So named because of the row of spots running along the lateral line, the porthole cat is a good community species. Newly imported fish tend to be a little delicate and are susceptible to disease. This is at least in part because all specimens sold for the trade are wild caught. Once acclimatised, it usually proves very hardy and can be exceptionally long-lived for a fish of this size, having the potential to survive for over 10 years….

B. ruber is among the better known Badis species in the aquarium hobby with trade names including ‘Burmese badis’ and ‘red badis’.

It was referred as Badis badis burmicanus for a number of years and will be seen labelled as such in older literature.

Among congeners it is most easily confused with…

Like most badids B. kyar is poorly documented in aquarium literature and has yet to find significant popularity in the hobby, though given its restricted natural distribution it is unlikely ever to be available in large numbers. The fish in our image is a specimen included in the only batch of this species known to have been exported to date. This species has a very slender body shape (which may be an adaptation to its habitat) and in this respect is similar to B. pyema. However B. kyar possesse…

R. borapetensis is one of the more commonly-encountered rasboras in stores and is particularly recommended for newcomers to the hobby. While it can appear a little plain or 'washed' of colour when seen on sale once settled and in good condition it is an eye-catching little fish that often schools quite closely. It's sometimes sold with the alternative trade names of black-line or magnificent rasbora.

R. rubrodorsalis is a very similar-looking congener that occurs sympatrically…

R. rubrodorsalis occurs sympatrically with the very similar-looking R. borapetensis over some of its natural range but is much the rarer of the two in the aquarium hobby. They are easily distinguishable from one another because R. rubrodorsalis has a bright red blotch in thewhilst in R. borapetensis the dorsal is colourless and only the base of the is coloured red.

This species is sometimes sold under the erroneous name(s) R. beauforti or R. sp. cf. beauforti, probably because it was picture…

This "shovelnose" is unique amongst bagrids, but superficially resembles several unrelated South American catfish species. It's common name is derived from it's flattened, extended head. We cannot stress strongly enough that this is a species totally unsuited to aquarium life. Alarmingly, it is can sometimes be spotted in dealer's tanks. When small, it makes an interesting and undeniably impressive addition to a large aquarium but bearing in mind its enormous adult size,…

Rita species are not often seen in the hobby. When available, R. kuturnee makes a fine bottom dweller for communities containing other robust species….

This large Mystus is not often seen in the hobby. It makes a fine bottom dweller for communities containing other robust species. It is used as a food fish in many of it's native countries….

A strikingly marked species that is rarely seen in the hobby in the UK.

One of the more commonly available pike cichlids in the UK, c. strigata is often bought by fishkeepers unaware of the adult size of these fish.

Are reported to be susceptible to hole in the head disease, more commonly seen in discus and oscars….