Once more we were able to import another quite cute suckermouth catfish from Peru - from Pucallpa to be more precise. Again, this species belongs to the closer Panaqolus changae relationship (LDA 26, L206, L226), as it does the "New Zebra Pleco" we introduced to you last week (http://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/archiv.php?news_id=289). Especially the young ones are colored very nice, adults become more dull in coloration. A typical feature of this special variety seems to be the spotted caudal, which can be observed in all stages of age. The biggest ones we saw so far were about 7 cm long.

For our customers: the fish have code 275351 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Panaqolus: diminuative of Panaque. Panaque is another genus of suckermouth catfish. changae: in memory of Fonchii Fang, who was integrated in the discovery of the species. She died by accident on the Amazon.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

This species from Peru represents one of the most beautiful species of killifish. It was known in the hobby for quite a long time under the name of Pterolebias peruensis. They are typical seasonal fishes. In the aquarium, they might become up to 1.5 years old, but in the wild they will never reach such an age. The species is restrictet to primary woods in the north of Peru. The intraspecific variation is very high, and it is possible to distinguish each male from an import from another by coloration and pattern.

These fish are bottom divers and spawn in the ground. The eggs need about 10 months to develope. Although keeping and breeding of the species is not really difficult, it takes a lot of patience to be successful.

Killifish do not fit for community tanks in general, because they cannot show to advantage there. A. peruensis do not like flake food. Thus they should be fed with frozen and live food.

For our customers: the fish have code 342803 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply to the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Apholebias: from the anterior part of the word Aphyosemion and from Lebias; Aphyosemion is a genus of killifish from Africa, which is somewhat similar to Aphyolebias. Lebias is an ancient fish name, which was formerly used for what is now Aphanius. The word is part of many genus-names of South American killifish. Pterolebias: from ancient Greek for "wings" and from Lebias: "winged Lebias". Lebias is an ancient fish name, which was formerly used for what is now Aphanius. The word is part of many genus-names of South American killifish. peruensis: means "comes from Peru".

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

The season for this popular Otocinclus has started now. Otocinclus vestitus has a very large distribution. It is found in Peru, Bolivia, and Paraguay. The species can be easily identified by the typical pattern in the caudal fin.

Among the O. vestitus we received this week from Paraguay was one very unusual xanthoristic specimen. It is a very rare occasion that such a conspicious animal survives in the wild and grows to adult size!

Keeping and breeding O. vestitus is very easy; it is a typical beginner´s species. Especially lovers of well planted aquaria enjoy Otociclus vestitus very much, as it is a perfect algae eaters that feeds the algae from the top of the leaves without hurting them at all. For breeding a specis-specific tank should be used. Technically speaking, breeding is very much alkie that of Corydoras species.

For our customers: the fish have code 273604 (old trade name: O. arnoldi) on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Otocinclus; vestitus: Latin, means "dressed". Xanthorism: a mutation, in which the cells with yellow pigment increase.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

This extremely attractive new suckermouth cat was sent to us from Peru with the name of a collecting site "Jutai". Currently the fish are around 4-6 cm long. There is no doubt that they belong to the Panaqolus changae group (LDA 26, L206, L226). A very astonishing matter in these fish is the fact that despite their small size they seem to be sexually differentiated already. The presumed males have a whitish basic colour, narrower bands and an irregular pattern on the caudal fin. The presumed females have an orange basic colour with regular bands.

Has a dwarfish population been discovered? Panaqolus changae (typical form) reaches a total size of approx. 12 cm and can be kept quite easily. As in all members of Panaqolus soft wood forms an essential part of the food.

For our customers: the fish have code 275351 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Panaqolus: diminuative of Panaque. Panaque is another genus of suckermouth catfish. changae: in memory of Fonchii Fang, who was integrated in the discovery of the species. She died by accident on the Amazon.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Recently we were able to import this pretty spiny eel from Burma for the first time. It is a rather small (around 20 cm) species with a very contrasting pattern. The species lives endemically in the Lake Inle region in Burma. Lake Inle has medium hard water with a slightly alcalic pH. From Lake Inle already many pretty and very suitable aquarium fish have been imported.

Although the species has been described scientifically in 1893 already it is still new for the hobby. There are two phenotypes in our specimens. Some fish are larger, heavier builded and have a very dark coloration, others are smaller, more elongate and rather brownish. This possibly represents sexual dimorphism. It is - generally speaking - possible to breed spiny eels in the aquarium. They prefer to spawn in the roots of swimming plants near the water surface.

When keeping spiny eels it is necessary to offer a number of hiding places as well as fine sand which enables the fish to burry themselves at least in some parts of the tank. Mastacembelids are exclusively carnivorous, plants are ignored. The worst that can happen is that a spiny eel tries to burry itself under a plant. Spiny eels are generally very peaceful to conspecifics and to other fish. Very small fish, however, are eaten. Due to the quite small mouth of this spiny eel, other fish from 4-5 cm upwards are usually safe. Spiny eels are fed with all the usual live and frozen food, most of them also accept granulated food.

For our customers: the fish have code 426353 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Mastacembelus: ancient Greek, means "the one that throws oneself a bite"; probably it was though that these fish can use their snout like the trunk of an elephant. This is, however, wrong. caudiocellatus: Latin, means "with an eyespot in the caudal".


Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

For the first time ever we are now able to offer a very rare Otocinclus species, namely O. mimulus. Besides all the well known good characteristics that it shares with other members of the genus - small size, peacefulness, cleaning of plant leaves, day activity - this species also has to offer a very special feature. It lives along with a species of Corydoras and has the very same coloration; this phenomenon is called mimesis. The Corydoras species is C. diphyes (see http://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/corydoras-diphyes-_de_685.html) which we currently also have in stock. So one has for the first time the chance to study the behaviour of both species kept together in an aquarium.

For our customers: Otocinclus mimulus has code 273994 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Otocinclus: ancient Greek, means "with latticed ear"; referring to a bone in the skull, which is visible externally and placed where in humans would be the ear; this bone has a latticed structure. mimulus: Latin, means "little actor", referring to the mimikry of this species with Corydoras diphyes. Corydoras: from ancient greek, means „with helmet and spear“. This refers to the strong armor and fin spines. diphyes: anicient Greek, adjective meaning "of double nature", in reference to the variation in body patterns, eg striped and blotchy.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

It has been quite a long time since we were able to import this pretty species from Paraguay, but now we managed it! Please click here for further information:
http://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/corydoras-diphyes-_de_685.html

Text & photo: Frank Schäfer

The Polkadot Goodeid, Chapalichthys pardalis, reaches a maximum length of 6.5 cm (males) and 7 cm (females). Its natural habitat are the waters of the pacific slope of Mexico, Michoacan province, Tocumbo district. In contrast to many other goodeids this pretty, livebearing species seems not to be endangered in the wild.

In the aquarium, however, it is a top rarity and so we are quite proud to have it in stock currently. Keeping and breeding of the fish is not difficult. However, it is best to keep them under slightly varying temperatures and (in living rooms) without a heater, because in the wild the temperature hardly ever increases 20°C. The fish looks best in tanks with a dense vegetation. Against tankmates at least the strain currently present in the hobby is said to be very peaceful. Sadly the fish grow rather slowly which makes them a bit more expensive. On the other hand: the good news is that the fish become more beautiful with growing age.

For our customers: the fish has code 408403 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Chapalichthys: means "fish from lake Chapala". Lake Chapala in Mexico is the habitat of one species of Chapalichthys. pardalis: Latin, means "painted like a panther".

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer