A large fish with an incredible iridescent shine, the Texas cichlid has become a very popular choice for the home aquarium. Found in the freshwater of the Rio Grande in Texas, and in areas of northeast Mexico, they’re the only cichlid that’s native to North America. They’re also a prolific invasive species, thanks to their …
Texas Cichlid 101: Care, Diet, Tank Size, Tank Mates & More Read More »
The Jack Dempsey Cichlid, or Rocio octofasciata by its scientific name, is a beautiful freshwater fish, popular amongst aquarists for its curious coloration. This coloration can vary quite extensively, and can change due to age, environment and even mood. In the wild, Jack Dempsey Cichlids hail from the murky, slow-moving streams and rivers of North …
Jack Dempsey Cichlid 101: Care, Diet, Tank Size, Tank Mates and More Read More »
The scientific name for Jewel Cichlids is Hemichromis bimaculatus. It is a member of the Cichlidae family. This species is found all across Africa’s Western coast. They can be seen from South Guinea to Central Liberia. They are mostly found in small streams and canals. They like areas with lots of surface vegetation and overhanging …
Jewel Cichlid 101: Care, Diet, Tank Size, Tank Mates & More Read More »
Also known as a Billy Gar or Longnose Garpike, the Longnose Gar is a ray-finned fish pertaining to the family Lepisosteidae. This means that its fins are composed of webs off skin structured by hard spines, rather than the fleshy, free-moving fins of lobe-finned fish. Native to the freshwater lakes, brackish coastal waters, swamps, and …
Longnose Gar 101: Care, Diet, Tank Size, Tank Mates, & More Read More »
Saddled bichirs (scientifically known as Polypterus endlicheri endlicheri) is a long, prehistoric-looking subspecies of the Polypterus genus. This species is an opportunistic ambush predator known for its unique hunting tactics and interesting behavioral features, such as its ability to breathe both in and out of water. The saddled bichir is commonly found in marshy environments, …
Saddled Bichir 101: Care, Diet, Tank Size, Tank Mates & More Read More »
The Giant Snakehead is known by many names: Channa micropeltes, Indonesian Snakehead, Giant Mudfish, and more. Channa micropeltes is the largest member of the Channidae family, growing up to 4.9 feet in length. This fish species can be found distributed across bodies of fresh water in Southeast Asia. It also exists in an invasive capacity …
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The Pumpkinseed fish, also known as Lepomis gibbosus, is a freshwater member of the Centrarchidae family, which can be found primarily in North America. Other names you might hear used to refer to the Pumpkinseed are sunfish (colloquially reduced to ‘sunny’), pond perch, kivver, and punkie. Most Pumpkinseeds are geographically located in the northeastern United …
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The Black Neon Tetra is a freshwater species that belongs to the Characin family. They come from the Paraguay Basin and the Taquari River in Brazil. They are a variety of another popular species and are sought after for their unique appearance. The scientific name for the Black Neon Tetra is Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi. These fish …
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The Convict Cichlid, (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) is an absolutely beautiful little freshwater fish that has been a favorite among aquarists for many years due to its striking zebra stripe pattern. The species hails from the streams and lakes of Central America, and can be found along the eastern coast from Guatemala to Costa Rica, and along …
Convict Cichlid 101: Care, Diet, Tank Size, Tank Mates and More Read More »
If you’re looking for a species of fish that’s guaranteed to liven up your home aquarium, one of the most obvious choices is the Blood Parrot Cichlid. The Blood Parrot Cichlid, also known as the Parrot Cichlid, is suspected to be the hybridized product of breeding the Gold Severum Cichlid and the Midas Cichlid. With …
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