Armoured catfish rarities

Aqualog news
International Newspaper for Aquarists
TOP TEN
FROM RUSSIA
HALF HORSE,
HALFPIPE
4
4
NO
17
MOTHERS
GIVE MORE
THE FLATTEST
CICHLID ON EARTH
8
5
TERRARISTIC
T
he name derives from the Spanish
word for turtle, "la tortuga", and
hints towards the very important role
this area plays for marine turtles as a
nesting site. The about 19 000 hectare
large reservation was established in
1975 and is situated near the Nicara-
Tortuguero - marine turtles and
moist rainforest at Costa Rica's
Atlantic coast
guan border at the Atlantic coast, an
by Dipl. Biol. Uwe Krüger
area of moist lowland rainforest with
In the North of Costa Rica, the "rich coast" as Columbus - expecting to
over 6 000 mm precipitation per year.
find huge gold treasures in this unexplored Central American country
temperature is 26°C. Between Februa-
track the animal leaves in the sand on
ry and July, one can, with a little bit of
her way from the sea to the seam of
luck, watch the impressive Leather-
the tropical forest, you will find at its
back, Dermochelys coriacea, burying
end the female turtle, digging a hole
her eggs.
with her hind legs. Into this hole, the
turtle lays the eggs; the eggs actually
This marine turtle can weigh up to 700
look like table-tennis balls and have, in
kg and attain 2 m length. Underwater,
contrast to the eggs of non-water
it can swim as fast as 10m/s. The fema-
turtles, a very flexible shell. As the ani-
les do not swim to the beach in large
mals are very shy and sensitive, one
groups, so one has to take his time
should not disturb them and wait until
and wait patiently to see them
they finished the egg laying before
nesting. I detected "my" tortuga after
taking
having looked for it very intensely for
squeezes about 80 eggs out of her
two nights. It is also possible to join
massive body, covers the nest with the
the very friendly "guides", the park
black sand and then returns to the sea.
rangers who lead tourists to the pre-
Here, the female soon recovers from
ferred nesting sites of the turtles.
her exhausting task and begins to
About two hours after sunset the first
hunt for jellyfish (the main food source
turtles come to the beach to lay their
of marine turtles) with the species'
eggs. When you follow the broad dark
typical double-hook mouth. to page 3
The climate is moist all year round; the
maximum amount of rain falls in
December and July and the average
- called it, one finds one of the most beautiful and mysterious landscapes of the Caribbean Coast: the National Park Tortuguero.
photographs.
The
turtle
BRANDNEW
Armoured catfish rarities
the tanks of Aquarium Glaser
were indeed as beautiful as their
flat nosed doppelganger.
(fs) It's hard to believe, but in the armoured catfishes of the
Fortunately, the fish turned out to
genus Corydoras, one highlight follows on the heels of the other. be robust and healthy and all of
The first import of Corydoras sp. aff. reynoldsi (see: AQUALOG them are still alive so that we
news 13) was a little sensation. Now, we are proud to present the
long snout that goes with it.
here is a rule of thumb saying
that in armoured catfishes
there is a "sister species" to every
species. Among specialists, these
two are called "flat-nosed" and
"long-nosed" corys. Mind you, the
two species are not even closely
related to each other but the
similarity in the colouration is
simply astonishing. How this similarity comes about is unknown.
Long and flat snouts do not, seen
from an ecological point of view,
compete with each other. They
T
live on different food sources and
display different behavioural patterns. For example, the long
snouts are, at least in the aquarium, loners whereas the flat
snouts enjoy to swim around in
small groups.
hope to present them at the Interzoo '98 in Nuremberg for the first
time.
I'd like to stress the fact that the
long snouts were not imported as
accidental catches with the quite
regularly imported C. sp. aff. reynoldsi but that they were collected
When the news spread that the
long snout to Corydoras sp. aff.
reynoldsi had been found, expectations were high. And they were
not disappointed: The seven specimens that were swimming in
Corydoras sp. aff. reynoldsi
purposefully and shipped separately so that we are not able to
make a statement on a possible
syntopy, i.e. the occurrence of the
two species in the same biotope.
Left the male, right the female of the new cory resembling Corydoras melini and Corydoras
davidsandsi that was imported as an accidental catch together with C. sp. aff. reynoldsi .
Still, in the meantime, some acci-
The similarity of the colourations of the long-snout and Corydoras sp. aff. reynoldsi is really
astonishing.
dental catches were imported
with the Reynoldsi-corys; the
number of these "accidents" is
rather small as the Reynoldsi-cory
is still quite expensive and, thus,
selected carefully. This is why only
one single specimen of a spotted
cory, probably C. leucomelas, was
imported. Another "lonely" specimen belonged to the species
C. adolfoi. A third, very pretty and
new species came in a trio so that
we can even hope for offspring.
This fish looks like a mixture of
C. melini and C. davidsandsi.
All corys mentioned in this article
should be kept in very clean
water at about 24°C. Slightly
acidic parameters are preferred
and that corys need a soft, fine
substrate is certainly common
knowledge. During the settling-in
period, the fish should be fed very
fine, easily digestible food five or
six times a day as the cats are very
often too thin after the transport.
But once they have established
themselves in their new homes
they are easy-going, lovely pets.
Also with “reynoldsi“ C. leucomelas,reached
our tanks, a widely distributed and very
variable species.
Aqualog news
NUMBER 17
2
TECHNICS
Green is the colour of spring but it shouldn't be the colour of your garden pond
(ugj) Year after year, the same problem: As soon as the sun begins
to shine again after the long dark winter days, the water of our
garden ponds turns dark green, hiding its beautiful inhabitants
from our eyes. And yet, the ultimate goal of every garden pond
The different zeolites vary a lot in
their structures and thus, in their
ability to absorb substances relevant in water chemistry; their suitability for filtering water varies
accordingly. Unfortunately, there
are zeolites offered at the shops
that are not well suited for filtering
aquarium or pond water, due to
their mineral structure.
water and does not influence pH,
water hardness or conductivity,
which is extremely important in
aquaria or ponds with highly sensitive fishes.
CLINOP zeolite: Twice as
efficient and a good algae control
Like already mentioned, the special
structure of the clinoptilolite zeolite achieves the absorption of
(partly poisonous) metabolic
wastes like ammonia, phosphate
and putrefaction gases as well as
environment-polluting substances
like herbicides and pesticides dissolved in the water.The absorption
of these harmful substances not
only makes the water look cleaner
but also purifies it clearly.This purification means also an elimination
of the surplus of algae-nutrients
which results in a recognisable
reduction of algae growth.
owner, crystal clear water, is not so hard to reach.You just have to The best material for biological
take precautions early enough. One of the most important hel- water filtration: the clinoptilolite
pers is a natural product: the CLINOP zeolite.
I
f the pond water has already
turned green (as a result of
blooming algae) you have to go
the "hard way" first. An water
cleanser like, for example, amtra
wasserklar has to be applied.These
water cleansers have the effect
that the floating algae stick
together so that they go lumpy
and then either sink to the ground
or float on the surface where they
can be netted.
Now, you succeeded in getting rid
of the blooming algae but you still
have to eliminate the reason why
the algae propagated out of control in the first place.
For this, you apply a biologically
decomposable algae killer (e.g.
amtra algen master). Unlike many
other algae killers, amtra algen
master works without copper
components and is kind to your
fishes and plants.
The only way of permanent algae
control is the reduction of any
nutrient-surplus in the pond
water.
Algae growth can only be kept
under control if the surplus of dissolved nutrients in your pond
water is kept in permanent check.
Uncontrolled algae growth occurs
when nutrients like phosphate are
available in large amounts.
Please stick to the following guidelines:
out to be highly efficient and
economical.
The name "zeolite" comes from the
Greek words "zeo = to simmer" and
"lithos = stones" and was given to
this material because these rocks
start to 'seethe' when being heated. This special type of rock was
scientifically described in 1756.
Zeolite is a natural mineral that is
composed to 70% of silicate. We
know about 30 different types of
zeolite which occur simply everywhere in the world. Characteristics
of this material include a high ability to absorb gases and water as
well as a high natural capacity for
ion exchange.
A net of wide, tunnel-like rings
provides an incredibly large surface for absorption of harmful
substances
The material's ability to absorb
liquid or gaseous substances so
effectively can be explained by the
micro-structure of zeolite: It is composed of a net of wide rings that
are connected like a tunnelsystem. In these "hollow spaces"
the liquids/gases are "stored".Thus,
the material also provides a lot of
surface area for micro-organisms.
The surface area of zeolite where,
for example, nitrifying bacteria can
establish is about 1000 times larger
than of sand or gravel.
zeolite
Testing the ability to absorb the
harmful substances relevant in fish
keeping, the clinoptilolite zeolite
has turned out to be the most
valuable. Especially in absorbing
ammonia, the most dangerous
metabolic substance for fishes, the
clinoptilolite zeolite is the most
powerful.
The reason for this lies in the special structure of this zeolite form. For
those who are interested in natural
sciences: The clinoptilo-lite is a
variation of the heulandite. This
group has characteristic crystal
structures, namely pseudo-tragonal
and
pseudo-hexagonal
structures. These special structures
are the reason for the fantastic
absorption quality of the clinoptilolite zeolite. As the clinoptilolite
zeolite is a completely inert material, it is absolutely neutral in all
other chemical reactions of the
Besides this positive quality, the
CLINOP zeolite has not only a very
large surface but also a very special surface structure that is perfectly suited for the establishment
of micro-organisms like nitrifying
bacteria which biologically convert
harmful substances dissolved in
the water into harmless ones.Thus,
the CLINOP zeolite is valuable for
the biological filtration, too.
The CLINOP zeolite not only
absorbs harmful substances effec-
tively, but helps the nitrifyers to
settle down, thus supporting the
self-cleaning cycle of the water.
