The pond season is well underway now and our stores are filling with gorgeous pond plants and a wealth of hardy goldfish. Meanwhile, the fancy goldfish are providing a pet that the weather can’t spoil with a range of body forms that are unknown in nature. Some of these forms are rather extreme, such as these Dragon-eyed pearlscales (Carassius auratus) seen recently at Ascot. Although peaceful, fishes such as these are best kept alongside other similar breeds of fancy goldfish, as they won’t compete well with faster moving types – which in the case of these guys is pretty much everything. As with all fancies, these fish have big personalities in those funny little bodies.

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/fish/freshwater/coldwater-aquarium-fish/ping-pong-pearlscale

Prawn Gobies always have looks which seem more in keeping with muppets than reef fish and that’s a fair indicator of their characters, reflecting a rather stoic and stay at home attitude. Wild fish would usually live in a symbiotic relationship with the pistol shrimps of the genus Alpheus, and these animated bulldozers do all the digging whilst the goby keeps an eye out for any threats. In the aquarium, fish such as this Pinkspot goby (Cryptocentrus leptocephalus) seen at our Leicester store, will happily live without their shrimp companions if given a suitable cave, or can be easily paired with species such as the Tiger shrimp (Alpheus bellulus).

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/fish/marine/blennies-gobies/pink-spot-goby

Some of the fishes in our hobby have been with us for a very long time but still wow us when we see exceptional specimens. These Bloodfin tetras (Aphyocharax anisitsi) at our Woking store had to be seen to be believed and their ancestors were thriving in home aquaria way before the advent of modern heating equipment. With a southerly distribution that takes them outside the tropics, these tetras thrive at temperatures down to 15C and are a great choice for unheated aquaria.

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/fish/freshwater/characins/bloodfin-tetra

 

Some aquarium fish are constantly active and always on the move, others are rather more sedentary and thoughtful in their actions. Who amongst us hasn’t watched intently as a new fish explores their aquarium, loathe to walk away and miss some entertaining behaviour? If you prefer a more leisurely pet, then this could be the fish for you – Banjo catfish (Bunocephalus coracoideus) are arguably less active than some aquarium décor and provide plenty of opportunity for keen observers to put the kettle on, prepare a meal, or even watch the entire Lord Of The Rings trilogy without missing any action. Joking aside, banjos are all the more endearing for their slow-motion lifestyle and it certainly suits an animal with such amazing cryptic camouflage in a world where most predators are attracted to movement. This batch at Morden were showing themselves beautifully.

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/fish/freshwater/catfish/banjo-catfish

At a time when lots of sexy new tetras are appearing with prices that make a large shoal something of an investment, it’s nice to know that you can get something a little bit special without blowing the tetra budget. These Rainbow emperor tetras (Nematobrycon lacortei) at our Ashtead branch were settled and stunning, ready to add a bit of bling to the right aquarium. As these fish are less domesticated than standard emperor tetras, they generally reward efforts to provide them with the soft, clean water that most resembles their ancestral home.

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/fish/freshwater/characins/rainbow-emperor-tetra