Guppies are native to South America and the West Indies.

Maximum size and longevity

Sizes can vary from 3 to 5 cm.

Water quality
· Temperature: 24°C – 26°C.
· pH: 7.0-7.5
· General hardness: 250-300 ppm (if you start to get sick, doubling this dose can help).

Guppies need clean, oxygen-rich water, make sure tanks aren’t overcrowded, well ventilated, and filters cleaned regularly.
Make sure all biological filters are working properly, ensuring that no ammonia or nitrite is present.

Feeding

An active fish, guppies use a huge amount of energy and need to be fed at least 3 times a day with a variety of foods including dry, fresh, frozen or live food.

Guppies are surface eaters and will readily accept most prepared foods. However, they should be given a high-vegetable diet and a dry food like Spirulina should be used occasionally.

Compatibility

They are suitable for a community pond densely planted with other peaceful fish. It’s best to choose tankmates with slightly alkaline hard water needs in your aquarium.

Avoid crowding with larger or aggressive species that will nip them because of their colorful tails.

Male guppies can continually “harass” female guppies if kept together, this can be avoided in commercial situations by stocking males and females in separate tanks. This will stop continuous playback.

Color and varieties

While there are many beautiful wild forms of livebearers, guppies have been selectively bred around the world to produce a huge variety of colors, body and fin shapes.

Sexing

Viviparous fish have the common trait of giving birth by swimming young (ovoviviparous), rather than by laying eggs like most other fish. To achieve this, males have a modified anal fin called a gonopodium which is used to facilitate internal fertilization of the female. Once fertilized, the eggs mature inside the mother’s oviduct. The eggs then hatch
internally and give “birth” to the resulting offspring soon after.

Guppie fingerlings are about 7 to 10 mm long at birth and are probably the most easily bred species on finely ground dry food and do not require special food like most other species when they start feeding.

Males and females are usually easily distinguished as males have a smaller body with brightly colored tails, females also have a dark “gravid” patch in the anal region.

Its ease of reproduction means that it is the first species that many hobbyists start breeding.

General information

Guppies are probably the most popular livebearer among both aquarium owners and advanced breeders.

It has become a species of fish for hobbyists with selective breeding resulting in many varieties of spectacular coloring and fins. These fish are generally robust and tolerant of a wide range of aquarium conditions – for this reason they are often recommended for beginners.

However, due to intense selective breeding, guppies can be more difficult to keep than their wild ancestors.

For this reason, it is important to try to match the tank conditions to their requirements of slightly harsh and alkaline conditions, otherwise they can become weak and prone to bacterial infections. Will be prone to bacterial disease in soft water.

Interestingly, guppies introduced into empty home aquariums, where the water is well aged and there is plant life and algae to graze on, can transition from the previously described hard water with little or no ill effect. This is attributed to the higher levels of stress the fish are exposed to under commercial conditions, such as fish constantly entering and leaving the ponds, more handling and higher densities.

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Burmese rummynose comes from Myanmar.
They have a limited distribution in Lake Inle and its surrounding waters.

Maximum Size and Longevity

Burmese rummynose can grow to a length of 4 cm, and will live for 2 to 3 years if kept in the right conditions.

Water quality

Rummynose Burmese may be temperature sensitive and prefer slightly alkaline water:

Temperature: 21-25°C

pH: 7.0 —7.5

GH: 150 – 250 ppm

food

Burmese rummynose are omnivores and generally eat a wide variety of foods. Be sure to provide food that is small enough for their tiny mouths.

Compatibility

This fish is quite peaceful in a species tank or in a community, although males can be skittish when in spawning condition. These fish live in schools in the wild and are best kept in groups of six fish, preferably more.

Color and Variety

A small silvery blue fish. Males develop red tips on the nose and fins.

sexual differences

The male has a “rummy-red” nose and red tips on the tail fin. Males have a milky or bluish coloration on the body and are usually larger than the female. Females are not red in color and are usually more silvery.

General information

As they are lake fish, they prefer little or no water movement. They color best when their natural habitat is replicated in a peaceful species or community pond. These hardy minnows prefer a heavily planted tank with places to hide. The tank must be covered, as these fish can jump if startled.

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The ancient Chinese kept goldfish some 1600 years ago.
The original wild, drab coloured fish were selectively bred until the beautiful clear bright colours of today’s fish were developed.
The Japanese obtained some of these fish about 500 years ago and have developed some of the more unusual types of goldfish.
Today there are dozens of different types. Even though they are different colours and
have different body, tail and eye shapes, they are all the one species, Carassius auratus.