Using it is easy
amtra sells the CLINOP zeolite
ready-for-use in practical net bags.
This bag is placed in the water so
that it is run through by the water
as much as possible. If the used
filter is large enough, the bag can
be placed directly in the filtering
device.You can also place it in front
of the filter tube. A 4 l bag is sufficient for ca 2000 l pond water. The
efficiency, of course, depends on
how polluted the water is. In densely crowded or highly polluted
(for example, Koi inhabited) ponds
you need more zeolite or have to
change it more often. amtra
CLINOP zeolite is especially powerful in ammonia absorption: 1 kg
absorbs 24 000 mg NH4!
According to the pollution of the
water, the zeolite should be
exchanged every 2 to 3
months. The "loaded"
zeolite (i.e. after it has
filtered the water for
some time) is a perfect plant fertiliser
that can be added
to your garden soil
and optimises the
buffer and water
absorbing quality of your plant substrate.
The Choice of
ProfessionHEATING
Reptitherm®
Under Tank
Heaters
Repticare®
Rock Heaters
Repticare®
Ceramic
Heat Emitters
Repti Heat Cave
HEATING ACCESSORIES
High Range
Reptile Thermometer
Repti Porcelain
Clamp Lamp
Reptile Habitat Kit
Precision
Analog Reptile Thermometer
Precision
Analog
Humidity
Gauge
Deluxe
Min/Max
Thermometer
LIGHTING
Repti™
Infrared
Spot Bulbs
Repti™
Basking
Spot
Bulbs
Reptisun 5.0 UVB
Iguana Light 5.0 UVB
& Reptisun 2.0 Fluorescent Bulbs
Nightlight
Red Reptile
Bulb
Daylight
Blue Reptile
Bulb
VITAMINS AND LIQUIDS
Reptivite®
Reptile Vitamins
Wipe Out 1
Terrarium Cleaner,
Wipe Out 2
Hot Rock Cleaner
& Wipe Out 3
Hand Cleaner
Avian
Plus®
Bird Vitamins
Dr. Turtle
Medicated
Sulfa
Block
Mite Off
& Tick
Off
TERRARIUM ACCESSORIES
Repti Rock Water Dish
Arboreal
Lagoon
Lizard
Ladder
Repti Hammock
Repti Bark
Forest Floor Bedding
Terrarium Moss
Repti Sand
FOODS
Aquatic Turtle Dry Food
Box Turtle/
Tortoise Dry Food
All Natural
Iguana Food
Repti Cricket
Hermit Crab
Dry Food
Arboreal
Food
Clip
Canned Reptile Food
CAGE FURNITURE & MISCELLANEOUS
- When you set up your garden
pond, take care that it is not fully
exposed to the sun all day long
but sometimes shaded.
- Plant your pond densely; plants
are natural competitors of algae
for nutrients.
- Do not apply any extra fertiliser.
- Filter the nutrient-surplus in a
natural way. Zeolite has turned
Zeolite is used for the most
different purposes
Apart from being a filter material in
aquaria and ponds, zeolite is used
for many other tasks, for example
in medicine and sewage plants or
as an oil-absorber. Owing to its
high capacity to absorb liquids and
odours the less valuable zeolites
are also used as cat litter.
Premium Sand Blasted Grapevine
Repti Flora
Repti Insulator Terrarium Backgrounds
Habba Hut
Repti Mania
Reptiles &
Amphibians
of the World
Poster
Zoo Med
When Quality Counts!
Zoo Med Europa
Marga Klompéweg 2 • 5032 MP Tilburg • The Netherlands
amtra Aquaristik GmbH
Liebigstraße 1
D-63110 Rodgau
Fon 06106 - 690150 • Fax 06106 - 690158
Aqualog news
NUMBER 17
3
TERRARISTIC
Tortuguero; marine turtles and moist rainforest at Costa Rica’s Atlantic coast–
low water and the lushly growing pat-
lagoon system, using one of the native
sloths (Bradypus variegatus), monkeys
from page 1
ches of the water hyacinth (Eichhornia
canoes called "cayuca". A guide helps
and even sea cows (Trichechus mana-
crassipes) that are an obstacle for the
to explore this very interesting region
tus) live in this fascinating biotope cal-
boats prevent the area from being visi-
and shows many animals you simply
led Tortugureo National Park. Here,
ted by too many tourists at a time. The
wouldn't see travelling on your own.
nature is treated respectfully and
carefully and expeditions for tourists
actual "town" Tortuguero consists of
some wooden houses, but one can
Uncountable insect species, more
are carried through in such a way that
cheaply stay overnight in the typical
than 30 freshwater fish species, 60 frog
the sensitive eco-system of this uni-
small "cabinas", tiny but comfortable
species, freshwater turtles, caimans,
que region can be enjoyed even by
crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus), 300
inexperienced
bird species, giant otters, three-toed
disturbing it.
wooden huts.
travellers
without
Besides the herpetological peculiarities (i.e. reptiles and amphibians) the
rainforest around Tortuguero is inhabited by the whole spectrum of the
QUICKIES
typical tropical rainforest flora and
fauna. Some evergreen trees attain
heights around 55 m; on these giants,
Did you know?....
