Well done troops, we made it to October. As the pond season starts to give way to the trops, it’s a glorious cross over time of year in the stores.

Traditionally, this has always been the season for buying young Koi (Cyprinus carpio) to grow on in slightly warmer conditions and looking in the vats there’s some wonderful bargains to be had amongst the tame and well settled fishes. Many big vats would appear in the garages and sheds of koi enthusiasts to house these promising little beauties over the winter but if pond temperatures hold, there’s no reason why they can’t be added to suitable garden ponds for a little while longer.

koi

I know I’ve harped on at length about it but bear with me, these are unusual times. We’re now starting to see the size difference between lockdown livestock and the new fishes starting to arrive in store. I was struck by the contrast recently when looking at a tank of Rummynose tetras (Petitella bleheri). These are a fantastic choice for community aquaria and like most tetras, they’re at their absolute best when kept in large numbers. For keepers who ‘go large’ on the usual pricing structure and add double figures, the true spectacle of those bold colours and patterns comes into its own.

Rummynose Tetras
It’s the time for oddballs and there’s none more odd than Reed fish (Erpetoichthys calabaricus). These African river natives are also known as Rope fish and this happy coil was a highlight of a recent trip to Stapleton. As Bichir relatives, they’re predators in good standing, but their gracile build means that they’re less of a threat to appropriately sized companions. Like most fishes with that serpentine body shape, they’re highly likely to make a guest appearance on the carpet, so make sure their aquarium is securely covered.

Reed Fish