A unique and actively schooling “micro” Rasbora found throughout Southern Thailand, the Exclamation Point or Least Rasbora Rasbora makes an ideal addition to a nano aquarium or planted tank. In the wild, they inhabit slow moving streams and creeks with sandy substrate and soft, acidic and often tannin-stained waters, usually among aquatic plants or fallen branches. A hardy and adaptable fish in the aquarium, they are popular with aquascapers due to their small adult size, active nature, and distinctive markings. Like most schooling rasboras, they are best kept in groups of 10 or more and will thrive with most similarly-sized peaceful tankmates.
A medium sized and robust shell-dwelling species of cichlids found in Africa’s Lake Tanganyika, N. hecqui or Hecq’s Lamprologus makes for a unique display fish due to their vivid pattern and bold, fascinating behavior. In the wild, these cichlids inhabit dense fields of empty snail shells at the bottom of the lake, where each fish will stake a territory in an individual shell and defend it from others. In the aquarium, they are hardy and adaptable but prefer alkaline water and should be provided with shells or similar structure for them to establish territories in. One of the more territorial species of shell dwelling cichlids, they should be given ample space and may bully smaller tankmates.
A rarely imported dwarf cichlid found throughout parts of the Amazon and Essequibo River basins in South America, the Giant Checkerboard or Hercules Cichlid is a colorful and entertaining species ideal for a small to medium planted or mixed species community aquarium. Like the more common Checkerboard Cichlid (D. filamentosus), these are a social dwarf cichlid, often found in large groups in the wild. They tend to stay close to the bottom level of the aquarium and will do best with sand substrate and plenty of cover in the form of driftwood, live plants, rockwork or caves.
An uncommon but nicely marked tetra, the Garnet, Pretty, or Black Wedge Tetra is an ideal community fish for a medium to large aquarium and makes an excellent schooling fish when kept in an appropriate sized group. Extremely hardy, colorful, and always active, they tend to inhabit the upper levels of the water column in the aquarium and make an impressive addition to an aquascaped or planted tank. Garnet Tetras are a hardy and undemanding species and will generally do well under a range of water conditions.
A brightly colored line bred variant of the popular Ram or Butterfly Dwarf Cichlid, the German Blue Ram is a small, peaceful cichlid ideal for most community aquariums. With their vibrant combination of yellow, blue, and black coloration, they make an impressive display fish in a planted or aquascaped aquarium and will get along well with most tankmates. In the aquarium, they can be sensitive to fluctuating water quality and will do best in slightly soft water with frequent partial water changes. Like most cichlids they may fight among themselves for territory so a medium sized aquarium with plenty of cover and shelter is best to keep a group.
A large growing but peaceful cyprinid found throughout much of Southeast Asia, the Tinfoil Barb has been a favorite in the aquarium hobby for years despite its very large adult size. A striking, active schooling fish which usually inhabits well-oxygenated waters with moderate to high flow, large specimens make for an impressive display in a sufficiently large aquarium. This species is a popular dither species with predatory fish keepers as they are big, hardy, and peaceful. The platinum variant is a rare line-bred color form sought after for their distinctive, uniform bright white coloration.
A distinctive, attractively marked hillstream loach found in fast-moving streams in Western Borneo, the Borneo Spotted Sucker Loach is found among rocks in well-oxygenated waters. In the aquarium, they are hardy fish as long as their wild habitat is replicated as closely as possible, with clean, aerated water and moderate to fast flow being essential to keep this species thriving long term. A grazer and opportunistic feeder, they should be given a varied diet high in algae or vegetable content like Fluval Bug Bites Pleco Formula or Repashy Gel Diet. A social fish, they should be kept in groups of at least 3.
Probably the single most popular fish kept around the world, the Betta or Siamese Fighting fish has been popular in its native Thailand for centuries, and has been bred into dozens of color forms and strains. The longfin strain originated in the early 20th century and is now the “standard” pet B. splendens. Incredibly hardy, and with the ability to breathe air from the surface, these fish are popular “bowl fish” but really will do best in a small aquarium with a heater and some form of filtration. As their name implies, males of this species will fight and must be kept singly but females can be kept in groups.
Assortment note: Our assortment includes a variety of colors including blue, red, green, purple, and others. If you have a specific color you’d like you can request it in the order notes and we will make our best effort to select that color if possible.
A beautifully marked, small growing fish found in warm blackwater pools within the Congo River basin, the Ornate Bushfish or Ornate Ctenopoma is a unique, social species which spends most of its life hunting tiny invertebrates among leaf litter and aquatic vegetation. In the aquarium, they require warm temperatures, soft, acidic water, and will benefit from the addition of tannins from driftwood or other botanicals. Best kept in a species tank or with other small, peaceful fish, Ornate Bushfish will do best in a group and should be provided plenty of small protein-rich frozen foods like small bloodworms, enriched brine, or mysis.
The Zebra Acara or Starry Dwarf Cichlid is a medium sized, spectacularly marked cichlid found in blackwater habitat in the upper Rio Negro and Rio Uapes in Brazil and Colombia. In the wild, this species inhabits warm, acidic, heavily tannin-stained pools and creeks where breeding pairs defend territories from other fish. In the aquarium, they prefer soft water with temperatures in the low 80s and will display their best coloration with the addition of some tannins in the water from the addition of Indian Almond leaves or other botanicals. As these fish mature, they tend to be territorial and aggressive among themselves and with other cichlids, but other non-cichlid tankmates too big to be eaten will usually be ignored.
A rarely seen dwarf cyprinid or carplet found in Southwestern India and parts of Sri Lanka, this colorful active schooling fish inhabits shallow, slow moving waters, usually close to aquatic vegetation in its native range. In the aquarium, they will do best in a well planted or heavily aquascaped tank with ample cover and subdued lighting. Like most of their relatives, they prefer to be kept in schools of at least 5 (10+ being ideal) and a well established group will make for an impressive display in any nano aquarium. With a maximum size of just over 1″, tankmates should be similarly sized and equally peaceful. An excellent species for a shrimp or invert aquarium.
One of the most popular dwarf cichlids in the hobby, Apistgramma agassizi (also known as Agassiz’s Dwarf Cichlid) is an attractive and interesting addition to smaller community aquarium. They have been bred in the hobby for decades, resulting in a number of color morphs and strains. A widespread fish in the Amazon Basin, they have a number of wild color forms as well corresponding to different catch locations. A hardy and relatively peaceful species, they are ideal for smaller aquariums and do best with ample cover in the form of plants, driftwood, and small caves.
Note on wild-collected Apistogramma sp.: While we will make our best efforts to select male/female pairs for customer orders, sexing small- and medium-sized wild Apistogramma is not always exact and we do not guarantee a particular sex ratio. We recommend buying these fish in larger groups if a particular ratio of males to females is desired.
A colorful, smaller characin species found in the upper Rio Madeira in Brazil, the Blue Emperor or Kerri Tetra is deservedly popular in the aquarium hobby and has been commercially bred for years to the point where wild collected specimens are almost never exported. In the wild, they inhabit slow moving, warm, acidic streams but will adapt to a wide range of conditions in the aquarium. Like most of their close relatives, they are a loosely schooling species that will do best in groups of 5 or more and will get along well with most similarly sized, peaceful tankmates. Subdued lighting, plenty of cover in the form of driftwood or plants, and slightly soft water will help promote vibrant coloration.
