Results for “freshwater”

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...

The vernacular name of this fish is derived from its appearance and behaviour, rather than a genetic association with the marine barracuda, and it's also sometimes referred to as 'pike characin' or 'spotted cachorro' with local vernacular names including 'Grand dent-chien' (French Guiana), ' Cachorrinho' or 'Ueua' (Brazil). Although most species of Acestrorhynchus appear superficially similar to one another most exhibit distinguishable external chara...

This species is relatively common in the aquarium hobby but contrary to popular belief is not venomous in any way. Its dorsal and opercular spines can pierce the skin, however, meaning extreme caution is necessary when netting it or performing aquarium maintenance. The genus Allenbatrachus was erected in 1997 to accom...

Gymnothorax tile

A rarely seen species in the trade, although it's kept quite often by Australian hobbyists. Members of this genus are thought to have a more ancient association with Australian freshwaters than most others found in these habitats. Craterocephalus also contains the most species of any Australian freshwater fish genus. It has been shown that there are quite large genetic differences between groups of the species living in close proximity to each other, and even sharing the same waters. In ...

This fish is also commonly sold as the dragon or Peruvian goby, or dragon fish, and its bizarre appearance has made it popular in the trade. This is unfortunate, as not only does it grow very large, but it has specialised feeding requirements and does not survive for very long in freshwater. When provided with the correct conditions, however, it makes a unique and fascinating captive subject. There is a smaller species in the genus, G. peruanus, that does survive in freshwater, being a riverine ...

There also exists a sister-group relationship between the Melanotaeniidae and Malagasy family Bedotiidae, which may seem surprising given their respective modern-day distributional patterns. The precise origin and subsequent dispersal of the two families has been the subject of debate, with some palentologists suggesting that Madagascar's freshwater fishes derived froma trans-oceanic dispersal during the Cenozoic Era, but the most compelling arguments currently indicate a freshwater radiation which occurred during the Mezozoic break-up of Gondwana.

Generally found within 15-20 km of the sea but habitat-type is extremely variable. It's been recorded in full marine conditions as well as pure freshwater environments, and commonly inhabits coastal mangrove creeks, swamps, and salt marshes. Freshwater habitats tend to comprise lowland swamps or forest streams with clear water but some populations inhabit acidic, tannin-stained, black waters. It's also abundant in the artificial canals typical of residential zones in the Gold Coast, southern Queensland.

This species is euryhaline and mostly inhabits lowland, often coastal, habitats containing still or slow-moving brackish or freshwater. It displays a preference for habitats with surface vegetation or overhanging cover and is commonly found in mangrove swamps and rice paddies.

This species is not recommended to those lacking the facilities to house it for life. Sadly it's all too often seen for sale as an attractive, silvery 2-3" juvenile, supposedly suitable for the general freshwater community tank. To make matters worse, it is also usually given an 'alluring' name such as 'black-finned' or 'silvertip' shark catfish. The fate of the majority of these specimens is in all likelihood a depressing one.

This is one of the largest freshwater fish species in the world, and clearly shouldn't be considered a home aquarium subject at all given its eventual size and the fact it can live for well in excess of 50 years. We include it here only because some public aquaria are able to maintain it long-term. Unfortunately, juveniles are seen for sale quite regularly in the aquari...

This species is also known by the alternative names 'green' or 'Chinese' barb. The natural 'green' form is an infrequent find in the aquarium trade whereas the selectively-bred 'golden' variant is farmed in huge numbers and is among the most popular of freshwater aquarium fish. The latter was first produced in the 1960s and is now so ubiquitous that many hobbyists are initially unaware that it is not the natural form.

Inhabits freshwater swamps and associated streams, typically shaded from the sun by dense riparian vegetation. The water is normally clear or lightly stained with tannins, and the fish found in water less than a metre deep alongside related species including Betta edithae, B. miniopinna, and B. fusca. PH has been measured to range between 4.9-5.5.

Apparently restricted to slow-moving or standing freshwater habitats such as marshes, temporal swamps and floodplains where aquatic vegetation and submerged grasses proliferate. One locality consisted of undisturbed marshland with lightly tannin-stained water and dense growth of Vallisneria spp.

Type locality is '55 miles north of Singapore, freshwater ditches, Mawai District, Johore, Malaysia', and this species has been recorded throughout much of Peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand. Records from Borneo and Singapore appear to be in error although it may have been extirpated from the latter but as with most members of the genus a degree of confusion surrounds its identity (see 'Notes').

Study of B. rousseauxii has revealed that sexually mature adults are found only in the western Amazon, with no mature individual ever recorded east of Manaus despite the intensive commercial fishery operating there. The total distance covered by some populations during migration from the delta was as much as 5500 km, making it the longest known in any freshwater fish species.

Gasteropelecids are commonly-referred to as 'freshwater hatchetfishes' due to their heavily-keeled body shape which has evolved in such a way due to possessing an enlarged, heavily-muscled pectoral girdle, and which resembles the shape of a hatchet head. They are sometimes said to be capable of propelled flight above the water surface by beating their pectoral fins but in fact this is not the case and was disproven by Wiest (1995) who used...

Lake Eyre is a vast endorheic basin within which lies the lowest point in Australia at some 15 m BMSL. It only fills with water occasionally and when it does so forms the country's largest salt lake. C. eremius does not occur in the lake itself since no fishes are able to survive there, rather it inhabits isolated freshwater springs, flowing artesian bores (wells), and ephemeral waterholes where it tends to be associated with rocks and other submerged cover.

C. hujeta is traded under various names including 'slant-nosed gar', 'hujeta gar', 'rocket gar' and 'freshwater barracuda' but it and other members of the family Ctenoluciidae have traditionally been referred to as 'pike characids'. They're all predatory fishes native to South America, included in the order Characiformes and currently spread across two genera; Ctenolucius with two species and Boulengerella with five. The two genera are ...

There are only two described species of Cyathopharynx, each with several colour forms. These should not be kept together in aquaria, as they can hybridise. They are among the most beautiful of all freshwater fish and are highly sought after in the hobby, although they are fairly delicate. The highest water quality is required for males to fully develop their stunning adult colouration, which happens when they are around 4" in length. This may take a good few months if you are buying young f...