’ll never have enough power cables in the water
fish in a tank to create such to be chomped through.
pressures without running into Lighting is up to the keeper.
serious water quality issues, and if Although piranhas get stressed in a
you limit food to heighten aggression, sparse tank, they aren’t upset by
you’ll just end up with your piranhas strong lighting, so whether you want
Captiothe n,
tuckingcaption
caption, in to each other. dull illumination or a brightly lit
tank, your fish should be happy.
At certain times of the year, Essentail maintenence
Red-bellies congregate Like other large fish, piranhas need Black background
in large numbers. clean, healthy water conditions, but When it comes to substrate,
ALAMY
produce a lot of waste to foul their experienced keepers tend to go one

tank. With no suitable tankmates to of two ways – either a bare base or
LEFT: The won’t encounter frenzied feeding in hoover up excess food, it’s a huge black sand/gravel.
revered Red- these conditions. When water levels job for the aquarist, necessitating Bare glass is far easier to keep
bellied piranha. get lower, and large numbers of fish big, regular water changes and waste clean but the fishes’ colours tend to
are brought together in ever- removal. It also puts the emphasis suffer. This can be limited by
BELOW: decreasing streams and lakes towards on providing strong filtration, both painting the base black (underneath)
A mature Black
piranha showing the end of the dry season, feeding mechanically and biologically. Most but the reflective glass is still likely
red eyes. pressures are heightened. With less keepers prefer to use two large to subdue colours slightly. A black
substrate, be it sand or gravel, will
help show off your fish, and can be
further enhanced by strong, green
plant growth. If you fancy a more
subtle, atmospheric tank, go for a
few large pieces of wood, sand, leaf
litter and low light levels. A couple
of spotlights to create shafts of light
will intensify the mood.
The next question is how many
fish to keep. Red-bellies can either
be kept singly or in groups of five or
more. On their own, they are still
active and show confidence and will
need a minimum 200 l tank. The
larger S. rhombeus is a solitary fish in
the wild, but a solo specimen still

requires a tank of 500 l, ideally 2m
or more in length.
When attacking other fish, In numbers, Red-bellies want
Piranhas first bite the fins and about 100 l each, so a 150x60x60cm
eyes to immobilise their prey tank would be a basic set-up for a
before tucking in to more
fleshy parts. WWW.PRACTICALFISHKEEPING.CO.UK 17
SPECIES SHOWCASE
Piranha
small shoal of five, but you can

really see the bonus of a larger tank
with more fish. I’ve seen a few BIG Studies show that the sounds
piranha displays, 1,000-1,300 l sort of people playing, washing
of size and the result is stunning. and preparing food alert
piranhas to a possible
Distribution food source.
Red-bellied piranhas are widely
distributed over much of South
America. Since 1997, ichthyologists
have classed Pygocentrus ternetzi
(described by Steindachner 1908) as
a southern strain of P. nattereri (Fink
and Zelditch couldn’t find reliable-
enough characteristics to define a
species), labelling P. ternetzi as a non-
linear cline (non-sequential features)
as they differ in body shape and
have more of a yellow belly than
red. These fish often go under the
trade name ‘Yellow emperor
piranha’ in shops.
P. nattereri are found throughout
the Amazon basin including
Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia,
Ecuador and Peru.
They’re also found in
Rio Essequibo in Avoid the temptation to feed
Guyana and ham, chicken, beef and so on.
Venezuela, Rio
The lipids from mammalian
Paraná in Brazil,
Paraguay and meats may not be Red-bellies are found in
Argentina, Rio Uruguay
in Brazil, Uruguay and
metabolised
properly.
major river channels,
Argentina, and among coastal tributaries, and flood, oxbow
drains in north-east Brazil and
the Guianas. and man-made dam lakes
The Red-bellies don’t restrict
themselves to particular habitat
Small shoals of
Red-bellies are
most natural.
P. nattereri Black piranha FACTFILE
with obvious Evidence suggests that the Black RED-BELLIED PIRANHA
red belly. piranha, Serrasalmus rhombeus, is 6Scientific name: Pygocentrus nattereri
endemic to Guyana. However, it’s 6Pronunciation: Pie-go-sen-trus natt-er-air-eye
officially been recorded as coming 6Size: 35cm maximum, but rarely more than 25cm in aquaria
from Guyana, Venezuela, Suriname, 6Origin: Widespread through South America
French Guiana, Colombia, Ecuador, 6Tank size: 100x45x45cm+ for an individual
6Water requirements: 5.5-7.5 pH, 4-14°H
Peru, Bolivia and Brazil. It’s possible
6Temperature: 24-28°C
that sightings outside Guyana have 6Feeding: Omnivorous – bloodworm, shrimps,
been cases of mistaken identity as earthworms, prawns, mussels, lancefish and
identification of certain species is fresh veg
challenging. Some expect S. hollandi 6Availability and cost:
and Pristoprycon aureus to be Reasonably common;
declared synonymous with from £5 200 l+
S. rhombeus at some point.
NEIL HEPWORTH
The red eye is a good identifying

mark and gives rise to an alternative FACTFILE
common name, the Redeye piranha, BLACK PIRANHA
but the red eye isn’t developed in 6Scientific name: Serrasalmus rhombeus
juveniles. Add to this the fact that 6Pronunciation: Serra-sal-mus rom-bee-us
types. They are found in major river geographical forms exist, there are 6Size: 40-45cm
channels, major and minor several synonyms (such as S. niger), 6Origin: Widespread over north and central South America
tributaries, temporary flood lakes, and confusion with common names 6Tank size: 200x50x50cm for an individual
6Water requirements: 5.0-7.5 pH, 2-15°H
oxbow lakes and man-made dam ‘Black’, ‘white’ and ‘redeye’ all being
lakes. They prefer deeper waters, used, and you can see the issues. 6Feeding: Mostly carnivorous – shrimps,
but aren’t fussed whether they’re Black Piranhas shoal in shallow, lancefish, earthworms, prawns, mussels, etc.
white, clear or blackwater conditions. well-vegetated streams as youngsters, 6Availability and cost:
Females generally grow larger than then become solitary as they age Quite a rarity: from
males and have a rounder body and mature, moving to deep areas £50, depending
shape when mature, but the fish of major rivers. Like the Red-belly, on size 500 l+
can’t be sexed as juveniles. This S. rhombeus adapts easily to different
throws a fly in the ointment if you’re water types and is happy in steadily
looking to keep a group, as males flowing water or at the edge of

become territorial as they mature. rapids – a favoured hunting ground.
A tank of mature males generally Food items include fish, crabs,
ends up with individual fish almost insects, small mammals and chunks
motionless in their part of the tank, of flesh and fin bitten from big fish. Wild shoals protect the
and not the interactive shoal their Some keepers do mix them with hierarchy. Older, bigger fish
keeper desires. other Piranhas, but there’s always a swim in the centre; smaller,
risk involved. Much safer to keep a BELOW: An immature young fish in formation
lone fish and revel in that singular Black piranha lacking colour around the edge.
in the eyes.
character. Despite their
fearsome reputation,
they can make a pretty
good ‘pet’.
SHUTTERSTOCK
OPINION
NATHAN HILL & STEVE BAKER

We’re told it’s the most important aspect to fishkeeping and
that we’re awful fishkeepers for not doing it, but just how
essential is water testing for the modern aquarist?
hen was the last time For argument’s sake, if I used RO water
you tested your water from a trusted source, and tailored it myself
and found a problem? with minerals, I know the hardness of it, and
As a professional I think I have enough hands-on experience to
fishkeeper, how often know exactly how the decoration I’m using
would you say that (I’ll go wood and leaf litter) will affect the pH.
you’ve been ‘saved’ I know I can add biological supplements and
by a test revealing ammonia over such a prolonged period that
something you wouldn’t otherwise have maturation will be assured within four months
spotted? Is it possible for a fishkeeper – at least to a level that I could add half a
to become so competent that they need dozen initial ‘hardy’ tetra to my tank. From
not test water at all? there, it’s a patience game. If I leave it six
weeks between additions, I have absolute
SB: The last time I was saved by a surprise confidence that the filter will have time to
test result?... I don’t think I recall an occasion mature for each new load of fish.
to be honest but, as a professional keeper, Let’s also assume I’m performing a weekly
I’d say I’m pretty good at knowing what to 50% water change, with enough mineral added
expect, and my water testing is more to verify to my RO to avoid any kind of mineral-
my thoughts or observe the maturing of a deficiency filter-crash. Aside from power cuts
new set-up. or disasters outside my control, I can’t see
The last time I tested that testing is going to tell
water was a week ago,
I wanted to check the
I’m sure I could me anything I don’t already
know here. Thoughts?
GH and KH levels were wing it and get
stable and where I want SB: You can’t know, you can
them in a particular away with it, but only make educated
tank. I was also checking assumptions in that
the performance of both
I’d rather know situation. I’m sure I could
a PO4 and an NO3
absorbing media.
what’s happening wing it myself and get away
with it, but I’d rather know
When I set up a tank, than risk the health what’s happening than risk
and as I’m adding fish, the health of any fish.
I’ll be testing between of any fish Plus, you and I are
two and seven times a experienced, professional
week, depending on importance. I do that fishkeepers. I guess you wouldn’t suggest this
until I think I know the tank, normally about tactic for the average aquarist?
three months, then I test bi-monthly, or if When I worked in retail, I always found
I see a change in the tank or the fish. selling test kits tricky. They’re expensive and
To my mind, you can’t know what’s going on people think they are too sciency, too
in your tank without testing. You can only complicated and beyond them, but they’re the
assume, which is a risky game. only way to know about the quality of the
fishes’ environment, and far more important
NH: OK, this will sound wholly arrogant, and than substrate, lights, plants or ornaments.
it’s totally hypothetical, but I suspect I could
JACQUES PORTAL
set up a tank this minute and get it right NH: From a personal perspective, any
through to completion – including with problems I’ve ever picked up from a test
livestock – without having to test once. haven’t been during my regular, weekly
check-up. Problems are never that convenient wouldn’t buy a kit, so I was obviously missing
as to happen on my test day. Rather, when something in portraying how important
I’ve spotted something – a fish looking a little I believe water testing to be.
off-colour – I’ve thought ‘that looks like a The fact that you “thought ‘that looks like a
nitrite problem’, and tested it to confirm. nitrite problem’, and tested it to confirm,”
My angle here is that I can’t recall a test shows that it’s more important to have a kit at
catching an issue in an established tank before home, than to take a sample to a shop for
it became an issue. It’s always been the other analysis every fortnight.
way around. But I’d not suggest this to a What’s your advice to novice and
newcomer. It’s only because I’m aware of how intermediate hobbyists in respect of testing?
a sickly fish looks that I can second guess the
problem and have it confirmed through a test. NH: I’ve tried a few approaches over the
And my course of action is always the same years, and I’d not say that any were entirely
anyway – water changes, ease back on successful. I’m not even sure that the problem
feeding, and unburden the filter. is expressing the importance of testing.
Selling test kits is a nightmare. The thing is, Rather, I suspect the problem is that far
for the best part they’re really easy to use. too many people still look at fish as
If you can fill a test tube to a line, add some disposable commodities.
drops from a dropper, shake and compare to a For those people who care about fish, I’d
colour chart, then you can do it. say that testing (especially through an
But then, you don’t even need to do that ongoing monitor like a Seneye) is a way to
any more. Something like a Seneye just goes ensure they aren’t suffering, and a way to
in the tank and emails or texts you if correct that suffering if it occurs. For
the water quality shifts. those who don’t care about fish,
How would you get I’d plug testing as a type of
people to test more economic insurance. In a
often? Or test at all? tank filled with £200 of
How would you argue livestock, a £30 bundle
its importance, of cheap test kits
especially to the annually is a way of
newcomer? protecting that
investment. I’d back
SB: But the cost of that up by explaining
a Seneye... for each how the majority of
tank! It’s not an problems in aquaria are
option many will due to water quality
choose unless the issues that can be resolved
price of such systems with regular testing. £30 is a
comes crashing down. As it night out with a couple of
is, it’s only likely to be bought by friends in a pub. I’m sure anyone can
people who know the importance of forego one of those a year.
testing water, and own a serious reef,
Discus or similar tank. SB: I think you’re quite right there. Even a
The strip tests came in to simplify things, but full-on liquid kit can be had for the equivalent
they’re still quite dear and mostly poor in their of three nights out. But I think you’re probably
ability. To argue the importance, I would point sadly right that many casual fishkeepers see
out that testing is the only way to know fish as disposable. They would rather risk the
exactly what’s in the water, and therefore life of a fish, than splash out and learn to use
what’s in your fishes’ blood. I would point out test kits. As you say, it’s shortsighted – even
that coming to the shop for a water test is with cheapish fish, a well-stocked 60cm tank
poor economy, as shops often charge for the may have up to £90 worth of stock.
test, plus there’s petrol money and the I think the myth of test kits being too sciency INSET: The
inconvenience to take into account. needs quashing too. Who can’t get 5ml of more water tests
I would also point out that if someone sees tank water, add three drops from bottle one, you can perform,
a fish struggling on a Monday evening and three drops from bottle two, shake and leave the safer your
fish will be.
can’t get to an aquatics shop until Saturday, for five minutes before comparing the colours
there will be big issues before they know to a chart? if you need advice on the results, a
what’s going on. But then most people still call to your fish shop should see you right.
Do you have an opinion on water testing that you would like to share, or
perhaps a topic you would like to see discussed? If so, you can find us at
www.facebook.com/pfkmag or email [email protected]
INSPIRATION
Stream tank
How flow can

JAY WILLIS
PHD set up a flowing stream tank,
Jay is a scientist
researching
hydrodynamics of
but how does a profess
river fish. He has
worked on pigeons, researcher go about it? d
beetles, tuna,
ALAMY
whales and krill. one, and this is what h
you go ?
H
ILLSTREAM significant amounts of energy.
LOACHES are As researchers, our experiments
small freshwater are only worth doing if the fish
species found in we keep in the lab are healthy and
the fast-flowing behave as they do in the wild. We
streams of Asian have spent several years improving
tropical rainforests. our aquariums to match the
In the wild, they ecotypes the hillstream loaches
glide over smooth rocks in strong prefer. To that end we went to
currents and climb vertical, even Borneo to see them in the wild.
overhanging surfaces with ease.
Understanding how these tiny Loaches in Borneo
fish cope with such extreme Hillstream loaches come from
environments might lead to rainforest mountain streams.
significant breakthroughs in fluid It rains a lot. Surprisingly there’s
dynamics, perhaps allowing us to often only a thin layer of soil over
reduce the drag on ships, or bedrock or clay, so rain reaches
reduce the cost of pumping water. the streams quickly. A river,
Hillstream loaches have unique normally a trickle, turns into a
scale structures and body shapes, torrent in a few hours, or even
and it may be these adaptations minutes. Leaves, twigs, silt,
that give them the ability to fight gelatinous algae, and anything else
the current without expending that can’t get out of the way, is
INSPIRATION
Stream tank
swept down on a torrent the colour We used two Eheim compact+ 5000
of milky coffee. A couple of hours pumps at full speed in a 100 l tank
later, the clouds clear and the sun through sponges on strainers to
reappears; four or five hours later. move the water from the
the sediment drops out and the main tank to the platform. A
water clears. This cycle is repeated rich layer of algae grows on
every couple of days to every few c the rocks in the strong light.
weeks, depending on the season. th The waterfall oxygenates the
People in Borneo eat these fish, wa water and provides constant
known as ‘rokot’, but it’s quite a trek abo sound too; the ramp provides
to the high mountain streams, so they seco access and an interesting
aren’t eaten often. Many people we high variable flow feature. We use
met had fond memories of catching like a ‘offline’ filters, and encourage
them as children and were keen to compa shrimps, snails and algae to
advise. One indicator was a certain moves
aquatic snail: “Where there are snails about h
there are rokot.” It was true and useful per seco
as the fish could be difficult to spot. quickly d
We were looking at methods for only a few
sampling the fish in the future from the p
without harming them, so we If you were
captured a few with hand-nets and a current of
photographed them before returning second throu
them all to the rivers. 120 l tank, yo
shift the entire
The tank second. That’s ome aquarium ABOVE:
We could learn
To keep hillstream loaches happy, pump – 900,000 litres per hour! a lot about
your tank should have some specific There is an easier way to get hydrodynamics
features: fast flowing water to allow fast-flowing water though – keep from hillstream
algae to grow in strong lighting, some areas of the aquarium shallow. loaches.
darker protected areas with slower What we saw in Borneo has been
flow and even a few areas with little applied to our tank design and BELOW:
Sewellia ‘SW01’
or no flow. Variation is the key. husbandry. Water is pumped to a
and ‘SW02’.
Like a tiny Adam Peaty, hillstream shallow platform, then flows over
loaches probably need regular rocks and falls back into the main
workouts to stay in top form, not tank via a ramp or over a waterfall.
In the wild, when the stream floods,

loaches climb, rather than shelter
ALL PHOTOS|: JAY WILLIS
share the tank. There’s no substrate, RIGHT:
just large rocks and bogwood. The This set-up
tank has both falling water and areas offers different
with moderate to low flow. environments
In the wild, when the stream floods, to replicate
nature’s variety.
loaches climb, rather than shelter.
This time may be the equivalent of BELOW:
the Olympic final for these miniature When flow
Adam Peatys. The deeper water may drops, water
allow them to get over objects that settles and
would be barriers in shallower water, clears.
and may also be where they can
more easily evade predators like
Clarias catfish. Catfish use suction to
In their native Borneo,

these loaches are
called ‘Rokot’.
INSPIRATION
Stream tank
catch prey and so the loaches’

ability to remain attached without Where there
substantial muscular effort may be a
benefit in a surprise attack.
are snails, there
This behaviour in stream flooding
is subtly important as it means the
are rokot
loaches aren’t challenging their filtering and nitrogen cycling services
physical limits all the time. Relaxation, that help ‘feed’ the main tank. The
rest and social activities are all parts idea is that they act like an upstream
of ensuring peak performance when section of natural river, adding
necessary. Often, we found them in smells and nutrition in the same way.
calm, clear pools, without excessive
flow – 0.2-0.4 m/s. Here they would Water parameters
graze and share space with shrimps, The book ‘The Borneo Suckers’ by
other fish and snails; Dr Tan Heok Hui provides
naturally inquisitive but a good idea of what
always near shadows, hillstream loaches from
and fast-flowing and Borneo are used to.
falling water – ever From Dr Tan’s field
vigilant. Our tanks Hillstream loaches often notes, the average
are designed to remain stuck to rocks and pH of the water is
mimic these variable other decoration even 7.5, with records
conditions in shelter, after they’ve died! from 6.0 to 8.7.
lighting and flow. There’s no similar book
We also use ‘offline’ living for the Sewellia butterfly
filters – tanks connected to the loaches of Vietnam, but there is a which pulls the pH up to roughly 8.0. ABOVE &
main tank via smaller pumps. The great scientific paper for As a rule, we don’t measure pH or BELOW:
return water is piped onto the upper Sinogastromyzon puliensis, a similar GH, but monitor and maintain KH Flow rates
platform of the main tanks, often species found only in Taiwan. around 8-10 units. We tested the fluctuate
massively in the
through a spray bar, to add to the Shyi-Liang Yu and Teh-Wang Lee water in Borneo with standard test forest streams of
flow. These smaller tanks contain sampled fish in over 60 river sites. kits (API liquid test kit KH, GH, and Borneo.
filter sponges, Anubias, shrimp, Average pH was 8.2 (range 6.2-10.9), pH) and confirmed these average
snails and fish such as Danios. We average temperature 23°C (range figures were accurate for five of the
also put peat, Catappa leaves, Alder 18-30°C), average flow 0.9 m/s locations where we found fish.
cones and bogwood in here. We (range 0.12-2.32). These average
feed the Danios flake and some parameters are a good place to start. Feeding
circulates through the main tank. We always aim for them – also with While hillstream loaches will eat
These tanks provide a range of carbonate hardness over 7° kH, standard fish flakes, we’ve found
Not just algae,
hillstream loaches
need the right algae.
they need to eat algae for long-term explore and re-establish favourite They’re naturally inquisitive and
health. We use Repashy Soilent places and routes. We often find social fish; while they may hide
Green gel as a supplement to ensure small fry in the changed water and when we enter the room, they
they always have access to a move these to a separate tank for re-emerge after only a few
well-balanced diet. juveniles. Occasionally we roughly minutes. All sizes playfully
There are many types of algae, of scrape the rocks with an old knife – spar with similar-sized
course, and some only grow in fast the fish seem especially keen to fish and they appear MORE INFO
flow. After rocks have been grazed graze them after. relaxed as they explore Check out Jay and his
by adult hillstream loaches for a few The behaviour we observe in our their tank.
colleagues’ informal project
months, they develop a dark, red- aquariums is similar to what we saw One good test of
black algal layer full of bacteria, in the wild. Like many loaches, health is breeding and blog: aquaticagents.com.
crustaceans, diatoms, and other hillstreams like to hide, especially we’re pleased to say Scientific project funded by
food, such as snail and shrimp eggs. from people, and we ensure they some of our fish more or The Leverhulme Trust.
Gelatinous algae can be a sign that have adequate places to do so. less breed continually.
there’s too little flow in the tank. It’s
not toxic to the fish, it just stops
them getting at the stuff they like. Repashy’s algae
paste food goes
down well.
Husbandry
Because these fish are used to
change in their natural rivers, they
don’t mind a big water disruption.
We clean the tanks weekly by
removing all the rocks and wood –
everything out but the fish! So all the
rocks in the main tank are rinsed in
tank water and repositioned, with a
40-50% water change. The changing
pattern of rocks and caves, in a
familiar pattern of flow, is a further
stimulant to the fish, similar to their
natural habitat, and allows them to
BIOLOGY
Ambush predators
CHRIS
SERGEANT
Chris works in
conservation
research and
regularly writes
for aquarium
It’s all part of
ALAMY
publications.
the food chain.
THE ART OF THE
AMBUSH
Fascinating to observe, ambush predators of all shapes and sizes
have devised an arsenal of strategies to capture their prey.
BIOLOGY
Ambush predators
S
TEALTHILY much of the attention, the attached
APPROACHING a videos of the octopus hunting
shrimp, the octopus shrimp also caught the eye.
pauses a short
distance away, Surprise, surprise
seemingly poised to While the Larger Pacific striped
strike. But instead of octopus’s particular method might
accelerating at speed, be a first, the art of ambushing prey
the crafty cephalopod slowly unfurls – defined as a ‘surprise attack from
a tentacle, reaches round to the back a concealed position’ – is nothing
of the shrimp and gently taps it on new, and a ploy utilised throughout
the abdomen. Startled, the shrimp the aquatic animal kingdom. Such
jolts forward in surprise, straight into predators typically hunt much faster
the waiting open arms of the octopus. prey items, and would be easily
Videos of this canny hunting outpaced in a straight race, so they
behaviour captured the attention of use camouflage, mimicry or the
fish-lovers and academics alike in local topography in order to conceal
2015, when Roy Caldwell and their whereabouts.
Richard Ross from the California Coral reefs and the surrounding
RIGHT:
Academy of Sciences published a sandflats play home to some of Crocodilefish
paper in the journal ‘PLOS One’. the ocean’s most cryptic ambush even have
Their study looked at the biology hunters. Stonefish, Synanceia camouflaged
and behaviour of the little-known verrucosa, lie among the coral, pupils.
Larger Pacific striped octopus, based perfectly disguised against the
on observations of their captive rockwork, while species such as BELOW:
Stonefish mimic
specimens. While the cephalopod’s Papilloculiceps longiceps, the algae-covered
unique beak-to-beak mating Tentacled flathead or Crocodilefish, rocks while
strategies and den sharing grabbed make use of rocky ledges and the lying in wait.
surrounding sand bed. Crocodilefish

