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. Not all double tailed varieties are sensitive to winter temperatures though and Wakin (Carassius auratus var.) are familiar pond goldfish in Japan, where they were first bred around 1500. Despite being a rare sight in UK ponds they’re happy to add a touch of glamour throughout the year. This batch were seen at our St Mellons branch.

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/help-and-advice/freshwater/pond-fish/wakin-goldfish/

 

 

They may look like super-sized Ember tetras, but these Red cherry tetras (Hyphessobrycon sp. Mzuel) are thought to be closer to the Lemon tetra side of the family. One of many exotic tetra offerings at our Ascot store, these undescribed fish are used to softwater with low nitrates – other than this, their care requirements are similar to their more familiar relatives and they’re the perfect choice for biotope and posh community set ups, where their rarity can be suitably showcased. As with most new tetras, their price reflects the effort required to bring them to market compared to mass-produced domesticated species. With looks like these, I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before we see them in greater numbers at lower prices. 

 

The rise in popularity of reef aquaria and improvements in prepared diets make this the perfect time to add a group of Pyramid butterflyfish (Hemitaurichthys polylepis), which can be trusted in most reef set ups provided that they’re adequately fed. These plankton feeders are found in large shoals in the wild and need the security of company in the aquarium. It was impossible not to be impressed by this shoal at Reefkeeper Moss End.

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/help-and-advice/marine/butterflyfish/pyramid-butterflyfish

 

 

With the warmth of spring, the pond plants in our stores are really coming into their own and there’s something for everyone in most of our stores. Some, such as St Mellons pictured here, really do squeeze in a staggering variety!

 

 

The Malawian Mbuna cichlids have always been popular with aquarists, having strong colours combined with boisterous temperaments and a love of hard, alkaline water. For many people, they’re the alternative to marines but are great fish to keep on their own merits. The almost fluorescent orange of these female Red-top trewavasae (Labeotropheus trewavasae) combined with blue males caught the eye at our Stapleton store. Easier to keep than to pronounce, the social lives of these fish mean that they need a spacious set-up with plenty of rockwork to break the sightlines and enable males to establish a territory but allow females to avoid undue harassment.

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/help-and-advice/freshwater/cichlids/trewavasae/

 

 

One of the more obscure Rainbowfishes, Pacific blue eyes (Pseudomugil signifier) deserve to be more popular. They share with their larger relatives the tendency to arrive instore as underwhelming little brown fish, before blossoming over time and developing attractive colouration, combined with interesting behaviour. Drawn by the males’ courting displays as they flexed to impress the females, this batch at Huntingdon were impossible to ignore.

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/help-and-advice/freshwater/rainbow-fish/pacific-blue-eye/