The upside-down catfish (Synodontis nigriventris David, 1936) is one of the most recognisable and entertaining species in the family Mochokidae. It is also the smallest member of the Synodontis genus, making it ideal for moderately sized home aquariums. Native to the Congo River basin in Central Africa, this species inhabits slow-moving tributaries with dense vegetation, submerged roots and plenty of driftwood.
Xenotoka red-tailed is found in amateur aquarists is not very often. This is associated with weakness to the fins of neighbors in the aquarium. But despite this oddity, this viviparous fish still deserves the attention of aquarists. Inhabits mainly lowland lakes and large tributaries of rivers in Mexico.
Aulonokara nyasa is sometimes called the queen of nyasa. There is a reason for this. Namely, the magnificent coloration of males of this species, which becomes even more vivid and inimitable during spawning.
Cichlid concord is remarkable in many ways. Both its body shape and way of life and peculiarities of spawning make this species a very interesting object for observation. Concorde has the Latin name Nimbochromis linni, but previously it was called Haplochromis linni and Cyrtosaga linni. Now these names should be considered synonyms, although obsolete.
Lamprologus buescheri Staeck, 1983 — commonly known as the chocolate-blue lamprologus — is a stunning cichlid (family Cichlidae) endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. In the wild, this species inhabits the southern and southwestern shores of the lake, favouring rocky substrates, stone shelves and crevices at depths ranging from 5 to 25 metres. Understanding its natural biotope is the key to successful aquarium keeping.
Chilodus (Chilodus punctatus) stands as one of the most unusual and understudied fish in the characin family. This elegant species from the Amazon basin has captured the hearts of experienced aquarists with its unique behavior and graceful appearance. From my experience keeping rare characins, Chilodus requires a specialized approach, but the results are truly rewarding.
Discus and aquarium plants seem like difficult concepts to combine. Nevertheless, there are some tricks to help try on these neighbors.
Molly fish (Poecilia spp.) are among the most popular livebearers in the hobby, and molly fish breeding is a topic that fascinates both beginners and experienced aquarists alike. At first glance, livebearers seem to reproduce effortlessly — just add a male and female to a tank and wait. In reality, mollies are a notable exception to this rule. Without attention to several key factors, producing healthy fry consistently can be surprisingly difficult.
Flowerhorn cichlids are unique ornamental fish developed through selective breeding in Malaysia and Thailand during the 1990s. These cichlids are hybrids of several American cichlid species, including Amphilophus citrinellus and Amphilophus labiatus. In my experience, Flowerhorn fish remain one of the most impressive and controversial species in modern 2026 aquaristics.