Angelfish has black bars on a silver-coloured body. However many new varieties have been developed. They are very graceful, slow moving, and are quite aggresive at breeding times.

The body is extremely thin and disk shaped. The anal and dorsal fins are very long and eyes are often red. They prefer a tank of about 30 gallons. The tank should contain hiding places and hardy plants are best.

iger Barbs originally come from Indonesia. They are known by the scientific names Barbus tetrazona, Puntius tetrazona and Capoeta tetrazona. Tiger Barbs are easy to keep and very active. They are also found in a Green and a Gold variety. Tiger Barbs like to swim in groups, so 8 or more are recommended for a tank. They prefer bushy plants and lots of open swimming area. Tiger Barbs are fin nippers, so don't mix them with slow moving fish such as many of the tetra group, guppies or bettas. They eat standard flake foods and freeze dried blood worms.

Catfish are normally native to South America and Africa. Most Catfish are suitable to any aquarium. They forage for food at the bottom of the tank, and others will be very happy eating the algae off the window.

The body shape of C. habrosus resembles C. hastatus . The body color is tan to beige and matches the color of the belly. A broken, olive green band extends from the gill cover back to the caudal penuncle. The head and back are spotted with dark spots that are brown or black in color. The caudal fin is striped with 4-5 olive green markings.

This family is unique to its diversity, for size, shape, swimming levels and even behaviour. Body shapes range from the disc-like Discus, to the long and pointy Checkerboard. These fish can be very colourful, although many fish in this family get to a very big proportion. One of the most frustrating things about cichlids - although you can get them to breed, they can be very, very territorial when spawning.

A hardy and highly active shoaling fish for the upper region of the aquarium. It is recommended that they be purchased as a small group, as individual specimens tend to fade away by themselves.

Common Danio is the Zebra variety.

Long-finned varieties and golden/albino colour forms are available. They are occasionally associated with fin-nipping, but this is the exception rather than the norm, and they generally make excellent community fish.

Guppies are a very popular aquarium fish, and don’t require anything special. They are perfectly at home in a peaceful community aquarium. At least 2 females should be kept to each male, so they aren’t continually harassed. Also for the same reason, a tank housing both male and female guppies would ideally contain plants so the females can get out of the way of the mal. Although water chemistry is not critical for these fish, they prefer slightly acidic water. Salt is optional, only some, not all wild guppies live in brackish conditions.

Size: Males grow up to 3cm and females up to 5cm, although captive species may grow larger.

Blue Gourami is but one of the names given to the extremely popular Three Spot Gourami. Although traditionally silvery blue in color, their colors can change considerably with their moods. During spawning they acquire a much deeper blue hue. The Opaline or Cosby Hybrid variation lacks spots, and has a darker blue marbling. The three spot Gourami sports but two spots; one in the center of the body, and a second at the caudal pentacle (beginning of the tail). The third spot is actually the eye.

Mollies are livebearers, and will breed readily in captivity. If interested in raising the fry, they should either be removed from the main aquarium or be kept in a breeder trap to prevent them from being eaten. These fish can be kept in freshwater, but will benefit from the addition of a little brackish salt to the tank. They are not picky eaters, and will accept a variety of vegetable and meaty foods. Provide plants and other decorations for shelter. These fish are peaceful, and can be kept in most community tanks.

Platies are small, livebearing fish that make great additions to most community aquariums. Platies come in a wide variety of colors. Males are generally smaller than females, and have a modified anal fin called a gonopodium. Platies reproduce very easily in the aquarium. The parents and other fish may eat the tiny fry. To prevent this, place the fry in a nursery tank or a breeder trap until they are too large to be considered food. Platies are very hardy as long as the aquarium is properly maintained. They make a colorful fish for beginners as well as more experienced hobbyists.

The Harlequin Rasbora is fairly popular, because it is a hardy community fish that can tolerate variations in pH levels. It originates from the Thailand and Malaysia area. It has a pinkish body with a black triangle filling most of its back half. It likes lots of plants and dim lighting, which actually helps enhance its color. Harlequin Rasbora should be kept in schools of 8 - 10.

The rainbow shark is a gray fish with bright red fins. Its snout is equipped with 2 barbels. Though they are called sharks due to the shape of their body, rainbow sharks are only very distant relatives of true sharks. They are actually more closely related to barbs and loaches. They are peaceful community fish but can be aggressive towards other sharks. Plants, rocks and driftwood can be used to create great hiding places. Rainbow sharks are hardy, and are not picky eaters. They scavenge for food in the substrate, and will also accept most sinking pellets and other prepared foods.

The Betta or Siamese Fighting Fish are truly a favorite fish that has been part of the aquarium hobby for a long time. They, along with Paradise Fish, are said to be the oldest known fish to be kept in aquariums!

This is a great fish for a beginning aquarium enthusiast or for someone who wants minimal space and upkeep, but still wishes to enjoy a beautiful fish! The needs of the Betta or Siamese Fighting Fish are minimal in comparison to other species. They are quite disease resistant, very resiliant, readily available, and inexpensive.

The serpae tetra is one of the most colorful of the tetras. It has a red body that varies from crimson to pink. The dorsal fin is black with a black edging and white tip to the ventral fin. There is also a black bar on the flank of some individuals. There are several closely related species of tetra that are also commonly referred to as serpaes. They are small tetras but are very robust and can be kept with larger community fish without problems. Serpae tetras are schooling fish and should be kept in groups of 6 or more. They will accept flake and small granular foods. If fed the occasional frozen or live food and kept in a tank with a dark background the red color becomes more vibrant. They can adapt to a variety of water condidtions but prefer slightly acidic water. They make good candidates for the planted tank.