Family: Characidae

PH: from 5.8 to 7.8

Size: 6 cm

The ‘Black Widow’ has earned its name due to its colouring. It is easy to breed and reproduce and is the perfect occupant for a 100 litre aquarium. They originate from Rio Paraguay, Rio Guapore and Bolivia. The Black Widow Tetra likes to inhabit gently flowing, clear, brownish-coloured waters. The male has colourless pectoral and ventral fins and his dorsal fin is longer. The Black Widow is sociable when it lives in groups and can live with other characins and dwarf cichlids. Black Widows will eat flakes but they particularly like insects and Drosophilia. The Black Widow likes a temperature between 20-26 degrees and has a life expectancy of 4-5 years. As they grow older, their colouring becomes duller

Family: Callichthyidae

PH:from 7.0 to 7.2

Size: from 5-7 cm

Very similar to the Peppered Catfish, the Bronze Catfish also has a talent for tirelessly rooting about the bottom of the aquarium in search of food. It normally lives in groups and ignores the other occupants in the aquarium. The Bronze Catfish is omnivorous and particularly likes worm-like prey. It originates from Bolivia and Venezuela and its natural habitat is fast and/or gently flowing waters. The Bronze Catfish has a life expectancy of 4-5 years.

Reaches size of 60 cm, housing should be about 150 gallons. Half plants, half rocks & partly shaded. Temperature range of 68° – 75° F. Community fish, eats prepared food & vegetation. Egglayer [Appearance 4] [Hardiness 4] [Temp. w/others 5] These fish are constantly sifting through the gravel, uprooting plants and decor. Secure anchoring of your decor is a must.r

Family: Alestidae

PH:from 6.2 to 6.8

Size:up to 10 cm

This gregarious species which occupies the upper third of the aquarium originates from the Congo Basin. Its natural habitat is calm, slow, flowing waters. The more colourful male has longer stripes in the middle of its caudal fin; its dorsal fin is also longer. Congo Tetra are not difficult to feed. They are carnivorous and like live prey and frozen food. This is a sociable species and be can put with other characins and some cichlids. The Congo Tetra is sensitive to poor water quality and likes a temperature of 24 to 26 degrees. Their life expectancy is from 6-7 years.

Family: Carassius auratus

PH:7.6 approx.

Size:reaches size of 10 cm

The Fantail is the western version of the Ryukin. It has a ryukin’s egg-shaped body without the shoulder hump and with rather less exaggerated paired finnage, and that is a fantail. It may have either metallic or nacreous (pearly) scales. Varieties include the calico fantail and the red and white fantail. The fantail can be sensitive to prolonged exposure at low temperatures and should ideally be kept at a temperature range of 13-21 degrees. The Fantail likes an aquarium of half plants, half rocks and partly shaded. These fish are constantly sifting through the gravel, uprooting plants and decor.

Family: Characidae

PH: from 5.8 to 7.8

Size: 4 cm

The Glowlight Tetra has a luminous band of fluorescent orange and is a fish which is very well suited to a community aquarium. It is very sociable and lives in groups well. The Glowlight Tetra originates from the Essequibo River in Guyana and lives in gently flowing waters. The male is smaller, slimmer and more colourful than the female. It likes a temperature between 21 and 23 degrees. The Glowlight Tetra is omnivorous and is not difficult to feed. It accepts frozen food, as well as granulated or flaked food and loves brine shrimp naulpi and Grindal worms. The Glowlight Tetra has a life expectancy from 3-5 years.

Family: Poecilidae

Size: Males-1.2-1.6in ,Females: 2.6in

The Guppy is one of the most popular aquarium fishes. It is a very colourful and active species. The males are the favourite because of their long, flowing caudal fins and often gaudy colours. All male guppies have the anal fin in such a way that it is easily distinguished from the female’s fan-shaped anal fin. The Guppy originates from Central America and Brazil. They feed on small live or frozen aquatic invertebrates, such as daphnia, mosquito larvae and bloodworm. They will also eat flake foods. The Guppy is bred commercially by the thousand. Male guppies are sexually mature at three months and the females earlier than that. They bred readily and a good-sized female may produce 20-40 young. The long, flowing tails of the guppy is often a tempting snack to other fish. Angels and tiger barbs are known for nipping at the tails of guppies.

Family: Carassius auratus

PH: 7.6 approx.

Size: reaches a size of 10 cm

The Lionhead, which is very similar to the Ranchu, is a hooded fish and reputed to be a delicate fish. The Lionhead is a fish developed by the Chinese. It gives an impression of strength and is sometimes called the ‘buffalohead’. The hood can cover the top of the head only, or extend over the cheeks, or completely encase the head, cheeks and gill covers. The older the fish, the more pronounced the hood will be. The Lionhead can have either metallic or nacreous scales. It has a short, deep body with an arched back and no dorsal fin. Lionheads can sometimes be sensitive to low temperatures.