A medium-sized predatory characin found throughout the Amazon Basin, the Bucktooth Tetra or Exodon is a schooling fish and best kept in a group. In the wild, they feed off the fins, scales of larger fish. In the aquarium, they are best kept in a species tank, as they will harass most tankmates. They will readily accept most prepared and frozen foods.
An amazing example of mimicry in nature, the Amazon Leaf Fish both looks and acts exactly like a dead leaf as a sneaky way to lull its prey into a sense of security. When small fish venture too close, it extends its surprisingly large mouth and inhales them in one quick motion. In the aquarium, they make for an extremely unique display fish, especially in small groups. They are peaceful with nearly any fish too big to be eaten, but tankmates should be chosen carefully as fast-moving or aggressive fish can cause them stress. Although they are relatively hardy, feeding can be a challenge as they can be difficult to wean off live food fish or insects.
One of the larger predatory fish found in the Amazon Basin, the Silver Arowana is part of an ancient family of fish known as the bonytongues. A highly adapted surface feeder, Arowana are usually found close to the water’s surface in heavily overgrown areas with lots of cover. They are incredible jumpers, with adults able to leap several feet out of the water, and need to be kept in securely covered aquariums. Due to their enormous adult size, the Silver Arowana is recommended only for dedicated aquarists who can accommodate these giants in either a large custom aquarium or even an indoor pond. Specimens offered for sale are acclimated to aquarium life and feeding well on frozen and prepared foods.
One of the true freshwater species of archerfish, the Burmese Clouded Archer is by far the most beautiful species in its genus. Found on the lower reaches of the Salween River in Southern Myanmar (Burma) along the Thai border, these fish inhabit shallow, clear waters far from the coast. As with all archerfish, this species has the remarkable ability to shoot bursts of water at insects above the water’s surface – which make up the majority of their diet. Care in the aquarium is relatively straightforward, but it is important to remember that like most archerfish they can be hesitant to feed at first, especially if kept with aggressive feeders like cichlids. Most can easily be trained onto prepared foods by offering live feeder insects and floating pellets at the same time, and clouded archers will generally wean onto frozen and prepared diets quickly. We offer specimens well acclimated to aquarium life and feeding on a variety of different prepared (non-live) items.
A large, beautifully marked, and sought after species of Peacock Bass, Cichla temensis is found in the warm blackwater reaches of the Negro and Orinoco River basins in Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil. in its native range, it is an important food fish, and its huge adult size and predatory nature make them suitable for only huge aquariums. These fish are powerful swimmers and need ample open space in the aquarium (which should also be tightly covered, as they can easily jump). An impressive show fish for the experienced hobbyist.
The largest species of true gar, the Alligator Gar is native to the temperate and subtropical waters of North America. Like all gar, they are predators, feeding on fish, frogs, and vertebrates. In the wild, the fish can easily get 8 feet or more in length, and should be considered only suitable for the largest custom aquariums or large ponds.
A beautiful and personable large predatory fish, the Fire Eel is found in river systems throughout Southeast Asia. Although it will eat small fish, it is a generally peaceful fish and can be shy at first. Over time, however, they learn to recognize their owners and can often be fed by hand. A beautiful and hardy addition to a large predatory fish tank.
One of a few species of giant freshwater puffers from Africa, the Fahaka or Lined Puffer is found in freshwater rivers and lakes throughout East and Central Africa. In the wild, they use their powerful beak to feed on crustaceans, mollusks, and even other fish. In the aquarium, they feed readily on most meaty foods and will readily take bites out of their tankmates as well. An intelligent and fascinating fish for an appropriately large aquarium, Fahaka Puffers are best kept in a species tank on their own.
One of the largest fish found in Southeast Asia’s Mekong Basin, the Siamese Giant Carp is an important food fish through much of its range. Considered to be one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, it is aquacultured in large farms in Thailand primarily for the food fish trade. Due to its immense size and active swimming habits, this fish requires a truly enormous custom aquarium or indoor pond. It is relatively peaceful however and will coexist well with other large tankmates.
The beautifully marked Thinbar Datnoid or NTT (Northern Thailand Tiger) is one of the more sought after species of the genus Datnioides in the hobby. Found in the Mekong basin in Northeastern Thailand, Laos, and parts of Cambodia, this species generally adapts well to the aquarium and makes for an impressive display specimen. They prefer clear, well-oxygenated water and are sensitive to water quality, so regular water changes are important to keep them thriving.
A unique and heavily armored catfish found throughout the Amazon and its tributaries, the Irwin’s Catfish or Giant Raphael Catfish is typically a gentle giant in the aquarium, ignoring most fish and being well protected from even the most aggressive tankmates. In the wild, their diet largely consists of aquatic snails, crustaceans, fruit and vegetation, but they will readily accept almost any sinking food. A great scavenger to help manage leftover food in large cichlid or predatory fish displays, they do grow to a huge adult size and will require a tank of 180 gallons at the bare minimum.
The Senegal, or Common Bichir is the most widespread species of Polypterus in Africa, inhabiting shallow waters across a huge geographic area. This species is also the most common in the aquarium hobby and has been commercially bred in Asia for years. Like all so-called ‘platinum’ morphs, it is leucistic, exhibiting only white pigment but with black eyes. This extremely rare and prized fish is a truly impressive showpiece specimen for the true collector.
A freshwater eel originating from the Salween river along the Thailand/Myanmar border, the Leopard Eel is an as-yet undescribed species closely related to the more commonly seen Tiretrack Eel. An ambush predator in its natural habitat. In the aquarium, they are hardy but can be shy at first – be sure to provide plenty of cover. Although recently imported fish can be finicky eaters, they will usually learn to accept a variety of frozen foods. Like most freshwater eels, these fish should be kept in tightly covered aquariums as they will utilize even small openings to escape.