have flattened, elongated bodies
that give rise to an almost ‘steam-
rollered’ appearance. Added to their
adjustable mottled brown and tan
colouration, they blend seamlessly
with their surroundings. Various
tassels and protrusions help to break
up their outline, and their camouflage
is so detailed that even the pupil is
covered with an iris lappet,
disguising the outline of the eye.
Other species, such as the Atlantic
lizardfish, Synodus saurus, or Peacock
flounder, Bothus mancus, choose to
rest on the surface of the substrate,
while reef predators like the Red
grouper, Epinephelus morio, and
Trumpetfish, Fistularia commersonii,
drift slowly around their hunting
grounds until their prey become
accustomed to their presence.
Once a false sense of security has
set in, they’re able to ambush their
targets with ease.
Thankfully, you’ll be hard pushed
to find these species with their
voracious, indiscriminate feeding
habits and large size in the hobby,
but certain other predatory reef
hunters are better suited to life in a
ALAMY
home aquarium.
an eye. With this expandable mouth,
pharyngeal teeth and a stomach that
can swell to 30 times its resting
capacity, lionfish can comfortably
consume prey half their size.
The Common lionfish, Pterois miles,
and Red lionfish, Pterois volitans,
regularly appear in the trade, but can
attain adult sizes in excess of 38cm,
so they need a tank to match. The
Spotfin lionfish, Pterois antennata,
reaches half that size, about 20cm,
while smaller still, the Fuzzy dwarf
lionfish, Dendrochirus brachypterus,
can be kept in tanks of 150 l.
Masters of disguise
For those wanting something a little
more unusual, look no further than
the Weedy scorpionfish, Rhinopias
frondosa (see PFK, July 2018). In
contrast to the more active, larger
lionfish, it lacks a swim bladder, so
prefers to hop over the sand using
modified pectoral and pelvic fins.
SHUTTERSTOCK
Being a relatively sedentary hunter,
camouflage is critical, so what better
way to blend in than to mimic your
environment – specifically the local
Lion king revealed. The red, white and black macro-algae, which gives the fish a
Lionfish are eye-catching, sporting stripes, so conspicuous by day, spectacularly plumed appearance.
vivid splashes of red, white and merge into the murky backdrop of Hawkfish are another group of
black across their outstretched body reef and rock, breaking up the fish’s BELOW LEFT: ambush hunters that rest on coral or
and fins. While most ambush hunters outline as it lurks in the shadows, Hawkfish use rocky perches, motionlessly
rely on remaining hidden, the lions’ camouflaged from possible prey. a perching surveying the reef. When a prey
striking appearance seems at odds With all lionfish, any tankmate that strategy to look item comes into reach, they swoop
with this tactic – against the backdrop can fit inside their mouths inevitably over their prey. down from their vantage point and
of a well-lit aquarium, the aposematic will. Like their other Scorpaenidae snatch up their victim before
BELOW:
colouration boldly publicises the cousins, they feed by rapidly Flamboyant returning to their perch, much like
fish’s venomous nature to the world. expanding their buccal cavity, which camouflage their avian namesakes.
But when the light drops, the true generates a suction field and allows works on the Their inquisitive nature and dinky
cryptic effect of these colours is them to inhale prey in the blink of reef. size make them a favourite among
SHUTTERSTOCK
ALAMY
BIOLOGY
Ambush predators
marine aquarists, so several species from the order Stomatopoda live in narrowly misses, the
feature in the hobby. The Falco rockwork or burrows dug into the resulting shockwave
hawkfish, Cirrhitichthys falco, Pixy substrate. Obscured from view in will finish the job.
hawkfish, C. oxycephalus, Threadfin their tunnel, they wait until a potential When housing When housing mantis shrimps
hawkfish, C. aprinus, and Long- target passes overhead before stomatopods, tank from the order Stomatopoda,
nose hawkfish, Oxycirrhites typus, all launching themselves at speed. decor is important. Both low lighting is a must, as
remain under 13cm when fully grown. Unlike true shrimps, Stomatopods species dig burrows, so strong illumination can
Ribbon eels, Rhinomuraena possess pairs of raptorial you need either a deep lead to shell rot.
quaesita, also crop up in the trade appendages, with ‘smashers’ such as sand bed with coarse sand
from time to time. Spending their the Peacock mantis shrimp, and coral rubble, or a network of
time hidden in the rockwork with Odontodactylys scyllarus, using a dark PVC tubes buried beneath the
only their heads exposed, they dart punching technique to overcome substrate. Live rock will help
from the security of their lair to their prey, and ‘spearers’ like the disguise the pipes and serve as extra
snatch fish or crustaceans from the Zebra mantis, Lysiosquillina cover. The more hiding places, the
water column. Unfortunately, ribbon maculata, impaling their quarry on safer the shrimp will feel, and the
eels are renowned for their refusal to their outwards-facing spines. more frequently you’ll see it.
eat anything but live foods in At over 50mph, a punch from a While mantis species can enter
captivity, and their pristine water Peacock mantis shrimp can deliver aquariums as live rock stowaways,
requirements don’t tally with a an impact similar to a small calibre their unintended presence doesn’t
meat-based diet. Beautiful as they bullet. As the mantis shrimp swings strike fear into a reef enthusiast the
are, they are best left in the wild. forwards to strike, the movement way mere mention of the Bobbit
lowers the pressure of the worm can. Marine aquarists may
Shrimp strategy surrounding water, causing it to boil. already be familiar with Eunice
Fish aren’t the only creatures to use This instant forming and collapsing aphroditois’ capabilities, but it Fleshy
extensions and
ambush strategies. Many of bubbles produces energy through was Sir David Attenborough who ragged-looking
invertebrates also lie in wait to bag cavitation, giving a second blow to introduced this polychaete worm fins break up a
ALAMY
themselves a meal. Mantis shrimps the victim. Even if the initial strike to the rest of the world in ‘Blue fish’s outline.
Ribbon eels
prefer to
Planet II’, plucking fish after fish conceal.
from the water column.
Buried in the sand, with just their
jaws exposed, Bobbit worms make
quick work of any prey, snaring
them in their razor-sharp teeth
before dragging them deep into their
burrow. Hidden in the rockwork of
your reef tank, they will make short
work of your marine fish, and often
the entire reef set-up has to be
dismantled to get rid of the worm.
This is one ambush predator you
don’t want to encounter!
Shadowy affair
Rather than camouflage, many
SHUTTERSTOCK
freshwater ambush predators

rely instead on the underwater
topography. Hidden within a shaded
lookout – overhanging vegetation,
sunken obstructions, or even man-
made structures like jetties – the Spending their time hidden in the rockwork
sensitivity of the fish’s eye increases
in low-light conditions, giving it a
with only their heads exposed, they dart from
greater field of visibility in comparison the security of their lair to snatch fish or
to a fish in open water. This allows
the predator to spot its quarry first, crustaceans from the water column
and when fractions of a second can
make the difference between a meal adopt a similar tactic in the murk
The Zebra mantis
or a missed opportunity, such waters of the Congo River, seekin shrimp spears
advantages can be crucial. shelter at the edges of raging rap its prey.
The Northern pike, Esox lucius, is As the torrents of water cascade
the UK’s apex freshwater predator overhead, disorientated fish
and ambush hunter. Skirting round swept around in the currents are
the edges of large lakes and ponds, snatched up from the margins.
Pike hang motionless in thick While it shares its locality with
vegetation, emerging with short the Tigerfish, the Leopard
bursts of speed to grab passing fish bushfish, Ctenopoma acutirostre,
or water fowl. prefers a much quieter pace of
Goliath tigerfish, Hydrocynus goliath, life. Seeking submerged driftwoo
The Peacock
mantis shrimp is
a hard hitter.
SHUTTERSTOCK
ALAMY
BIOLOGY
Ambush predators
ALAMY
and dense foliage for cover, it gives the impression of a leaf stalk. and won’t tolerate fluctuating
adopts a head-down hunting Coupled with a tendency to drift ammonia and nitrites.
stance, mimicking leaf debris, rather than swim, and the
while its spotted kittenish ability to adjust its Leaves as camouflage
colouration helps to colouration to match the Hailing from the blackwaters of
break up its outline. surrounding foliage, this South-East Asia, the Pikehead,
Adults can reach 20cm puts the Leaf fish among Luciocephalus pulcher (see PFK,
and their deceptively large, nature’s finest mimics. With September 2018), makes use of fallen
extendable mouths make them their extendable mouths, they branches and leaf litter from above.
capable of taking any sizeable prey can take prey items up to 30% of The tannin-stained waters provide
that strays within reach. their body length. The speed of the cover from which it darts out to
M. polyacanthus’ strike has been grab its prey, with its protrusible
Leafy disguise measured at 0.034 seconds from the jaws capable of extending almost a
Hop across the Atlantic to the initiation of the strike to prey third of its body length – impressive
slow-moving water bodies of the capture. Incredibly, another species given that adults can reach 20cm.
Amazon River basin, and there’s in the marine trade, the Bluestripe These predators aren’t for the
another aquarium species whose pipefish, Doryrhamphus excisus, was novice aquarist though, and not just
disguise has been inspired by even faster with a strike-capture because they prefer live, rather than
decaying leaf matter. The Leaf fish, speed of 0.002 seconds. pre-prepared diets. Coming from
Monocirrhus polyacanthus, has Despite their lightning-quick such acidic waters, where there is
seriously upped the mimicry stakes. ABOVE: reactions, Leaf fish can be finicky little in the way of local bacterial
As well as a leaf-shaped body, Bobbit worms eaters in captivity, so are suitable for communities, they can be
mottled-brown colouration, and are the stuff of experienced aquarists only. susceptible to infections.
head-down swimming stance, the nightmares. Gut-loaded live prey is a must while The Wolf-fish, Hoplias malabaricus,
shape of its eye – the main giveaway trying to shift them onto frozen or is a predatory characin that also goes
BELOW: Pike
with many cryptic ambush predators lurk by shady prepared foods. They require a low by the names Trahira or Guabine,
– is broken up with bands of colour, features to get a flow set-up, low pH and hardness to depending on their Central or South
ALAMY
while a projection on the lower jaw sight advantage. mimic natural water parameters, America source. Their nocturnal
feeding habits mean they spend their cavernous mou
most of the day hidden among the rows of small teeth to grip their anything that swims by.
ABOVE:
ALAMY
vegetation, before emerging at night inhaled prey. Larger prey items are Certain Pufferfish also engage in
to hunt. Having said that, any fish dragged back to their shelter and burying behaviour. The Hairy puffer, The Bluestripe
pipefish strikes
that strays into range during daylight devoured at leisure. Tetraodon baileyi, and Pignose in 0.002
hours is still likely to snared in their Unsurprisingly, these large catfish puffer, Tetraodon suvattii, from the seconds.
vice-like grab – their canine teeth require equally large aquariums, Mekong basin, appreciate a fine,
and reluctance to let go of their prey with sunken wood, rocks and caves deep, sand substrate, interspersed BOTTOM:
giving rise to the wolf comparison. for shelter. To improve your chances with rocks, as do the African Congo The Leaf fish is
Popular in the trade, adults can of observing them in a tank, try to puffer, Tetraodon miurus, and a top mimic.
reach 40cm, so real consideration position cave entrances so the Fahaka puffer, Tetraodon lineatus.
INSET:
needs to be given to housing them. occupant faces outwards. Pufferfish have personality, but a Lurking Puffers
Another group of benthic ambush general intolerance of conspecifics, bury most of
hunters from the Amazonian region Going underground and predatory behaviour towards their bodies.
are Cephalosilurus. These catfish Other ambush predators prefer to tankmates means
have large heads and small eyes, go fully subterranean in their they’re best
ALAMY
which add to their already bulky hunting efforts. Endemic to São suited to
appearance. Four species are Francisco River basin in n th-east solo
currently recognised, with C. Brazil, the Pacman catfi
apurensis from Venezuela, and C. Lophiosilurus alexandri
nigricaudus from Surinam, being the because its vast
two most often encountered. mouth was likened
Cephalosilurus live life in the slow to the 1980s arcad
lane. They stay motionless in a game character. I
favourite hiding place, snatching grows up to 50c
anything that swims by. Barbels length and spend
around the mouth enable them to majority of time buried
detect movement in the water, and the sand with just its head
SHUTTERSTOCK
BIOLOGY
Ambush predators
living. As with all Puffers, crunchy

prey items, such as unshelled
shrimps and snails, should be fed
regularly to wear down their teeth
and prevent overgrowth.
For those with truly mammoth
aquariums, another burrower, the
Ocellate river ray, Potamotrygon
motoro, has a particularly novel
approach to feeding. While it was
once thought only mammals chew
their food, these rays have been
observed grasping their invertebrate
prey in one corner of the mouth and
moving the sections of their jaw
from side to side, creating a shearing
effect. Even if tough exoskeletons
are capable of withstanding the Himantolophus groenlandicus, have a flatfish, Asterorhombus fijiensis, has an ABOVE: The
crushing power, they’re no match modified ray tipped with a luminous elongated first dorsal fin ray tipped Barbeled
for this tearing action. bulb that they flick about to attract with a membranous structure. By dragonfish
prey in the abyss. In shallower remaining stationary and flicking the lures prey with
an elongated
Come into my parlour waters, reef residents also use lures fin ray above its mouth, these flatfish
barbel.
Patience is key for all ambush to grab their victim’s attention. can mimic tiny hippolytid shrimps
hunters, but some species have The Decoy scorpionfish, Iracundus and bring food right to their mouth. BELOW: The
specialised adaptions to entice prey signifer, is native to the Indo-West Goliath tiger
during lean spells. Bioluminescence Pacific and its mottled red and white Fishing frogs fish picks off
is commonplace in the deep ocean, colouration helps to break up its Another group of reef fish can be disorientated
and an ideal way to get the attention body outline against the reef observed casting their lures in the prey from rapids.
of passing prey. Some siphonophores, backdrop. A closer look at its spiny aquarium. Frogfish are members of
Erenna sp., use flashing red tentacles dorsal fin reveals a prominent black the Antennariidae family, and their
to mimic swimming copepods, spot between the first and third fin lack of a swim bladder means they
the first recorded example of a rays which, when viewed from the crawl, rather than swim, over the
marine invertebrate using red side in conjunction with the other reef. Their impeccable camouflage
bioluminescence to tempt in victims. spines, mimics the head of a small mimics a variety of different reef
Numerous deep sea fish use the fish. This aggressive form of mimicry species, such as sea urchins, sponges,
same tactic – Barbeled dragonfish, lures would-be predators, who in a tunicates and coral. Assorted warts,
Chauliodus sp., use an elongated flash find themselves inhaled. fleshy protrusions and coloured
barbel protruding from their lower Rather than employing a static patches allow these predators to
jaw, while Atlantic footballfish, lure, the benthic-dwelling Angler blend in with their environment, and
they can even alter their colouration pluck a fish from a shoal without the From a freshwater perspective,
over the course of a week if it’s not others realising what has happened. the Frogmouth catfish, Chaca chaca,
up to scratch. The Frogfish’s hunting strategy is also uses lures to attract prey,
The Frogfish waits in its ambush so sophisticated that its esca comes manipulating the barbels on its mouth
site for a potential meal to approach, in different shapes and sizes to resemble worms wriggling on the
and when one gets close, the show depending on the species it’s substrate. If keeping Chaca species
begins. The fish’s modified dorsal mimicking. The Giant frogfish, in an aquarium, be aware that they
ray, or illicium, is tipped with a lure, Antennarius commerson, and Warty seem to reduce the pH of their
or esca, which acts like a fishing rod frogfish, Antennarius maculatus, use aquariums. It’s not yet known how
to reel in any interested parties. As lures resembling shrimp; Randall’s this occurs, but theories include the
the prey gets closer, the frogfish frogfish, Antennarius randalli, mimics release of a chemical lure to entice
keeps its body compressed to the a juvenile squid; while the Three- prey, extremely potent digestive
ground, and orientates its mouth spot frogfish, Lophiocharon juices, or a foul-tasting secretion to
upwards in the direction of its quarry. trisignatus, resembles a spidercrab. prevent predation. Whatever the
As soon as it gets within one body Different Frogfish even have reason, regular water changes and
length away – the ‘strike zone’ – the distinctive casts – the Giant frogfish testing is a must with these fish.
Frogfish pounces. By forcing its fishes above its head in the water So, if you are considering housing
upper jaw out and lower jaw down, column, while the Warty frogfish one of these incredible predators, be
it can expand its cavernous mouth waves its lure in a circular motion in sure to have your tank decor and
12 times its resting state. This front of its mouth. layout in check. The more cover you
creates a negative suction pressure Another species, the Striped provide, the more likely your
BELOW:
within its mouth, sucking in its prey frogfish, Antennarius striatus, even aquarium inhabitants are to engage The Atlantic
in a blink of an eye. Such is the secretes a chemical attractant from in their natural ambush behaviours. footballfish is
speed of the strike, a mere 1/6000 its esca to help it hunt in particularly That leaves you to just draw up a a deep water
of a second, that a Frogfish can turbid waters. chair and watch nature in action. fisherman.
Atlantic footballfish,
Himantolophus groenlandicus,
have a modified ray tipped
with a luminous bulb that they
flick about to attract prey in
the abyss
COMMON
SPECIES
SUBJECT TO
INJECTION AND
DIPPING
6 Albino corydoras
6 Glass fish, Parambassis sp.
6 Parrot cichlids
MP&C PIEDNOIR AQUAPRESS

6 Black widow tetra
6 Giant gourami
WHAT’S WRONG WITH INJECTED FISH?

Fish can be artificially coloured in a couple of ways – or
Fish have their mucous layers stripped, before

dunking in concentrated dyes stains them with artificially Are they legal?
bright colours. It IS illegal to dye a fish through
dipping or injection in the UK, but
6 Fish are dyed all over including the gills, causing NOT illegal to import or sell them.
respiration issues. Almost all dyed fish are commercially
produced in the far east, and
6 Ink in the body can have serious effects on organ function. imported directly.
6 Stripping away mucus leaves fish open to bacteria and
parasites.
Fish are stabbed with a needle, and dyes injected.

What can you do?
Ask if retailers have joined up
They may have patterns or words tattooed on the body. to the Practical Fishkeeping
6 Against fish body sizes, needles are huge. Imagine your Dyed Fish Campaign. Started
in 1996, the campaign asks
armbeing injected with a pencil for a comparison. retailers to pledge not to sell
6 Injection sites are access points for infections. any dyed fish. If you see some
on sale, raise your concerns
6 Needles are not cleaned or sterilised, risking infection. with store owners. Because
6 Chemical embolisms from injection can cause fatalities. dyed fish aren’t always
advertised as such, staff may
6 Injecting causes granulomas, tumours and cauliflower genuinely not know they are
like growths. stocking them! Your voice can
help make the difference!
6 The dyes cause inflammation of skin and muscle tissues.
6 Injecting requires rough handing which is highly stressful.
Win
FISHSCIENCE AQUARIUM FOOD
Letters
TANK COMMUNITY
The writer of our Letter of the month will win a 250ml pot of their
choice from this quality range of Fish Science food, which uses
natural ingredients. Email: [email protected]
Your letters, your thoughts and

your experiences shared.
HUMBLE ABOUT BIOTOPES still have very similar patterns on
I was re-reading the March 2018 of their bodies to the farmed wild
Practical Fishkeeping and stumbled varieties of angels. Or perhaps
upon Tai Strietman’s Thai tank using hybrid fish like the electric
set-up. I find that creating and blue versions of the Jack Dempsey
recreating biotopes is a lot of fun, or Mikrogeophagus ramirezi or even
as shown by my earlier letter to the hybrid Electric blue acara in
PFK in regards to Nathan Hill’s Central American or South
Neon tetra biotope set-up. American biotope/habitat/
As you might remember, I talked communitope set-ups.
about the natural behaviour of This is my personal experience
my Sawbwa resplendens in my anyway, and I hope it might give a
Lake Inle tank set-up (which is bit of thought to those of us who
sadly no longer active as it faced a – like me – sometimes intentionally
tank crash when I was away, and or unintentionally go into a moment
a power failure wiped out the fish of biotope snobbery that might
NEIL HEPWORTH
population – a sad loss of such prevent others from delving into
beautiful fish). this fascinating portion of the
I am slowly spreading the love of aquarium hobby.
biotope tanks in the country I am Andy Basuki, Indonesia
from and, regarding the biotope but show me a pristine planted
snobbery that Tai mentioned in his NATHAN REPLIES: I like to think aquascape, and a mud-filled,
article, whether intentional or not, that Tai did spark some discussions algae-drenched slice of Amazon
on reflection I may have done so to with his comments – he certainly oxbow, and I’ll make a beeline for
my dismay. I know that it is a sad did right here between the PFK the tank full of muck every time.
thing, but I have since then done staff! I’m an unashamed biotope
some reflection and tried to guide snob, and while I appreciate it’s a
people in trying their best to create niche of a niche of a niche, I can’t WHERE ARE THE LOCAL
a habitat or biotope with substitute think of any better way to really FISH SHOPS GOING?
fish that might look similar to enjoy the wilderness aspect of I used to have three independently
the fish that may be available in fishkeeping. Admittedly, I’ve played owned LFS that I could visit, but
the biotope they are creating, or with plenty of communitopes, and ABOVE: Electric now there’s only one pet store with
even the plants. more than a few communities, but blue Jack some fish, or a long journey to visit
Dempsey.
I sometimes even helped them in my heart always goes back to the an out-of-town shop that has a
finding out what possible fish those absolute, purist layout. BELOW: Asian reasonable selection of fish.
might be in the area of biotope/ Perhaps there’s something about rummynose, Where I live isn’t lacking
habitat that they are creating for a the untamed, unrestrained and Sawbwa fishkeepers. There are plenty of us
communitope kind of set-up if a artistically chaotic nature of nature, resplendens. here, and these stores were all rather
true biotope/habitat is not possible. well established. Is there a reason
The only time that I might that stores are closing down like
dissuade people from putting in this? I hear the same thing when I
certain fish is when they use the speak to fishkeepers in other
ornamental versions of angelfish in counties too.
an angelfish habitat set-up, though B Heldon, email
I do encourage them to try to find
the farmed, wild forms of angels NATHAN REPLIES: It’s a tough time
that are now starting to be more for all stores, not just independent
available in the hobby. ones. I’m seeing lots of shops
NATHAN HILL
Alternatively, I might suggest they vanishing, and it doesn’t look like a

use those ornamental forms that trend that’ll go away any time soon.
❯
Letters
TANK COMMUNITY
Email us at editorial@ Follow us at www.facebook.

