March 13th, 2012 — 1:24pm
An assortment of undescribed Oreichthys spp. from India, Myanmar and Thailand are currently traded as O. cosuatis. It can be distinguished from other described members of the genus by lacking a black blotch on the caudal peduncle, plus the following combination of characters: 2-3 perforated scales in lateral line; ½6½ between pelvic-fin origin and dorsal midline; presence of dark stripe in centre of anal-fin, forming a triangular blotch in adult individuals; dorsal-fin with whitish tip and broad, black, subdistal margin in the upper portion of the fin; 11-13 rows…
Comment » | Category: Cypriniformes, The Rest
Spotted Hampala Barb
March 13th, 2012 — 1:24pm
The genus currently contains seven species of which H. macrolepidota and, to a lesser extent, H. dispar are the only ones seen with any regularity in the aquarium trade. As well as having the widest distribution H. macrolepidota is also the largest member of the group. All representatives can appear superficially similar at first glance, the exception being H. lopezi which is endemic to a single island in The Philippines and displays a unique lateral band-like marking on the flanks.
Comment » | Category: Cypriniformes, The Rest
March 13th, 2012 — 1:24pm
This species has a chaotic taxonomic history with certain issues still to be resolved. While the name P. mahecola was misapplied to members of the genus Dawkinsia for over a century the fish itself has been widely misidentified as the congener P. amphibius (Valenciennes 1842).
Its identity was partially resolved by Pethiyagoda and Kottelat (2005b) who demonstrated that though valid P. mahecola is not a Dawkinsia spp. but rather a smaller, relatively plain species with a single dark blotc…
Comment » | Category: Barbs & relatives, Cypriniformes
African Butterfly Barb
March 13th, 2012 — 1:24pm
Two closely-related species are also found in the Congo basin and infrequently seen in the trade. ‘B.‘ candens has been collected northeast of the range of ‘B.‘ hulstaerti around the city of Kisangani (formerly Stanleyville) and nearby town of Yangambi. It can be distinguished from ‘B.‘ hulstaerti by its paler body colouration, smaller dark markings on the body and red ventral and anal fins in males. ‘B.‘ papillo is known only from its type locality close to the eastern town of Kindu between the Lualaba and Lomami rivers. It has an elongated central body marking and males possess black dorsal, ventral and anal fins.
Comment » | Category: Barbs & relatives, Cypriniformes
March 13th, 2012 — 1:24pm
‘B.‘ candens is not really suitable for most community aquaria as it has something of a shy, retiring nature and may be intimidated or outcompeted for food by larger/more boisterous tankmates. Choose similarly-sized, peaceful African species such as ‘B.‘ jae, Aplocheilichthys spp., Ladigesia roloffi or Lepidarchus adonis. We suspect it will also do ok with many small South American characins, Otocinclus or smaller Corydoras catfish and other cyprinids like Trigonostigma or Boraras species.
Comment » | Category: Barbs & relatives, Cypriniformes
March 13th, 2012 — 1:24pm
Although gregarious by nature it is a shoaling rather than schooling species which develops a distinct pecking order between males. It should ideally be maintained in a group of 8 or more but the tank must be of a sufficient size which will allow weaker individuals some respite from dominant conspecifics and decorated in such a way that many broken lines of sight are provided. Conversely if kept singly, in a very small group or in cramped conditions it can become withdrawn and subdominant fish may be bullied incessantly.
Comment » | Category: Barbs & relatives, Cypriniformes
Onespot Barb
March 13th, 2012 — 1:24pm
This species is uncommon in the aquarium trade which is a little surprising given its huge natural range. Different populations can vary in colour pattern to an extent though all share the defining aspects given by Hamilton, comprising a diffuse yellow-golden marking on the operculum plus a dark spot on the caudal peduncle. The latter is usually surrounded by a variably-sized golden-yellow margin, and the dorsal-fin often contains irregular dark spots and streaks, these sometimes forming a longitudinal band.
Comment » | Category: Barbs & relatives, Cypriniformes
March 13th, 2012 — 1:24pm
D. foerschi is sometimes traded as ‘boomerang barb’ or ‘Foersch’s fire barb’ and is included in a group of closely-related, similar-looking fishes which were moved into the new genus Desmopuntius by Kottelat (2013).
It can be told apart from other vertically-striped congeners by possession of additional dark blotches between the second, third and fourth vertical bars and a further marking at the posterior base o…
Comment » | Category: Barbs & relatives, Cypriniformes
Lipstick Barb
March 13th, 2012 — 1:24pm
This species first appeared in the aquarium hobby in 2006 and is sometimes traded under the name ‘Tulip barb’. It was officially described by Kullander in early 2008 in a paper describing five new Puntius species from Kachin, all of which are superficially similar in possession of a dark band or blotch on the caudal peduncle.
P. erythromycter can be distinguished b…
Comment » | Category: Barbs & relatives, Cypriniformes
March 13th, 2012 — 1:24pm
This species is confused with P. ticto in much of the available literature and is sometimes listed as a synonym of it. Although some populations of the two species possess a similar colour pattern (there are reports of a P. ticto variant from the south of West Bengal state in India with a red, black-flecked dorsal-fin, for example) they do not occur in the same waters in nature and can be distinguished by examining the lateral line. This is complete in…
1 comment » | Category: Barbs & relatives, Cypriniformes
Aphyosemion rectogoense
Many thanks cyprin, the image has now been removed.
31st Oct 2024
Product reviewers wanted
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6th Sep 2020
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I would be interested in reviewing products. Before retiring I was a technical writer and managed a Quality Management Program.
30th Aug 2020
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I'm interested and can write reviews from the perspective of someone new to the hobby. I'm only 3-4 months in, but hopefully I can help someone that's...
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I’m interested in doing this if there is still availability, it sounds like fun! Thanks
19th Aug 2020