Fishes and their foods
liana, orchids, bromelia and tree ferns
grow. The thick bushes hindering the
2
1
boat. Organised trips can be booked
from Costa Rica's capital San José, but
more exciting (and more dangerous!)
is the "private" trip via bus and boat.
Owing to the very dangerous currents
wanderer's way consist mainly of
in the sea, in the seventies an artificial
palms, ferns and shrubs with broad
canal was built (making use of the
leaves. Interestingly, many South Ame-
natural lagoon system) that runs par-
rican tree genera (e.g. Anthodiscus,
allel to the beach from Moín (near
Batocarpus, Iryantherea and Parkia)
After about two months, the baby
Puerto Limón) to the Tortuguero area.
find their northernmost distribution
turtles hatch; but only few will survive
Today, this canal looks like a natural
area in this forest. It is especially ex-
the next ten years to return to the
water way. The sometimes very shal-
citing to travel on the sidearms of the
beach and lay eggs into the sand of
Tortuguero.
3
The seclusion and spaciousness of this
National Park makes the area the most
- that there are fishes that don't
have a stomach (for example, the
Koi or the Guppy)?
fasting days per week is a proper
means of keeping aquarium fishes
vital and healthy?
- that especially these (but also
other) fishes need the digestive
enzymes of their live foods like
Artemia or mosquito larvae to be
able to digest properly?
- that only very few fishes need
their teeth for actually chewing
their food, but mainly for holding
or picking it?
- that these digestive enzymes are
still present in frozen food and
become active again after having
thawed and are then available to
the fishes?
- that a considerable proportion of
the nutrients our aquarium fishes
need is not provided by the foods
we feed them but by the microorganisms that develop in every
biologically balanced aquarium?
- that there are fishes like the cats
of the genus Ictalurus that can
taste not only with their mouths
but with the whole body surface?
- that these fishes can "taste" their
food already from a 5 m distance?
- that fishes possess a lateral
organ with an important function
in the search for food because it
helps the fishes to "recognise" the
prey?
important western Caribbean nesting
- that in nature, periods of food
shortage occur regularly, and that
this is quite normal from an ecological and physiological point of
view?
site for other, highly endangered species. Between July and October, the
Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) whose
population is surveyed since 1955 by
the "Caribbean Conservation Corporation" comes to spawn on Tortuguero's
- that for this reason, one or several
beaches; the extremely endangered
Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and
the Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) also
come to this place and complete the
The photos shown here were taken at Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, whereas Tortuguero lies at the
Atlantic coast. 1 - a black iguana (Ctenosaura), 2 - a milliped, 3 - a teiid (Ameiva).
all photos: U. Krüger
range of rare marine turtles nesting
here.
Fortunately, this wonderful and unique landscape has been preserved for
us and future generations by the early
establishment of this National Park.
Altogether, the protected areas of
Costa Rica add up to 12% of the country's land. At least theoretically, in
these areas it is forbidden to hunt or
lumber the forest. Unfortunately, it is
impossible to prevent the timber
industry to cut down the trees to the
very borders of the National Park. Still,
Costa Rica seems to be one of the few
states of South America that will
indeed be able to preserve parts of the
original rainforest and save it for the
generations of the next millennium.
Nature lovers bring the desperately
needed currency into the country; the
benefits of this "eco-tourism" are an
important economical factor for more
than only a small minority of the country's population.
The forest around Tortuguero is wild
and not developed at all so that the
only way to reach it is via plane or
Anzeige Selzle
- that for climatic and seasonal
reasons nature provides a permanently changing diet?
- that therefore in aquarium fish
keeping a variable diet is very
important?
Aqualog news
NUMBER 17
4
MARINES
M
arkus Eliser BLOCH who was
the first to scientifically
describe the species in 1785 called
the animal "Stachelnadel" which
translates "sting needle". The
English name "Two-barbel Pipe
Fish" refers to the two skin folds
carried by many specimens on the
chin. These skin folds are absent in
just as many specimens but then
again, folds are present on other
parts of the body. They actually
make the pipe fish look like being
grown with algae and have
obviously a camouflaging purpose.
The fish's colouration varies very
much and fluctuates from a light
green to a dirty brown. Each specimen can show a colour change
from green to brown within a very
short time. Generally, the fish display a green colouration when
they feel well. Head and tail of the
pipe fish look like those of a sea
horse which means that the tail
doesn't have a fin and is used for
grasping and holding. The shape
of the body, though, resembles the
pipe fish because, usually, the fish
don't take the vertical posture
that is so typical for sea horses.
Syngnathoides biaculeatus is distri-
Half Horse, Half Pipe
by Frank Schäfer
(fs) Sea horses and pipe fish look so bizarre that for this reason
alone they appear to be quite different from what we usually
consider to be a "fish". Syngnathoides biaculeatus is an even
stranger looking sea inhabitant: The animal seems to be stuck
halfway in the decision whether to become a sea horse or a pipe
fish.
