A small sensation reached us recently from Brazil. Already when the small (4-6 cm long) catfish were unpacked their brillant black-and-white-pattern was a real eyecatcher. The fish definetely belong to the genus Centromochlus, which currently comprises 11 species in South America. These fish are close relatives of the better known genus Tatia and belong (like Tatia) to the family Auchenipteridae (driftwood catfishes). Driftwood cats have an internal insemination. The anal fin of the males is modified to enable this. Females lay their fertilized eggs in absence of the males.

Our "ninja cats" have proved so far to be hardy, undemanding fish.

For our customers: the species has code 295852 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale market.

Lexicon: Centromochlus: from ancient Greek "with lever arm", referring to the pectoral spines which can be a locked by a special mechanism.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

The series of astonishing wild collected discus we are able to offer right now does not break off. Besides the wonderful Royal Blue which we introduced to you last week, we also have excellent Heckel blue-head said to come the Jatapu river. This branch of the Amazon river has an unique mix of fauna found usually either in black or in white water. It is also very interesting that among our Heckel blue-head also some Gipsy Blue discus appear as by-catch.

For our customers: the animals have code 735055 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Yesterday (2.2.) we received breathtaking beautiful large wild collected discus called Discus Royal Blue Novo Ariguana. All insiders will understand that the fish do not show all of their beauty today, but even what they show is amazing!

Text & photo: Frank Schäfer

The Goldseam Cichlid from Peru and the Green Terror  from Ecuador belong to the most popular cichlids for decades already. The splendid colours, the easy breeding and the fascinating behaviour are responsible for this popularity.

Nevertheless is was unclear for a long time how these fish should be placed systematically. Hobbyists thought that both belong to two different, though closely related species, a point of view that was adopted by most taxonomists, too. So the Goldseam was called Aequidens rivulatus and the Green Terror Aequidens sp. aff. rivulatus (see for example Aqualog Southamerican Cichlids III).

Now recent papers present the results of new investigations, which included not only morphological but also genetical methods. So it was found that the Green Terror belongs really to a new and distinct species. Along with the Goldseam and some other close relatives (Aequidens biseriatus, A. coeruleopunctatus, A. latifrons, A. pulcher, A. sapayensis) he was transferred in the new genus Andinoacara and was named Andinoacara stalsbergi. The Goldseam, however, now should be called Andinoacara rivulatus.

For our customers: A. rivulatus has code 610003, A. stalsbergi 610811 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale market.

Lexicon: Aequidens: Latin, means "with equal tooth". This refers to the set of teeth. sp. aff.: Latin, abbreviation of "species affinis", which means "similar species". rivulatus: Latin, means "originating from a brook". stalsbergi: in honour of Alf Stalsberg. Andinoacara: means "Acara from the Andes". Acara is another genus of cichlid.

Literature: Musilová, Z., Schindler, I. und W. Staeck (2009): Description of Andinoacara stalsbergi sp. n. (Teleostei: Cichlidae: Cichlasomatini) from Pacific coastal rivers in Peru, and annotations on the phylogeny of the genus. Vertebrate Zoology 59 (2): 131-141.

Text: Frank Schäfer, photos: Aqualog archieves and Frank Schäfer

Currently we were able to import this nice hillstream loach from Laos for the first time. The species is restricted to the Kong river influence in Laos and Vietnam. Maximum length is around 6 cm. The species has a very interesting sexual dimorphism. Males - which are in general more tiny than females - develope patches of tubercles on the pectoral fins. The sense of this is not researched yet.

Like all Sewellia these fish like strong current. They are completely peaceful against tankmates, may they belong to their own or to different species. However, one must make sure that the fish get enough food. Frozen food, especially bloodworm, is readily taken.



Lexicon: Sewellia: dedication name. speciosa: Latin, means "beautiful, showy".

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

This attractive, about 6 cm long snail currently reached us from Thailand. It is a relative of the well known Malayian trumpet snail. In the wild this animal occurs in the lowest reaches of rivers on muddy bottoms and is thus very tolerant against salt. So it is possible to keep it in freshwater tanks as well as in brackish water aquaria. In contrast to the Malayan trumpet snail, which is a livebearing species, Faunus ater is an egglayer. The larvae can develop in marine environment only, so it is impossible that an unwanted proliferation occurs ian the tank. Males and females cannot be distinguished by external features. In nature, these snails feed probably on silt and mud. They do not work as algae-eaters, but need detritus and similar material for food.

Lexikon: Faunus: a Roman god, patron of farming and livestock; corresponding to the Greek Pan. It is not known, why this generic name was chosen. ater: Latin, means "black".

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Hypancistrus sp. L399 is one of the smaller species of the genus. The maximum length reported is approx. 8 cm. Like so many of its congeneers this fish is highly variable regarding the pattern. We have received right now a few specimens of this rare beauty from a German breeder, which are currently 4-5 cm long. The photo depicts one of the parent fish.

 
For our customers: the fish have code 26480-L399x-2 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale market.
 
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer