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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.

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.

Evolution is economical and produces the same solution to the same problem with regularity. This is why many unrelated animals share similar features and is referred to as convergence, or convergent evolution. For fishes, it means that a streamlined shape with the sudden acceleration needed to catch fast-moving prey often leads to a familiar body shape, with powerful fins at the back and a pointed mouth full of even pointier teeth.

The tropical season is still in full swing in our stores and cold, rainy days are never a problem in the fish house. It won’t be long before we start to prepare for the pond season but for now, it’s all about the aquarium fish.

After what seems like a lifetime of hearing ‘Nemo’ and ‘Dory’ shouted in our stores, it seems that ‘Puff’ might become the next big thing. For viewers of Netflix, another familiar fish becomes ‘as seen on TV’.

Old favourites tend to be in the hobby for a long time with good reason, usually, it’s because they combine a lot of desirable traits. The metallic form of the Gold barb (Barbodes semifasciolatus) makes an excellent aquarium fish suitable for both tropical and temperate (unheated) setups. These young fishes at our Pyle store are a perfect beginner’s choice.

Many of the fishes that we see in home aquaria differ significantly from their wild ancestors and this is particularly striking in the case of albinos such as these Cherry barbs (Puntius titteya) seen at our Huntingdon store recently.

October is here and another year has flashed by in a rather eventful whirl. Things are never quiet though, as our stores gear up for the shift from the pond season to the time of the tropicals.

It’s a great time of year to pick up bargains in our pond sections, as this year’s fishes have grown through the year and are ready to go into garden ponds that still carry the warmth of the summer. There’s also a wealth of beautiful aquarium fish available. Take a look at some of the beauties on display in our stores this month.

Check out some of Paul Tapley's top finds in our stores this month. It’s been uncomfortably hot, so where better to start than with a coolwater fish? 

Check out Paul Tapley’s selection of top livestock finds in store this month.

Although pond season is in full swing, our stores are still full of amazing aquarium species worth checking out. Take a look at just some of Paul Tapley's top finds in our stores this month.

 Pond season may be in full swing but there’s still plenty going on in the tropical and marine systems of our stores. Check out some of Paul Tapley's top finds in our stores this month.

Paul Tapley showcases some top picks worth seeking out in our stores during April while taking stock of the journey our stores have been on since the beginning of lockdown last year.

With March finally here, the new season pond plants are starting to appear in our stores. Full of promise, these early arrivals tend to be a mixture of the ultra-hardy foliage types such as sedges, as well as the first flowering marginals of spring just getting into their stride. As with any garden design, evergreen types add structure and interest at this time of year. There is also, of course, a fantastic array of fish available and here we showcase just a few of them to tickle your fancy this March.

After a period of wintry weather, it’s nice to look to the tropical sections inside whilst the pond sections slumber under a blanket of snow. Paul Tapley showcases some of the livestock in our stores this February.

It may be winter outside but in our hearts, it’s spring - especially when we have sights to cheer us from the autumn koi harvest. Our livestock expert once again shares the top picks that he has found in stores that are available for you to purchase and allow you to add to your set ups.

Now's the perfect time to grab a great deal on an aquarium in many of our stores across the UK. Find out more about our local store clearance sale.

The tropical season is in full swing and it seems that even the fish know it. Check out Paul Tapley’s selection of top finds in store this month.