A camouflaged Syngnathoides biaculeatuswaiting for prey. These pictures were taken in a
brackish water aquarium. For long-term keeping, the animal has to be tended in pure seawater.
photo: Frank Teigler / A.C.S.
buted widely in the Indo-pacific
region. Occasionally, the animal
intrudes into the brackish waters
of river mouths but when being
kept in the aquarium it needs pure
seawater. Fully-grown specimens
can attain 25 cm length.
Unfortunately, the care of these
animals is just as difficult as
keeping sea horses and pipe fish
so that it is up to the very specialists among aquarists to keep
them. Although the pipe fish is not
too sensitive regarding water che-
mistry, its feeding poses problems
that are almost impossible to
solve for all aquarists who do not
live directly at the seaside. The
pipe fish feeds exclusively on live
food and is a very slow eater. Before
a pipe fish decides to eat a daphnia most of the daphnia given into
the tank have died in the seawater
and are, thus, ignored and not
regarded as food. Basically, the
same thing happens to all the
usual live foods used in the hobby.
So- for keeping pipe fish in the
home aquarium, one either needs
his own Artemia culture so that
adult brine shrimp are available
any time, or has to live near the
coast. Apart from brine shrimp,
pipe fish also take freshly born
livebearer young, like guppy and
molly babies. But, as one complete
litter of about 50 babies is just
enough to feed one pipe fish for
one or two days, one needs a
rather large breeding installation
Sometimes the pipe fish takes a vertical
posture, resembling a sea horse very strongly.
photo: Frank Teigler / A.C.S.
to be able to provide enough food
fish.
Like in all sea horses and pipe fish,
it is the male's task to breed the
eggs in his special breeding
pocket on the belly. Sea horses
and pipe fish have been successfully bred in the aquarium so that
one can expect the pipe fish to
bred successfully, too, one day - if
aquarists find a solution to the
food problem.
TOP TEN
The Russian Top Ten
This time, we present to you Russia's Top Ten of the most
popular aquarium fishes. The list was provided by "Aquatis"
from Moscow; we would like to thank Mr Arkady Chernishov
for compiling it.
At 1 you find the Guppy. The beautiful
velvety black body. Unfortunately, this
colours and lively behaviour of this fish
quite large fish is not too friendly
make it the absolute favourite of Russian
towards its tank comrades.Second,there
hobbyists. The ornamental form "neon
is Botia macracanthus, the pretty and
blue" is especially popular right now.
lively Clown Loach. The fish need to be
At 2, there is one of the very attractive
kept in a swarm in order to feel really
catfishes: Platydoras costatus with its
well.
pretty black-and-white pattern and
mysterious looks is a very impressive fish
indeed.
Anzeige Schmettkamp Veralg
Obviously, black fishes are very popular
in Russia at the moment; accordingly,
another "black one" at three, a completely black form of the Angelfish, Pterophyllum scalare.
At 4, one finds another livebearer: the
Amtra plant
red form of the Swordtail, Xiphophorus
helleri, with red eyes and elongated fins.
Two good algae eaters are at 5 and 6:
A Siamese Fighter with large quantities of
black in the colouration are rare and much
sought-after. photo: Frank Teigler / A.C.S.
TOP TEN
The Siamese Sucking Loach, Gyrinocheilus aymonieri (preferred in its albino
form) and Ancistrus dolichopterus, the
Bristlenose; both fishes should not be
kept in too small aquaria.
Owing to their interesting display beha-
1. Guppy
2. Chocolate Catfish
3. Black Angel
viour,the males of the Siamese Fighter in
all its colour varieties are very popular in
4. Swordtail
Russia;we find Betta splendens at place 7
of this hitlist. Females can be kept
5. Siamese Sucking Loach
together in a community tank, but only
one male can be kept at a time, because
6. Bristlenose
males are very aggressive among each
other.
The Fantail Goldfish (Carassius auratus) is
at the 8th spot of this hitlist. Apart from
7. Siamese Fighter
8. Fantail Goldfish
the all-time favourite red form, Russians
like to keep the "black moor" variety.
At 9 and 10, there are real "aquarium
classics": first, Epalzeorhynchus bicolor,
the beauty with the fire-red tail and the
9. Redtailed Black Shark
10. Clown Loach
Aqualog news
NUMBER 17
5
RARITIES
Teleogramma depressum,
the flattest cichlid on earth
head's skin. When you provide
good water maintenance, temperatures around 26°C and a carefully
furnished aquarium with a lot of
rockwork for hiding, you can breed
the cave brooders also in your
home tank.
by Frank Warzel
W
ith a total of 4 species, the
genus Teleogramma includes, compared to other African
cichlid genera, a rather small number of species. Teleogramma gracile,
T. brichardi and T. depressum inhabit
the lower Congo (former river
Zaire) and the fourth species,
T. monogramma lives in one of the
Congo's tributaries, the Kasai. All
fishes show certain characteristics
that are quite unusual for cichlids.
