What's in store - January 2026

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). Like most of their relatives (and all of their close ones) these are shoaling fish that should be kept in decent-sized groups in order to feel secure and when kept in this way they’ll often rest on plants high in the water column between bouts of active swimming.  Although they’ll appreciate sinking foods, the care of these tiny catfish is pretty much identical to that of tetras. This batch were seen at our Basingstoke store.

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/fish/freshwater/catfish/pygmy-cory

Lionfishes have always been popular pets for fans of large, predatory reef fish and the Radiata lion (Pterois radiata) is one of the most glamorous of the group. Smaller than the more commonly seen Volitans, Radiata are more easily managed but have the same venomous spines which demand respect and careful handling. Expect lionfish to eat anything moving that they can fit in their mouths whether fish or crustaceans and this makes them challenging inhabitants of community set ups, although they pose no risk to corals aside from prodigious waste output after big meals. This one was looking good at Reefkeeper Rugby.

The Blue or Lake Kutubu rainbowfish has to be one of the finest choices for a spacious aquarium. Like many rainbows, it has a limited distribution in the wild and this makes it vulnerable to habitat loss. Aquarium stocks are captive bred, with ours usually coming from an Indonesian expert breeder dedicated to maintaining the health and vigour of all of these threatened fishes in the hobby. What really makes Blue rainbows special is the bright flashing of displaying males – a forehead stripe appears and disappears in a spectacle that’s not easily forgotten once seen. Although often mixed with other rainbows, these fish are really seen at their best as a large single-species group. This group were looking good at Reefkeeper Moss End.

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/fish/freshwater/rainbow-fish/blue-rainbowfish-lake-kutubu-rainbowfish-

Although many pond fish are considerably less active in the colder months, Orfe (Leuciscus idus) are quite happy at lower temperatures - especially in stores where they’re housed indoors for the winter. If you’re planning a large garden pond as part of your New Year projects, these hardy fish will be ready as soon as spring comes. Unlike Koi, they don’t eat plants or grub around in the bottom of the pond stirring things up. These were cruising around happily at our Newbury store.

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/fish/freshwater/pond-fish/golden-orfe-

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/fish/freshwater/pond-fish/blue-orfe-

In a fairly short time, the Redline torpedo barb (Sahyadria denisonii) has become a popular choice for larger community aquaria. It’s easy to see why, as the combination of bright colouration and an active nature makes it very striking. Wild populations face a range of threats including habitat loss and over-collection, so ours are almost exclusively tank bred and now even come in a golden form. As they originate in seasonally cool streams in the Western Ghats, they appreciate cooler temperatures and high oxygen levels. This handsome specimen was one of a number seen in our Stratford store.

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/fish/freshwater/cyprinids/red-line-torpedo-barb