Batasio havmolleri (Smith, 1931) is currently considered a junior synonym of B. fluviatilis.

Members of the genus Batasio are characterised by the following combination of characters; laterally-compressed body shape; presence of large sensory pores on the head; a narrow mental region; a pair of prominent posterior proces…

Batasio spp. are obligate inhabitants of headwater streams and the upper reaches of smaller rivers characterised by shallow, fast-flowing, highly-oxygenated stretches of riffles and runs broken up by pools or cascades in some cases. Images of the Ataran correspondingly depict flowing sections of forest-shaded, seemingly well-oxygenated headwaters containing clear water, a mixed sand/rock substrate and lots of submerged driftwood/leaf litter.

This species is very similar to Hemiancistrus subviridis in appearance and the two occur sympatrically in nature, although B. demantoides is less common in the aquarium trade. Both have been marketed under the DATZ code L200 with B. demantoides sometimes referred to as ‘L200 high-fin’ or ‘L200a’, the former name in reference to its comparatively long dorsal-fin spine (average length in the type series 42.1 mm vs. 34.3 mm in H. subviridis).

Prior to description this species was traded under the DATZ code L239. It can be distinguished from other species in the genus and other hypostomines (see below for definition of this grouping) by its uniformly black to brownish body and fin colouration with a turquoise to bluish sheen, and the acutely bent shape of midventral body plates 3-5 which form a distinctive keel running along the body, above the pectoral fins…

The genus Barbonymus was erected by Kottelat in 1999 and contains former members of Barbodes from southeast Asia. The type species is B. schwanenfeldii and currently there exist only three other representatives; B. altus, B. collingwoodii and B. gonionotus.

The latter two are rare in the hobby although an SF member has kept B. gonionotus in the past so they are worth looking out for if you harbour an…

The vernacular name ‘lancer’ is derived from the extended dorsal spine possessed by several members of the genus, which currently contains 7 species. B. obscurus is diagnosable from congerners by the following combination of characters: mouth opening relatively small and narrow; oral dentition significantly reduced; dorsal-fin spi…

Found in both Caribbean and Pacific-slope drainage basins in Central America, from southern Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, and into Costa Rica.

This species clearly shouldn’t ‚ be considered a home aquarium‚ subject at all given its eventual size and the fact it can live for‚ several decades.‚

Endemic to Cuba where it’s found throughout western parts of the island plus Isla de la Juventud (Isle of Youth, formerly known as the Isle of Pines). It’s endangered across most of this range and captive breeding efforts are well-established.

Known locally in Cuba as ‘manjuari’, it clearly shouldn’t be considered a home aquarium subject…

This species is assigned the code A52 under the DATZ ‘A’ number system and is also known by the trade names A. sp. ‘Apache’, A. sp. ‘Peru (II)’, A. sp. ‘Peru-regani’, A. sp. cf. regani (Belém) and A. sp. ‘carapintada’.

Apistogramma is among the most speciose of South American cichlid genera with around 70 species valid at present but many more awaiting description. In addition many species exist in two or more geographical colour forms which may or ma…

This species is assigned the codes A220, A221 and A222 under the DATZ ‘A’ number system with these referring to similar-looking, possibly conspecific, populations.

These differ in some aspects of colour pattern, particularly the orientation of the caudal-fin markings which may be horizontal, vertical, or somewhere inbetween.

One population displays an orange colouration on the belly and is som…