Maximum Size and Longevity

Goldfish are capable of reaching the grand old age of 20 years and attain a length of between 12 to 30cm, depending on variety.

Water Quality

· Temperature: 15°C – 20°C is the ideal range, however they can tolerate temperatures outside of this range.
Outside of this range however, they can become stressed and more prone to illness.

· pH: 7.0—7.5
· General Hardness: 150 ppm.

Feeding

A good staple food for goldfish is a high quality floating granule. The small size is best, as this assures all fish get their fair share. Feeding floating granules, two to three times a day, in the right quantities is one of the major factors in keeping goldfish healthy and active. For variety, occasionally substitute flake food, and, more importantly, some vegetable material.

Compatibility

Goldfish are best kept with other Goldfish, in a tank or pond. A good rule of thumb to minimise aggression is to keep straight tailed fish together with other straight tailed
fish, and fantailed fish with fantailed fish.

Colour and Varieties

Over 1600 years of selective breeding has resulted in a wide range of varieties and colours. The most frequently seen are divided into 2 categories: Straight (or Single)
tailed, such as the Comet, Shubunkin or Common Goldfish, and the Fantailed varieties such as the Fantail and Ryukin.
Ranchus and Lionheads have a double tail and no dorsal (top) fin. Orandas are well known for their short, globular body and characteristic head growth—this may take years to develop fully. Other varieties, less frequently available, include Telescopic eyed fantails such as the Butterfly Tail; Pom Poms, Bubble Eyes and Pearlscales.

Goldfish are available in a wide, seemingly limitless, range of colours. The most frequently seen is Red, which can be varying shades of orange red, orange and orange yellow. Calico and Shubunkin colouring refers to a mottled pattern of blue, red, orange, brown, yellow or black. Black goldfish are available, but they can tend to fade indoors.

Sexing

Small goldfish are difficult to tell apart. Larger fish at about one year old can be distinguished fairly easily. Males develop small white tubercles along the leading edge of the pectoral fins. When in breeding condition the tubercles can also be noticed on the gill plates.

General Information

Goldfish are hardy, colourful, easy to care for and the ideal beginner’s fish. They make a perfect first pet. As experience and interest levels grows, their fascinating history and wide range of varieties also ensures that they are highly prized by the enthusiast.

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Although there are many species available, most common commercially available species are:
Aphyosemion sp – Killifish species
Aplocheilus sp, Epiplatys sp,
Pseudepiplaty sp – Panchax species

Maximum Size and Longevity

Killifish are usually small fish and, depending on the type of species, the size varies from 2 to 6 cm.

Panchax species will grow to a maximum size of 10cm.
Many of the Aphyosemion species are annual species and can only live for one year, while the Panchax group can live for several years.

Water quality

Water quality will vary depending on species, but as a general rule prefer mild acid water.

Temperature: 20oC – 24oC
pH: 5.5 – 7.5
General hardness: 50-150 ppm

Feeding

Killifish have a small mouth structure, so be sure to select foods that are suitable.

Compatibility

Many killifish can be safely combined with small catfish, small tetras and other non-territorial fish.

Do not keep them with larger predatory fish that would attack this small fish. They can also be kept alone in a small tank where they can readily display their amazing reproductive colors.

Color and varieties

The Killifish group has a very diverse color and great variety.

For example, many of the Aphiosemion species have brightly colored males. One possible reason for their bright colors is because they are commonly found in dark waters with low visibility and therefore need really bright and striking colors to attract females.

Tips to maintain successfully

These brightly colored fish are not fussy and are ideal for a community aquarium. They prefer a planted tank and softer water conditions on the acid side.

General Information and Reproduction

Some species in this group can lay their eggs in the substrate when their natural habitats dry up and the eggs hatch when water returns with rain.
Some killifish such as the Aphyosemion have also been called “annual fish” for this reason. Other species can spawn among floating plants and often reproduce in
densely planted community tanks. Males are often extremely colorful, while small females are subdued in their coloring.
Afiosemion species may be prone to velvet, but respond well to normal treatments for this disease.

Generally a robust group with no particular needs.

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Scientific Name: Hasemania nana, Lütken, 1875

Family: Characidae

Origin: South America / São Francisco River Basin

Sociability: School

pH: 6.0 to 7.2

Temperature: 22 to 28°C

Water hardness: soft to medium

Life expectancy: About 5 years

Maintenance: Easy

Adult Size: Approximately 5 cm

Food: Omnivorous, accepts everything, to encourage reproduction and keep your fish healthy and with beautiful colors, it is recommended to offer live food at least once a week.

