Results for “genus”

An ideal species for the larger Malawian community but one not often seen for sale. In nature, it is a molluscivore, feeding primarily on snails. It has specially developed pharyngeal teeth, which can crush and grind the shells of these animals with ease. Several other species were originally assigned to the genus but currently, only 3 species of Trematocranus exist, most having been reclassified as Aulonocara or Alticorpus....

This species is a popular food fish in it's native countries. It is not often seen for sale these days, although it is both beautiful and peaceful. The alternative common name of 'Giant Gourami' is not particularly apt, although it is the largest species in the genus. Like others in the suborder Anabantoidei, the species possesses an accessory breathing organ known as the labyrinth organ. So-called due to its maze-like structure, this organ allows the fish to breathe atmospheri...

The common name is derived from the ability of genus members to produce audible sounds via a specialised pectoral mechanism which is unique within the family Osphronemidae. The structure comprises modified pectoral-fin tendons and muscles which are stretched and plucked by basal elevations of two fin rays in a similar way to guitar strings via rapid beating of the fins. The pectoral-fins beat alternately, each able to generate short or long bursts of sound. These sounds are produced by both sexes, predom...

This species is not often available and is much sought after in the aquarium hobby where it's been traded as 'crystal rainbow tetra' and 'orange-tailed glass tetra'. It's also been referred to as a Heterocharax or Tyttocharax species in the past. It's currently the only member of its genus which is separated fr...

Like others in the genus, Tropheus brichardi is something of an enigma in the aquarium hobby, and is not a good species for the beginner. There has been much arguement and discussion about how best to maintain it in the aquarium, and some of these debates still rage on. We have provided the generally accepted method of keeping the fish, but in reality what works for one aquarist may not for another. One aspect which is always true is that water quality is of the utmost importance in a Tropheus t...

Like others in the genus, Tropheus duboisi is something of an enigma in the aquarium hobby and despite it's popularity, is not a good species for the beginner. There has been much arguement and discussion about how best to maintain it in the aquarium, and some of these debates still rage on. We have provided the generally accepted method of keeping the fish, but in reality what works for one aquarist may not for another. One aspect which is always true, is that water quality is of the utmos...

Like others in the genus, Tropheus moorii is something of an enigma in the aquarium hobby, and despite it's popularity is not a good species for the beginner. There has been much arguement and discussion about how best to maintain it in the aquarium, and some of these debates still rage on. We have provided the generally accepted method of keeping the fish, but in reality what works for one aquarist may not for another. One aspect which is always true, is that water quality is of the utmost...

This species is traded under various names including 'chocolate scissor-tailed loach', chocolate long-finned loach', 'red line cobra loach', 'spiny eel loach' and 'dragon loach'. It's apparently difficult to find in its natural habitats and thus time-consuming to collect, meaning it's rarely traded in numbers, sought after by enthusiasts and tends to carry a relatively high price tag when available. The genus currently contains just three...

Wallago are fearsome predatory catfish that are fairly widespread in southeast Asia. There are currently five recognised species, W. attu, W. leerii, W. hexanema, W. maculatus and W. micropogon. The latter was described to science in 2004 by renowned catfish expert Heok Hee Ng and was previously considered to be a geographic variant of W. leerii. All members of the genus possess an enormous mouth full of backward pointing teeth, which are used to rip chunks from their prey. Smaller fish or amphi...

X. cancila is often seen referred to as 'freshwater garfish', and although it does superficially resemble the true gars of the family Lepisosteidae, it's actually a member of the Belonidae, or needlefishes, the majority of which are marine or estuarine in existence. There are currently just two species in the genus although the probable existence of a third member has been noted by Roberts (1989) among oth...

Originally classified in the genus Notopterus and reclassified in 1984, this is now the only described species of Xenomystus and has several interesting characteristics. Its swim bladder is specially adapted to act as an accessory breathing organ in a similar fashion to Polypteriids. It must rise to the surface to take a gulp of air periodically, often emitting a bell-like sound as it does so. X. nigri is often confused with the similar looking but far more aggressive Asian knifefish, Notopt...

This fish feeds in a similar way to Geophagus species in that it will sift sand through its gills to extract invertebrates and morsels hidden in the substrate. It was until recently classified in the genus Enatiopus and is still named as such in much of the available literature. There are slight geographical variations in colour but these are not major. Interestingly, the shoals in which these fish live in nature appear to be fixed. That is, that an individual will remain in the same group for ...

This specie is relatively rare in the aquarium trade and much sought after by enthusiasts as a result. It looks relatively similar to Y. splendida but can be told apart from it, and indeed all other members of the genus, by the following combination of characters: possession of 8 branched dorsal-fin rays; 32-33 vertebrae; one or two small, brownish, vertically-orientated markings on the dorsal part of the body posterior to the dorsal fi...

Y. eos isn't as commonly-traded as it once was but is still available occasionally. It's difficult to confuse with any other member of the genus due to its colour pattern consisting of yellow to reddish brown base body colour (can appear greyish in some specimens, especially post-import or when introduced to a new aquarium) with a metallic green/blue golden sheen and large darkish marking on either side of the caudal peduncle. The fins can be yellowish to reddish, and the dorsal and c...