They live bottom-oriented, their
body is only little flattened on the
sides, their eyes are located very
high up on the head and they have
lost the ability to float freely in the
water completely. Owing to their
interesting behaviour and their
pretty colouration, Teleogramma
have been imported for the hobby
for more than 30 years. Mostly, the
species Teleogramma brichardi
POLL, 1959, is imported and sold to
aquarists; its natural distribution
area is very limited and covers only
a few kilometres of the river. One
reason for the regular import of
this species is the fact that the fish's
collecting sites are very near to the
largest city of the region and most
important trading station, Kinshasa.
But sometimes, one finds in
shippings of Teleogramma brichardi
a fish that looks very similar but
appears, at second glance, a little
bit more elongated. Also, these fish
have a body that is clearly flattened
behind the head. Without doubt:
This fish must be Teleogramma
depressum ROBERTS & STEWART, the
flattest cichlid on earth.
The natural distribution area of this
species begins a little downstream
of Kinshasa, where the largest river
system Africa's drops for about 270
meters in altitude on as little a
length as 300 km. Especially during
The male of Teleogramma depressum.
the rainy season, this river is a
raging torrent in which several fish
species have established their
habitats close to the rocky river
banks. Among these fishes there
are some species that are without
any pigments and nearly blind. In
this extreme environment the first
ever scientifically described Teleogramma species, T. gracile, has its
habitat. The fish's discoverer, the
Belgian ichthyologist Georg Albert
BOULENGER, didn't recognise the fish
to be a cichlid but thought his
1899 discovery to be a young specimen of a fish family that lives
exclusively in marine waters. Only
40 years later, the American George
MYERS uncovered this mistake.
In the aquarium, Teleogramma
behave just the way one expects
from a bottom-dweller that lives in
New Supplements
Supplement No.7 for all l-Numbers
ISBN 3-931702-35-9
With photos of
LDA 28, LDA 29, L231, L232, L233, L234, L235
Supplement No.3 for all Corydoras
ISBN 3-931702-37-5
With photos of Dianema urostriata, C 58, C 59, Corydoras cf. julii, C. sp. ”ParanaLongnose”, C. sp. ”Tapajós-Shortnose”, C. sp. ”Tapajós-Longnose”.
photo: Frank Warzel
fast-flowing waters. Without the
strong current they are used to,
their swimming movements look
uncoordinated and clumsy. This
impression changes quickly when
the very territorial fish drive each
The female's readiness to spawn is
signalled by a red band around the
middle of the body. After the
courtship has been opened by
jerking the head the spawning
occurs. The actual brood caring is
left to the female while the male
defends the territory. Like in many
other cichlids living in rapids the
number of eggs laid is relatively
small while the eggs themselves
are quite large; consequently, the
development of the eggs takes
The female of Teleogramma depressum
photo: Frank Warzel
other out of their territories. For this
and other reasons, the tank of
Teleogramma species should not
be too small and provide a large
bottom area. Thus, tanks smaller
than 1 m length are not suited for
long-term keeping of these fishes.
Although the fishes like to snap for
flake food, too, they should be fed
regularly with frozen foods like
mosquito larvae, mysis and brine
shrimp nauplii. Another important
point on the list of Teleogramma
maintenance is the weekly partial
water change; if not carried
through regularly, the fishes display a certain susceptibility to
hexamita, a deficiency disease
triggered of by stress that can be
recognised by light spots in the
longer than in other fishes. After 12
days (at the earliest) one can observe the young swimming freely in
the tank. The rather independent
Teleogramma young are taken care
of by their mother for a little longer,
but after as little as two weeks they
already begin to chase each other
and display territorial behaviour.
As a first meal, Artemia nauplii can
be recommended.
As the breeding of Teleogramma
brichardi has been successful very
often, one can hope to breed the
more specialised but - regarding
pH and water hardness - quite
uncomplicated T. depressum, too,
thus making it more readily
available to interested aquarists.
A pair of the better knwon T. brichardi. Unfortunately, the fish rarely harmonise the way they
photo: Frank Teigler / A.C.S.
show here.
Aqua log
A
Supplement No.2 for Southamerican Cichlids III
ISBN 3-931702-27-8
With photos of Amphilophus robertsoni, Vieja fenestratus,
Paraneetroplus nebuliferus, Aequidens sp., Ae. mauesanus
Supplement No.1 for all Labyrinths
ISBN 3-931702-36-7
With photos of Colisa labiosa ”Red”, Betta sp. ”Pampang”, Channa sp., Channa striata, Trichopsis vittata ”Pampang”, Betta splendens ”Doubletail”
Ask your local dealer for previously published supplements!
Verlag A.C.S. Glaser GmbH
Liebigstraße 1, 63110 Rodgau
Fax: +49 (0) 6106-644692
e-mail: [email protected]
AQUALOG reference books contain 500 - 900 colour photographs each and work with an unique,
patented code-number-system.They are read and used worldwide by both hobbyists and professionals and represent a highly successful concept of specialist literature.