Recommended Ration: MegaFood Tropical Basic accompanied by MegaFood Spirulina

Sexual dimorphism: The male is smaller, more colorful and the belly is straight. The female has a less intense coloration, the belly is plump and is larger than the male. Important: these characteristics appear in fish at the end of the juvenile stage and in adults, the sexual difference between offspring is more difficult to be observed.

Behavior: They are schooling and peaceful fish.

Reproduction: Oviparous, are considered free spreaders, as the female releases her eggs into the water and the male swims around fertilizing them. Eggs hatch within a few hours when kept at a higher temperature and after two or three days of hatching the fingerlings have already consumed the contents of the yolk sac and begin to swim.

There is no parental care among fish of this species, from the moment the pups are free-swimming, specific rations can be offered for oviparous fingerlings and live food such as infusoria, microworms, brine shrimp, as the pups grow food larger living can be offered.

Newborn eggs and fingerlings are very sensitive to light, so an aquarium with several floating plants to attenuate the light is necessary.

It is recommended to use an internal foam filter or put perlon in the water inlet of the external filter to avoid sucking the puppies, when in aquariums suitable for reproduction.

Minimum aquarium size: 50 liters.

Other information: As they are shoal, these tetrinhas should not be kept in groups of less than 5 individuals, the larger the shoal, the more natural their behavior. The disputes over territory or females are magnificent to watch, the males (usually the biggest among them) face off and display their fins and colors in as much splendor as possible. They are beautiful fish for planted and themed aquariums!

The genus Hasemania is one of the few among the Characidae family in which the species does not have an adipose fin.

These fish show their coloration vividly only when kept in an ideal environment, fish in a stressful situation (store batteries, right after transport, etc.) can show a very pale color, which is easily reversed when transferred to a location with parameters and species-appropriate needs.

It is extremely important to monitor the water parameters, for which periodic pH, GH, KH, Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate tests are recommended. There are products that constantly test certain parameters, without the aquarist needing to do them all the time, and that allow 24-hour monitoring, they are Seachem Ammonia Alert and Seachem pH Alert – both available in our “Medicines and Tests” area. All other chemical tests can also be found in the same above-mentioned area of ​​the website.

Equally important is the constant maintenance of the water temperature to avoid sudden drops that can lead to the weakening of the animal’s immune system and the emergence of diseases. This maintenance is achieved with the aid of heaters and/or thermostats – the latter being the most recommended, as they have a mechanism that controls the temperature, thus avoiding excessive heating of the aquarium water – and it is monitored using thermometers that can be either internal and external. Accessing our area entitled “Temperature” you will find several options for thermometers, heaters and thermostats.

Fish that can be placed with tetras: Tetras are shoals, you must place 3 units (minimum) of the same type of each tetra. In addition to other male and female tetras of any other variants, you can place them together with all small and medium-sized acidic fish. Do not place them with adult mites or river fish (they can eat them if they fit in your mouth). You can adapt them to neutral pH and place with all fish of this pH. We don’t recommend putting it in alkaline pH, as it decreases its life expectancy from hours (depends on the acclimatization) to years and will silently mistreat them, forcing its nature (we don’t agree).

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Scientific name(s): Astronotus ocellatus

Family: Cichlid

pH: 6.5 – 7.2

Temperature: Does not tolerate cold water. Ideal 22 – 25 °C

Sexual Dysmorphism: Few differences. Males a little bigger and more colorful as adults.

Food: Omnivore

Recommended Ration: MegaFood Carnivores  and as a complement MegaFood Tenebrio

Reproduction: Oviparous

Geographic origin: South America

The Oscar Fish is one of the several types of Acará Fish that exist. It is a fish of the Cichlid family and its scientific name is Astronotus Ocellatus.

Types of Oscar Fish: There are several types of Oscar fish like Oscar albino, Oscar albino pink, Oscar albino red, Oscar albino red tiger, Oscar black, Oscar tiger, Oscar bronze and the Oscar veil.

Care: Oscar Fish is fast growing and widely used in aquarium fish. In nature, its geographical distribution is in the Amazon basin and dams in the Northeast and Southeast. Oscar fish prefers a slightly acidic pH, between 6.5 and 6.8.

When raised in aquariums, partial water changes (20%) should be done more often in summer than in winter. The temperature must be between 21 and 26°C, at lower temperatures Oscar can stop feeding.