practicalfishkeeping.co.uk com/PFKmag
I guess someone just needs to work of Cryptocoryne and about

out what the next evolutionary stage 20 smallish rasbora (3cm or so).
of aquatic trading should be, and My tank coped admirably.
hopefully we’ll see another golden So yeah, I guess in theory you can
age of fishkeeping. do it. Plants uptake ammonium
High rents and business rates, high directly as a food source (they
transport costs, high fuel costs, and actually have to convert nitrates
the difficulty of trying to hire staff back into ammonium in order to
with expertise (there really are only so utilise it), so as long as they’re
many, and most of them are already established and there’s ample flow
in the industry) make it a hostile and circulation in the tank, then it
environment in which to run a shop. should work. I’ll still always run a
filter ‘just in case’ though.
DO AQUASCAPERS REALLY
NEED FILTERS? IN PRAISE OF LIVE FOOD
I’m hoping you can answer I wanted to thank you, and
something that’s been on my mind. especially Gabor Horvath, for your
We all know that plants eat up fish recent feature on breeding live
waste, and that planted aquascapes foods. I’m a bit of a hoarder and
have a huge amount of planting I’m unable to throw out my old,
compared to the number of fish in scratched tanks – they’ve been
them. So does that mean I can run clogging up my shed and parts of
a tank without a filter? And if not, the garden for years.
GABOR HORVATH
just how much planting would I After reading Gabor’s piece, I
need to stop needing a filter? cleaned up two of them to put in a
Gary Sneddon, email sunny spot in the garden, and
bought myself a couple of bags of
NATHAN REPLIES: I’ve had a Daphnia and Cyclops to grow in ABOVE: Gabor’s With all the live food they’re now
situation where I accidentally left a them. After a slow start where simple infusoria getting, I don’t think it will be long
filter off over a whole weekend in a nothing happened for the first week, set-up. before my Kribensis start to spawn,
planted ‘scape, and only noticed they had a bloom of life and now I so I want to be ready for it!
when I spotted there was less flow have more than enough wriggling R Marsh, email
and a little more debris on the base things to treat my fish to a daily live
than usual. Obviously, I panicked feed. They love it!
and tested the water straightaway – I’m now awaiting a delivery of GLASSY EYED
only to find zero ammonia or nitrite. microworms I bought online, and I was fascinated by Tai Strietman’s
That was in a 99 l tank with a LOT have my porridge oats at the ready! glassfish tank in the October issue of
PFK and have now decided I want to
set one up for myself. My only
question is, where can I get quality
glassfish from?
I don’t feel brave enough ordering
online, knowing that there are so
many injected ones out there, and
my local stores all seem to have
quite tatty fish. I’m based not far
from Derby.
Jenny Sands, email
NATHAN REPLIES: I think Tai’s fish

came from a Maidenhead Aquatics,
and I believe there’s a Derby branch
worth a visit. If you get no joy there,
LEFT: give Wharf Aquatics at Pinxton a try.
Aquascapes – Phone up in advance and if they
the ultimate haven’t got any, I bet the guys there
veg filter. will happily order some in for you.
Write to us at Practical Fishkeeping, Bauer Media, Media House, Lynchwood
Business Park, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE2 6EA
privileged to be able to take on that

THE VOICE OF YOUTH cost. I work part time, along with
I was reading the November issue of university, but I’m also able to live WE ASKED...
Practical Fishkeeping and I found in my family home, so I pay very If you had to choose, which
the opinion piece on young people little in rent or utilities. Many way would you go?
in (or rather, not in) the fishkeeping students are renting or living in
hobby very interesting. on-campus accommodation, many º CLEARWATER TANKS
I’m a 20-year-old living in Ireland of which don’t allow fish tanks due
º BLACKWATER TANKS
and while I’m fairly new to this to the risk of water damage. Even if
hobby, I like to think I still they did, many students then
qualify as ‘young blood’, return home for the summer
YOU SAID...
so I thought I might and transporting a fish
give my own take on tank of any size is
the topic.
The article touched
Leer of something of an ordeal.
For younger children 62%
briefly on what I think the Month and teenagers still in 62%
is the key issue – cost. primary or secondary CLEARWATER WINS!
Fishkeeping is a hobby education, the barrier is 38%
that, particularly when starting out, still monetary cost for many. They
requires a great deal of investment, don’t have jobs, so their parents
not only in money, but also in time. must foot the bill, and attempting to
I must have spent hours on end convince most parents that you
researching before I even bought a need to spend more than £50 on a
single thing. The set-up itself has fish is a task in and of itself.
cost me the equivalent of two or Not to mention that many of us
three smartphones. have had fish in the past – a goldfish
However I consider myself very perhaps, in a 10-litre bowl. It died
after a week or six months or a year,

and we convinced ourselves that we
must be fish murderers, and
shouldn’t put any more living
creatures in such perilous hands
ever again. This was my experience,
until I tentatively began to look back
into the hobby again. The typical
childhood experience of fishkeeping,
except for those with parents in the
know, is often lacklustre.
That said, I know quite a few
people my age who would certainly
be interested in the hobby – just not
right now. Much like having any pet,
many of us simply have to wait until
circumstances become favourable.
I certainly plan on upgrading once
I’m older – once I have a house, and
a career to pay for it. Who knows
Tai is clearly an when that will be, but I’m hopeful it
inspiration to could happen some day.
fish keepers.
Alex Twyford, email
STARTING WITH CLUE 5 GUESS THE FISH USING AS FEW CLUES AS POSSIBLE
5 This fish is probably the best known

of all the species highlighted by the
Big Fish Campaign, which seeks to stop
4 As well as natural forms, there are
now multiple hybrids of this fish
in circulation, most of which have
3 While best suited to public aquaria,
the young of these fish are often
sold very cheaply as ‘kittens’ in the
2 Though it looks quite predatory,
it actually feeds on a mixture of
fish, fallen fruits and invertebrates,
1 The largest-ever specimen of this
fish was measured at 134cm long
and weighed over 40kg. They are
their trade for home tanks. terrible deformities. hobby to unwary aquarists. including freshwater crabs. rumoured to get even larger in the wild!
(Answer on Tailpiece, page 114)

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TROPICAL
Rummynose tetra
The
Rummynose
Trio
Some of the planet’s prettiest fish are right under our noses.
Time to take a fresh look at the familiar Rummynose tetra trio.
WORDS: STEVE BAKER
NEIL HEPWORTH
A Rummynose tetra
– but which of
the three is it?
TROPICAL
Rummynose tetra
T
HE DOWNSIDE of but I’m just as taken by the flag-
being a household striped caudal fin myself.
favourite is that it’s We see Rummynose tetras for sale Because of its bolder head
very easy to become in nearly all aquatics shops now and markings, H. belheri is most
overlooked. You can it’s been that way for years on end. desired and also the most
hang the most beautiful They’re regarded as a trop tank commonly sold of the
painting in your hallway staple and many think they’re well three species.
and you’ll stand and worth the small extra cost over
stare at it many times during the first tetras like Neons and Glowlights.
month. If it’s lucky, there might be So, Rummynose tetras are lovely,
appreciative glances for a few months shoaling community fish, but once
more before it becomes part of the you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them
scenery. Other people, laying eyes on all, right?
it for the first time, will be quick to Wrong! There are three described
show their enthusiasm, which might species that get sold under the
even re-ignite your love for the common name of Rummynose
painting. Eventually, though, you just tetra. Even if you see the scientific
get used to having it around and it no name displayed on the pricing label,
longer gets the attention it deserves. it may be incorrect as identification
There are quite a few tropical at the exporter stage is rather
favourites I can think of that have unreliable, and nearly all imports are
fallen foul of the same issue as that listed as Hemigrammus rhodostomus,
painting. At least they have for me, rightly or wrongly.
which almost makes me feel envious No need to panic, though. It’s not
of new fishkeepers. It would be as if any of the Rummynose species
great to have that excitement all
over again!
If I’d never seen a Rummynose
When you’ve
tetra before, I’d be amazed at the
sight of them – they’re a stunning,
seen one, you’ve
bright, active fish, and renowned as seen them all,
one of the best shoaling fish in the
trade. The red nose steals the show, right? Wrong!
grows into a 2ft-long, tooth-wielding ABOVE:

predator, and there’s very little Bright shades
to tell them apart either physically of red are
or behaviourally. encouraged by a
varied diet.
A very shiny nose LEFT:
So, what do we need to know about H. rhodostomus
keeping these Rudolph-like pisces? fights down a
The three species in question are bloodworm.
Hemigrammus rhodostomus, H. bleheri
and Petitella georgiae. They all RIGHT:
Although the red
overlap in Brazil as far as distribution
heads of these
is concerned, and they’re all happy
fish are duller,

in very similar conditions. In nature their stripy tails
all three species are found in forest stand out.
streams and rivers adorned with
fallen tree trunks, branches, twigs
and leaves that have got soaked and
come to rest over a muddy or sandy
Don’t forget their greens. Rummynoses are unlikely
to tear a slice of cucumber apart, but they’ll nibble the
edges of lettuce and blanched spinach leaves
who are used to prepared foods.
It’s well worth providing a wide
variety of foods though. Not only
will it boost health and vitality, but a
varied diet will also go a long way to
keeping those red noses bright.
Feeding regularly with live or frozen
Cyclops, Daphnia, black mosquito
larvae and small brineshrimp will
keep them happy and bright. It will
also help if the dry food contains
carotenoids (a natural red colour
enhancer) and don’t forget their
greens either. Rummynoses are
unlikely to tear a slice of cucumber

apart, but they’ll nibble the edges of
lettuce and blanched spinach leaves
– or just make sure their dried diet
Rummynoses are includes some vegetable matter.
regarded as top In terms of aquarium equipment,
shoalers. Rummynoses are undemanding.
They need the right temperature,
basic filtration, some form of hide or
base. Both the Hemigrammus species and other higher life forms. cover, and little else. Being small,
are found more often in blackwater These three omnivores efficient fish, these tetras
conditions, where tannins have have small mouths, so we don’t produce much in the
leached from the sunken flora and need to supply small way of physical waste
stained the water like tea. Tannic food particles for and they’re quite
and humic acids leach and lower the them. They will Having larger but peaceful adaptable to
pH of these forest streams. Micro happily eat fish (like Festivum cichlids) will different flow
fauna is abundant in the layers of dried diets such encourage shoaling fish to rates, so any style
leaf litter as bacterial and enzyme as flake food and swim together more of filter will suffice
action breaks down the organic micro granules – as long as it’s suited
tightly.
flotsam. Simple life forms such as nearly all Rummynose to the size of your tank.
rotifers and copepods feed on the tetras for sale in aquatics Lighting isn’t essential but
bacteria, in turn being eaten by fish shops will be tank-bred fish it helps us to admire our fish.
TROPICAL
Rummynose tetra
Their natural habitats are dimly lit; and these will have an overall limiting factor, though, is water
the tannin-stained water blocks out effect on the long-term health and values – there may be no argument
the sun quickly if it manages to life expectancy of your fish, as well between a Rummynose and a
penetrate the forest canopy, but as their colouring. The natural pH guppy, but they won’t suit the
these tank-raised tetras are quite range of all three species spans same conditions.
happy in brighter set-ups as long from neutral (pH 7.0) down to an The other thing is simply not to
as there’s planting or some other acidity of pH 5.5. With most of mix them with any fish that may
cover, and they look great against these fish being tank-bred. they’re pose a threat to them. Being
a background of different greens. more adaptable, but you should still slender tetras, I would avoid most
If you’re going with a well-lit provide a pH no higher than 7.5. fish of 10cm or more. While there
tank, it’s advisable to use a dark are larger fish with small mouths,
substrate to contrast with the Tankmates like Festivum cichlids, many bigger
fishes’ markings. Pale substrates When it comes to tankmates, the fish will revel in a taste of tetra.
reflect the light and tend to wash most difficult part for you will be Often with shoaling fish, it’s more
their colours out, so go for black making decisions. effective to focus on one species in
sintered glass, gravel, black sand The three Rummynose species an aquarium and go for numbers.
or a dark planting substrate. are peaceful fish. Occasionally A shoal of 20 Rummynose tetras
Another thing that limits the they’ll have disputes within their will have much more visual impact
Rummynoses’ colour vibrancy is own shoal, but these rarely end than four groups of five different
hard, alkaline water conditions, with any physical damage. One fish, and they’ll shoal tighter too.
FACTFILE
HEAD TAIL
RUMMYNOSE TETRA The red is a far stronger colour The true Rummynose has well-defined
6Scientific name: Hemigrammus than in Petitella georgiae. It covers markings on the caudal fin that may
rhodostomus the head, not just surrounding the bleed partly, but narrowly, into the
6Pronunciation: Hemi-gram-us eye, but confined to the head, not body. This can be more reliable than
road-oh-stow-mus extending to the trunk of the body. head colouring, which is more likely to
6Origin: Venezuela and Brazil: lower alter with mood and condition.
Amazon and Rio Orinoco basins
6Size: 5cm
6Tank size: 60x30x30cm for six (54 l)
6Water requirements: 5.5-7.0 pH,
2-15°H
6Feeding: Flakes, microgranules, small
live and frozen foods
6Availability and cost: Very common;
around £3.50 each
54 l+
FACTFILE
HEAD TAIL
FIREHEAD TETRA If the red head markings extend to Hemigrammus bleheri displays three
6Scientific name: Hemigrammus the body, then it’s Hemigrammus broken, dark bars on the caudal fin.
bleheri bleheri – however, when stressed, Markings do bleed slightly into the
6Pronunciation: Hemi-gram-us this colour will fade and differences caudal peduncle (or wrist), but do not
blair-eye will be far less obvious. In general, extend to the body.
6Origin: Brazil and Colombia: Rio Negro the red colouring is stronger than
and Rio Meta seen on P. georgiae.
6Size: 5cm
2-15°H
6Availability and cost: Commonly sold as
true Rummynose; around £3.50 each
54 l+
FACTFILE
HEAD TAIL
FALSE RUMMYNOSE The head colouration on the false Three solid dark markings are present
6Scientific name: Petitella georgiae Rummynose is less vibrant than on the tail of the false Rummynose.
6Pronunciation: Pet-it-ella george- either of the other species and Contrary to the others, a wide central
ee-aye concentrated around the eye and marking extends well in to the body
6Origin: Peru and Brazil: Rio Purus, Rio mouth. Being less colourful in the – an obvious sign for identification.
Negro and Rio Madeira head means P. georgiae is generally
6Size: 5cm the least desirable Rummynose.
1-12°H
ILLUSTRATIONS: STEVE HALL-MAXTED

6Availability and cost: Often sold as
true Rummynose; around £3.50 each
54 l+
SPECIES SHOWCASE
Halfbeaks
H They’re odd looking, fragile and like to wrestle each other.

But Gabor Horvath says they’re well worth the effort.
GABOR
HOVARTH
A Hungarian
aquarist now living
in the UK, Gabor is a
prolific fish breeder,
project undertaker
and writer.
T
HERE ARE beautiful there are still some significant I could begin my halfbeak project.
fish and even more differences between them that you I’ve learned a lot about these
beautiful fish. There’s need to consider if you want to keep interesting and very loveable fish in
no such a thing as an and breed them successfully. the past few months, so now it’s
ugly fish – I prefer to The freshwater halfbeaks most time to share this knowledge.
call them odd. frequently sold in the UK belong to
The halfbeak family, the genera Dermogenys and The trio
hemiramphidae, got Nomorhamphus, and here we’ll be The genus Dermogenys includes
more than its fair share of oddity, looking at the former of those. several species, such as D. pusilla,
with overgrown lower jaws and These slender pike-like fish had D. sumatrana and D. siamensis.
rugged heads – just take a closer been on my aquarist bucket list for The smallest and the least colourful
look at them. Most of the halfbeaks ages, but for some reason I couldn’t of the trio is Dermogenys siamensis,
are marine species, but there are a get hold of any. Then my luck barely reaching 4cm in length. In the
few interesting livebearer ones that changed and I spotted a nice group other two species, the females can
spend their lives in freshwater or of Wrestling halfbeaks at the JMC grow up to 7cm while the males stay
brackish-water environments. Aquatics’ stand at the Aqua Telford a little smaller, peaking at 5cm.
The halfbeaks available in the show. Fortunately they let me have Colour-wise, the two larger
market share many similarities, but 10 of them (thank you, Jane!) and species are quite similar, with the
GABOR HOVARTH
Odd but not ugly.
SPECIES SHOWCASE
Halfbeaks
males sporting orange or reddish Natural fighters FACTFILE

dorsal and anal fins. The easiest way The ‘wrestling’ moniker originates WRESTLING HALFBEAK
to tell them apart is based on the from the males’ keenness to get 6Scientific name: Dermogenys pusilla
6Pronunciation: Durr-mow-gen-iss pew-sill-ah
position of the ventral fins. In the involved in territorial disputes with
6Size: Females to 7cm, males to 5cm
case of the true Wrestling halfbeak, their rivals – a behaviour that’s Origin: Many countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam,
6
Dermogenys pusilla, they’re especially prominent in wild-caught Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and India
positioned around midway between fish. Those long beaks serve a Habitat: Usually slow or still waters, canals, rivers, lakes
6
the pelvic and the anal fin, while purpose – to decide who’s boss they and ponds
Dermogenys sumatrana has them grab each other’s beak and try to 6Tank size: 90x45x30cm for a small group
closer to the anal fin. wrestle down their opponents. Water requirements: Close to neutral – 6.5 to 7.5pH,
6
hardness 5-15°H
Wrestling halfbeaks can vary These fights can sometimes last 6Temperature: 23-26°C
greatly in body colour, from the over an hour, especially in the 6Temperament: Males will spar with
‘natural’ silvery brown, through to
gold, and to the almost white
confined spaces of aquaria.
In the fishes’ countries of origin,
each other (wild fish more so),
otherwise peaceful
120 l+
‘platinum’ variety. All three people use them for fish-fights, 6Feeding: Dried and frozen surface-
Dermogenys species mentioned with bets placed on the outcomes, floating foods; flakes and pellets,
bloodworm, mosquito larvae and Daphnia
make appearances from time to time just as happens elsewhere with
6Availability and cost: Relatively common;
in the shops, and all are traded Siamese fighting fish. In aquaria starting around £3 each
under the collective name of this fighting spirit is unwanted, but
Wrestling halfbeak. with clever positioning of tank
Fish that feed on foods that

drop into their habitat from
elsewhere are called
allochthonous feeders.
The ‘natural’ silvery
brown male (below) and
female (above).
Bloodworm is a Halfbeaks are very interesting and

favourite food.
challenging fish to keep and breed. I
can strongly recommend them to those
wanting something different
decor we can significantly reduce among this surface greenery, waiting
fight frequency by breaking up lines for an occasional insect to fall in.
of sight and dividing the tank into Their elongated lower jaw and
distinct territories. up-facing mouth enables them to

My fish are fortunately quite quickly pluck the unfortunate fly
docile, as they were probably from the surface.
tank-bred, so most of the time their To keep them in peak condition we
sparring only goes as far as a bit of should provide them with a similar
fin-flaring and mouth-gaping. environment and diet in the fish
Sometimes the females also join tank. As Halfbeaks, especially
in the territorial disputes, but those belonging to the
those don’t last for long. Dermogenys genus, tend to
The plentiful floating stay near the top, the
plants (Salvinia) amount of surface
in my tank area is much
definitely help more important
to reduce than the height
aggression, as of the aquarium.
they break up the A fish tank with a
lines of sight and also 90x45cm base and a
offer a retreat for the tight-fitting cover is perfect
weaker fish. to house a small group of them.
They’re very adaptable and can be
Making a home kept in a range of water conditions,
The natural habitats of the so long as the extremes are avoided
Dermogenys halfbeaks include and the water quality is pristine.
slow-moving rivers and still waters Fill up their tank with water
in South-East Asia. Most of these around 23-26°C, with a hardness of
biotopes have dense vegetation, 5-15° and keep it close to neutral –
GABOR HOVARTH
with floating plants or submerged 6.5-7.5pH – and you should have no

plants reaching up to the surface. problems. Keep the parameters
Halfbeaks spend most of their time steady, as these fish can be sensitive
SPECIES SHOWCASE
Halfbeaks
to sudden changes in both acidity Persevere and in time your fish will BELOW: generally peaceful and can be kept
and temperature. learn that your appearance means You can see well together with similarly sized
Sometimes, halfbeaks can be found food and they’ll become braver. where the beak community fish. Avoid boisterous
in brackish habitats in the wild, and My Wrestling halfbeaks are always will develop fish as tankmates, as halfbeaks won’t
from in the fry.
to mimic this some aquarists put a the first to get to the food now, withstand even light harrassment.
little aquarium salt into their water. frequently poking my fingers with Also avoid excessively small fish
It’s not essential though, and every their beaks to release their favourite (like Boraras microrasbora), because
species discussed here will happily treat of bloodworm. they may be considered as dinner.
live and breed in completely I house my halfbeaks with Peacock
freshwater tanks at the parameters Feeding and tankmates gobies, Tateurndina ocellicauda, and
listed above as well. Halfbeaks are not very picky it’s a match made in heaven – the
Decoration-wise, they’re eaters, as in nature they halfbeaks always stay near to the
not very fussy. Basically, would grab anything surface, while the gobies occupy the
they don’t care about edible falling into the lower regions, breeding away.
anything below water, be that a Corydoras catfish, mollies, platies,
their eye level. Keep your halfbeaks at worm, insect small rainbowfish and deep-bodied
When choosing high temperatures to or plant. tetras are all suitable tankmates.
decor avoid hard speed up spawning If you imitate this
rocks and other similar cycles. natural variety by Baby ‘beaks
blunt objects, which could feeding a range of frozen Dermogenys halfbeaks are livebearers,
damage their beaks. meals – bloodworm, Artemia but probably the hardest of the
Beak injuries are quite frequent, or DIY frozen food – as well as halfbeaks to breed. Even when
as halfbeaks are easily spooked. flakes, floating granules and live successfully bred, the brood is quite
When startled, they dart around the foods such as Daphnia, mosquito small, consisting of only six to 20
tank like tiny missiles, hitting the larvae and fruitfly, they will be youngsters after a 26-42 day gestation
glass or jumping out of the water eternally grateful. The only thing to period, dependent on temperature.
altogether. So for the first few days remember is that if the food sinks The difficulty isn’t getting them
after their arrival, be very careful further than 15cm or so from the pregnant, as mature males make
when approaching their tank. surface, the halfbeaks will rarely constant use of their andropodium
Use lots of floating plants or other bother to follow it. To avoid water – a modified fin-ray used as a
vegetation reaching the surface to pollution, it’s a good idea to keep reproductive organ, much like those
help relieve this initial stress. Dense some cleaning crew with them to of guppies – to ensure progeny.
floating vegetation also helps if you pick up these falling morsels. The problem is that females will
want to breed them, as it provides Despite the pike-like, predatory give birth prematurely if frightened,
protection for the newborn fry. appearance of halfbeaks they’re or produce stillborn fry despite
GABOR HOVARTH
being given the best possible care. takes a few weeks before they begin frozen fare. Among the members of ABOVE:
One reason often given for this is to fully resemble their parents. the first group, half of the fish Fry look
the lack of certain vitamins in the Since my first success I’ve had became somehow deformed and suprisingly
normal, not even
adults’ diet. I’ve always tried my best several broods, the largest consisting even the rest remained much
quarterbeak.
to provide my fish with rich food, of 14 fry. Luckily I didn’t experience smaller than the ‘lucky’ fry in the
which included regular portions of any of the pregnancy issues, probably second group. They obviously BELOW:
black mosquito larvae from my due to the extra care taken around wouldn’t make ideal breeding stock. Less striking,
water butt. Nevertheless, I was still a water changes and a varied diet. Wrestling halfbeaks are interesting but the natural
bit nervous when I saw two of my The latter is a key factor to success. and challenging fish to keep and strain is more
females getting progressively I did a small experiment to see the breed. I can strongly recommend colourful.
plumper, which is a sure sign of an effect of feeding on the development them to those wanting something a
ongoing pregnancy. of the juveniles. I divided one lot of little different. If you’re prepared to
I’d read contrasting reports about fry into two, feeding the first group go the extra mile and treat them
adults preying on their fry, so to with high-quality dry food only, and well, I’m sure these happy halfbeaks
ensure the survival of the offspring, the second with a variety of live and will give you a smile.
I moved one of the females to a
well-planted separation tank when I
thought the time was right, and
divided my breeding aquarium into
two with a hard plastic mesh to
protect the newborns.
I must have guessed the timing
right, as next morning I found eight
tiny silver ‘splinters’ hiding among
the vegetation. Compared to the fry
of common livebearer types like
platies, these were quite large at
around 6-8mm long. This meant
feeding them caused no problem at
all, as they accepted newly hatched
Artemia and powdered floating

flakes straight away.
Interestingly the newborn fry of
the halfbeaks have no beaks yet –
they just look like a ‘normal’ fish. It
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ADVICE
Answers
Got a fishkeeping question? PFK’s crack team of aquatics experts
are on hand to answer whatever you need to know...
[email protected]
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THE EXPERTS
TROPICAL
DR PETER
BURGESS
Is answering all your
disease questions and
suggests what to do about a shark with
a suspected tumour on page 59.
BOB
MEHEN
community questions
and considers why aquatics shops don’t
sell ready-matured filters on page 56.
NATHAN
HILL
planted tank questions
and tackles the difference between
liquids and carbon dioxide on page 63.
How do I encourage my catfish out?

JEREMY
GAY Please do you have any tips for tempting my encouraged to become a little more sociable
Raphael catfish to come out during the day? with the right incentive, and I’ve always found
cichlid questions and I have had him in a 450 l/100 gal large fish they will stir from their hiding place – even
discusses breeding Electric blue Jack community with rainbows and barbs for about during daylight – for a tasty treat, with
Dempseys on page 57. five weeks now, but he has wedged himself into bloodworm seeming to be a favourite.
a cave and all I’ve seen of him so far is his tail! Gamma-irradiated frozen bloodworm is the
I presume he’s coming out at night to feed, but best choice, being safe from the possibility of
NEALE it must be long after I’ve retired to bed as I’ve introducing something nasty to your tank,
MONKS sat up after lights out and he hasn’t moved. unlike the live alternative. Simply defrost a
PHIL THOMAS, EMAIL cube, drop it into the tank and see what
happens. Your other fish will probably grab
biotope questions and
BOB REPLIES: As you are discovering, ‘talking most of it, so you may need to add a couple of
looks at setting up a species tank for
Bumblebee gobies on page 58.
catfish’ such as the Striped Raphael or Humbug cubes worth. If your lights are on a timer then
catfish (usually Platydoras armatulus), are it’s best to add the cubes just before the lights
incredibly secretive, almost entirely nocturnal switch off as the catfish is likely to be waking,
fish seldom seen out during daylight hours. To ready for its usual nocturnal scavenging.
DAVID many catfish fanatics, me included, this is part It may take a few attempts to convince the
WOLFENDEN of their charm – the fact that you might not see catfish that it’s worth braving daylight, so it can
Is answering all your your bashful charges for weeks, even months at also be worth dropping some in just after ‘lights
marine fish questions, a time, only for them to suddenly make an out’ and watching to see its reaction. Use a
and explains how to set up a small, unexpected, show-stopping reappearance! torch covered with a red film so that you can
temperate reef tank on page 62. However, like most of us they can be see the catfish, but it can’t see you.
❯
EXPERT AQUARIUM CARE WITH OUR DIGITAL Every question we receive gets a reply from our
experts. Include as much information as you
WATER TEST APP, DOWNLOAD HERE: can about your set-up. Photos are useful, too. 57
ADVICE Answers
TROPICAL
Question of
the Month
JACQUES PORTAL
Why don’t shops sell
ready-matured filters?
I’m completely new to the aquarium hobby and have just cycled my first 90 l/20 gal
freshwater tank after a long period of research and conflicting advice. After weeks
of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate testing I can’t wait to stock my tank, and dream of
tackling the bigger set-ups and more exotic fish detailed in PFK every month.
As a beginner, this may be a stupid question, but why do aquarium shops not sell
already cycled ‘secondary’ filters that could be added to a new tank?
PHILIP CAMPBELL, NORTHERN IRELAND
TETRA PRIZE
Philip wins a box of Tetra goodies: BOB REPLIES: It’s great to hear of a new hobbyist thoroughly researching before
100ml TetraMin and TetraPro Colour foods, taking the plunge; many people dive straight in with disastrous consequences.
Holiday Food, Pleco Algae Wafers, I’ve often wondered the same thing myself regarding cycled filters and media as
clearly it would make things far more straightforward, as well as allowing
FunTips Tablets, 100ml SafeStart,
newcomers to the hobby to add fish safely much sooner.
EasyBalance and AquaSafe water treatments Many years ago, I knew of a shop that did more or less what you suggest by
and Tetra Test 6 in 1. offering mature filter media for customers buying a new filter. However, this
initiative was short-lived. When I asked the retailer in question why they’d stopped,
they explained that it was hard enough trying to get people to cycle their tanks
before adding fish, and when they tried to sell the mature media, newcomers often
thought it was some sort of con – ‘dirty’ secondhand media being handed over and
the lovely, ‘fresh’, clean new media that came with the filter being taken by the
shop! It all comes down to a lack of research by the customer.
There is also the practicality of keeping lots of mature media alive for the
purpose, especially when most shops sell a wide range of filter types and sizes, and
foam media tends to be cut to a specific size.
At the end of the day I suspect that this worthy and useful idea is just too tricky to
implement, and it’s easier for shops to sell a customer wanting accelerated stocking
a ‘bacteria in a bottle’ product and recommend low initial stock levels of hardy fish.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED Send your questions to: Fishkeeping Answers,

Practical Fishkeeping Magazine, Media House, Lynchwood, Peterborough,
58 FOR HEALTHY FISH PE2 6EA. Email us at questions@practicalfishkeeping.co.uk
MARINE
Why is this media clumping?

I have an issue with the sump I’m state it will sit on top of itself at the
building. I have designated one of surface and not move. It will take
the sections for K1 media, but after several days of soaking to bring it
adding the K1, I’ve found that the down lower into the water where
media remains at the surface and it should be, or you can use a
doesn’t move or tumble. maturation gel to coat the media,
I have a large circular air stone also aiding sinking.
attached to a Blagdon Koi pump Some long-term users also
which appears to produce enough ‘mature’ K1 with potassium
water turbulence. I have tried permanganate, a medication, which
moving this around but the pieces coats the media and provides a key
of K1 media just become stacked for the bacteria to stick to.
up on one another in a clump. One common issue with K1 is
I have included a photo (right) actually using too much in relation
taken from above the sump to to fish load. K1 loves load (it comes
hopefully give you an idea of what is from the waste water industry) but
happening. Any advice would be using too much can mean
greatly appreciated. maturation takes longer and the
DUNCAN GILL, EMAIL eventual biofilm is too thin (again
causing floating issues.)
DUNCAN GILL
JEREMY REPLIES: The K1 in the Start with just a few litres of K1
photograph looks pure white and and mature that first, then add a
brand new, and when it’s in that little more at a time if required.
TROPICAL Will these fish

breed true?
I would like to keep a pair of Electric blue Jack
Dempseys. Please could you tell me what size tank
I would need and how to get a pair?
Do they breed true? How should I furnish their
tank and what should I feed the babies on?
ROBERT SCOTT, EMAIL
JEREMY REPLIES: Electric blue Jack Dempseys are

hybrids and differ in head and body shape. They also
won’t breed true, so some people pair them with a
natural Jack Dempsey instead. Adult males will
reach 20cm in length, with females smaller.
A nice long-term home for a pair would be a tank
in the region of 120x50x45cm, although I have bred
medium-sized Jack Dempseys in a 75cm-long tank.
Provide lots of substrate with rocks, wood and slate
laid horizontally as they will dig everything up, and
choose spawning sites and spare pits to move the fry
to once hatched. Place a sponge over any filter inlets
to prevent the fry being sucked in.
I’ve raised Jack Dempseys on crushed flake food,
which the parents then chew up further and present
to the fry, but if I were doing it professionally and
wanted fast growth, I would start them on newly
hatched Artemia, and feed several times a day.
NEIL HEPWORTH
Calanus is good too, and you will see the little bellies
of the fry turning pink from feeding on it.
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ADVICE Answers
TROPICAL
NEIL HEPWORTH
How do I set up a biotope for Bumblebees?
I have a tank that holds roughly 80 l/ frozen foods, distinguishing between Air-powered sponge filters are ideal, ABOVE:
18 gal and I'd like to set it up as a them isn’t particularly important, and and if the water currents are gentle, you Bumblebee
single-species tank to keep Bumblebee there are, in fact, lookalike species can use live Daphnia and Artemia to gobies are
gobies. I'd like to reflect the habitat they from the same general area, such as feed these fish with ease, and it’s small and full
come from as much as possible so what Brachygobius kabiliensis, that may get usually feeding, not water chemistry, of character. A
would you recommend in terms of water imported from time to time. You could that makes or breaks Bumblebee goby biotope setting
parameters, furnishing and so on? set up the tank as a freshwater system systems. Most Bumblebees that die will suit them
How many will I be able to keep in a or brackish water system as you prefer, prematurely do so from lack of food, best.
tank of this size please? though medium hardness water with a not water chemistry, so while
ANNIE MATTHEWS, EMAIL neutral pH and a specific gravity discussions about their natural habitat
between 1.001 and 1.002 is are important, you shouldn’t
NEALE SAYS: Defining the right habitat probably a good default. worry too much if you can’t
for Bumblebee gobies is tricky for two Regardless of water ID the specimens in
main reasons. The first is that most chemistry, both these front of you – instead
species are distributed across a range of gobies come from focus on ensuring
environments, from blackwater streams streams filled with your gobies get
to brackish mangrove swamps. In some vegetation and One species you won’t see on sale regular offerings of
cases, there are distinct populations, so decaying wood, so a is Brachygobius xanthozona – the healthy live foods.
you can get one batch of a given species planted tank and fish most often seen in books. In the right tank
that thrives in a normal freshwater tank, lots of driftwood is Now called Hypogymnogobius these gobies are
another batch that needs a bit of salt to what you’re after. not difficult to keep
xanthozona, it is very rare
stay healthy, while a third does better in Most plants tolerant of and can be very
soft and acidic blackwater conditions. hard water will put up in the wild. rewarding, especially
The second problem is that there are with a little salt without once they start spawning
numerous Brachygobius species that complaint, but hardy and you get to watch the males
have been referred to as Bumblebee Cryptocoryne species are perhaps the look after their offspring.
gobies over the years, and little or no most authentic for this situation, such As far as stocking goes, 40-45 l/9-10
effort is made to properly identify them as C. wendtii, or the brackish-water gal is probably ample for your first
on collection. So what you’ll see in your specialist C. ciliata. half dozen specimens, and you’ll want
local fish shop could be one of several Snail shells, ceramic caves, or hollow to allow another 5-6 l/1-1.5 gal per
similar-looking species. Ichthyologists ornaments of whatever kind will all be additional specimen, with the proviso
have gone so far as to state that the only used as shelter, with the males being that you provide plenty of caves and
way to safely identify Brachygobius very protective of their home territories, visual obstructions to ensure the males
species is by looking at their DNA. as well as any eggs produced after aren’t fighting all the time.
The Bumblebees you’ll see in aquatics spawning. Plants and wooden roots help You also need to keep a group, not
shops are most likely to be one of two to break up the territories, ensuring just two or three specimens, to ensure
Southeast Asian species, Brachygobius rival males can keep out of each other’s any territorial aggression is spread out
doriae and B. sabanus. Since both way. The females are less territorial and and hopefully diluted by the presence
species occur in freshwater and may even form loose schools at times. of a sufficient number of females.
brackish water habitats, and have the Since these gobies are so small, they So your 80 l/18 gal tank should
same preference for small live and don’t require a lot of filtration or space. comfortably hold a dozen or so fish.

COLDWATER
HEALTH
Does my shark have a tumour?

I have a Red tail black shark that is around sent were very helpful, we are unable to say
five years old. I got him when he was very what type of tumour is causing the lump. To
small and until recently he was developing categorise the tumour would require taking
and growing well. But around six months a sample of the growth and examining the
ago a lump started to grow on his upper left tissue under a microscope (using special
ALAMY
flank. It has continued to get larger and is chemical stains), which would be expensive
now quite a size. and won’t affect the outcome anyway, given
I’m assuming it is some sort of tumour. that we have no medications to combat
He is in a 200 l/44 gal mixed community tumours in fish.
tank that is well established and all his Depending on the type of tumour, it could
tankmates are healthy and active. Is there spread to other parts of the fish’s body, or it
any danger of the growth bursting and
damaging the other fish in the tank?
may stay as a single mass. It could grow even
larger and start to push or press on vital Can I keep a
I’m wondering at what point euthanasia
might be appropriate. He eats well and his
behaviour is unchanged. There are no
organs, causing significant harm or death.
Or it may stop growing and cause no further
discomfort or damage. On the plus side, the
young Pike?
secondary infections such as finrot, fungus tumour won’t harm your other fish, even if it Please can you tell me whether it is
or dropsy, swimbladder fine, so I don’t think bursts. And the chances are it won’t burst. possible to keep a young native Pike
he is under any particular distress at the So, my advice is to do nothing, other than of approximately 15cm in an aquarium,
moment. I’d appreciate your advice. closely monitor the fish for any signs of just over the winter? If so, what should
HOWARD DAVIES, EMAIL abnormal activity, such as unusual I feed it?
swimming behaviour (including difficulty in SHAUN BUCKLEY, EMAIL
PETER SAYS: I agree this fish has some swimming), lethargy, loss of appetite and so
sort of tumour. The slow growth of the lump on. If it develops any of these abnormalities JEREMY ADVISES: If overwintering a
is typical of many tumours and, as you say, then that may be the time to consider having native Pike, I would actually do it
the fish appears to shows no other signs of it put to sleep to prevent pain or distress. outside, perhaps placing the aquarium
ill-health and no obvious infections. Also, ensure that none of the other fish in in an unheated garage or shed. The
Unfortunately, although the photos you the tank are bothering it. inside room temperature will be far too
warm, especially if the room the
aquarium is located in is centrally
heated, so you would probably need to
invest in a chiller.
Wild-caught Pike will not be used to
feeding on anything that isn’t alive. I
don’t believe in or recommend feeding
live fish, so try river shrimp and
earthworms or, if you are lucky, you
might be able to get it to take whitebait
thrown onto the surface and moved so
that it looks alive.
It will take time and perseverance to
get a Pike onto dead foods or even dry
foods, but it is possible, and by far the
best long term. As when fishing for
them, it’s all about how you present that
food to start a strike or feeding response.
You may even need to be out of the
room, or hiding behind the door, and
use actual fishing line (minus the hook!)
and wiggle the food around.
Wild-caught
Pike will not be
HOWARD DAVIES
used to feeding
on anything that
isn’t alive
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ADVICE Answers
POND
Why won’t my pond’s nitrite level fall?

I'd like to ask your advice regarding a nitrite 0.03mg/l and nitrate 50mg/l. JEREMY SAYS: With an identical
stubborn nitrite level I just cannot shift I live in East Devon, with decent hard nitrite level of 0.03ppm in both pond
in my 3,047 gal Koi pond. water but a high nitrate level. I am and tap, I would say that this is down to
The pond was completed and filled surprised my pH is considerably higher the accuracy of your nitrite test kit,
in the summer of 2017, but due to than my tapwater and wonder if this is and that you actually don’t have any
ongoing building work I only added the affecting bacteria colonisation of the nitrite level at all.
first three 20cm fish in May this year. K1? I have tried EA Pond Bombs and If it was higher than that and you only
The pond is covered all winter with an used EA Filter Start but this doesn’t had three to five fish, I would actually
untreated wooden frame (sealed with seem to have any effect. It may just be Below: Long- advise removing 100 l of the K1 from
G4) with 10mm twin wall polycarb sheet a time thing, as I’ve noticed the K1 is term nitritre the outer chamber of the Nexus, as
and heated with an air source heat only just beginning to colour up. Your readings could the surface area will be so great in
pump. I run a Nexus 310 with 40 l of advice would be most welcome. be down to relation to fish load, proper biofilm
K1 in the central chamber and 150 l of KAI ROCKLIFFE, EMAIL inaccurate tests. development would be hindered as it
K1 in the biological chamber. The pond would be so thin. But I wouldn’t worry
has an EA 35 UV after a Blue Eco 750 about that nitrite level, especially if
pump set at 2,200 rpm. Two returns at your fish look happy.
opposite ends, one low and one below Regarding the pH, it may be worth
the water line, give good variable flow re-checking your tapwater pH at
and keep the pond clean. I also have a different times of the day and
Spindrifter aerated bottom drain. even different times of the year, and
The first three fish were thriving, so I also seeing if letting it stand makes a
added two more 30cm Koi in early July. difference, with CO2 gassing off and
Everything is working well and the fish oxygen diffusing in.
are happy, healthy and growing. If the pH remains consistently lower
Ammonia levels are zero but I have than in your pond, then something is
been unable to lower my nitrite to less raising the pH, be that some ceramic
than 0.03 mg/l. Nitrate is a constant filter media somewhere, or a
NEIL HEPWORTH
50 mg/l, pH a constant 8.2 and KH blanketweed treatment perhaps. Check
184. These never seem to fluctuate, so there is no concrete in contact with the
at least there are no swings in values. water anywhere from the pond design
It's worth noting my tapwater is pH 6.8, and build, or any water course.
TROPICAL
Which gourami would best suit this tank?

I have a community set-up that needs BOB SAYS: Gourami are very appreciate a well-planted tank
a feature fish or two. It holds underrated fish – over-familiarity (floating plants are also a good idea),
approximately 45 gal and has been sometimes means fishkeepers ignore with some open swimming space and
set up for four months. It has a mix what are actually some of the most only gentle water movement.
of real and fake plants and lots of brightly coloured, attractive
branchy wood with fine gravel at the community fish available.
bottom. It has a Fluval filter. An excellent candidate for your
Stock includes 10 Harlequin tank would be the Pearl gourami,
rasboras, three platies, seven Cherry Trichopodus leerii. These are
barbs, four Otocinclus catfish and six gorgeous, graceful mid-sized gourami
Sterbai cory catfish. I’m also planning that reach around 12cm and don't
to get a Peppermint plec or generally have the aggression issues
something similar at a later date. associated with their similar-sized
I would quite like some larger cousin Trichopodus trichopterus, the
gouramis for this tank as feature fish. Three spot/Blue/Opaline gourami.
Which would be the best choice? Your tank has a volume of around
Dwarf and Honeys are a bit too small. 200 l/44 gal, so unless it has
Also, how many can I keep? Are they unusual dimensions that mean it is
best in pairs or groups and will my tall and thin, then you should have Pearl gourami,
ALAMY
other fish be compatible with them? room for a group of three – ideally Trichopodus leerii.
DAVE STUART, EMAIL two females and one male. They

TROPICAL
NATHAN HILL
ALAMY
TROPICAL
Will corys clean
Which halfbeaks are best my dirty gravel?
for brackish tanks? I have a 70 l/16 gal tropical tank with an
Interpet PF2 filter. It’s currently stocked with
I’m planning a future brackish tank and have been trying to get some solid five Lemon tetras, three Cherry barbs (I’m
information on brackish halfbeaks, including their sizes and water parameters. hoping to get another), a bent Silver-tip tetra
Please could you offer some advice? that has survived a year, an 18-month-old
NATHANIEL BULLOCK, EMAIL female guppy and a tiny female Bristlenose
catfish I've had 10 months.
NEALE SAYS: Halfbeaks are very common in estuaries and mangroves all around I'd like to get some Corydoras catfish to stir up
the world – the problem for us aquarists is that relatively few, if any, of those my sand which, despite regular stirring, is
species are regularly traded. becoming quite stagnant. My nitrates are quite
The one truly brackish water genus of halfbeaks that has been traded is high, so I don't think Panda corys are best. I’ve
Zenarchopterus, in particular, the River halfbeak, Z. buffonis. While these are very been considering Dwarf or Pygmy corys. Would
rarely imported, they do appear on the stock lists offered by wholesalers, so those they suit my tank and how many should I have?
retailers who specialise in importing oddballs and rarities may be able to get them ESTHER CLARK, EMAIL
in as a special order. Zenarchopterus are quite large – 15-20cm is typical – and
highly social, which means you’ll need a big aquarium able to provide a safe home BOB SAYS: As you suggest, Corydoras can be
for a school of these nervous, easily injured fish. They appreciate strongly brackish helpful in gently stirring up sandy substrates to
water, with a specific gravity of 1.005–1.010, and require very clean water with keep them clean. However, if your tank's sand is
plenty of water movement and oxygen. becoming stagnant it's worth looking at the
When it comes to the common halfbeak species seen in aquarium shops, those causes of this before adding the catfish, as a
divide up into three groups – the Wrestling halfbeaks, Dermogenys spp., the stagnant substrate can be bad for their health.
colourful Sulawesi halfbeaks, Nomorhamphus spp., and the Bearded halfbeaks, How deep is the sand? Unless you’re growing
Hemirhamphodon spp.. lots of plants, I would recommend a shallow
We can dismiss Hemirhamphodon immediately. All are more or less blackwater bed of 2cm maximum. This way it’s unlikely to
specialists that inhabit rainforest streams. They have little tolerance for hard water compact, and fish like the corys can easily dig it
conditions, let alone brackish. Although very attractive, they’re best suited to expert over so it shouldn't become stagnant.
fishkeepers willing to set aside an aquarium that caters to their special needs. You mention high nitrates, so it may be worth
Nomorhamphus species are the most commonly seen halfbeaks, especially the upping your water changes. The maximum
lovely Celebes halfbeak, Nomorhamphus liemi. Again, we’re dealing with species amount allowed in tapwater is 50mg per litre, so
adapted to freshwater environments. While they aren’t too fussy about water chemistry, even if you live in an area with readings that high,
provided extremes are avoided, they’re not commonly reported from brackish water. you should be able to keep your tank level below
Things become more interesting when we get to Dermogenys. Although mostly that with weekly 25% water changes. Using a
found in freshwater, they’re also quite common in brackish streams, and will 50:50 mix of RO and tapwater for changes can
tolerate slightly brackish conditions indefinitely, provided all else is amenable to also help keep the reading down in
them. I wouldn’t recommend keeping them at a specific gravity above 1.003, but high nitrate areas. If your
that still makes them perfectly viable candidates for a mixed species set-up that tapwater doesn't have a
includes other small, peaceful fish species. high level of nitrates,
They’re especially good companions for gobies and flounders because they offer then this points to
no competition at feeding time. You could also keep them with any small possible overfeeding
livebearers that need brackish water to do well, such as Micropoecilia species. or lack of water The Pygmy cory, Corydoras
Identifying Dermogenys is a bit hit-and-miss though, despite the widespread use changes, as well as
of the name Dermogenys pusilla to describe any Wrestling halfbeak offered for sale! too-deep substrate.
pygmaeus, is lively, but won’t dig
Luckily, they’re all pretty similar in terms of care. Medium hardness freshwater, Corydoras panda in the substrate to any great
with or without a little salt, seems to work well, along with good water quality. should be fine in your degree. It’ll happily rest on plants
Like all halfbeaks, they’re nervous but quarrelsome, so keep a reasonable number tank if you can keep or swim in midwater.
(at least six, with females outnumbering males) and provide them with some your substrate clean and
overhead shade, but also plenty of open swimming space where they can feed nitrate below 40mg/l.
without being harassed by their tankmates. Ideally, you need a
ALAMY
Adult size varies. Males reach around 4-5cm depending on the species, but the group of at least five.
females can get quite a bit bigger, 7-8 cm in some cases, and are far more stocky
in build than the slender, even scrawny looking males.
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ADVICE Answers
MARINE
How do I set up a small temperate reef tank?