For the expansion of our worldwide sales in several countries we are looking for
Sales Representatives and Dealers
Do you want to set up a successful business of your own? Contact us,we will be glad to tell you more.
Verlag A.C.S. GmbH,
Liebigstr. 1, 63110 Rodgau
Aqualog news
NUMBER 17
6
FISHDOCTOR
The right feeding prerequisite for healthy fishes
Dr. Markus Biffar, veterinarian and fish specialist explains the
close relationship of feeding, adiposity of the liver and resistance to diseases. This article gives important clues about how
to keep your fishes healthy.
n fish disease diagnosis and
treatment those pathogens
are of central interest that can
trigger off serious diseases when
the fish's organism is already
weakened by any external
factors. The importance of the
right water chemistry and the use
of water conditioners was the
topic of this column in past issues
of the news.
I
Food and disease resistance are
closely connected
Another direct and obvious
connection can be seen between
disease resistance of fishes and
their feeding. Only a highly nutritious and well-balanced diet
guarantees that the key organ of
the fish's metabolism, the liver,
functions perfectly. The liver and
its proper functioning are vital for
the immune system's ability to
work. But does it actually mean: a
highly-nutritious and well-balanced
diet for aquarium fishes?
First of all, the quantity of
proteins, carbohydrates and fats,
i.e. the three universal nutrients
for all animals, has to be in the
right proportion. To these basic
nutrients, vitamins, minerals and
trace elements have to be added
to have food that meets the
requirements of our aquarium fishes. Apart from this 'external'
make-up of the food, the 'internal'
make-up of the three basic components, proteins, carbohydrates
and fats, is just as important.
You see, not all proteins are the
same: Proteins are composed of
up to 20 different amino acids
and the quantities of the different
amino acids in the actual composition of the protein are decisive
for the quality of the protein and
its usefulness as a nutrient in fish
food. The same holds true for the
other two basic nutrients, carbohydrates and fats. Fats in fish food
should be rich in polyunsaturated
fats. There are fats which are vital
and extremely healthy because
rich in omega 3 and omega 6
fatty acids, but also fats like beef
or pork fat which are rather
unhealthy and thus not suited for
fish food. Also, many carbohydrates are hardly digestible for fishes
and, thus, not only of no nutritious value but also an unnecessary burden on the fish's digestive system.
You can probably imagine that
the development of healthy fish
foods is not an easy task. It is
made even more difficult by the
fact that studies of nutrient requirements exist only for fish
species important in fish farming,
like trouts or carps, but not for
aquarium fishes.
The special food requirements
of aquarium fishes
It is almost impossible to transfer
the results of studies about the
food requirements of other pets,
like dogs or hamsters to aquarium fishes (see table no 1). This is
due to the fact that fishes are poikilotherm organisms that live in
water. As fishes adapt their body
temperature to the temperature
of their environment, they don't
have to provide energy for
keeping a constant body temperature like, for example, we as
humans and all other mammals
have to. Also, the buoyancy of the
water spares the fish much of the
effort we need for keeping a
certain posture.
Considering all this, it seems only
logical that fish food has to be
much lower in energy than foods
for other pets.
Thus, fish food contains only
about half of the carbohydrates
of, for example, a common dog
food: a good fish food contains
about 18% carbohydrate. On the
other hand, the required protein
content is about twice as high.
Food manufacturers do not
always succeed in copying the
composition of natural foods in a
way that the fish's requirements
are sufficiently met; also, the
technological efforts for manufacturing high-quality foods are
immense. Still, these efforts are
indispensable for keeping our
fishes healthy, because a high
carbohydrate content, unhealthy
fats and poor-quality proteins
lead automatically to a lipoid liver
degeneration, the so-called "fatty
liver", with all its negative consequences for the animal's metabolism and immune system.
Natural foods are simply the
best
Groß Reinemachen…
…biologisch!
Fische fühlen sich in ihrem Aquarium immer dann so richtig wohl,
wenn sie Bedingungen vorfinden, wie in der freien Natur. Deshalb
braucht gesundes, artgerechtes Aquariumwasser die natureigenen
Mikroorganismen, die die biologische Selbstreinigung übernehmen. Mit amtra clean werden diese Mikroorganismen regelmäßig
ergänzt und das biologische Gleichgewicht im sensiblen Lebensraum Aquarium dauerhaft stabilisiert.
So what can the responsible
aquarist do to prevent his fishes
from becoming ill through lowquality foods? Like in so many
other aspects of the hobby, it is
useful to see how nature deals
with the problem: Examining
fishes from natural biotopes, I
never came across a single fatty
liver.
The reason for this can be certainly found in the live foods the
fishes feed on in nature. In numerous studies it was established
that all the criteria listed above
are perfectly met by natural live
foods, i.e. high protein content,
few, easily digestible carbohydrates and high content of
polyunsaturated
fats.
