There is some debate that this species is actually the fish that finds its way into aquatic stores under the name of the Flag cichlid (normally attributed to m. festivus). The two fish look very similar and, in reality, it is likely that both species are sold under the same name – depending on the area where the fish were originally caught and exported from….

This uniquely-patterned species is one of the most popular rainbowfish in the hobby and can be found swimming in most dealers' tanks. However, virtually all these fish are mass-produced on fish farms in the Far East and Eastern Europe. M. boesmani is actually quite rare in nature, and is on the IUCN red list of endangered species. Unfortunately this is one species on which the aquarium trade has had a massively detrimental effect, with an estimated one million fish a year being collected to…

M. affinis was one of the first rainbowfish species to be imported for the hobby in any numbers. There are several geographical variants, three of which can be found in the hobby. The "standard" form has a large natural range and is the most commonly encountered. The "Pagwi" form has a very limited distribution, being known only from a tributary of the Sepik River in New Guinea, while the "Bluewater Creek" form has only been collected from a single location close t…

Lake Wanam has been the subject of a management project co-ordinated by famous aquarist Heiko Bleher, who became concerned by an apparent drop in numbers of both this species and the barred rainbowfish (Chilatherina fasciata), which is also found in the lake. The drop in numbers is thought to be a result of the introduction of non-native Tilapia, Gambusia and carp species into the lake, along with a significant increase in the number of humans living in the area. G. wanamensis is now considered …

Flag Cichlids are enduringly popular in the hobby and can be found in most aquatic stores. Interestingly, this species is not the species most commonly sold as the Flag cichlid. It is usually m. insignis that makes it into dealers tanks….

This species is much rarer in the trade than the only other member of the genus, H. temporalis. If the collection locality of the fish is known, identification of the species is easy, as the distribution of the two appears not to overlap in nature. Failing this, distinguishing physical characteristics include body shape, as H. coryphaenoides is a more elongate fish than the quite squat-looking H. temporalis. There are also differences in colour and patterning, although these are less reliable me…

Relatively common in the hobby, the Rainbow Cichlid makes an ideal CA cichlid for those who do not wish to manage the challenge of the more aggressive CA species.

Like many cichlids, members of the genus Herichthys share something of a confused taxonomic past. Erected in 1854 with H. cyanoguttatus the type species, its members were moved into Cichlasoma by Regan in 1905. However following a reclassification of Cichlasoma by Kullander in 1983 it was once again deemed valid. In 1996 Kullander suggested Herichthys should only contain species "sharing a colour pattern of short vertical bars or black spots posteriorly from the middle of the side, and a un…

A rarely seen, although attractive member of the severum family. This species is occasionally offered for sale through specialist cichild or South American dealers.

Nannacara taenia is rarely seen for sale in local aquatic stores. Largely, because it is a fairly unremarkable fish, tending towards a drab brown appearance. You are more likely to obtain this fish through specialist cichlid dealers or amateur enthusiasts….