Tabla de contenidos para June 2025 en Practical Fishkeeping

I HAVE ALWAYS been a big fan of catfishes. I think that spending countless hours with my father fishing for elusive big catfish played no small part in my fascination. While sitting in the darkness waiting for the bite my imagination would run wild, picturing huge whiskery monsters hunting for unsuspecting prey deep down in the murky water. As soon as I managed to get my hand on a fish tank I wanted to recreate this vision at home– albeit in a much smaller scale. Unfortunately, it was only the aquarium that was smaller and not the fish. My initial catfish-keeping endeavours included a walking catfish (Clarias batrachus), a brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) and even a baby wels catfish (Silurus glanis) – all of which had very quickly outgrown my…

WHEN IT COMES to surviving in the extremes of the natural world, aquatic organisms are some of the best in the business. They might not always garner the coverage, but there are numerous extremophiles utilising a vast range of biological adaptations and abilities to carve out their niche in some of the most challenging environments. But, while bone-crushing deepocean depths, scorching desert hot springs or perpetually dark underground cave systems might push the physiological boundaries of their inhabitants to the limit, these habitats, extreme as they are, tend to remain consistent. Hostility can also come in the form of change. At home in the UK, we might not be able to boast such dramatic environments, but when it comes to habitats that fluctuate between harsh, contrasting extremes, we are surrounded…

DWARF ANGELFISH ARE some of the most popular saltwater aquarium fish available, and for good reason. They are mostly very colourful, they stay small, and they are relatively easy to keep. Dwarf angelfish are associated with coral reefs and reef tanks, unlike larger angelfish that need to be kept in fish-only aquariums. However, dwarf angels have their own set of criteria and caveats too. Here’s what you need to know about them before you add a dwarf angel to your reef. Species There are some 35 species of dwarf angelfish within the genus Centropyge, varying from the common coral beauty (Centropyge bispinosa) to the incredibly rare Mauritius angelfi sh (Centropyge debelius). Remote island locations and depths outside that of normal scuba make some dwarf angelfi sh incredibly sought after and…

APHYOSEMION IS A genus of killifish found in Cameroon, Gabon, the Congo and adjacent territories. These fish are closely related to killifish from the subgenus Chromaphyosemion which are found in Western Cameroon and countries located even further west. You may well have read about these beautiful fishes in the March issue of the magazine. Some Aphyosemion species are found in warmer, low lying, coastal areas but many more are found in the tropical forests in the interior and at higher elevations where it is rather cooler at around 21°C (70°F). They inhabit permanent streams, rivulets, and drainages which are mostly devoid of vegetation. These waterways are often only a meter or so wide and sometimes only a few centimetres deep. The fish remain small; maximum lengths of around 5cm are…

Having never visited this store, I had no idea what to expect on the inside. However, knowing that PFK contributor Tai Strietman sources many an unusual fish from here for both magazine projects and his forthcoming book ‘Aquatic Habitats: Aquariums Inspired by Nature’ I felt it was worth visiting. After a very friendly welcome from the owner Jo and her family—this really is a family run store—I went straight into the fish room to see what delights I could find. A focus on the bread and butter At first glance, the sales tanks were well stocked with vibrant and active fish everywhere I looked. You will quickly recognise plenty of familiar faces and classic choices for community aquariums when glancing around at the many racks of tanks. It was clear…

LEARNING ABOUT AQUATIC habitats always triggers my brain to mentally plan biotopes. Whether I am reading articles on tinted streams in West Africa, looking at images of eroded river banks in Brazil or watching videos of flooded fields in Thailand, I get the desire to replicate it in a glass box. I am going to hazard a guess that this is a feeling that is shared by many of you reading this, however, the majority of these ideas get pushed to the back of our minds due to a lack of time, space, money or a combination of all three. Luckily for me, this time it was different. I have managed to fulfil the vision that I had created and I am here to tell you the story of how…

Nano tanks seem to have had a comeback and there is an increasing demand for all-in-one sets offering everything you need to set up and run a fish tank in one package. These small aquariums are a bit like marmite among aquarists, some of them absolutely loathe the limited space while others fully embrace the possibilities these tiny tanks can offer. I’m inclining towards the latter side, as not everyone wanting to get involved with aquaristics has space for a large aquarium. A desktop aquarium allows them to have at least a small piece of nature in their homes (when studying at uni I was allowed to have only a small aquarium in my room, for example). Others may have space but want to start small (even when it’s actually…