Oscar needs 12 hours of dark and 12 hours of light. At night, when at rest, he is almost lying down. Aquariums of 100 to 200 liters are needed for an adult individual and the aquarium must always be covered, as Oscar fish easily jumps out of the aquarium. It has dark coloring and mosaic designs when young and as it grows it gains light and dark patches of grayish green and orange. On the caudal fin there is an ocellus, a dark circular spot surrounded by a bright orange.

His hobby is tinkering with the decoration of the aquarium, even managing to take large stones from one corner to another, turning over the substrate and pulling out plants. There are reports of Oscar who eat from the keeper’s hand, let him caress his back, so they are very nice and sweet fish when used to their owner!

Reproduction: The ideal for reproduction of the Oscar is an aquarium between 200 and 250 liters. The water should be around 28°C.

There is a big stir in the aquarium before mating, and so-called ‘mouth games’ happen, which are a test of strength, where male and female face each other with their mouths wide open. After a few battles and biting each other, the couple move away from the other fish in the aquarium. A tile is placed facing downwards so that they prepare the place for spawning, the female lays the eggs in a circular motion while the male fertilizes them between 800 and 2,000 eggs.

After spawning, there is a great agitation in the water caused by the fish, with their fins, to oxygenate the eggs, and as a defense and protection against the attack of fungi and bacteria. After 3 or 4 days the eggs will hatch. The male then transports the fingerlings in his mouth to holes he makes in the substrate, taking care of them until they can swim on their own.

In the first days the fingerlings feed on the yolk sac. When this is finished, it is necessary to provide food such as beef pates, liver and non-fat fish, microworms and newly hatched brine shrimp. They should be fed every two hours in moderation.

For adults there are specific foods for carnivores, they also like small fish, heart and liver in small pieces. Vitamin ¨E¨ is essential in your diet, for its good development and good reproduction.

Always remember to have good filtration in the aquarium.

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Scientific Name: Betta splendens

Family: Osphronemids

Habitat: Southwest Asia (Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar)

pH: min: 6.8 max: 7.4

Temperature: min: 24° max: 28°

Hardness: min:4 max:8

Maximum Size: 6 cm

Sociability: Males are very territorial for this reason you can only have one male per aquarium, females are also territorial but they can keep together.

Maintenance: Easy

Aquarium Zone: Surface and half aquarium.

Food: Omnivore. Live food, specific feed, larvae, brine shrimp.

Recommended Ration: MegaFood Betta

Characteristics: This fish has the particularity of breathing atmospheric air thanks to organs called labyrinths that make the air pass very close to the bloodstream, providing the exchange of oxygen with the blood through diffusion.

Reproduction: Oviparous, males defend their territory formed around a bubble nest that they build and defend. The females “visit” the males who court them until they release the eggs, then and after fertilization the males place the eggs in the nest and expel the female from the territory. The hatch takes between 24 to 48 hours.

Sexual Dimorphism: Males usually have longer fins than females, the exception is the Plakat male that is confused with a female as it does not have as long fins as other males.

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Synonyms

Callichthys splendens Castelnau 1855; Brochis splendens (Castelnau 1855); Callichthys taiosh Castelnau 1855; Brochis dipterus Cope 1872; Corydoras semiscutatus Cope 1872; Brochis coeruleus Cope 1872; Chaenothorax bicarinatus Cope 1878; Chaenothorax eigenmanni Ellis 1913

Etymology

Corydoras: from the ancient Greek κόρυς (korus), meaning “helmet”, and δορά (dora), meaning “skin, hide of animal”, alluding to the rows of bony plates on the flanks of members of the genus.

splendens: from the Latin splendens, which means “shining, sparkling, sparkling, sparkling, shining, shining”.

Classification

Order: Siluriformes Family: Callichthyidae

Distribution

This species is one of the most widespread and has been recorded in much of the Amazon basin in Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.

It is thought that certain populations may come to represent distinct species in the future, and this may involve the revalidation of some of the above synonyms.

The type locale is given simply as ‘Rio Tocantins, Brazil’.

Habitat

This species tends to form aggregations in smaller tributaries and still water bodies, such as backwaters, ox arches and marginal lakes.

Maximum Standard Length

70 – 80 mm.

Aquarium Size

Minimum base dimensions of 120 ∗ 45 cm or equivalent are recommended.
It is advisable to find a filter that has a water flow between 4 to 5 times the volume of your aquarium. With a volume of 243 liters.

Maintenance

The ideal is to use a fine sand substrate, although rounded gravel is an acceptable alternative as long as it is kept scrupulously clean.

