The Red Hook Silver Dollar is a popular, colorful schooling fish found throughout the Amazon Basin in South America. A relatively peaceful fish, they do best in groups of 5 or more and make an excellent “dither” fish for large cichlids or other predatory fish species. They also add activity to the upper levels larger aquariums with their constant, rapid swimming and close schooling behavior.
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.
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.
A unique predatory species, the freshwater “lionfish” is actually a species of toadfish found in marine and brackish waters throughout coastal Southeast Asia. A well-camouflaged ambush predator, they lie in wait for unsuspecting smaller fish and can take down fish nearly their own size with their surprisingly large mouths. In the aquarium, they are best kept in at least lightly brackish conditions and certainly benefit from the addition of some salt.
An unusual and mostly temperate water species from China, the Hifin Banded Shark or Loach is actually a relative of the North American suckerfishes. An algae grazer and herbivore, these fish are found in clear, well-oxygenated waters and will do best with some current. Due to their huge adult size, this fish is best suited for temperate ponds, and often kept with koi or goldfish.
A unique predatory fish found throughout South America, the Hujeta or Silver Gar is not a true gar but related to tetras and other characins. Although they will readily hunt and eat fish smaller than they are, these fish are fairly peaceful towards appropriately-sized tankmates and will do best in small groups. They are fairly hardy fish, and will thrive in a variety of water parameters. Hujeta Gars are surface-dwelling fish, and will jump if given the opportunity so a tight fitting lid is essential.
A medium sized, attractively marked characin, the Flagtail Prochilodus (also sometimes known as fei feng) is found throughout much of South America, usually in massive shoals. A peaceful, omnivorous fish, they are a popular and sought after addition to very large community tanks and make great dithers for predatory fish or large cichlids. In the wild, they are a migratory species and cross huge distances to spawn. In the aquarium, they prefer clean, oxygen-rich water with moderate current and will do best with a varied diet high in plant matter.
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.
One of the only species of Moray Eels to inhabit true freshwater environments, the Tiger Moray (G. polyuranodon) is a rarity in the hobby due to the remote areas it inhabits in West Papua, Indonesia. A hardy and adaptable fish, it can tolerate freshwater to almost full strength marine conditions if acclimated carefully. In the wild, they feed primarily on crustaceans and small fish, and like most Morays tong feeding is often the best way to get them used to frozen foods. They are a remarkable escape artist and any tank housing these fish should be completely escape-proof.
An uncommon and beautifully marked freshwater eel from the acidic freshwater swamps of Borneo, the Python Eel is a well-camouflaged 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.
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.
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 ‘Guinea’ Endlicheri Bichir is one of several distinctive geographical variants of the widespread Polypterus endlicheri which is found in various slow-moving shallow water habitats ins Guinea and possibly surrounding countries in West Africa. Like all Endlicheri or Saddled Bichir variants, it is a large growing species, reaching sizes of over 30″ in the wild and the form from Guinea is known as one of the largest, and most heavy bodied of the geographical variants and subspecies. Polypterus endlicheri is one of several so-called “lower jaw” group of Polypterus, so named for their distinctive heavy lower jaw that protrude over the upper lip. 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 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. A social fish best kept in groups of 5 or more, like all puffers they may nip at the fins of other fish (especially slow moving or long finned species) so tankmates should be chosen with caution. With a preference for relatively soft, slightly acidic water they are a hardy and adaptable species that will generally do well in most aquariums. This species has been successfully bred in the aquarium.
Approximate purchase size: 0.25 – 0.5″
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.