I have a tank of approximately 72 l/
16 gal which I would like to set up for
keeping Catalina gobies. I understand
they are temperate, so I’d like to know
the best temperature and specific gravity
(SG) and how best to set up the tank.
Will live rock still work at a lower
temperature and are there any inverts
(mobile and sessile) I can keep with
them? What about live sand – will that
be OK? How many gobies can I keep
together (they will be the only fish)?
I have kept a reef tank in the past and
it was quite successful, so this wouldn’t
be my first attempt with marines.
WILL, EMAIL
DAVE SAYS: The Catalina goby,

Lythrypnus dalli (right), is an absolutely
stunning fish, with its bright red body
and electric blue stripes. They’re small
(topping off at about 6cm), and benefit
NEIL HEPWORTH
from a system tailored to their needs, so
a dedicated nano tank is perfect for
them as they can get lost in larger tanks.
Crucially, this is a subtropical species
as you’ve pointed out, being found typical reef inhabitants. Ideally, you’re limits potential tankmate choices too.
around the Pacific coast of the Americas looking at an optimal temperature of It’s definitely possible to keep them,
from the top of Southern California down 18°C, with a maximum of 21°C. Higher however – you’ll need a chiller, and the
to Peru. This means they require cooler temperatures lead to stress and tank should be decked out with a mixed
water temperatures than we’d keep shortened lifespans, and also obviously sand and rubble substrate for these
I have tried to keep Daisy ricefish now

TROPICAL on two occasions but they keep getting
whitespot. I have a 45 l/10 gal tank
with a heater, the filter is cycled and
Why can’t I keep these water quality is always good. The tank
is planted with long-stem plants so
ricefish successfully? the fish have lots of hiding places.

There is also some bogwood and a
gravel substrate.
I have been keeping fish for eight
years and have two other tropical
community tanks that run without
problems, but I just can't get these fish
right. Please could you tell me what
they need so I can work out what I'm
doing wrong? I really like them and
would like to breed them eventually.
LUKE, EMAIL
NEALE SAYS: Ricefish are normally

quite easy to keep, but there are one or
two things to think about before you try.
The first is water chemistry. Daisy
ricefish, Oryzias woworae, may well be
adaptable up to a point, but slightly hard,
ALAMY
neutral to slightly basic water chemistry

primarily benthic fish. This could be
live sand, and the micro-organisms on
the sand will survive at these slightly
lower temperatures. As far as live rock
PLANTS
is concerned, you can expect much of
the life on reef live rock to survive in the
range of 18°C-21°C, although some of Am I dosing enough ‘carbon dioxide’?
the ‘macro’ life may experience die-off,
particularly towards the lower end of I’m trying to improve growth of my plants If you see your plants dying while using
this range. You’ll just need to keep an by using liquid carbon dioxide, but I know liquid carbon, chances are there’s an
eye on this, and monitor water quality that an overdose is harmful to fish, and my incompatibility, especially if the leaves
in case it’s impacted. plants don’t seem to be growing any better become transparent and start to dissolve. If
Clean-up-crew and mobile now that I’m using it. they turn other colours, then it’s more likely
invertebrates might be tricky, although Just how much can I go safely over on the a deficiency of some essential nutrient.
genuine subtropical species such as the dose rate before I hurt my fish? Before writing off the liquid carbon, check
Margarita snail (Margarites pupillus) are TREVOR FARRIS, EMAIL that the other parameters are all in line. Are
sometimes available. Salinity for you using enough fertilisers for the tank?
Catalina gobies is exactly the same as NATHAN SAYS: There’s no such thing as a Are you providing enough of the right kind
for a typical reef tank – 32-33ppt, safe overdose as far as the fish are of light for the plants to grow? Is there
which at 18°C is around 1.024 SG. concerned. Your product will have been adequate circulation, and is the substrate a
While one specimen can be kept in a tested to a standard called an LD-50, which plant-friendly type? Beyond that, are you
72 l/16 gal aquarium, do bear in mind is the dose at which half the study sample trying to grow particularly slow or difficult
they can be quite territorial, so it’s best of organisms it was tested on died. This is plants? There are many factors at play here.
to consider 150 litres or so if you’re then used to calculate a safe dose. If everything else is suitably plant-friendly,
thinking of establishing a pair or trio. Cutting to the chase, what you have there then I’d suggest trying injecting actual
Alternatively, a tropical goby might be isn’t liquid carbon dioxide, it’s a carbon carbon dioxide into the tank. While
worth considering as you’ll have more dioxide alternative, and while some of it daunting at first, it’s actually pretty easy to
choice for tankmates, including mobile eventually decays into carbon dioxide, that’s use once you have been hands-on with it,
invertebrates and perhaps even some not what it is. The active ingredient in most and it is surprisingly economical over time.
small corals. The tiny (2.5cm) red of these liquids is something called In my own experience, liquid carbon and
striped goby, Trimma cana, from the glutaraldehyde, and it’s potent stuff. carbon dioxide works well together. I had a
western Pacific springs to mind here. Not all plants get on with glutaraldehyde, planted tank where I used both and a heavy
It’s a very attractive and peaceful fish, and the likes of Vallisneria in particular tend fertiliser regime, and the plants grew so fast
perfect for a nano system, and it does to die rather than thrive where it is used. they were almost a nuisance!
well in small groups if several are
introduced simultaneously.
seems to suit them best. If

adding a little aquarium
salt is necessary to
be used during spawning
as well, the females
depositing their eggs
We Recommend...
stymie whitespot, a When trying to breed ricefish, among them one If you struggle with Oryzias woworae, it might be
therapeutic dose enrich their diet for a few days at a time. But worth trying the Indian ricefish, Oryzias dancena
of 2g per litre will also of use is the instead. This hardy and inexpensive ricefish is
do them no harm beforehand with Daphnia, cover the plants often sold as Oryzias melastigma, so you might
at all, even across brineshrimp, fruit provide, sheltering find it available under that name. Regardless of
many weeks. They don’t flies or Grindal newly hatched fry from this taxonomic confusion, it’s a pretty fish with
need salt, of course, but at the potentially beautiful electric blue markings on the fins which,
this very low dosage it’s an
worms. cannibalistic adults. in the case of the males, are elegantly extended
easy way to inhibit whitespot I’ve never found ricefish into lacy threads. It’s very easy to keep and breed,
without the need to use any other difficult to feed, with all the usual and makes a great choice for planted nano tanks.
medications. It’s just possible that small fish foods being welcomed,
some standard whitespot medications including powdered flake food,
have proved toxic in your situation, as is Daphnia, even frozen lobster eggs! But
sometimes the case with sensitive fish. their small size, slow swimming speed,
The second thing to bear in mind and generally shy demeanour does
about ricefish is that they come from mean they will lose out if kept
sluggish streams and pools, rather than alongside other surface-swimming
rivers. The ideal aquarium for them species, such as danios.
will have very gentle filtration – an Far better to keep them on their own,
air-powered sponge filter is probably the with the tank tailored to their specific
ideal – as well as numerous clumps of needs – in other words, with floating
JJPHOTO.DK
floating vegetation. Needless to say, the rather than rooted plants, and sluggish
roots and leaves of floating plants will rather than brisk water currents.
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ADVICE Know-how
SETTING UP
EXTERNAL FILTERS
Lots of people are daunted by external filters, but they’re easier to set
up than you might think. Here are the essentials you need to know…
WORDS: NATHAN HILL
Some filter designs come with a heater

built in. These require extra care when
removing the head, as a jarring move
will break the heater. To control the
heater, the thermostat will be
somewhere on the filter exterior,
probably on a dial
or similar.
E
XTERNAL CANISTER filters are great.
They’re big, which means they can house
a lot more media than internal filter types, How to prime
and that in turn makes them more Most canister filters will not start unless they’re already
efficient and versatile. They’re also filled. The easiest way to do this is to remove the canister
conveniently placed out of view, head and use a jug to fill the body with water from an
underneath or beside the tank where aquarium. When filled, replace
they’re not an eyesore. the head, ensure the hoses in
Over the following pages we’re looking at three and out of the tank are connected
different canister filters, and the parts of them that and the valves open, and
seem to cause confusion. vigorously push up and down
on the priming (or start) button
Aquamanta EFX200 while the filter is running.
The Aquamanta EXF 200 is the smallest in the EFX After a big blast of bubbles,
range and suitable for tanks from 100 l (comfortably) everything should run just fine.
up to 200 l (at a stretch). Once out of the box, there are
a few things you need to do to get it up and running.
1 2 3
Unclip the four clasps holding the lid in place. Turn the head upside down and find the impeller well Remove the impeller and inspect for damage such as
To do this, pull them outwards from the bottom chamber. Twist the cover of the well anti-clockwise and cracks or broken vanes. Reinsert the impeller and
and then slide them in an upwards direction. gently pull it away – be careful not to pull out at an replace the impeller well cover, making sure that the
Once you’ve loosened all four clasps, you can angle as you risk snapping the impeller shaft, which ceramic shaft fits neatly down the middle of the
remove the head. may be attached as shown in the photo above. impeller. Twist the cover clockwise to lock it in place.
4 5 6
Remove the three media baskets. One contains a mesh Place the three media baskets back in the canister – Find the plastic grid in the packaging.
bag filled with carbon – leave this as it is. One a block carbon at the bottom, biomedia balls in the middle and Place the grid on top of the top media basket
of foam – leave this. The third contains biomedia balls foams on the top. (the one containing the block of foam and fine
in a plastic bag. These MUST be removed from the bag Ensure that all three trays are aligned so that the foam pad), so that the canister filter’s downpipe
before use. Briefly rinse them under a tap to remove dust. downpipe runs neatly through all three. is exposed.
7 8 9
Next position the canister’s head unit on top of the Now gently push the head unit down. If it doesn’t sit Insert the hose connection assembly into the slot in the
body so that the protruding ‘spout’ underneath the flush, remove and replace the baskets and try again. head, with the central lever in the ‘up’ position. Push
head aligns with the downpipe. DO NOT force the head unit down. the lever down to lock it into place and open the valves.
Don’t try to push it into place at this stage. Just Once it’s sitting comfortably, secure the head unit in (Lifting this lever locks the valves, retaining water in
concentrate on aligning it the right way round. place with the clamps. the pipes and stopping syphoning when disconnected.)
ADVICE Know-how
Aqua Medic Aqua Fresh 50

This small and visually appealing filter is robust and
capable of filtering between 75 l (comfortably) and 150 l
1 2
(at a stretch). However, it has no priming facilities, which
makes it tricky to start. With limited media inside, this
product is likely aimed at planted aquascape keepers.
As this filter has no priming mechanism, in order to
start it you need to syphon water through it. Attach one
hose to the tank, and lower the other one below the
water level, into a bucket. Start a syphon action (you
can buy handpumps to do this) until the filter and all
hosing is filled with water. Reattach the hose used to
syphon and turn the canister on.
Alternatively, you can use a funnel to pour water down
the hoses until the canister and hosing is filled.
Open the filter by pulling the fastening clips Once you’ve removed the head, arrange
Note that to access the impeller you will need to away from the canister. The metal clasps will the media inside so that the little metal
remove the pump unit from the canister and this now lift away from the holding attachments stand sits on its legs at the bottom of
requires a screwdriver. on the filter head. the canister.
Place the black
3 sponge on top of the

metal stand, and the
white sponge on top
of the black sponge.
Hold both in place
with the metal
spacer and then
replace the lid,
clamping it
back down.
This filter comes without valves, strainers or
4 water-return accessories, so buy these to your

taste (aquascapers tend to use glassware for
filters like this). To connect the hoses, push
them over the inlet nozzle (at the bottom) and
return nozzle (on top) using the provided
hoseclips to secure them in place.
Tight hosing can be softened

by immersing it in hot water
Connecting hoses for 20 seconds or so. This
Assemble any inlet and outlet pipes – makes fixture and
downpipes and strainers at one end of fitting a lot
the tank, spraybars or duckbill returns
on the other. Cut hosing to fit and
easier.
attach by pushing it over the stem and
then clamping down with the threaded
nut. (See photo right). Biomedia fact
Connect your hoses to the filter valves Biomedia loses efficiency if it
the same way (using the locking nut becomes impregnated with waste
to secure them). Note that nozzles and may need replacing. Do this
marked ‘IN’ are for water coming from
over a prolonged period, removing
the aquarium, and those marked ‘OUT’
are for water leaving the filter and going up to a quarter of the media in
back to the aquarium. (See right). one go and replacing with fresh.
Repeat every four weeks until the
media is replaced entirely.
Carbon adsorbs organic waste until
its holding capacity is exhausted, so
JBL CrystalProfi e902 in a relatively clean tank it may last
The e902 is a terrific all-round canister filter with a flow that makes for months; in a dirty tank, just
it suitable for tanks of between 90 l (comfortably) and 300 l (at a weeks. The industry standard is to
stretch). Because of its low wattage (11w max consumption) it’s replace the carbon entirely
also one of the most economic filters on the market. every six weeks.
1 2 3
Remove the head unit by unfastening the four clips Turn the head unit over and then remove the Remove the impeller and inspect for damage such as
holding it. Pull them away at the bottom and then slide impeller well cover by gently twisting it in an cracks or broken vanes. Reinsert the impeller and
upwards until they release. anticlockwise direction. replace the well cover, twisting clockwise to secure it.
4 5 6
Remove the four media baskets from the canister body Place the basket of biomedia balls in the bottom of the Attach the head, making sure the wide spout fits flush
and check them. Two of the baskets should contain filter. Place the two plain blue foam baskets above, with the aperture on the top basket. Use the clips to
plain blue foam, one a block of corrugated blue foam, making sure they align. Finally place the basket with secure the head to the canister body. If the head isn’t
and the fourth contains the biomedia balls. the corrugated blue foam on the top. sitting flush, remove the baskets and check alignments.
7 8 9
To attach the hose connection assembly, there are Now firmly push the hose connection assembly Once the assembly is locked, push the two smaller
three levers. Ensure that the two levers on the canister into place. levers to the ‘open’ position.
body are set to the ‘closed’ position, and the central Ensure that you push down the central lever on the This will open the valves inside the assembly so that
lever on the assembly is in the ‘lifted’ position. assembly FIRST so that it locks into position. water can flow through it.
Connecting
spraybars
Some spraybars have
multiple parts that need to
be connected together with
a short length of rubber
Don’t lose the cap! hose. Note that the longer
Some spraybar assemblies come with a loose you make a spraybar, the
cap that needs to be inserted into one end if the less flow you will have from
spraybar is to work properly. each outlet.
ADVICE Know-how
S T
Sand, gravel, soil or enriched clay – what’s the best
choice of substrate for your tank and your fish?
JACQUES PORTAL
C
HOOSING THE 6There’s nothing for plants to root they forage for food. Sharper grades
right substrate is one themselves into, so you’re limited of gravel may cause so much
of the most to artificial plants, floating damage that the fish become
important decisions plants, or epiphytic plants prone to bacterial infections.
to make when attached to bogwood 6While stirring the gravel
setting up a new or rocks. helps when cleaning
NEALE MONKS aquarium. There are 6Overhead light out dirt and debris,
so many options will reflect plant roots will
Neale is an aquatics
available that it’s easy to end up upwards off make it harder
author with a
passion for brackish with the wrong kind or, at least, one the glass to do this
water species. that doesn’t work out quite as well bottom, stressing properly.
as you’d hoped. Replacing substrate the fish and causing 6It’s devoid of
is an expensive and time-consuming them to exhibit mineral nutrients, so
LAVA ROCKS
process, so it’s something you’ll subdued or washed-out provides little benefit to
want to get right from the off. colours to try to blend in. plants beyond anchorage.
In some cases, the choice of
substrate comes down to personal PLAIN GRAVEL COLOURED GRAVELS
COLOURED taste, but often, the best one for the For decades this was the default These are usually smooth gravels
GRAVEL job really depends on what fish choice, usually on top of an that are painted and then covered
you’d like to keep or which plants under-gravel filter plate, where the with an aquarium-safe varnish.
you’re trying to grow. gravel acted as the biological While not to everyone’s taste,
medium. While still a popular they’re often popular with children.
NO SUBSTRATE choice (and rarely a bad one), think
Leaving the tank bare is a good about the alternatives before going Pros
option for tanks where cleanliness down this route as plain gravel does 6Lots of colours to choose from.
PLAIN GRAVEL is the number one priority. This have some shortcomings. 6Darker gravels, particularly black,
includes breeding tanks, hospital can highlight certain fishes’ colours.
tanks and quarantine tanks. Pros 6Chemically inert, so won’t change
6Cheap and easily obtained. the pH or hardness of the water.
Pros 6Lime-free gravel from aquatics
6Faeces and decaying organic shops is chemically inert, so it won’t
matter are easily syphoned out change the pH or water hardness.
during water changes. 6Numerous grades available, from
PLANTING 6Medications circulate around the fine pea gravel ideal for small fish Can you mix
SUBSTRATE SOIL aquarium more effectively, making communities, to almost pebbly substrates?
it harder for pathogens to survive. gravels less easily disturbed by There’s no reason
jumbo species. why you have to stick
Cons 6Its dark colour minimises to one substrate
6Looks unattractive. upwelling light, enhancing the throughout the entire
6There’s nothing to shore up colours of your fish. aquarium. Mixing
rockwork or piles of bogwood, so silver sand and fine
you need to use self-supporting Cons gravel, for instance,
COLOURED SAND creates something that
ornaments and caves, such 6Scratches and shortens the
as flowerpots. whiskers of catfish and loaches as resembles river gravel,
which would be ideal
for a biotope housing
Australian rainbowfish
and other river species.
Or, you could use
SILICA SAND
one substrate over
most of the tank, but
put a plant-friendly
substrate into plant
pots hidden behind
rocks and bogwood.
This is a good way
to get the benefit of
NO SUBSTRATE expensive substrates
without spending too
much money.
ADVICE Know-how
Cons COLOURED SANDS

6Unnatural in appearance – and Some are artificial, some natural,
can look a bit naff! and some are industrial by-products. What about using peat?
6Brighter colours, particularly Whatever their origins, they look In the past, peat was widely used in
white, reflect light upwards, which superb in the right tank, offering aquaria to create rainforest biotopes –
can stress fish and cause them to more variety than plain silica sand. much like aquarium soil, but with the
exhibit subdued colouration. added benefit of softening the water and
6Fish with delicate colours look Pros reducing the pH. This was seen as a good
dull next to red, blue and other 6Usually chemically inert – but way to create the conditions required
vivid gravels. check with the manufacturer. by species like killifish, who would lay
6Don’t contain mineral nutrients 6Various dark shades are available, their eggs in the peat, enabling it to be
for plants. including black volcanic sand that removed to another tank before hatching.
6Pricier than plain gravel. can look absolutely fabulous in However, peat is an unpredictable tool
planted aquaria, showing for softening water, and has been almost
SILICA SAND off the subtly coloured entirely replaced by RO filtration.
This lime-free sand is fish and shrimps to More importantly, peat harvesting is
chemically inert best advantage. unsustainable. Peat bogs develop slowly
and widely used across many many thousands of years,
by gardeners. Cons and cannot support industrial peat
There are two 6Dearer than extraction. If you come across an older
aquarium book that recommends peat,
types available plain silver sand.
use aquarium soil instead and manage
– sharp sand and 6Some are too
the water chemistry in whichever way
smooth (or silver) sand. sharp, so they aren’t
you prefer.
Don’t use sharp sand as it suitable for burrowers like
will scratch bottom-dwelling catfish and loaches.
fish like loaches and catfish, but 6Some types contain mineral
silver sand can work very well if nutrients that enhance plant
cleaned thoroughly before use. growth, but most of them don’t. some Catappa leaves and bogwood BELOW:
Silver sand is also marketed as roots added. A stark contrast
pool filter sand, which is usually SOIL 6The dark colour enhances many between a
naturalistic look
much cleaner than the smooth sand We don’t recommend you dig up fish, especially those with
and colourfully
sold by garden centres. your garden, but natural soil fluorescent markings. adventurous.
products from aquarium shops are 6Tends to tint the water over time,
Pros useful for helping to replicate the further enhancing colours. The
6Inexpensive and easy to obtain. substrates found in rainforest tea-coloured water is particularly
6Makes a fabulous substrate for streams or pools. appreciated by blackwater habitat
tanks with catfish, loaches, and species, such as Discus.
other burrowing or digging species. Pros 6Burrowing fish love it and behave
6Natural in appearance, and a great 6Very naturalistic, especially with in a very natural manner –
choice for biotope tanks.
6Won’t cause a change in the pH or
hardness of the water.
6Set up correctly, deep sand beds
become partially anaerobic,
fostering the growth of denitrifying
bacteria that can lower nitrate levels.
Cons
6Contains little in the way of
mineral nutrients, though plants will
root readily.
6It reflects some light upwards, so
some fish will show weaker colours.
6Big fish can move it about,
potentially undermining rockwork.
6Some sand may end up in the
filter if the filter inlet is too close to
the substrate.
6Sand will scratch the tank if
caught between the glass and an
algae scraper.
especially elephantnoses and spiny
eels, which don’t thrive in tanks
with gravel substrates.
6Plants root quickly, as you
would expect.
Cons
6Better in tanks with small fish.
Larger fish will disturb the soil,
making the water murky and
potentially clogging the filter inlet.
ALAMY
6Contains some mineral nutrients,
particularly iron, but this varies
between brands, so you might need
ALAMY
to use additional fertiliser. 6Rough texture forms a secure Pros ABOVE: The
6Quite expensive, although in base for securing bogwood 6The best choice for aquariums wrong substrate
tanks without rooted plants and rockwork. with rooted plants. can destroy
catfish whiskers.
you only need enough to 6Dark in colour, so shows 6Vigorous plant growth is the
cover the bottom glass. off fish well. easiest way to avoid algae
6Some types problems, so plants that get their
LAVA ROCK include minerals nutrients from the substrate, rather
CHIPPINGS for good plant than from the water column, will
This is similar growth, though really appreciate this stuff – as will
to the large periodic use of your tank and fish.
pieces of ‘lava rock’ fertilisers may still 6The better brands are guaranteed
sold as decoration and be needed. to last for five years before needing
makes a good alternative replacement.
to plain gravel. Cons 6Fine and smooth, so good for
6Rough texture, which can burrowing fish.
Pros cause damage to burrowing fish. 6Dark brown, so works well against
6Lighter than gravel. 6More expensive than gravel. the colours of your fish.
6It has a porous structure, which
allows slow movement of water PLANTED AQUARIUM Cons
through the substrate. This creates SUBSTRATES 6Very expensive,
partially anoxic conditions that Often based on mineral-enriched although this is offset
foster the growth of denitrifying clay, which slowly releases beneficial by the reduced need
bacteria, and maintenance of minerals around the roots of your for periodic fertiliser
non-oxidised mineral ions that plants. Plants are more fussed about dosing. And the better
plants can use. light intensity than anything else plant growth means
6Open structure, so good for though, so if your tank doesn’t have that you won’t be
under-gravel filters and tanks with strong lighting, a fancy substrate replacing your plants
substrate heaters. won’t make much difference. every few months!
Can I use coral sand?

