Magazine

Having been bred into a large number of colour and finnage forms, the aquarium lines of Bristlenose catfish (Ancistrus sp.) are perfect algae eating community residents for all but the smallest aquaria.

As the weather cools and focus shifts indoors, the ‘trop season’ is upon us. Since the last one there’s been some changes to the names of things with Corydoras catfish and now it seems tetras being reclassified. Predictably, it takes suppliers a while to catch up with these name changes and many people will be pleased to hear that common names are pretty much unaffected.

Traditionally there’s a number of species that are bred and sold to us with the wrong names and have been for years, many

Yellow tangs (Zebrasoma flavescens) have joined the roster of rare and expensive marines in the last few years and it’s great to see a chunky and fin-perfect specimen like this one at Scotsdale. Their availability might have changed dramatically, but caring for this fish hasn’t – especially since captive bred specimens now dominate the trade.

Fish in the flesh – some thoughts on why we feel it’s best to buy your new pets in a bricks and mortar store.

I won’t lie to you; I buy things online like pretty much everyone else. There’s massive convenience in being able to search for obscure or specialist items that you’d have to trudge around shops to find. It’s also handy being able to shop when stores are closed, or if you don’t have the time for an away mission. Some things are dependable, identical and low risk when bought

In a departure from the usual format, here’s a fish which is currently arriving in our stores for all the wrong reasons. The Marbled clarias (Clarias batrachus) is a domestic strain of a fish that is also known as the Walking catfish. With an adult size of around 45cm, this tough and rather belligerent food fish is being sold as tiny, adorable youngsters by a number of irresponsible retailers – most of which are unable to house them when customers attempt to return them

Once a familiar sight in pet shops everywhere, the tiny hatchling green turtles that found their way into people’s homes over the last few decades have now given rise to a significant feral population of adults that outgrew their owners’ facilities and were released to their fate in the wild. Although banned from importation into the EU thanks to their invasive tendencies in warmer climates, many Red-eared and Yellow-bellied sliders (Trachemys scripta spp.) can be found in UK waters up and

Pond plants can go from mundane to spectacular and these Japanese Iris (Iris ensata ‘Cheesecake’) were definitely eye catching. One of the Dinner plate series, this is Cheesecake, although I’m led to believe they taste like normal iris. As with most pond plants, this is a hardy perennial that requires sunshine and wet feet to thrive. Flowering will be enhanced by the use of fertiliser balls or regular repotting to ensure optimal nutrition. These beauties were seen at our

Sarasa comets (Carassius auratus) are always eye-catching, with reds that put all but the most highly bred Koi to shame. Whether mixed with contrasting varieties such as Shubunkin or Canary goldfish, or brightening the pond with their crimson and white, it’s hard to find a better pond fish for the average garden pond. You’ll find them in all of our pond sections at the moment.

We are thrilled to announce that our School of the Year 2024 winner is Collydean Primary School.

Fishkeeper Fry 2024 has now come to a close and it has been exciting to have been able to deliver this year's programme. Our participating schools this year have produced some amazing work with the support and encouragement of their dedicated teachers and we are thrilled to see how the students of the schools have engaged in the tasks and activities throughout, some even coming up with some personal activities, linking it to the programme.

The pond season is well underway now and our stores are filling with gorgeous pond plants and a wealth of hardy goldfish. Meanwhile, the fancy goldfish are providing a pet that the weather can’t spoil with a range of body forms that are unknown in nature. Some of these forms are rather extreme, such as these Dragon-eyed pearlscales (Carassius auratus) seen recently at Ascot. Although peaceful, fishes such as these are best kept alongside other similar breeds

They might not be as generous as the easter bunny, but rabbitfish are very giving when it comes to algae control. This One-spot fox face (Siganus unimaculatus) at Reefkeeper Rugby makes a great alternative to the more active tangs but will reach a size that necessitates a spacious aquarium. Every time I write about these fishes I wonder why the old common name of Badger fish isn’t more widely used, but then the native name of Spinefoot (thanks to their stinging

As different mutations are combined, Rams are getting further from their wild ancestors. Originally a seasonally colourful dwarf cichlid that demands warm soft water with low nitrates, their descendants such as this Longfin electric blue ram (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi) are far more forgiving thanks to generations of domestication. This batch was looking good at our Cheddar store.

L number plecs are an area of the hobby where you could easily spend many years and end up with a lot of aquaria. As their needs become more widely known and increasing numbers of dedicated hobbyists unlock the secrets to breeding them, it’s nice to see the fishes playing their part. This batch of Flash plecs (Panaqolus albivermis) were seen at our Reading store recently. See what else we have in store this month. 

Since we opened our first store in 1984 a lot of things have changed, even many of the fish. New species have arrived on the scene, as well as established old favourites in a breathtaking range of forms. Here are some key developments.

Having been misidentified for some time, it’s great to see this pair of Lavender firefish (Nemateleotris lavandula) given proper credit at our Reefkeeper Rugby store. For years, this species was seen as helfrichi and may be more familiar to many keepers by that name. As often happens, the real helfrichi is slightly different and very rarely seen outside of its native habitat. Firefishes are all excellent choices for reef aquaria although liable to jump from

Fishkeeping during the Christmas season requires some additional considerations to ensure the well-being of your fish. Here's everything you need to know. 

One of the largest and most impressive freshwater invertebrates that can be safely added to an aquarium alongside peaceful fishes, the Giant fan shrimp (Atya gabonensis) is a filter feeder that needs very fine particle foods. Shy by nature, they tend to find a secure spot where a strong current brings food and oxygen to them. This group was seen at our Derby store.

Temperate fishes are a misunderstood bunch, straddling the divide between tropical and coldwater fish. Typically, they hail from regions that have warm summers/wet seasons followed by cooler winters/dry seasons

Triggerfishes are some of the most responsive and rewarding marine fish pets but are often loveable rogues with borderline psychotic tendencies