This species is very rare in the trade and is normally imported only as bycatch among shipments of other fishes.

It can be told apart from its well-known congener B. dorsiocellata by a combination of characters as follows: lateral line complete (25-30 pored scales vs. 4-9); more scales in the lateral row (29-32 vs. 25-27); larger adult siz…

P. tetrazona is traditionally considered to be among the most ubiquitous species available in the aquarium trade. Wild examples are rarely traded, however, and there exists ongoing confusion as to the identity of the commercially-produced ‘aquarium’ tiger barb.

A number of selectively-bred, ornamental strains are available. The albino, ‘green’ (aka ‘moss’), and ‘golden’ (leucistic) variants are particularly pop…

This species was originally classified in the genus Limia before this was made a sub-genus of Poecilia. Confusingly they have been reclassified once more into Limia, but are still referred to as members of Poecilia in much of the available literature.

L. melanogaster is endemic to Jamaica. It is not often seen for sale in the hobby….

For many years this species was imported and sold as Barbus/Barbodes barilioides, now recognised as a junior synonym of ‘B.‘ fasciolatus, and is sometimes called the Blue Banded or Angola Barb.

It’s an exceptionally attractive little fish when in good condition but like all African barbs is quite rare in the hobby due to sporadic exports from the countries in which it is found. Distinguishing features include 25-30 late…

The fish appearing in the majority of earlier literature as P. arulius or ‘arulius barb’, and often still traded as such, is the related D. tambraparniei. Though similar the latter can be told apart from D. arulius by possession of filamentous extensions to the dorsal-fin rays in males, longer maxillary barbels measuring > ½ eye diameter, i.e., 2.4 – 4.7 % SL, and some aspects of colour pattern.

Wild fish are probably foragers feeding on algae, organic detritus, small insects, worms, crustaceans, and other zooplankton.

In the aquarium it’s easily-fed but the best condition and colours offer regular meals of small live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, Daphnia, and Artemia, alongside good quality dried flakes and granules, at least some of which should include additional plant or algal content.

The wild fish can exhibit several different types of patterning. P. latipinna has been selectively bred into many different colour morphs for the aquarium trade, and has also been crossbred with other molly species, particularly P. sphenops. They will also interbreed readily in the aquarium and in order to avoid this we suggest keeping only one species of molly per tank. There also exists a (in our opinion) grotesque 'balloon' variety of this fish in which the body is malformed and rou…

Native to the lower Amazon river basin in Brazil with some populations exhibiting differences in colour pattern to one another, particularly in respect of the degree of red and blue pigmentation on the body and fins.

Type locality is given simply as ‘Amazon River, Brazil’.

Field observations suggest it to display a pref…

Dicrossus Maculatus are not commonly available in the trade. Sometimes they are mistaken for the more common and popular Dicrossus Filamentosa.

The Spadetailed Checkerboards are an absolutely fascinating species to keep. They are a challenge to breed, requiring such acidic and soft water, but when it does happen it is a very rewarding experience.

Reports maintain that the pH and temperature of the water when conceived, eggs laid, eggs hatched and in the first month of the fry's life c…

Dicrossus Filamentosa were once part of the Crenicara genus, but now share the Dicrossus genus with Dicrossus Maculata. The two species look similar, but the Maculata lack the lyretailed of the Filamentosa. Some say however, that the Maculata has even more striking body colouration than the already impressive Filamentosa.

These fish aren't impossible to find, but aren't readily available in local fish shops either. They are seen as a challenge to breed, but plenty of breeders have h…