Coral sand is mostly sold for use in
marine aquaria, but it does have some
niche applications in the freshwater side
of the hobby. Because it’s made up of
calcareous minerals, such as aragonite
and calcite, however, it will harden the
water and raise the pH, so it’s not suitable
for normal community tanks.
For fish from hard water environments,
like Malawian and Tanganyikan cichlids,
it’s ideal. On the other hand, because
coral sand is bright white, it’s not a good
choice for fish that dislike upwelling light.
ADVICE Know-how
HONEY,
I HURT
THE FISH
Whether you’re new to the hobby, or fancy
a refresher, here are the most common
fishkeeping mistakes to watch out for...
WORDS: STEVE BAKER
Not preparing water correctly

The chlorine, fluoride and heavy metals that occur in
tapwater all present problems for aquatic life. Use a
good dechlorinating fluid or carbon-filled canister to
neutralise or absorb these unwanted compounds when
doing a partial water change. Untreated tapwater will kill
NEIL HEPWORTH
beneficial filter bacteria and irritate fishes’ gills and skin.
Scratching glass
If you’re new to fishkeeping, Location, location, location
it’s all too easy to scratch Spending time deciding where to site your new
the inside of a pristine, shiny aquarium could save a lot of headaches later.
aquarium. Often, it’s down to Avoid placing the tank in direct sunlight. This
cleaning, and getting a piece will encourage algae to grow over your ornaments
of gravel between your sponge/ and plants – or the water might just turn bright
magnet and the glass. Be very green. Keep it away from vents and radiators,
careful not to pick up any stray which will affect the tank’s stable temperature.
bits around the substrate layer; And don’t place it near a busy door – regular
NEIL HEPWORTH
even a single grain of sand can movement and banging will disturb the inhabitants.
leave an obvious scar. Also, make sure there’s power nearby.
Buying a too-small tank Adding

It’s understandable to think that spending less substrate
money on a smaller tank is a good way to find out straight in
whether you like the hobby or not. The reality is When you’re full of
that reduced volumes of water fluctuate more,
and small tanks are restrictive, harder to maintain
enthusiasm, it’s tempting to put
and hold little value secondhand. in new gravel or sand straightaway, but
Although a 70 l tank might cost £30-40 more it needs a thorough clean first. Most
than a 30 l tank, the equipment is similar, it substrates are very dirty and
won’t need much more by way of maintenance, the ‘dust’ will cause
NEIL HEPWORTH
there’s lots more you can do with it, and a 70 l

water quality
tank has a far better resale value if you decide
fishkeeping’s not for you. issues.
Introducing fish too quickly
It’s tempting to put new fish straight into your
aquarium so you can watch them, but patience is a
virtue in aquatics and a slow introduction is best for
your fish. First, turn off the light to keep your new
fish calmer. Float the bag in the tank to equalise
the temperatures, then open it (rolling the bag down
so it floats), and add small amounts of tank water
regularly, over an hour or so, to introduce the fish to
your tank conditions. Catch the fish with a net, and
NEIL HEPWORTH
discard the transport water.
Leave the lights off for a couple of hours so that
your new introductions settle in with minimal stress.
Know your tank volume

Correct dosing of your aquarium will be important, so whether you’re
using filter-boosting bacterial remedies, or medicating for parasites or
bacterial ailments, you need to know how much water your tank holds.
Overdosing some medications can lead to toxic shock and the death of
your fish; under-dosing could fail to treat an issue, potentially leading
to advanced problems and possible loss of fish.
NEIL HEPWORTH
To calculate the volume, use the sum:

Length x height x width (in cm), divided by 1,000 = volume in litres.
Then deduct 10% for substrate and ornament displacement.
Alternatively, just measure how many litres of water you add the first
Not researching fish
time you fill up your aquarium.
Many fishkeepers have fallen foul of buying a
fish on a whim only for it to cause destruction
in a community tank before outgrowing it.
Unfortunately, ‘tankbusters’ are being regularly
offered for sale again, so you really need to be Leaving the lights on
aware of what you’re buying. Some people miss the point that lights need to go off at night for the
If you don’t know, ask – but ideally, do your own good of the fish and the aquarist. Although fish don’t fully sleep, they
research. You must be prepared to care for every do enter a transient state that’s as important to them as sleep is to us.
fish you buy long-term and within the guidelines Constant illumination will ‘burn out’ the inhabitants, as well as causing
of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. lots of algae growth.
If you can’t programme your lighting, you can use a simple plug timer
to stick to the same photoperiod each day. (It also looks like you’re at
Turning the power off home when you’re not.)
Just be careful not to use a digital timer with an LED light. Some
It still happens. If you haven’t LEDs don’t like it and the light unit might be damaged.
been told to leave aquarium
equipment running 24/7, then you
might not realise, but heaters and Know your water
filters need power all the time (other Soft or hard, acid or alkaline? These make big differences
than during maintenance) to keep to fish health, so test your tapwater to find out which fish
balanced conditions. This is why are best suited to it. Unless you want the extra challenge
prolonged power cuts can be of altering your water chemistry, of course.
catastrophic for fish.
NEIL HEPWORTH
ADVICE Know-how
JACQUES PORTAL
Feeding the wrong food
With an estimated 34,000 species of fish in
the world’s waters in 2018, there are some very
different approaches to aquatic life out there, and
diet is a major part of that.
Don’t assume all your fish have the same culinary
needs. Research the correct diets for each fish
you’re considering keeping, and look at the
ingredients of prepared, dry diets before you buy.
Not cleaning gravel

I’m surprised by the number of people who
use a jug to remove tank water, or just syphon
water from the top half of the tank when doing
water changes. Water changes are the perfect
opportunity to syphon settled waste from the
lower water column and vacuum your gravel to Replacing an old filter with new
remove trapped waste. This applies to the filter as a whole, or just the filter media. It’s easy to
Don’t vacuum gravel if there’s plant substrate think removing an old, dirty filter and putting a nice, clean one in its
below it. And if you’re using sand, just rake place is a sound idea but it’s not. Filter bacteria are THE most important
your fingers through it, then syphon out any part of any tank and they need time to colonise a new filter or media.
disturbed waste. Either have both running for six weeks before removing the old filter, or
remove the media from the old filter and place it in the new one (in other
words, transferring the bacteria).
Replacing a sponge? Change no more than 50% at a time. Cut it in half
if needed, and wait six weeks before changing the second half.
Holiday feeding Over-cleaning

It’s a common dilemma. You go on holiday, There’s rarely a good
a neighbour pops in to feed the fish, and a reason for large-scale
week later you get home to problems. Fish- overhauling of fish
sitters tend to overfeed, not realising the tanks. Draining tanks,
effect this can have on water quality. Even if rinsing or boiling
they have fish themselves, they won’t know gravel and ornaments,
your tank or how much you normally feed. and keeping fish
Strategy 1: Buy a one-week pill box and in a bucket in the
put your normal daily serving in each meantime, are all ways
compartment. (And hide the rest of your to upset the biological
fish food). balance of the tank
Strategy 2: Most common aquarium fish can and stress your fish.
go a week without food, so you could add Little-and-often water
live plants to nibble on and leave them be. changing and cleaning
NEIL HEPWORTH
Strategy 3: Automatic feeders can be very is the way forward.

useful, but set one up Even if things have got
a few days on top of you lately,
before you a small clean each
NEIL HEPWORTH
go away to day for a week is

check the far better than one
settings. big overhaul.
Not feeding plants Buying the wrong plants
Aquatic plants are just like Many aquatics shops
other plants – they use still stock and sell
lots of different elements unsuitable ‘aquarium’
for growth and we need to plants. Common houseplants
provide them. Fish waste like Dracaena, Caladium,
will provide some food for peace lily, parlour palm,
plants, but liquid additives spider plant, Fittonia,
or nutrient-rich substrates Ophipogon, Acorus grass
should be used to provide and some ferns which just
both major and minor rot away underwater.
elements needed for This causes pollution of the
lush growth. tank and encourages people
Lighting is also very to replace them, spending
important for plants, unnecessary money.
SHUTTERSTOCK
so make sure your bulb What to look for? Fleshy stems –
produces around 6,000 and remember, no variegated plant
kelvin for better results. belongs underwater.
Washing filters in tapwater

After building up a colony of healthy filter bacteria, the last thing you should do
is clean your filter with tapwater. The chlorine will immediately kill the colony
and water quality will deteriorate rapidly, along with fish health. Instead, wash
NEIL HEPWORTH
filters in a bucket of water taken from the tank during your water change –
they don’t need to be spotless.
Not cycling your filter

Your biggest allies in keeping fish are
filter bacteria, but they aren’t present
in a brand new filter. Before you add
any fish to a tank you need a colony
of bacteria and there are two ways
to do it.
‘Cycling’ is the act of adding
organic waste to give bacteria
something to feed on in the absence
of fish waste. Household ammonia
is most often used (raising levels
to 4.0ppm), but some fishkeepers
use fish food products. Monitor the
water parameters and perhaps add
live bacteria to secure a colony. Once
water test results are good (which
normally takes four to six weeks), you
can start stocking.
The other option, if you have
a fishkeeping friend, is to
transfer some mature Contaminated
filter media from equipment
their filter to yours,
adding a small Using the same bucket for
group of fish cleaning the aquarium and the car is
at the same likely to be disastrous for your livestock. Play
time. Mature it safe and buy a new bucket, pipe, sponge and
media
net to be used on the aquarium only. If
NEIL HEPWORTH
moved into an
empty tank will you run more than one tank, it’s
die back unless fed best to have separate
with fish waste. equipment for
each one.
TROPICAL
Mormyrids
ELECTRIC
ELEPHANTS With their distinctive trunk-like snouts and bigger than average
brains, elephantnoses are intelligent, unforgettable oddballs.
DAVID
WOLFENDEN
Dave is a former
aquatics lecturer
and is curator of
SHUTTERSTOCK
the Blue Planet

aquarium in
Chester.
Demanding but
rewarding, the
elephantnose needs an
experienced keeper.
TROPICAL
Mormyrids
W
ITH THEIR huge diversity across the group. American knifefish, although the
bizarre and When the term ‘elephantnose’ is general principle is similar.
unforgettable mentioned, most fishkeepers think The head, plus the dorsal and
looks, unique of species with a highly moveable, ventral parts of the fish’s body,
behaviour and protruding snout – the wonderfully are covered in very sensitive
incredible named schnauzenorgan, used for electroreceptors that can detect
ability to ‘see’ detecting food in muddy or sandy the electric field generated, which
using electricity, substrates. The morphology of this is known as the electric organ
the elephantnoses truly deserve appendage varies according to the discharge (EOD). Objects entering BELOW:
their oddball status. While they can predominant substrate type in the the EOD field create distortions G. petersii
is the most
make incredible aquarium subjects, species’ habitat. that the mormyrid can detect and
common and
they’re also somewhat cryptic and But not all species have a interpret, and the degree of most suitable
demanding, so you need to put a lot schnauzenorgan; there are also distortion varies depending on elephantnose for
of thought into catering specifically blunt-nosed species that tend to whether the object is inorganic home aquaria.
for their needs. feed in mid-water, rather than near
Elephantnoses belong to the the bottom, and have more of a
Mormyridae family, which currently dolphin- or whale-like appearance. FACTFILE
contains 228 recognised species. PETERS’ ELEPHANTNOSE
All come from Africa and are found Friends electric 6Scientific name: Gnathonemus petersii
in a variety of freshwater habitats – Schnauzenorgan or no, all 6Pronuciation: Natho-nee-mus peter-sea-eye
in some locations they’re extremely elephantnoses are weakly electric Origin: Widespread over central and
6
abundant. None are found in fish. This means they generate an western Africa
Habitat: Slow-moving areas of dark,
6
brackish water as even slight levels electric current from an organ in
muddy rivers with heavy plant growth. 400 l+
of salinity raise the conductivity of their caudal peduncle – essentially 6Size: 35cm max, rarely more than 25cm
the water, affecting the fish’s highly modified muscle tissue. 6Tank size: 200x45x45cm for five
electrosensory abilities. Mormyrids generate pulses of Water requirements: 6.0-7.5 pH, 5-15°H
6

The strange appearance of the electricity – typically 20 pulses per 6Temperature: 24-28°C
mormyrids gives these species a minute at rest, as opposed to the 6Cost: Around £15 each.
ALAMY
definite wow factor, but there is constant waves produced by South
With their bizarre looks, unique
behaviour and incredible ability to ‘see’ Elephant drums
As well as the EOD, mormyrids also
using electricity, the elephantnoses truly communicate through a complex
deserve their oddball status system of clicks generated by their
swimbladders. Specialised muscles
‘drum’ on the swimbladder to generate
(a rock, for example), or organic highly complex information the fish sound, and some species appear to have
(such as a predator or prey). attains from the EOD. Unravel the evolved ‘hearing aids’ known as tympanic
The EOD is an amazing adaptation valvula cerebelli of a mormyrid, and bladders. These tiny gas-filled structures
to a nocturnal lifestyle in turbid it’ll stretch to over 10 times the brush against the fish’s ear bones in
water and is used for navigation, body length of the fish itself. response to external noise, amplifying
foraging and communication. Using the sound and significantly boosting
the EOD, mormyrids appear to be Water parameters hearing sensitivity.
able to distinguish between different Mormyrids are sensitive to changes
materials in the water, and even in water chemistry, so provide stable
whether prey is alive or dead. EODs conditions – a mature, fully cycled
are species-specific, and also vary system is a must. demands (necessary to maintain
between male and females of the They will need a temperature of their huge brains) so you need to
same species, playing a crucial role 24-28°C, with zero ammonia and ensure adequate turnover and
in courtship behaviour. nitrite. Aim to maintain nitrate as aeration to maintain oxygen as near
Mormyrids are intelligent fish, low as possible, too. Medium saturation levels as possible.
having proportionally large brains hardness and a pH of 6.0-7.5 suits
and a well-developed and them fine. Treat water with a Choosing & quarantining
specialised cerebellum with a conditioner, and ideally age the When buying mormyrids, select
tightly folded portion known as the water by aerating and pre-heating your specimens very carefully.
valvula cerebelli. The convoluted, it over several days before Elephantnoses can suffer damage
BELOW:
ribbon-like morphology of this performing water changes. G. schilthuisi, or be generally stressed by shipping,
part of the brain gives it the huge Mormyrids have been shown to a rare ‘short so you need to closely inspect them
surface area needed to process the have exceptionally high oxygen snout’ type. in the flesh. Ensure they’ve settled
TROPICAL
Mormyrids
in at the dealer’s, and look for

full-bodied individuals with no signs
of emaciation. Ask to see them
eating if possible – a good mormyrid
We Recommend...
should be actively foraging and
greedily feeding.
Tankmates
Diurnally active species that feed in mid-water,
Elephantnoses are often imported
such as the Congo tetra, Phenacogrammus
with internal and/or external
interruptus, can work well with elephantnoses.
parasites, so quarantining new They don’t do their best when housed with other
specimens is highly recommended. nocturnal species, or with lots of bottom-feeding
The quarantine tank can be kept fish who tend to outcompete them for food.
quite dark, allowing the fish to settle I’ve seen different mormyrid species housed
in and adapt to captive diets before together with seemingly few problems, but on
being moved to the main aquarium. balance it’s probably best to keep them in
Mormyrids are scaleless fish, single-species tanks to reduce hetero-specific
so they are very sensitive to aggression. Some aquarists keep them with
medications. Most of the common South American knifefish, such as the Black
treatments that might safely be ghost knifefish, Apteronotus albifrons, but
given to other fish are a no-no, obviously this isn’t a natural mix and can cause
including copper and formalin. Even issues with competition and aggression.
salt will cause issues, although
praziquantel appears to be safe if
treatment for flukes is required.
In general, resting the fish with
minimal disturbance, ensuring that
they feed in the first few weeks, and LOCATION OF ELECTRICAL ANATOMY
maintaining optimal water quality is
the best way to get them in good
health. For the quarantine system,
you’ll need a pre-matured filter and
be prepared to perform small,
frequent water changes.
Substrates are often omitted in Electroreceptors Elephant house
quarantine systems on hygiene Central nervous system Elephantnoses need a set-up that
grounds, but with elephantnoses Electric organ caters for their particular and
it’s essential to include one. exacting requirements. They
don’t fare well as an afterthought
addition to a community tank, and
now that aquarists and responsible
stores have wised up to this fact,
they are thankfully not offered for
sale as frequently as they were a
few years ago.
Mormyrids need larger tanks than
many people think. The most
commonly offered species,
Gnathonemus petersii, needs at least
a 2m-long tank for a group of five
or so, slightly less for an single
specimen. Overall volume is less
important than area, and the bigger
the better – these are definitely not
fish for a nano tank.
They’ve been known to jump
when startled, so a coverglass, lid or
hood is a wise precaution.
Being nocturnally active and
well-adapted to murky water,
mormyrids may become stressed in
NATHAN HILL
gin-clear, brightly lit aquariums if

they’re unable to hide, so provide
FACTS
& STATS
The largest mormyrid is
Mormyrops ang
the Cornish jack
It’s widespread
across Africa an
extensively fished
Adults can reach
1.5m in length
and weigh in at a
15 KG
whopping 15kg.
<1volt is the
EOD of
mormyrids and presents no
NEIL HEPWORTH
risk to aquarists, unlike
the infamous electric
eel, Electrophorus
electricus, which can
discharge several
hundred volts.
plenty of cover and dimly-lit areas. African water fern, Bolbitis heudelotti, ABOVE:
20 pulses per minute
at rest is typical
of mormyrids.
Stable rock caves are a good which needs to be placed on rocks A shoal of
addition and can be safely built or tied to wood. elephantnoses
turn the sand
around pieces of PVC tube for a over while
Female elephantnoses have
discreet, natural look. Feeding mormyrids feeding. shorter electrical pulses
Soft, fine sand in which the The largest mormyrid species are than males.
mormyrid can search for food is predatory, but those offered in the LEFT: The
an absolute must. Too often, trade tend towards smaller prey Worm-jawed
mormyrid grows
elephantnoses are placed in systems
with coarse gravel, which is totally
unsuitable. Large, rough-grained
such as larval and adult insects,
plus small snails and crustaceans.
That large brain requires a lot of
to 40cm.
2cm is how
deep
into the ground
substrates can damage the sensitive fuel, and mormyrids can rapidly
the electrical organ
snout and make it difficult for the lose condition if their feeding needs
elephantnose to forage. Add some aren’t being met.
can sense if a bug is
smooth cobbles and wood to help A well-fed elephantnose should dead or alive when
the fish feel at home. have a slightly plump appearance looking for food.
Thoughtful planting can add visual – if the body isn’t slightly rounded,
interest and provide excellent cover the fish needs more food, and if the
for mormyrids, although the bright
lighting you need for some plants
body looks hollowed-out, then it’s
in real trouble. 10 times the length of
the body is how long
the valvula cerbelli would
may cause the fish to hide, so you’ll Ideal foods for mormyrids include
need to strike a balance. bloodworm, tubifex and glassworm, be if unravelled.
A planted system suitable for plus crustaceans like Daphnia.
mormyrids could have focused spots These should preferably be live
of plant-rich zones, with other areas
left relatively dimly lit. Suitable
African plants include Anubias
when the fish are newly introduced
to encourage feeding, but once
settled, they will accept frozen and
35cm is the
length
Peters’ elephantnose
species, which can be placed in the freeze-dried versions (although can reach in the wild.
substrate or attached to wood, and quality live food is best).
TROPICAL
Mormyrids
NEIL HEPWORTH
Elephants need
cover and areas
of darkness.
Provide as much variety as when it catches the light.

possible and experiment to a degree, The fish’s most obvious feature is
Breeding blues but do keep an eye on the condition its prominent schnauzenorgan – see
Breeding mormyrids is a challenge, of the fish to make sure they’re one in action searching the substrate
although studies on Brienomyrus receiving adequate nutrition. and you’ll understand why providing
brachyistius suggest courtship can Importantly, these fish can’t soft sand is so important.
be initiated by lowering the water’s efficiently chew their food, so large G. petersii can reportedly reach
conductivity from around 300 μS cm-1 pellets and meaty chunks won’t 35cm in length, but most aquarium
to about 20 μS cm-1 by adding cut the mustard. specimens rarely exceed 25cm.
de-ionised water. Breeding follows, with Even so, that’s still a big fish that
nest-building and egg deposition. Peters’ elephantnose needs a considerable amount of
However, that’s not the whole story. Of the 200-plus known mormyrid room, especially if it’s going to be
While newly caught specimens of several species, only a handful make it to kept in small groups.
species appear to readily breed in the aquarium trade, and one species Keeping pairs can be problematical
laboratory conditions, success with long- makes up by far the vast majority as two individuals may fight
term captive mormyrids remains elusive. of individuals imported. Peters’ incessantly, so aim for five or even
A classic study on Gnathonemus petersii elephantnose, Gnathonemus petersii, more fish if space permits. The
provides some clues. After only two weeks comes from the Niger and Congo feeling here is that aggression is
in captivity, the EODs of male and female basins and for most aquarists, it’s the spread out in a group, so no one
fish became identical, meaning courtship
quintessential elephantnose fish. individual is targeted (much the
will not be initiated effectively. After a
In terms of looks, G. petersii is same way as Malawi cichlids fare
month, the fish changed physiologically.
quite attractive compared to certain best in densely stocked tanks).
Marked hormonal changes were observed,
other members of the family – it’s Some aquarists suggest that while
with some females exhibiting higher
testosterone levels than males. not exactly pretty by any stretch sub-adults may tolerate one another,
This goes a long way to explain why of the imagination, but it has aggression and territoriality increases
long-term captive mormyrids are so interesting bar-like markings on the as the fish reach sexual maturity.
difficult to breed. posterior half. It varies from light This isn’t always the case, but
brown to black in colour, and there’s providing adequate space and hiding
sometimes a subtle iridescence places can reduce any problems.
Assorted elephants
While Gnathonemus petersii is the species you’re most likely to see in aquatics stores,
others occasionally find their way to specialist dealers.
MORMYRUS KANNUME
This species is relatively widespread across Eastern Africa
in a variety of habitats, including Lake Victoria and the
Lower Nile basin, but is not often imported. It has a
drab grey colouration, a relatively long dorsal fin and a
fairly short snout, which gives it its common name, the
Bottlenose. A solitary species, it feeds extensively on
chironomid (midge) larvae and can reach 1m in length,
although 50-60cm is a more typical size. Obviously, it
needs an extremely large system to accommodate it.
CAMPYLOMORMYRUS TAMANDUA
The Worm-jawed mormyrid from West and Central Afr
can reach 40cm, so it needs a very large system – ea
2m-long for a single adult. Coupled with the fact it’s
intolerant of conspecifics in captivity, this is probably
fish for most folks to avoid. Juveniles are quite attrac
with disruptive colouration, but this fades in adulthoo
and the fish assumes a uniformly drab colour
CAMPYLOMORMYRUS RHYNCHOPHORUS
The Double-nosed elephant fish gets its name from the
distinctive morphology of its schnauzenorgan. It’s a peaceful,
gregarious species that’s rarely seen in the trade, but can make
a good choice in the right system. It comes from the Congo
River basin in Central Africa and grows up to 20cm in length.
BRIENOMYRUS
Members of the Brienomyrus genus are occasionally
imported from West and Central Africa. All three recognised
species are relatively small, growing to 10-20cm,
but classification for the genus is still unresolved, so
identification can be difficult.
They lack a prominent schnauzenorgan, which gives them
more of a whale-like appearance, but in spite of their cute
STEVE HALL-MAXTED
looks, they can be territorial and are best either kept singly,
or in groups of five or more in larger tanks. They’re bottom
to mid-water feeders, and need a diet of Daphnia,
bloodworms and other invertebrates.
MARINES
Jawfish
TRISTAN
LOUGHER
Tristan is an aquatic
author who has
worked on various It may look terrifying,
SHUTTERSTOCK
research projects. but it's only a male

