A close relative of the Green barb (Barbodes semifasciolatus) these Snyder’s barbs (B. snyderi) are a rarely seen Taiwanese native, perfect for unheated aquaria although more likely to appeal to the dedicated cypriniphile with a taste for the unusual. These have been seen in a few stores but this batch were looking gorgeous at our Hare Hatch branch.

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/fish/freshwater/cyprinids/snyders-barb

Clownfish are justifiably popular saltwater pets and there aren’t many marine tanks that don’t contain a pair. In a world of increasingly fancy designer tank bred clowns, the subtle colours of Pink skunk clowns (Amphiprion perideraion) might seem pale, but these beauties are less aggressive than most and still have lots of personality. This pair of the Fijian orange form were tending a clutch of eggs at our Reading store.

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/fish/marine/damselfish/pink-skunk-clownfish

Having taken a stance on tankbusters decades ago, there’s a lot of larger pimelodid catfish that you won’t tend to see in our stores. A few of the smaller ‘big cats’ seemed to disappear due to an export ban from Brazil and it was nice to bump into one of these old friends at our Basingstoke store. Although not a fish for the average community setup, the Ornate pim (Pimelodus ornatus) is a sleek beauty that suits a large aquarium with good water quality and plenty of water movement.

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

Occasionally it happens that rarities appear by chance and these Banded lampeyes (Aplocheilichthys spilauchen) are one such case. Having been sent by a shipper as Blue panchax, it was a complete surprise to the team at Reefkeeper Rugby to unpack these beautiful, orange-eyed fish. Hailing from brackish water, Banded lampeyes need a high KH if not kept slightly salty and are perfect for anyone seeking an unusual surface dweller for a specialist setup.

If you were compiling a checklist of perfect marine aquarium fishes, then surely the Neon goby (Elacatinus oceanops) would score highly. Widely available as tank-bred specimens, these little fish clean parasites from their reef neighbours in the wild and as they share a universal pattern recognised by species from every ocean, they’re the perfect alternative to trickier species such as Cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus). As cleaners, they’re bold and charismatic – perfect for a nano tank but equally at home setting up a spa in a larger aquarium where their tankmates will come to be groomed. If that wasn’t enough to convince you, these little beauties can be kept in groups and will usually form pairs, spawning regularly and giving their owners the perfect opportunity to rear marine fish at home if they fancy a challenge.

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/fish/marine/blennies-gobies/blue-neon-goby