The Gold Fish

Among the aquarium fish species the gold fish is the most known, with extended longevity living up to 25 years in aquariums and reaching 30 to 35 centimeters. There isn’t a person who didn’t hear about this fish, or aquarists (even beginners) that are not capable to recognize the gold fish in pet shops. They’re [...]

Fish Tank Tales

Bacopa caroliniana

Bacopa caroliniana is an underwater and aquarium plant also known as Obolaria caroliniana, Monniera amplexicaulis, Giant Red Bacopa or Lemon Bacopa. It belongs to the Scrophulariaceae plant family and it originates in central North America. It generally grows slowly, both in aquariums and nature, its leaves are oval in shape and light green in color. [...]

Fish Tank Tales

Poeciliidae Fish Family

Poeciliidae is a fresh water fish family that originally lived only in America but because they are mosquito larvae eaters were acclimated around the world to control the mosquito population.  They are surface fish and will inhabit ponds or slow moving waters, will eat small insects, mosquito larvae but also plant based food. All the [...]

Fish Tank Tales

Guppy Fish (Poecilia reticulata)

Also known as Poecilia reticulata by its scientific name this little fish is part of the Poeciliidae family who are known for giving birth to live young. The Guppy is one of the most popular aquarium fish of all time, maybe the second most popular right after the goldfish. It was discovered in 1866 in [...]

Fish Tank Tales

IPhone and your aquarium: aquariumists’ answer to Angry Birds is here!

I know I should have avoided the comparison to the popular game because AquaPilot, the new IPhone app we are reviewing here, is not a game and means serious business. But I really-really wish it was possible to sling some fish into those pigs – I think fish can provide some new zing to the [...]

Fish Tank Tales

Swordtail fish – Xiphophorus hellerii

Also known as Xiphophorus hellerii by its scientific name this fish species is spread in Central America from Guatemala to southern Mexico. The Swordtail fish is part of the popular family of Poeciliidae, live bearing fish, family which includes other popular species like guppy, molly and the platy fish. Their original color is green, also [...]

Fish Tank Tales

Cichlasoma severum (Heros Severus)

Also known as Heros Severus in more recent aquatic references, this species is a South American fresh water fish from the Cichlidae family found in the Amazon area. This is one of those big fish that will need serious aquariums and owners but also they will need to be kept in pairs or with other big, [...]

Fish Tank Tales

The Discus Fish

The Discus fish belongs to the Cichlidae fish family. There are three species of Discus fish in existence. The Heckel discus also called Symphysodon discus, the common Discus called Symphysodon aequifasciatus and a new species called Symphysodon tarzoo. The specific form of the body gave the Discus its famous name. It’s flat on the sides [...]

Fish Tank Tales

Angel Fish

Every beginner in the aquarium world dreams about having Angel Fish and most of them buy some without reading about the fish and its needs firs, but that’s another story. Called Pterophyllum scalare by its scientific name the Angel Fish is part of the Cichlidae fish family and originates from the Amazon River to northern [...]

Fish Tank Tales

Firemouth Cichlid

Called Thorichthys meeki by its scientific name, it’s a pretty popular aquarium cichlid and originates from Central America like the Tucatan Peninsula, Guatemala and Mexico. In the aquarium is better if kept alone or with other similar species and similar size fish. It’s unpretentious and will eat most available foods, same for water quality but [...]

Fish Tank Tales