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The Practical Fishkeeping Readers' Poll Awards celebrate the businesses, products and people that make a real difference to the aquatics hobby, with winners chosen by fishkeepers and pondkeepers across the UK. At Maidenhead Aquatics, we're proud to support the hobby with healthy livestock, trusted products, expert advice and dedicated customer service. If we've helped you enjoy fishkeeping or pond keeping, we'd be grateful for your vote in this year's awards.

An oddball member of a family known for abundant character, the Midas blenny (Ecsenius midas) spends more time in open water above the reef eating plankton than its algae-browsing kin.

More familiar to anglers than pond keepers, Barbel (Barbus barbus) are a powerful native fish for large, well-filtered ponds.

The UK fishkeeping hobby, aquatic trade, and responsible pet ownership community are facing a serious threat from proposed ‘positive list’ legislation.

We are thrilled to announce that St. Michael's C of E Primary School has been awarded School of the Year for Fishkeeper Fry 2026

Spring in the water garden is heralded by the yellow blooms of King cup (Caltha palustris).

Spring is upon us and green shoots are everywhere, including out in our pond sections where the new season’s pond plants are putting on growth

Spring is a great time to review your aquarium maintenance routine and carry out a more thorough clean.

Maidenhead Aquatics is proud to support Trunks Across the Thames, a major public art trail coming to Windsor and Slough in summer 2026.

Who knew the Angelfish genome was so vast? Decades of domestication and new varieties keep coming, like this Albino redcap angel (Pterophyllum sp.) which combines a whole raft of recessive genes to express colouration that none of its wild ancestors would ever have ever displayed.

Fishkeeper Fry week 3  is over for most of our participating schools. It has been exciting to see all of the work and the development of the tanks. 

Week 2 is now complete for all schools. This week, the schools have been showing what they have been up to.

Having seen a number of short-finned strains of fancy goldfish around recently, it’s nice to see a classic Red oranda with proportions that add an extra touch of elegance.

Fishkeeper Fry week one is now complete for the majority of the participating schools. But what have they been up to in week one?

Good water does not happen by chance. It comes from routine testing, informed decisions, and appropriate maintenance. This short guide explains what matters most and what you should do to keep your fish healthy long-term.

Cory catfish are perfect community fish and I won’t hear a word against them. Some of them even shoal in midwater and seek out the company of tetras, such as these Pygmy corys (Gastrodermus pygmaeus).

Whether you’re caring for your own finned friends or giving a gift to a fellow aquarist, a few thoughtful stocking-stuffers and tank upgrades can make all the difference.

Christmas changes your routine. It also changes the conditions around your tank. Most experienced fishkeepers already understand the basics, but the pace of the festive season can introduce new risks.

Some of our stores have brought their pond goldfish inside to escape the cold and it’s interesting to see the contrast between varieties brought about by a gene or two when viewed from the side in large numbers.

Check out our last delivery times before Christmas and stores and online operating hours and Customer Service availability over the festive period.