His day job is at jawfish incubating
Cheshire Aquatics. his eggs.
JAW
They live in burrows,
the males look after
the eggs, and they can
puff up their mouths to
look big if threatened.
Welcome the jawfish.
MARINES
Jawfish
Housing and feeding
W
HILE WE which one, Opistognathus, accounts
should be for the vast majority of species, with Jawfish have a well-developed sense
careful not to over 65 currently described, and is of place; a phenomenon called site
project human also home to all of the species attachment. They aren’t natural
attributes onto available in the hobby – it's roamers, instead finding a place they
the fish in our represented by species from all like and staying there – often for the
care, some around the globe. entire duration of their lives. Many
really do seem The other genera are Lonchopisthus, of the best fish for marine aquaria
to have wonderful characters and a a group of largely deeper-water are those for whom natural
unique, fishy ‘personality’. Many are jawfish restricted to the subtropical territories could be contained within
also beautiful, some are pretty and tropical Atlantic; Stalix, a genus the confines of a fish tank and many
disease resistant, and there are even where all member species are found jawfish tick this box.
species that offer the opportunity in the Indo-Pacific; and a more There has been much written on
to spawn and rear them at home. recent addition to the family, the the requirements of jawfish with
Some of those types can be found genus Anoptoplacus – currently regard to minimum depths of
within the fabulous jawfish of the represented by a single species, the substrate but, as with so many
Opistognathidae family. tiny, deepwater Caribbean pygmy aspects of the marine aquarium
The Opistognathidae is a group of jawfish, A. pygmaeus. hobby, any generalisation only tells
small to medium-sized marine fish The jawfish’s common name part of the story. In their natural
that range from just a few derives from the size of its head, environments jawfish reside in
centimetres in length to around half which can be 'inflated' through burrows that they excavate and tend
a metre – specifically, a species muscular contractions to appear to themselves. These can differ in
originally named the Giant jawfish, substantially large, and make the composition and form between
Opistognathus rhomaleus. fish look more of a fearsome species and also are influenced Jawfish can
burrow in many
There are currently four genera proposition to predators than it strongly by the types of substrate types of substrate.
contained within the family, of actually is. available to a particular individual.
Blue spoed jawfish

6Scientific Name: Opistognathus rosenblatti
6Provenance: Eastern Pacific; Sea of Cortez
6Cost: £150-250
6Maximum Size: Around 12cm
A desirable species commanding a

high price. This subtropical fish can
be reclusive when stocked without
members of the same species, but
its territorial aggression means
aquaria need to be very large to
accommodate more than one
individual comfortably – a 100cm
distance between burrows is the
average in the wild. Otherwise, it
NATHAN HILL
can fit well into aquarium life, but

check individuals are settled and
feeding before purchase.
Many texts concerning jawfish which they will inhabit when other
stress the need for substrate depths areas of the aquarium seem to offer
of between 7cm and 15cm as an a more textbook habitat for them.
absolute minimum. The truth is that To closely simulate their natural
many species will make do with only environment, deeper substrates with
a fraction of this, and some are a mixture of rubble, sand and gravel
highly resourceful in what they will are preferred, but these aren't always
use to construct a burrow in which favoured by aquarists.
they feel at home. Jawfish love to dig and fuss about
I've seen certain Caribbean species their burrows, and watching them do
pull substrate from all over the this and then return to sit inside their
aquarium to construct a conical latest creation is part of the enduring
burrow, with an opening at the top appeal of these fish. However,
that gave it an appearance much like placing them into a well-established
a volcano. Others seem happy aquarium can cause problems as
beneath rocks and in crevices that they disturb detritus-bearing sand
they fill and shape with rubble and by digging and can potentially
sand from the surrounding locale, undermine rock structures. It’s a
SHUTTERSTOCK
SHUTTERSTOCK
Yeowhead or Pearly jawfish

Scientific Name: Opistognathus aurifrons
6
Provenance: Western Central Atlantic
6
Cost: £20-35
6
Maximum Size: 10cm
6
The most commonly available jawfish in the hobby is

the best studied and most widely kept. It has been
successfully spawned and reared in captivity. Colonies
of four to six individuals can be kept in an aquarium of
200 l with adequate floor space. Broods are incubated
by the male for seven to nine days before the eggs
SHUTTERSTOCK
hatch. At just 15 days after hatching, the fry undergo

metamorphosis and begin building their own burrows.
MARINES
Jawfish
CREATIVE COMMONS
shame as jawfish are reef-safe and remarkable
can be trusted with all but the tiniest resilience
fish and ornamental shrimp, and are when placed in
otherwise wonderful aquarium fish. aquaria with the
However, the biggest hazard for a likes of tangs and
jawfish is probably an open-topped dwarf angelfish. But, as with so many
tank. Use of a lid is compulsory to fish combinations, compatibility can
prevent them from leaping from be highly context-specific – placed Dusky jawfish
aquaria. Jawfish are particularly with jawfish, aggressive species like
6Scientific Name: Opistognathus whitehursti
nervous when first stocked into the dottybacks and some wrasse often
6Provenance: Western Atlantic
aquarium and it's no coincidence go on to be bullies. 6Cost: £25-40
that it's during the first weeks after It pays to make jawfish an early 6Maximum Size: 14cm
introduction that they're most likely addition to any set-up, allowing
Although not the most colourful species listed here,
to be found outside the tank. them time to create a place to call
the Dusky jawfish is perhaps one of the best candidates
Some jawfish are planktivores home and develop it in a relatively
for sole residency in a reef aquarium. It will dig, but
whereas others consume a variety sedate environment. Add the busier appears highly resourceful in its choice of burrow
of benthic invertebrates – small fish afterwards and your jawfish will material and can incorporate practically anything into
crustaceans and worms. Some feel much more secure. its structure. As with many species of jawfish, providing
include small fish in their natural a range of substrate sizes, from sand grains to gravel
diet. Most, if not all, should readily Breeding and rubble, assists the fish in creating a lasting burrow
accept frozen diets such as Mysis Male jawfish typically court females that it feels safe in. It settles well but care should be
and brineshrimp in the aquarium before spawning and it's then that taken when housing it with small fish as they could
and many can be weaned onto flake any differences between males and definitely be on the menu.
and pellet diets. females can be observed. The Blue
spotted jawfish male, for example,
Tankmates develops a white front half, while Tiger or Blackcap jawfish
Although it's difficult to argue the rear part of his body turns
6Scientific Name: Opistognathus randalli
that jawfish will thrive in almost black as he darts up
6Provenance: Indonesia and the Philippines
otherwise-peaceful and down in the water 6Cost: £32-40
aquaria with a handful column – this is his 6Maximum Size: Around 12-14cm
of boisterous way of displaying
tankmates Due to their digging, it's his readiness For most aquarists, a single specimen of this hard-
best to introduce jawfish into to-sex species will be plenty. Males are known to be
– something to mate. In
highly aggressive and prone to wrestling bouts featuring
that’s pretty aquaria before the sand has O. solorensis the
jaw-locking – the loser is quite likely to be evicted from
SHUTTERSTOCK
much true for all a chance to hold too female appears
his burrow. The gold appearance of the upper portion
fish – they can show much organic bright yellow during
of the eyes can be useful for identification purposes
waste. – because of this, the species is also known by the
lt ti name of 'gold-specs' jawfish.
e and this is a beautiful fish to care
um.
In their natural
environments
jawfish reside in
burrows that they
excavate and tend
to themselves
the breeding season. Unfortunately,
these visual cues aren't likely to be
displayed by fish in shop tanks, so
buying a group and allowing them to
sort themselves into a little colony
where space allows is often the best
way to proceed. However, don’t try
this in smaller aquaria unless you’re
100% confident that the specimens
will tolerate one another’s presence.
If in doubt, keep jawfish singly.
Breeding can occur in the burrow
of either sex, or sometimes in a
halfway house built by the male for
the purpose. Successful spawning
results in a mass of fertilised eggs
that are incubated in the mouth of
ALAMY
the male. Different species have

varying brood sizes, but many consist
of hundreds of eggs that must be
regularly ventilated by the male. In
ABOVE:
Breeding can
take place in his
Red headed jawfish
the case of the yellowhead jawfish, 6Scientific Name: Opistognathus solorensis
burrow, hers or a
he will partially spit out the eggs and 6Provenance: Eastern Indian Ocean to Tonga Central Pacific.
halfway house.
take them back into his mouth. 6Cost: £30-40
Male mouth-brooding is seen in 6Maximum Size: Around 8-10cm
other marine aquarium fish, notably
One of the most popular species in the UK hobby, the Red-headed jawfish
the Cardinalfish (Apogonidae). The
is sold under various common names. It is hardy once settled and can be
male invests in the brood, limiting maintained in groups where space allows; offer around 300-400 l for four
the number of his offspring annually, to six individuals. Supplies of these fish can be a little sporadic; sometimes
and sticking with the eggs from one one or two may be available, then there's an abundance of them.
female at a time – some species are
practically monogamous. This way,
he can guarantee that the brood he
is incubating is actually his.
Among the jawfish you'll find
everything from the affordable to
the exclusive. I've a feeling jawfish
are still to have their day and, as the
aquatics world expands its collective
knowledge, they'll likely be shown to
have even more to offer.
To fully appreciate them we must
be able to tolerate their relentless
re-aquascaping of the substrate and
their potential to bury corals or strip
the aquarium base of sand and gravel.
SHUTTERSTOCK
Are Jawfish so great we're prepared

to turn a blind eye to such antisocial
shenanigans? Only you can decide…
CICHLIDS
Pelvicachromis subocellatus
Jewel of
While not as well known
Africa
as its Kribensis cousins,
this stunning little fish
is the perfect dwarf
cichlid for beginners.
RADEK
BEDNARCZUK
ALL PHOTOS: RADEK BEDNARCZUK
A pharmacist by
trade, Radek has
been keeping fish
since he was seven
and has a legacy of
breeding successes.
P. subocellatus mix well with
other dwarf cichlids that
like similar conditions.
Companion fish will help
to reduce timidity.
Low demand, high

reward – what’s not
to love?
CICHLIDS
I
T’S A safe bet that you’ve
all seen Pelvicachromis
pulcher, the Rainbow
kribensis. I might even
venture the suggestion
that it’s the iconic, signature
species of dwarf cichlid,
probably on par with the
German ram, Mikrogeophagus
ramirezi. However, there’s another
member of the Pelvicachromis genus
that’s gentler and more hardy than
the better-known Krib, and it’s
rather surprising that it’s not more
popular and better-known than the
ubiquitous Rainbow.
Pelvicachromis subocellatus,
sometimes called the Ocellated
kribensis, inhabits slow-flowing
streams and still waters. It’s
colourful, doesn’t exceed 10cm in
length and is easy to keep. It’s also
easy to breed, and while there are
many colour morphs of this
species, to preserve line purity
they shouldn’t be cross-bred.
P. subocellatus is
distributed in West
Africa from Gabon
To encourage spawning,
to Congo, with
the particularly some breeders recommend
attractive cooling the water down
‘Moulondo’ variety and adding salt (a
hailing from the teaspoon to 10
Moulondo region litres). Fry are well
of Gabon. camouflaged.
Ideal home
The species grows to a maximum
size of 8-10cm, so your tank doesn’t
When we see a female looking rotund and
need to be tall, but it should be
relatively long, with a large footprint.
very colourful, with a purple spot on her belly,
For an adult pair, the aquarium tensing her fins and arching her body repeatedly
should be at least 60-80cm long,
30cm wide and 30cm tall. The towards a male, completely lost in the mating
bottom of the tank is best covered
with fine sand as the species spends
dance, it can mean only one thing
most of its day down there, digging
in the substrate in search of food. too brisk. The species likes calm, FACTFILE
Add a good number of caves in lazily flowing, well-oxygenated OCELLATED KRIBENSIS
the form of coconut shells, roots, water. The filter should be 6Scientific name: Pelvicachromis subocellatus
flower pots and lengths of PVC pipe, reasonably efficient, so that 6Pronunciation: Pel-vic-ah-crow-miss sub-oss-ell-ah-tuss
as well as plants like Java moss, metabolite levels remain Origin: Africa: Nigeria, Gabon, Democratic
6
Anubias, Microsorum, and some undetectable. Routine maintenance Republic of the Congo
Habitat: Coastal pools and slow-moving
6
floating ferns – this cichlid doesn’t
like bright lighting. Except when
should include weekly water
changes, regular vacuuming of the
streams (some brackish water) 70 l+
6Size: 8cm
spawning, P. subocellatus is pretty tank bottom to remove any food 6Tank size: 80x30x30cm
peaceful, and – another bonus – it remains, and cleaning of the 6Water requirements: 6.0-7.5 pH, 5-18°H
doesn’t destroy plants. sponges in internal/external filters. 6Temperature: 22-26°C
Water current – from a filter or a P. subocellatus is flexible with 6Cost: In the region of £15 a pair
diffuser, for instance – shouldn’t be regards to physical and chemical
The female sees to caring
for the fry while the male
defends their territory.
conditions. The species does well in

Coconut shells
both soft and hard water, and will make ideal
tolerate pH values from 6.0 to 7.5. shelters.
However, in the long run, they
prefer their water soft and slightly
acidic. It’s best to use natural
acidification methods, such as
Catappa, beech or oak leaves.
As for feeding, vegetable foods
should predominate. The length of
this fish’s intestines far exceeds that
of its body, so the fewer animal
foods in the diet, the less the
likelihood of intestinal complaints.
For this reason, offer lots of plant
fibre and Spirulina, with only
occassional shrimp mix,
glassworms, Krill and black
mosquito larvae. They can also be
given dry foods, particularly
granulated types that fall to the
bottom, as they love to dig in the
substrate in search of periphyton.
CICHLIDS
Purple passion the mating dance, it can mean only produce up to 200 grains) will be
Adult male P. subocellatus are bigger one thing – eggs will be laid very laid on the cave ceiling.
than the females, and the species is soon in one of the tank’s hiding Some breeders use a simple trick
monogamous. When we buy a places, such as a coconut shell or to encourage spawning by
group of fish, there’s a good chance flower pot. An extended replicating natural behaviours –
a natural pair will emerge – all we ovipositor is another indicator they half fill a coconut shell
need to do then is to wait patiently that spawning will occur soon. with sand, or push it deep into
for the spawning. So, there’ll come a day when When it comes to spawning, the substrate. The female will
When we see a female looking you can’t see the female. the female plays the leading then dig out the sand, just as
rotund (as if she were about to Don’t worry, she’ll most likely role – she is the one she would do in the wild.
burst), and very colourful, with a be ensconced in one of the to initiate it. While the female is in the
purple spot on her belly, tensing her caves, guarding her eggs. hideout with her eggs, the male
fins and arching her body repeatedly Anything from a few dozen to a fiercely guards the territory. He’ll
towards a male, completely lost in hundred eggs (though some females become very aggressive, so it’s a
good idea to remove the rest of the
fish from the tank, or separate the
The larvae feed from pair from the others with a pane of
their yolk sacs for the glass or acrylic.
first few days.
Some people do leave two mated
pairs in a tank, with caves for each
at opposite ends of the aquarium.
If any aggression or territorial
battles are seen, the aquarium can
then be divided.
Krib kindergarten
After a few days, depending on the
temperature, the young hatch.
Usually they are then moved in the
mouth to pre-dug pits in the
substrate, though in my tank, they
remained in the coconut until the
resorption of the yolk sac. After
about a week, the yolk sacs will be
resorbed and you then need to start
feeding the young. Freshly hatched
Artemia, microworms, grindal
worms and all kinds of foods for
egg-layer fry will be readily taken.
An amicable pair take care of their
young in turns, leading the cloud of
fry to various spots in the tank
(so-called ‘canteens) where they’ll
discover meals of detritus and algae
on decaying leaves and so on.
These fish can be fascinating to
watch as the parents communicate
with their offspring by opening and
closing their pelvic fins, and
vibrating the whole body. In the face
of potential danger, following a
signal from the parent, the fry fall
motionless to the bottom of the
tank, playing dead.
Sometimes, however, squabbles
Add a good number of

caves in the form of coconut
shells, roots, flowerpots
Both parents will
be defensive, even
towards each other.
break out between the pair, leading influence the sex of these fish,
to losses among the fry. In such
cases, the young may be left with
only one parent, usually the
which is determined during the first
few weeks of life. If you want the
sex ratio to be roughly even, the
We Recommend...
female, or the whole batch may optimal pH is 7.0 and the Tankmates
need to be raised artificially. temperature about 24°C. When breeding it’s best to avoid other tankmates,
Do remember that With lower pH values but normally P. subocellatus are quite welcoming.
during the first few and higher Many tetras, rasboras, catfish and barbs mix well.
spawnings, temperatures there You could stick to West African species with either
disagreements If a pair looks reluctant will be more the One-lined characin, Nannaethiops unitaeniatus,
between the to spawn, try giving them females among or Phenacogrammus interruptus, the Congo tetra.
young couple, live foods such as black the offspring;
resulting in the fry mosquito larvae and higer pH and
being eaten, are quite glassworm. lower temperatures
likely – they are will lead to a
practising at being parents, preponderance of males.
so don’t worry too much about If you love small, colourful
it. Usually, after a few failed dwarf cichlids, this species is sure
attempts, they’ll get it right. After to take your fancy. They are ideal
four to six months, the new little fish to help you learn about
generation themselves are ready cichlid keeping, being relatively
ALAMY
to procreate. tolerant of water conditions, easy to

Interestingly, water parameters keep – and, best of all, beautiful.
FRESHWATER
Goby cichlids
‘ i
La
With their strange swimming movements and fascinating
shared parenting behaviour, make space in your tank for the
cute goby cichlids of Lake Tanganyika.
AD KONINGS
Ad is an author,
photographer and
ichthyologist who
is widely regarded
for his work with
African cichlids.
A
SMALL GROUP of extent that this is the only place common to see the hind parts of
Tanganyika cichlids you can find them. They’re their bodies swaying in the current,
is often referred to distinguished from other cichlids by while their heads stay relatively
as the goby cichlids. their anatomy, as well as their still in the sometimes vigorously
There are five feeding and breeding behaviour. moving water.
species described All members of the group have a In the lake, goby cichlids occur in
and none grows similar anatomy: a short, laterally pure rocky habitats, rarely occurring
larger than about compressed body with a remarkably in shallow areas with sand, so if you
9cm. The most common species are long dorsal fin. To prevent them want to duplicate their natural
Eretmodus cyanostictus, E. marksmithi from being swept away by the surge, habitat as closely as you can, the
and Tanganicodus irsacae – the latter their swim bladders are reduced to aquarium should contain a fair
rarely grows bigger than about 7cm. such an extent that they’re unable to number of rocks. If possible, these
keep the fish buoyant. When they should be piled up close to the top
Environment rest on the substrate – while not in some part in the tank, as in
Goby cichlids are adapted to the swimming – their pectoral and aquaria, goby cichlids are normally
turbulent water of the surge habitat pelvic fins are used to secure them found in the middle and upper parts
of Lake Tanganyika to such an in position between rocks, and it’s of the rockwork.
NEIL HEPWORTH
Above:
Eretmodus cyanostictus
‘Mpimbwe orange
dorsal’.
FRESHWATER
Goby cichlids
Adaptations species that makes them so popular. If you frequently notice the fish are
The dorsal fin of the goby cichlids is There’s no need to duplicate this around the filter outlet, it probably
long compared to that of other turbulent water in an aquarium means there’s not enough oxygen in
Tanganyika cichlids and consists of however. While goby cichlids can the water. Excellent surface
up to 25 spines. Generally, cichlids handle a strong surge, they turbulence can be provided with
use the soft-rayed rear part of probably prefer to expend less airstones and/or power heads.
the fin to fine-tune their position energy in calmer waters. Most goby cichlids are monogamous
in the water column, but with A surge habitat is the ‘wave What they do need, though, and live in relatively small areas of
goby cichlids, any movement zone’ of a giant lake, where is oxygen-rich water. Most of about 2m diameter. In captivity they
of it will push the fish nearer the time, the gobies rest on the are best kept as pairs and the only
waves crash on the shore,
the substrate. This, of course, is substrate, so they actively need way to tell the sexes apart with
much like at the
just what they need in turbulent to pump fresh water over their certainty is to check the vents. Adult
seaside.
water. The drawback is that when gills. Fish that constantly swim can females are smaller than males,
they want to move from one place breathe more easily as they only which is obvious in Eretmodus, but
to another, they can only hop or need to open their mouth to allow less so in Tanganicodus. For a single
energetically beat their pectoral fins. the water to flow over the gills. pair, you need at least a 100 l tank.
This odd swimming behaviour is So an excellent aeration system is Suitable tankmates include cichlids
just one of the peculiarities of these essential in a goby cichlid aquarium. like Simochromis and Tropheus sp.
AD KONINGS

FACTFILE
STRIPED GOBY CICHLID
6Scientific name: Eretmodus marksmithi
6Pronunciation: Eret-mo-dus mark-smith-eye
Origin: Africa: Endemic to the northern
6
two thirds of Lake Tanganyika
6Size: Males 5cm
6Tank size: 90x30x30cm for a pair.
Water requirements: Hardwater: 8.0-9.0
6
80 l+
pH, 12-25°H
Feeding: Herbivore pellets, spirulina flakes,
6
blanched spinach, occasional frozen foods
AD KONINGS
6Cost: In the region of £15-£20 each
Diet ABOVE: species, S. erythrodon and S. marlieri, Propagation

