A familiar ally in the fight against algae in our aquaria, the Amano shrimp (Caridina multidentata) has a complex lifecycle that has meant captive breeding took a while to crack. Now that this hurdle has been overcome, colour strains are starting to appear, such as these orange Amanos that look even more red-toned after a meal of bloodworm. Many of us have found these shrimps to be surprisingly long lived with a lifespan measured in years, especially when kept at the cooler end of their preferred range. These were looking good at our Rokers store.

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/fish/freshwater/miscellaneous/amano-shrimp

Amano shrimp

Hawkfishes are named for their hunting behaviour, perching on a coral head or similar vantage point before swooping on their prey. These are not species that can be trusted with small fish or motile invertebrate tankmates but they are entirely trustworthy with corals, making them a good choice for keepers seeking a reef predator with plenty of personality. This Arc-eyed hawk (Paracirrhites arcatus) is one of the larger species, reaching over 14cm and giving you the side eye like only a visual predator can. Not a fish we carry in stock very often, this one was at out Leicester store.

Arc-eyed hawk

 

There’s definitely a bit of a mismatch between some English common names for fancy goldfish and their Asian equivalents. These Black dragoneye broadtails fall into the group of breeds that we’d describe as black moor goldfish, but that is rather dismissive of some pedigree breeding for traits such as body shape and tail morphology. Certainly, the fish at the front looks rather indignant at the thought of it. Fancy goldfish are large and messy, so big tanks are needed and they fill these quickly – the way we see it, you might as well get the best examples you can when you’re only having a handful of fish. This batch were at our Cwmbran store.
https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/fish/freshwater/coldwater-aquarium-fish/black-moor

Black dragoneye broadtails

As common names go Ghost plec is a good one for a member of a group of fish that can be elusive and tend to haunt the darker reaches of the aquarium. In reality, Ancistomus snethlageae is one of the rare L numbers that eats a bit of algae in addition to a diet that should not contain too much protein. As with many Brazilian natives, this fish is threatened in the wild by the construction of damns that destroy their habitat, making it important to ensure that captive populations are treasured and encouraged to breed. Although better known for their marines, this well-settled batch were seen at our Reefkeeper Rugby store. 
https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/fish/freshwater/catfish/loricariids-l-numbers-plecs/ghost-plec-l141

Ghost plec

Fancy domestic Bettas dominate the market for their kind, but other bubble-nesting Betta species are well worth tracking down. Betta imbellis, sometimes known as the Crescent Betta, is a fascinating species that displays behaviours that have probably been lost in most strains of fighting fish, making it possible to keep males and females together in properly furnished aquaria. As they wear wild colouration, the lateral markings seen in this fish indicate that it’s in a non-confrontational mood, but spawning colours are very different. This fish was amongst a great range of wild bettas at our Taunton branch, some of which were spawning at the time of my visit. 
https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/fish/freshwater/anabantids/crescent-betta

Crescent Betta