Not a fish for the general Malawi cichlid community, N. venustus is an ambush predator in nature. It is often found hanging motionless around rocky structures, in Vallisneria thickets or on the floor of the lake. It is a sedentary species and does not move around a lot. This is a behavioural adaptation known as thanatosis, or 'playing dead'. This strategy is usually used as for defensive means in other animals but in N. venstus is adapted for offensive means. The fish has a mottled col…

Not a fish for the general Malawi cichlid community, N. livingstonii is an ambush predator in nature, often being seen hanging motionless around rocky structures, in Vallisneria thickets or on the floor of the lake. It is a sedentary species and does not move around a lot. This is a behavioural adaptation known as thanatosis, or 'playing dead'. This strategy is usually used as for defensive means in other animals but in N. livingstonii is adapted for offensive means. The fish has a mot…

Endemic to the Paraguay, Paraná and Uruguay river drainages in Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay.

The smallest of the three Aphyocharax species seen in the hobby, the redflank is relatively uncommon in the hobby in the aquarium trade.

It is also known as the Green Fire Tetra.

This species is normally referred to as A. paraguayensis, but that name has been considered a synonym of A. nattereri since 2003.

Confusion remains however, as the type locality for the latter is ‘Villa Bella’, now known as Parintins, a settlement on the main Amazon river channel between Manaus and Santarém and many kilometres away from the majority of confirmed localities.

A good beginner’s tetra, as it’s a hardy species that will adapt to a relatively wide range of conditions. In a well-insulated house it can even be kept in an unheated tank, although it won’t be as colourful as when kept in warmer water.

It’s also quite long-lived and captive specimens over ten years old are not unheard of…

It can be distinguished from the similar N. sexfasciatus by the presence of only five, rather than six, vertical bars on it's flanks. It is not recommended for the general Tanganyikan community due to it's aggressive nature, particularly when breeding….

N. similis is one of the less frequently seen shelldwellers in the hobby but has no less personality than its cousins. The territories it establishes are very small, usually measuring no more than 6" across, but they are defended vigorously. The tiny fish will even bite hands or fingers that invade their 'personal space'! It can be distinguished from the similar N. multifasciatus by the presence of additional barring on the head and neck and also in this species the stripes appear…

Several geographical morphs of this species are available, including "Sambia" and "Kipili". These vary in base colour from blue to yellow to white. It is not recommended for the general Tanganyikan community due to its aggressive and predatory nature….

This species is included in the so-called "Brichardi complex", which also includes N. brichardi, crassus, falcicula, gracilis, helianthus, olivaceous, pulcher, and splendens. These should not be mixed in aquaria as they will hybridise freely. N. savoryi can be distinguished from others in the complex by it's distinctive patterning of vertical bars….

This species is included in the so-called "Brichardi complex", which also includes N. brichardi, crassus, falcicula, gracilis, pulcher, savoryi and splendens. These should not be mixed in aquaria, as they will hybridise freely. N. olivaceouscan be distinguished from others in the complex by the two curved markings on the gill cover. It is possible that it is synonymous with N. pulcher, as proposed by Konings (1993)….