The various goby cichlids have E. marksmithi, appear to be omnivores. As is the Spawning takes place on a
different feeding specialisations, ‘Kigoma’ case in so many other Tanganyika horizontal or slightly slanting rocky
although all species feed on Tanzania. herbivores, it’s the blue-green algae surface. Egg laying is preceded by
aufwuchs – the layer of algae and LEFT: (cyanobacteria) they’re after. the male moving over the spawning
micro-organisms covering the rocks E. cyanostictus, Eretmodus are unique among site and assuming a head-up and
and rubble of their environment. ‘Kasanga’ Tanganyika cichlids by having a set slanting posture while quivering his
Insects and their larvae, small Tanzania. of chisel-shaped teeth that they use anal fin, probably simultaneously
invertebrates, and mites find refuge grazzing. to scrape off algae from the rocky releasing his sperm. The female then
in this algal mat, and provide food for substrate. All other Tanganyika nuzzles the male’s vibrating anal fin,
Tanganicodus irsacae. herbivores either comb or pull algae. after which she assumes a head-up
The two Eretmodus species, E. In captivity it’s recommended to position and quivers her anal fin in
cyanostictus and E. marksmithi, are feed goby cichlids Spirulina flake turn. And now it’s the male that
pure herbivores while the Spathodus food or other types of food with a nuzzles the female’s ventral region.
high vegetable matter content. After a few of these pre-spawning
FACTFILE Planktonic crustaceans such as rounds, the female, assuming the
Cyclops and Mysis are suitable to same head-up and slanting position
STRIPED GOBY CICHLID feed too, but Artemia and other as before, releases an egg, which she
6Scientific name: Eretmodus cyanostictus
6Pronunciation: Eret-mo-dus sigh-an-oh-stick-tus
soft-structured food shouldn’t be quickly picks up in her mouth.
6Origin: Africa: Endemic to the southern given as they may upset the After each egg has been laid and
part of Lake Tanganyika digestive system. collected, the male assumes the
6Size: Males 8cm Algae growing on the aquarium head-up, fin-quivering position, and
6Tank size: 100x30x35cm for a pair
6Water requirements: Hardwater: 8.0-9.0
100 l+ rocks provide supplementary food, the female then nuzzles his anal fin,
and their growth can be encouraged collecting milt. The eggs are
pH, 12-25°H
by placing a strong light directly therefore fertilised inside the
6Feeding: Herbivore pellets, spirulina flakes, over the rocks that are near the female’s mouth, although some of
blanched spinach, occasional frozen foods surface. Goby cichlids will reward them may already have been
AD KONINGS
6Cost: In the region of £15-£20 each such effort by showing their best fertilised as soon as they were laid
colours and spawning frequently. and touched the substrate.
FRESHWATER
Goby cichlids
Tanganicodus produce about 20 FACTFILE

eggs per clutch, Eretmodus about 35.
The female broods the eggs and
SPOTFIN GOBY CICHLID
6Scientific name: Tanganicodus irascae
young for the first 10 to 14 days 6Pronunciation: Tang-an-ee-co-dus
until the young are around 8-10mm, ear-rass-say
but all the time the male stays close 6Origin: Endemic to the northern part of
by her side. At the end of this lake Tanganyika
period, the female tries to get her 6Size: 7cm
partner’s attention once more, 6Tank size: 100x30x35cm for a pair
6Water requirements: Hardwater:
signalling her readiness to transfer
8.0-9.0 pH, 12-25°H
the young, days before the male 6Temperature: 24-28°C
finally takes them. At first it looks as 6Cost: £15-£20 each
if the pair are going to spawn again,
with both male and female active in
chasing away intruders.
Once they’ve secured their
‘swapping site’, the exchange of
100 l+
young begins. The female starts
shaking her head and releases one
youngster at a time to be carefully after spawning. When you want to
taken up by the male. The male is grow the fry in a separate aquarium,
well aware of what is going on, and you could catch the male, once he’s
waits impatiently with his mouth holding the larvae, and place him in
half open. Sometimes it looks as if a nursery tank.
he’s begging the female for another Alternatively, you could leave the
youngster, and almost picking them mouthbrooding male with the
out of her mouth! female and try to have a more
After all the young have been natural way of reproduction by
transferred to the male’s mouth, he creating an area in the upper
broods them for seven to eight days. 5-10cm of the water column that’s
The male and female stay close flat and decorated with small rocks
together during the entire brooding and pebbles. This will be the nursery
period, and a mouthbrooding parent area where the males will eventually
does not eat. The fry are normally release their free-swimming fry.
released in extremely shallow water To build up to such a shallow
among pebbles. nursery, you could use imitation
AD KONINGS
While you can breed gobies in a rocks instead of real ones, or you
special breeding tank, the simplest could make one with a piece of
way is just to leave them with other glass about 15-30cm long and
cichlids in a community aquarium. 12-15cm wide – glue this inside a
When a male and female have been fake rock or out of sight against the ABOVE:
introduced into the tank, they rear glass of the tank. Fill the little T. irsacae,
normally form a pair and stay platform with small rocks (nothing Spotfin goby
cichlid.
together most of the time, including larger than 10cm across) and
when they are not breeding. sprinkle with a thin layer of sand to RIGHT: Pebbles
Mouthbrooding females are easily prevent the fish from ‘arguing’ with in extreme
recognised by their swollen buccal their reflection. shallow water in
pouch. Never remove a When lights are placed directly over Lake Tanganika.
mouthbrooding female from the the small stones on the platform, a
tank because the larvae will be lush algal vegetation will grow to
transferred to the male two weeks welcome the newborn gobies.
The female starts shaking her head and

releases one youngster at a time to be
carefully taken up by the male. The male is
well aware of what is going on, and waits
AD KONINGS
impatiently with his mouth half open

Another name for the
goby cichlids is
‘Tanganyika
clowns’.
Eretmodus Tanganicodus
marksmithi have smaller,
‘Mzungu’. thinner mouths.
AD KONINGS
AD KONINGS
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6Ethical Debate
6New gear
NEIL HEPWORTH
reviewed
GEAR FIRST
SHOPS & EQUIPMENT
LOOK
Want to know how the goods on sale really perform? We put them
through their paces so you can sort the good from the bad...
They aren’t COLOMBO CO2 PROFI SET AND SOLENOID

cheap, they aren’t Price: Sold separately – CO2 Profi Set sells for between £150-£200, Solenoid around £65
easy to set up and More info: www.colombo.nl
are risky when Reviewer: Nathan Hill
set up wrong, but
C02 really helps In a market that was for a long while saturated with expensive
plant growth. entry level CO2 diffusers, many of us lost confidence in the idea
of affordable carbon for the aquascaping hobbyist. Some of us
took the risky high road of using CO2 fire extinguishers to make
things economical, willing to offset the chance of a regulator
failure against forking out astronomical prices for aquarium-
designated cylinders of gas. Others persevered with off-the-shelf
designs and rapidly realised how costly it became.
This Colombo offering sits somewhere in the middle. It’s pretty
pricey, but arguably much safer than a fire extinguisher. To its
benefit, it has a cylinder that holds 800g of carbon dioxide –
many of its nano rivals have cartridges (too small to even call
them a cylinder) as little as 20g.
You can assess the efficiency of that for yourself. For 20g
cartridges you’ll pay out somewhere between £10 and £18 for
three of them – 60g total. A refill for the 800g Colombo set
comes in around £40. But then again, I typically pay around
£25 for 2kg of CO2 in a refurbished fire extinguisher. 800g will
supply me enough gas for about two or three weeks at best in a
60x30x45cm aquascape, assuming I’m not gassing heavily.
The regulator itself is weighty, sturdy and has a smooth enough
action. With CO2 dosing you want really fine tuning abilities, and

Check valve,
airline and
this has it. Whether you want one bubble of gas ev
second, second-and-a-half or two seconds, you can
diffuser
it with accuracy. It connects directly to the top of t ccincluded
cylinder through a thread action, and as long as yo
keep the threads absolutely clean (I’d frequently go
over my regulator/cylinder threads with a cotton bu
and some silicone lubricant), then you won’t exper
gas leakage. If it’s the first time you’ve ever connec
regulator to a cylinder, I’d advise being quick, othe
little blast of released gas can give you a sudden ‘h
Also in the package you get a length of CO2 resist
and a bubble counter/diffuser. Depending on how ha
is, that tubing will eventually turn a chalky white a
so I suggest replacing it every few months (but if yo
aquascaper obsessed with everything looking fresh
do that anyway). The bubble counter and diffuser p
the tank easily enough, held in place with a sucker
couple of spares as this will turn chalky after a whi
opening it up to clean it just involves unscrewing t VULTRON AIRPUMP 1500
getting inside. Look closely and you’ll see a little sp g Price: Around £14
as well. That’s the non-return valve that means if you ever run More info: yihufish.com
out of gas, the water won’t start syphoning back out of the tank. Reviewer: Nathan Hill
That’s the whole package. I won’t lie, it doesn’t seem ‘that’
great value, especially if paying near the £200 kit price. With Have you ever bought a product just because it had a cool
£40 for the cylinder, that means I’m paying out £160 for a name? That’s what happened here. The Vultron 1500 is a
regulator, some silicone airline and a bubble counter. I don’t pyramid design airpump with a pumping depth up to
even get any cheap clamps and suckers to tidy up the airline. 36cm, and is the smallest model in a line of five.
You can build on the kit by adding a separately sold solenoid. The 1500 moniker refers to… I’m not really sure. The air
When plugged into a timed socket (around £3 upwards from flow rate (presumably at zero head) is 110 litres per hour
electrical and homeware stores), this allows total on/off control and it will deliver that at the expense of 2W of running
of your gas supply. The usual ‘scaper trick is to turn the gas on power. So it’s nicely economical.
an hour before the lights come on, and have it lead by an hour This model comes with a single outlet, just under 1m
when the lights go off again. This avoids huge swings of pH, as of airline, a non-return valve and funky looking glass-
well as wasted CO2 (since plants don’t use it at night). mounted (with sucker) air diffuser. I’m loathe to call it a
My worry is that the solenoid is in-line. I’ve tried to butcher stone, as it’s a plastic device with a foam pad, but it does
something like this together in the past on a pressurised CO2 belt out air all the same.
unit, and all that happened was that the hose exploded in the
night. Perhaps I was using substandard
hose – or perhaps Colombo knows Is it quiet? Well no, not
something that I don’t.
Either way we couldn’t put it to
particularly, but then it’s no
the test as the solenoid didn’t louder than similar-sized
work when we plugged it in,
and we’ve given up on airpumps either
waiting for the replacement to
come through. Flow is controlled by a curiously smooth rotating dial
on top of the unit which I reckon will be a bit of a headache
to use with wet hands. While you can clearly
VERDICT see the port for the air filter underneath the unit, and while
If you’ve got the money for it looks like it ought to be easy to access, I’ve not quite
the refills and you don’t worked out how to do
mind setting the regulator that yet.
every morning and night,
then great. If you want to
As far as I can see, VERDICT
run it with the solenoid then maintenance will This does the job, and for
I can’t really comment. involve removing four not too bad a price. It’ll be
I would expect a LOT more cross-head screws to interesting to see how much
if I was paying the upper flow it loses when that filter
access the inside.
end for this. gets clogged though.
Is it quiet? Well no,
EASE OF USE: not particularly, but EASE OF USE:
FEATURES: then it’s no louder FEATURES:
VALUE: than similar-sized VALUE:
OVERALL: OVERALL:
airpumps either.
❯
GEAR FIRST LOOK
SHOPS & EQUIPMENT
WHAT ARE POLYMER BALLS?

These handy spheres are relative newcomers to the pond
treatment scene. We talk to three manufacturers about their use.
When it comes to pond remedies bacteria breaking down elevated What is polymer?
and medications, the stock on most ammonia and nitrite levels. It’s a very loose term; the word
shop shelves hasn’t changed much Enzymes break down organic literally means ‘many parts’ and it’s
over the last few years, but there’s matter, enabling further breakdown used to denote any substance that’s
one obvious newcomer – polymer by bacteria, clearing up water made up mostly (or completely) of
balls. They’re produced for both clarity issues and built-up silt. similar (repeating) molecules
pond and aquarium use, but what Pond balls are mostly suited to (monomers). DNA, cellulose and
exactly are they? And when should boosting the performance of muscle proteins are all natural
they be used? mature filters and ponds – polymers, though most of us would
It was Evolution Aqua’s either in early spring when think of synthetic plastics like
Pure Pond Balls that the bacteria colony is at polyethylene and PVC (poly vinyl
were the first of this an all-time low after chloride) when the word comes up.
type of product on the cold winter So what type of polymers are used
the market. Don’t like the idea of a spent temperatures; BELOW: for pond remedies? We don’t know.
For ideal usage,
They introduced polymer ball bobbing about? Put it when introducing
put the polymer
The companies understandably
the idea of in a filter bag and hang it in more livestock, ball in a small don’t want to reveal their secrets,
polymer for your filter so it can be which increases filter bag and but we did ask the manufacturers if
containing bacteria the bioload; after a pour any liquid any residue (plastic or otherwise)
easily removed.
and enzymes, but now deep clean of the pond; into the pond. was left over from their product.
the larger polymer ‘bombs’ or when you are suffering
are the more popular option. with water clarity issues.
The idea? Just drop the ball in Many pond keepers use them
your filter or directly into your pond to kickstart new set-ups, and
and sit back while thousands of although they will speed up the
little monsters escape the polymer maturation period, there are
and get straight to work. Simple. products out there more suited to
The mixture of bacteria and starting a new system, such as
enzymes deal with cases of poor Evolution Aqua’s pure+ filter start
water quality, with nitrifying gel and Cloverleaf’s Bio Gel.
ALL: STEVE BAKER

AQUA SOURCE
BALANCE SPHERE
First look: Steve Baker
Prices: £14.95
More info: aquasourceuk.co.uk
Is there any purpose to the fluid in the tub? Treats:
Aqua Source says: “The liquid inside the tub Up to
Treats: 60,000 l
is a part of the manufacturing process, and Up to
contains a small food source for the bacteria 30,000 l
to survive, as do the balls themselves. Some
bacteria and enzymes migrate from the matter in the water, giving clearer water.”
CLOVERLEAF
spheres, which is why you must put all of the Is there any lingering residue of the bomb ABSOLUTE PEARLS
contents into the pond. This is how the left once the bacteria is spent? First look: Steve Baker
product can have a shelf life of two years. “There’s no lasting residue from the balls RRP: 15.99
“As with all bacteria, if it doesn’t have a food once exhausted.” More info: cloverleaf.uk.net
source, then it will die, so after treating the Is there any concern of an allergic reaction?
pond or aquarium with Aqua Balance Balls & “We’re not aware of any allergies to humans, You don’t use a fluid to carry the
Sphere, most of the bacteria will die off if the although we do advise that people do not eat pearls like other manufacturers
food source is not sustained. Effectively, it will our balls! If swallowed, they would lead to a do, is there any reason for this?
do its job of reducing ammonia and nitrite, dodgy tummy. The bacteria is harmless to Cloverleaf says: “With all due
but the effectiveness and longevity depends humans apart from that.” respect, we do use a ‘fluid’.
on other factors.” Aqua Source has also adopted polymer balls Unlike other manufacturers of
And enzymes? as a way of delivering other pond additives most filtration aids, we use living
“The spheres also contain enzymes that will including Aqua Balance Enzyme for promoting cultures of various nitrifying
also get damaged and die off, which is normal. fish health and recovery, Blanketweed Resolve, organisms – archaea, anaerobic
These specific enzymes chomp on the organic and a fish treatment called Remedy. and aerobic bacteria, plus the
enzymes these organisms
naturally produce (together with
a few nitrifying fungal and yeast
organisms), as the ‘fluidic soup’
EVOLUTION AQUA that is absorbed by each of our
PURE POND BOMB Cloverleaf Absolute Pearls.
“In fact, due to temperature
First look: Steve Baker
RRP: £14.95 and particular atmospheric
More info: evolutionaqua.com conditions in our retailers, you
will sometimes find a small
Is there any purpose to the fluid in the tub? residue of this bacterial soup in
Evolution Aqua says: “It’s classed as an some packets of our pearls.”
activator gel, but it also aids shelf life and Is there any residue when the
transportation.” pearls are fully exhausted?
Is there any lingering residue of the bomb Treats: “Absolute Pearls are made of a
left once the bacteria is spent? Up to selection of natural organic
“Yes, the bacteria, enzymes and a food source 20,000 l polymers that will either be
lie dormant inside the ball when the product is eventually fully digested by the
on the shelf for up to two years. The bacteria available. But if you have a decent filter, and micro-organisms in the particular
have everything they need inside the ball to don’t like the look of a spent ball, remove it.” aquatic environment, or shrink to
stay alive and intact until they are needed. How do the enzymes and bacteria a pea-like ball. In time, this will
“Once placed into an aquarium or pond, the work together? itself be absorbed by various
bacteria are enticed to leave the ball to feed “The enzymes themselves don’t consume micro-organisms.”
on nitrogenous waste. This can be seen by the waste, but they can convert waste into other Does the user need to be careful
ball shrinking and breaking up. If you place waste, which bacteria can then use. with this product – can there be
the bomb into a glass of RO water, with no “Enzymes are very important, and we talk as any allergic reaction at all?
flow or nitrogenous load, the ball stays the much about enzymes here as we do about “We do advise on each packet:
same size and intact. If you place it in an bacteria themselves.” ‘Wash hands after use. Keep
aquarium or pond with load and water flow, Is there any concern of an allergic reaction? in a safe place out of reach
the bacteria leave, and the ball shrinks. Our “I’ve never heard of one and I’ve seen a few of children’.
‘ball’ is actually a net, only allowing certain- million bombs get manufactured, sent out, “This is only sensible, but no,
size bacteria in and out. and used all over the world, but I guess it’s Absolute Pearls only carry the
“A spent ball can be left in the pond where it possible to be allergic to virtually anything. micro-organisms that you would
will actually act as a substrate media for Some people are allergic to prawn shells, normally find in a healthy and
bacteria if no better biological filter media is bloodworm or synthetic sea salt.” well-maintained pond filter.”
BRISTOL LINCOLNSHIRE
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OPINION
Nathan Hill
is Practical
NATHAN HILL
Fishkeeping
magazine’s
associate editor,
When it comes to public aquaria, biotope fancier,
aquascape
tight budgets and old equipment is dabbler and
a challenge. But are they giving out part-time amateur
such a negative message that they skateboarder.
become their own worst enemies?
Changing the world
I
’VE BEEN entertaining this month. like while the home hobby has evolved in
A close friend of mine came across a huge way, public aquaria are still using The other thing that leapt out at me was
to the UK to visit, and so I took on the same tired equipment that was already how downbeat the information was. I’ve
the traditional English role of borderline obsolete at its first use. noticed this at a few public aquaria, and
tour guide. Given that this friend is This was my first time entering a public I’ve no idea why the folks in charge of the
deeply immersed in the aquatic aquarium as a paying customer for as long displays think we all want to be told what
world, and given that we were in the as I can remember. Since leaving Sea Life, total scumbags humans are – I’ve seen a
same city as a renowned public and because of the contacts I have, if I couple of museums do this as well. I’ll be
aquarium, it was inevitable that after ever want to visit one I can usually send enjoying myself watching a shark in a tank
introducing her to such British delights as out a couple of grovelling emails and get a right up until the microphone scornfully
fish and chips, we should saunter on in gratis ticket. This time I wanted to pay. So announces that humans kill over 100
and take a look. I did. Then I instantly regretted it when the million sharks annually. Thanks for that.
price came up. At £18 a head, I expect In fact, many public aquaria are now
Bracing myself guides to do somersaults on request and more like shrines of death and destruction
Now here’s a thing. I used to work in follow me around wafting me with a huge than they are celebrations of aquatic life.
public aquaria. I was aquarist at a Sea Life banana leaf and feeding me grapes. From bleaching of corals to discarded
centre for a few years in the mid-90s. My The displays themselves were trying to plastics, the emphasis of the public
memories of that place involve low-tech make the best of a bad situation. It appears aquarium seems to have shifted to two
gear and shoestring budgets, and while the that since I left that side of the industry, hours of intense guilt-tripping. When I left
displays we had weren’t exactly cutting nobody has yet worked out how to stop I had no fond memories, only self loathing.
edge, they were at least relatively well condensation forming on cold glass. It’s Yet the thing that stuck with me most
matched to the calibre of home displays just that these days they don’t bother to was the absence of progress. I repeat, the
of that time – just a lot bigger. wipe it off. Every time I pressed close to domestic hobby of fishkeeping has moved
Fast forward two decades, and it looks an exhibit, I risked soaking myself. a long, long way in the last 20 years. Some
public aquariums have made great leaps in
that time – just look at the work on coral
Ashamed yet, spawning that Jamie Craggs has done at
human? the Horniman museum. Unfortunately,
other public aquaria seem to have drifted
into becoming foghorns of misanthropy,
hellbent on shaming the everyday human.
All of this combined makes me wonder
if public aquaria, by and large, are going to
become just another evolutionary drop
out. Ultimately, for a moderate outlay, we
are all now capable of putting on a better
display tank at home. And more so, we
can do it without some heavy guilt trip
being laid on us just for existing.
Then again, I might just be sulky
NATHAN HILL
because the shark tank was closed when

we visited.

Guess the fish answer from page 39: Red tailed catfish, Phractocephalus hemioliopterus.
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What revelations can Ad share about goby cichlids?

What revelations can Ad share about goby cichlids?

What does Neale tell us about substrates?

What does Neale tell us about substrates?

Electric fish with a long trunk!

HANDSOME HALFBEAKS DECEMBER 2018 £4.50

Ɣ Supplied with integrated 900 - 1250 l/hr pump (15 - 22

For more information on the BioMaster and other OASE

Steve has been getting

‘SHNAUZENORGAN’ MAY well ON THE COVER

GEAR & REVIEWS

Above: The subtle hues

Latest news and events from the world of aquatics

FISH OF MANY WATCH OUT,

do a bit more fishing.

Trio of fragile JACK WATTLEY

SHARK SHOWS SURPRISING TURN OF FIN

– hurling themselves right out of the

Are added to the planting range, ALG’OUT,

SPECTRUM organic carbon supply for aquarium

now equipped with

® AQUARIUM CARE PROGRAM

Bit nig for

The world can’t make its mind up about this South

for safety from the likes of giant

space to spread out, shoals BELOW: external ﬁlters rather than

produce a lot of waste to foul their experienced keepers tend to go one

the wild, but a solo specimen still

small shoal of ﬁve, but you can

The red eye is a good identifying

looking to keep a group, as males ﬂowing water or at the edge of

NATHAN HILL & STEVE BAKER

How flow can

whales and krill. one, and this is what h

In the wild, when the stream floods,

In their native Borneo,

catch prey and so the loaches’

surrounding sand bed. Crocodileﬁsh

freshwater ambush predators

living. As with all Puffers, crunchy

MP&C PIEDNOIR AQUAPRESS

WHAT’S WRONG WITH INJECTED FISH?

Fish have their mucous layers stripped, before

Fish are stabbed with a needle, and dyes injected.

Your letters, your thoughts and

Alternatively, I might suggest they vanishing, and it doesn’t look like a

Email us at editorial@ Follow us at www.facebook.

I guess someone just needs to work of Cryptocoryne and about

NATHAN REPLIES: I think Tai’s ﬁsh

privileged to be able to take on that

after a week or six months or a year,

5 This fish is probably the best known

(Answer on Tailpiece, page 114)

for £3.50 a month*

CALL 01858 438884 quote KEAA

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grows into a 2ft-long, tooth-wielding ABOVE: