Magazine

As a fishkeeper, there’s a good chance that you’re keeping some of the most diverse pet groups available. Look around our stores and you’ll find everything from Piranha to algae-eating catfish, fishes that either need animal protein or can become unwell if offered an excess of it.

The weather may be a bit changeable as we head into June, but with the luxury of an early bank holiday weekend to look forward to and a range of royal festivities to enjoy for many of us, hopefully warm and sunny weather is just around the corner.  

The pond season is in full swing and it’s mild enough for fancy goldfish to join their pond-hardy kin for an extended break under summer skies.

It’s not often that we live through a once in a lifetime event (let’s hope that we don’t have too many more global pandemics heading our way) but this one is far jollier! With our Queen reaching the incredible milestone of a seventy-year reign, it seems timely to offer our congratulations and look at a few other royals which we’re familiar with.

It seems that energy prices are increasing every day and a lot of us are having to find new ways to economize. Thankfully there’s been a quiet revolution in the efficiency of electrical equipment and there’s a multitude of ways that we can help to reduce the running costs of our hobby.

With spring well and truly in the air, pond sections are starting to buzz. Display ponds are appearing and this year we’re focusing on wildlife in many of our stores, as well as the fishes which are always the stars of the show. It’s not all about the great outdoors though, and some very exciting captive-bred marine fish are causing a stir, as well as some nicely settled tropical fishes following a busy winter season of imports. 

Usually a very hardy group, pond fish can be expected to thrive come rain or shine, as long as conditions are stable and water quality remains high.

Fishkeeper Fry 2022 has now come to a close and it has been a real joy to have been able to deliver this year’s programme, particularly having lost a year due to Covid restrictions. Our schools have produced some amazing work with the support of their fantastic teachers and we’re thrilled to see the way in which the children have engaged with the tasks and activities throughout.

At a time when prices for everything are rising fast, it’s nice to see a fish which used to be an expensive rarity becoming more mainstream. These tank-bred Granulosus catfish (Synodontis granulosus) at our Basingstoke store are dramatically cheaper than their ancestors, which at one time had a going rate of £750 each! They share the same striking white fin trims and classy demeanour.

Easter is just around the corner, as is the better weather (with any luck!). Our stores are bursting with an array of fabulous pond plants which offer a great excuse to pop into your local store and browse the local stocks where there's lots going on. Check out what's happening in Maidenhead Aquatics this April.

Choosing to add a water feature to your garden will open your eyes to another world. Every garden will benefit from a water feature and even the smallest pond can attract wildlife.

Caught in a rare moment of swimming the right way up, this Giant upside-down catfish (Synodontis batensoda) was one of a number of unusual species seen at our York store. Although capable of reaching 20cm or more, these plankton feeding cats are peaceful and harmless to fishes that they can’t swallow whole. A large aquarium will be needed, as they like to live in groups.

Aquarium keeping has been a household hobby for generations. It may be hard to imagine it existed before the internet, but the Victorians kept aquaria and hundreds of years before them the Chinese had elevated goldfish care to an art.

Unlike almost any other type of animal, aquatic pets are totally dependent on the quality of their immediate environment to remain healthy. Although we all have access to clean and safe tap water, even this is harmful to our animals unless properly treated. Find out more about responsible fishkeeping.

April is National Pet Month – a whole month dedicated to celebrating and raising awareness of responsible pet ownership and sharing the many benefits of our cherished companions across the UK. This year the event is focusing on the five key pet welfare needs: Companionship, Behaviour, Diet, Health and Environment – all key themes that Maidenhead Aquatics embraces everyday with the fish they sell and our customers pets that we support through our products and advice.

The penultimate week of Fishkeeper Fry is over for most schools. Take a look at what schools have been up to during week 7.

The LINI foundation has been carrying out their important work in Bali. Earlier this year, the foundation started work with a trial of re-stocking the local reef with cultured clownfish from their breeding centre in Les Village, North Bali. The breeding of marine aquarium species started in 2015 as part of an effort to offer new skills to marine aquarium fishers whose who have been working with LINI since 2010.

We have now completed week 6 of Fishkeeper Fry 2022. Schools are working hard to look after their aquariums and the fish.

We are over halfway through the programme now with week 5 being completed by most schools last week. Schools are continuing to send their excellent work to us and show off their Fishkeepers of the Week.

Although the signs of Spring are not particularly abundant at the moment, Spring is on the horizon and our teams in-store and online are preparing to embrace the start of a new pond season with lots of new pond plants arriving daily as well as the new season pond ranges from all your favourite brands – the perfect excuse to come in and browse your local store.