Other decoration is largely by personal choice, but some coverage must be provided to give fish safety.

water conditions

Temperature: 20 – 28°C

pH: 5.0 – 8.0

Hardness: 36 – 268 ppm

Diet

Corydoras spp are forage omnivores and accept most dry foods that sink, as well as small live and frozen varieties such as chironomid larvae (blood worm), Tubifex, etc.

Feeding a varied diet will ensure that the fish are in optimum condition.

Under no circumstances should they be expected to survive on “leftovers” from other aquarium inhabitants or counted to “clean” the aquarium.

behavior and compatibility

Peaceful and sociable. It should be kept in a group of at least 6-8 individuals.

sexual dimorphism

Adult females are visibly more rounded, taller in body, and grow slightly larger than males.

reproduction

Eggs are placed near the surface of the water and are easy to remove and be placed elsewhere for breeding.

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Angel Fishs are laterally compressed and look like a disk on the edge with long fins protruding from the top and bottom with 2 “antennas” in front of the anal fin. The Bandeiras were selectively bred, resulting in a wide variety of color shapes, in both regular and long fin varieties.

Angel Fish are best kept in pairs or, better yet, in small groups. They are generally peaceful, however larger mature specimens can eat smaller fish such as neons.

Maximum size

Up to 14cm

Water quality

Tolerates a wide range of water conditions, but prefers slightly acidic soft water.

Temperature: 25°C – 29°C

pH: 6.5 – 7.0

General Hardness: 50 – 150 ppm

Coloring and varieties

The eye is usually dark red, but many color strains now have black eyes. The wild form’s body color is silvery white with 4 dark vertical bars running through it. Many color strains were developed by fish breeders around the world such as blue, gold, marble, koi, black and other color variations now available.

Also known as Angel Fish, they were selectively bred for their scale patterns. For example, Pearlscale or Diamond An-gel have very attractive diamond-like scales.

Aquarium Setup

Angels do best in a deep tank at least 40 centimeters high to accommodate the shape of their tail.

Dark color background decorations allow your fine colors to show through to the fullest extent. 3mm black gravel and river sand; approximately 10:50kg ratio – mix black gravel into the sand to create a mottled effect.

Make sure the water conditions are set according to the desired ranges for the angelfish, they appreciate a well-planted pond with plenty of open space for swimming.

food

They will eat most aquarium fish foods, but they will thrive and will be much better able to breed on a very varied diet, including some live, dehydrated or fresh foods occasionally. Angels of small size, about 3 to 4 cm, are still considered fingerlings and require balanced feeding and in ideal proportions like Nutrafish.

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Apistogrammas derive their common name from the name of the region in which they were first identified or the first person to officially describe them (then cacatuoides, agassizzi, Borelli, Nijsseni, Panduro, and so on).

Behavior

These little cichlids will roam around the pond, they like to hide occasionally, so provide lots of plants and caves.

Maximum Size and Longevity

The maximum size of Apistogrammas varies depending on species.

On average, females can vary between 2.5 cm and 5 cm at most. Males range from 5 cm to 7 cm at most.

The average lifespan of Apistogramma is about 5 to 8 years if kept happy and healthy and in good water.

Water quality

Apistogrammas live naturally in soft acidic water, use this as a guideline when defining an Apistogramma as fauna for your aquarium.

Aquarium

pH: 5.5 – 7.0

GH: 30 – 100 ppm

Temperature: 24°C – 28°C

food

Apistogrammas are omnivorous and accept a wide variety of foods, including commercial foods such as flakes and bits.

Apistogrammas feed mainly from the top of the tank.

Compatibility

Apistogrammas can become quite aggressive when they are breeding, but most of the time they will be peaceful.

They are best kept with other small cichlids like South American Dwarf Cichlids, and can sometimes be kept with Discus and larger Tetras due to their water requirements.

Colors and Varieties

There are many different types of Apistogrammas, which come in many different colors and shapes. Some Apistogrammas that are commonly available include agassizzi, Borelli, cacatuoides, panduro, nijsseni.

Sex

Apistogrammas are very easy to differentiate between sexes, males have many brighter colors than females, their fins are longer and grow slightly larger and thinner than females.

Females are smaller and fatter in the belly area and have shorter fins. Females are mostly in shades of brown, silver or gray, with black highlights and bars. However, when they start to reproduce, they sometimes mimic male coloring and become brighter and more colorful.

General information

With “Nano Tanks” becoming more and more popular these fish are also becoming popular.

They don’t need a lot of water as they are very small, peaceful cichlids.

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