There are currently over 180 described species of Corydoras (commonly shortened to "cory"), making it one of the most speciose of all South American fish genera. There are also loads of undescribed species, many of which have been assigned a "C number" for identification purposes. This is a very simple system of numbering and is similar to the L number scheme used to identify undescribed Loricariids. Both systems were implemented by the German aquarium magazine DATZ (Die Aqua…

The broad dark stripe in the dorsal portion of the body extends into the ventral portion on the caudal peduncle, and this character can be used to distinguish it from the very similar-looking C. zygatus, with which it is often confused. In C. zygatus the dark stripe does not extend ventrally on the caudal peduncle and is present only on the dorsal part.

S. dhonti's natural deep water habitat and solitary lifestyle make collection for the hobby difficult and so it is rarely seen for sale. When juvenile it may be confused with other Tanganyikan Synos but it loses its spotted patterning as it matures….

The reason we have recommended the use of non-Tanganyikan cichlid hosts above is because a successful captive spawning using Tanganyikan cichlid species has never been recorded! This may be due to an evolutionary process that has been observed in the lake, in which many cichlid species appear to have learned to avoid S. multipunctata when breeding. This is similar to the rejection of alien eggs by the host species in brood-parasatising birds. Because no species of brood parasatising catfish occu…

G. niloticus is the only species in its genus and is utterly unique. Unlike other knifefish it has an extended dorsal rather thangiving rise to the alternative common name of upside-down knifefish. Despite this common name, it is actually more closely related to the Mormyrid group of species. It is a truly beautiful sight in motion despite its lack of bright colours, as it can move in virtually any direction with ease using its undulatingto 'steer'. It also produces a weak electrical d…

This is an uncommonly imported Syno that is nevertheless very attractive. It has distinctive serrated edges to the pectoral fins and will exhibit its strongest colouration over a light coloured substrate….

Like other members of the family Notopteridae this species differs from Gymnotiform knifefish in that its anal and caudal fins are fused together into one long, undulating fin running along the underside of the fish. There is only one other species in the genus. P. congoensis is a smaller, plain brown coloured fish found only in the Democratic Republic of Congo and is very rare in the hobby.
P. afer is also infrequently imported and is one of the rarer knifefish species in the hobby. It can dev…

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…

There are currently over 180 described species of Corydoras (commonly shortened to "cory"), making it one of the most speciose of all South American fish genera. There are also loads of undescribed species, many of which have been assigned a "C number" for identification purposes. This is a very simple system of numbering and is similar to the L number scheme used to identify undescribed Loricariids. Both systems were implemented by the German aquarium magazine DATZ (Die Aqua…

There are currently over 180 described species of Corydoras (commonly shortened to "cory"), making it one of the most speciose of all South American fish genera. There are also loads of undescribed species, many of which have been assigned a "C number" for identification purposes. This is a very simple system of numbering and is similar to the L number scheme used to identify undescribed Loricariids. Both systems were implemented by the German aquarium magazine DATZ (Die Aqua…