A distincively marked schooling characin, the Black Bar Silver Dollar makes an impressive dither fish in a tank of large cichlids or predatory fish or as a centerpiece fish on their own. With their distinctive vertical black bars, elongated dorsal and anal fins, and combination of silver, red, and iridescent blue coloration, mature specimens are impressive fish and will display the best behavior and color in a group of 5 or more fish. With a wide range spanning much of the Amazon and Orinoco basins, M. schomburgkii has several distinctive regional color variants, with the Orinoco form also known as “blue hook” or “emperor blue hook” due to the iridescent blue they display as adults.
A true freshwater pufferfish found throughout the entire Amazon Basin, the Amazon Puffer is a small growing and relatively peaceful species that usually inhabits shallow water habitat. In the aquarium, they are one of the few puffer species which will thrive in groups, and they are generally safe with similarly-sized, fast moving tankmates. Amazon Puffers are primarily carnivores but will usually accept a wide variety of frozen and freeze dried foods.
A colorful and attractively marked relative of the common Silver Dollar – a longtime hobby favorite – the Spotted Silver Dollar is a large schooling fish found throughout much of the Amazon basin. Although it grows to a fairly large size as an adult, they are hardy and active aquarium fish and make excellent dither fish for large cichlids or in a mixed species community tank of appropriate size. An omnivore in nature, they will eat almost any food offered but should be given a varied diet including some vegetable based foods.
A long time aquarium favorite, the Black Ghost Knifefish is a distinctive and unusual fish originating from the Amazon and its tributaries. A nocturnal and generally shy fish, like all knifefish they use a weak electrical discharge to sense their surroundings and find food. Although slow growing, they can reach the impressive size of 14″ or more and tend to prey on smaller fish as they grow. Black Ghost Knifefish are intelligent, often learning to eat from their owner’s hands or even to allow themselves to be “pet” once adapted to aquarium life.
One of the most attractively marked of all Leporinus, L. granti is found throughout much of South America but extremely rare in the hobby. A large, fast-swimming, but relatively peaceful species, they make an excellent tankmate for large, peaceful cichlids.
The Marbled Bichir, Polypterus palmas polli, is found in shallow, slow moving waters in Central and parts of Western Africa. It is a smaller growing species, only reaching 12-13″ as adults and is less predatory than some of their larger-mouthed relatives. This subspecies is one of several so-called “upper jaw” group of Polypterus, so named because their upper lip extends over the lower jaw. In the aquarium, they are hardy and undemanding like most bichir species, but should be kept with a tight-fitting and possibly weighted lid as they will attempt to jump if spooked or at night.
The Ornate Bichir is a distinctively marked, large growing species found throughout parts of the Congo River Basin and surrounding areas in Central and East Africa. This species is exported from the Congo but is also commercially bred in Asia for the aquarium trade. The largest of the “upper jaw” group of bichirs, they can reach an impressive 24″ in size as adults in the wild. In the aquarium, they have been popular for many years due to their eel-like body shape, predatory nature, and unique appearance. Like all bichirs, they are hardy fish, requiring a large tank due to their adult size but are otherwise undemanding.
The Weeksi or Mottled Bichir is found in Central Africa, where it inhabits shallow waters in areas of low to moderate current and plenty of cover. This species is one of several so-called “upper jaw” group of Polypterus, named because their upper lip protrudes over the lower jaw. In the aquarium, they are hardy and undemanding like most bichir species, but should be kept with a tight-fitting and possibly weighted lid as they will attempt to jump if spooked or at night.
A rarely imported, medium-sized Bichir found in parts of the Congo River Basin in Central Africa, the Mokele Mbembe Bichir is one of the more recently described members of the genus (it had been previously misidentified as P. retropinnis). In the wild, it tends to inhabit acidic, blackwater creeks and rivers but is hardy and will adapt to a wide range of conditions in the aquarium. A member of the so-called “upper jaw” group of Bichirs due to the fact that their upper lip protrudes past the lower, like all Polypterus they require a tightly-covered aquarium as they will jump if given the chance.
The largest and most sought after species of Payara or Sabertooth Barracuda, the Armatus Payara is found throughout much of South America, where it tends to inhabit waters with moderate to strong current. With their unique, flattened body shape, they spend most of their time hanging motionless against the direction of the water flow, waiting for prey to drift by. They use lightning-fast reflexes and their namesake saber-like teeth to grab hold of their prey, which can be fish up to half their own size. In the aquarium, payara often require live foods – at least at first – and do best in well-oxygenated water with plenty of water movement.
The smallest known species of pufferfish and a true freshwater species, the Pea or Indian Dwarf Puffer is found in shallow, warm, slow-moving waters in Central and Southwestern India. With their small adult size, inquisitive nature, and interesting group dynamics, they are deservedly popular among nano aquarium keepers and they will do well in an aquascaped or planted tank. Best kept in groups, like all puffers they are prone to nip at the fins of their tankmates (especially slow moving or long finned species) so tankmates should be chosen with caution. This species has been successfully bred in the aquarium.
An attractively marked, medium sized catfish, the Giant Bumblebee Catfish (sometimes also called Jello or Jelly Cat) is found throughout the Orinoco and Amazon basins. In the wild, it tends to be found in relatively shallow, slow moving waters – often buried in leaf litter – and is an ambush predator, feeding on small fish, insects, and crustaceans. In the aquarium, they are extremely hardy and undemanding fish, feeding on most sinking prepared foods. Like most catfish, they are nocturnal, and will spend most of the day in hiding so be sure to offer several hiding places.