Interestingly, it does not matter
whether these live foods come
from tropical or subtropical
regions. Conserving the foods in
the most natural way, the deepfreezing, aquarists have the possibility to feed their aquarium
fishes according to their needs
without having an exact knowledge of scientific figures.
My advice: Feed a mixed diet
Except you are one of the few
aquarists who has his own
breeding installation for live food
or have the opportunity to catch
live food in a nearby fish-free
pond you should feed your fishes
a variable, mixed diet and change
the brand of the used flake and
frozen food from time to time.
You should not be on the lookout
for low-price offers, because
espe-cially in flake food one cannot tell from the look of the flakes
if they are of high or low quality;
but, like in so many other aspects
of live, one can say that the highquality components are indeed
contained in higher priced products. Therefore, the price is not a
guarantee for high-quality food
but one of the main clues. The
same holds true on frozen foods:
Owing to the nature of the
matter, it is important that the
quality is permanently controlled,
if possible under laboratory conditions.
Also, a sensible choice of the different organisms that are available has to be made so that a topquality deep-frozen food contains
all the required nutrients. In
frozen foods, the argument that
live foods can transmit diseases is
- in my opinion - of no consequence any more. Being a veterinarian specialised in aquarium
fishes for more than 10 years, I
never diagnosed one single case
of an infection transmitted by frozen food, but countless cases of
fatty livers that were successfully
treated by applying the diet
described above.
Average content of the most important nutrients
in complete foods for pets
70
60
Jetzt mit Yucca-Palmen-Extrakt für noch
besseren Schadstoff-Abbau!
Neueste Forschungsergebnisse belegen, daß spezielle
Extrakte der Yucca studigera giftiges Ammoniak binden
und unschädlich machen. Deshalb ist im neuen amtra
clean jetzt aufbereiteter Yucca-Palmen-Extrakt enthalten. Gefährliches Nitrit wird jetzt noch schneller beseitigt, der Nitratgehalt meßbar gesenkt, Mulm und Schlick
noch effektiver abgebaut. Zum Wohle Ihrer Fische.
amtra clean verlängert die Standzeiten des Filters und
erspart Ihnen bis zu 50 % Wasserwechsel.
amtra Aquaristik GmbH · Liebigstraße 1 · D-63110 Rodgau/Germany
Fon: 0 61 06 /69 01 50 · Fax 0 61 06 /69 01 58
www.amtra.de · [email protected]
Content in %
50
40
30
20
10
0
fish
hamster
dog
■
■
carbohydrate content in
% of dry mass
protein content in
% of dry mass
Aqualog news
7
NUMBER 17
REPORT
Mothers Give More Than
Fathers
case of cytoplasmic inheritance in
ornamental aquarium fish.
by John Dawes
I
have always been interested in
hybrids. I remember this fascination going back to my childhood
days when I used to breed canaries,
goldfinches and budgerigars, as
well as rear two colour morphs of
silkmoth (Bomyxori), the one with
white caterpillars and a 'Jamaican'
strain in which the caterpillars had
a dark-brown band on each body
segment.
can be taken through the generations (as in Swordtails and Platies),
and so on.
I have produced countless hybrids
in my 45 years or so as an aquarist,
and what I've learned from them
has led to a deep appreciation of
the marvels of nature and its
numerous secrets.
Basically, what I did was cross
several virgin L. vittata females with
L. melanogaster males and, just for
interest's sake, several virgin
L. melanogaster females with
L. vittata males. Since, in each case,
the species were identical, I expected all the hybrids to be the
same as each other and look some-
3
Limia vittata (Average 4.9).
This puzzled me at first, until I
remembered the concept of cytoplasmic inheritance which I had
first come across during my days as
biology undergraduate student.
Hereditary characteristics, as we all
know, are controlled by genes,
which are located inside the
nucleus of living cells. However,
other organelles which lie outside
the nucleus (but still inside the
cells) can also contain genetic
material, as can the cytoplasm
itself.
Surprising Results
1
I was always producing canary x
goldfinch crosses ('mules'), interbreeding different colour forms of
budgerigars and attempting to
cross the normal and 'Jamaican'
strains of silkmoths. It was therefore perfectly logical for me to
become interested in fish hybrids
almost as soon as I took up fishkeeping at the age of seven years.
One of the great fascinations of
hybrids is what they tell us about
the biological closeness, or otherwise, of species, how their genes
interact... or fail to interact, how far
the production of fertile hybrids
I was not, however, prepared for the
results that I obtained when I crossed two of my favourite livebearing
species, the Cuban Limia (Limia
vittata) and the Blue Limia (Limia
melanogaster).
Even allowing for the possibility
that my results may not be entirely
2
statistically valid, owing to the relatively small numbers of fish involved (a total of just 60 specimens), I think that they may well be
significant, making the study
worthy of repetition, since it may,
perhaps, represent the first-ever
thing between their parents in
appearance.
What I got was a complete surprise.
The hybrids were different... depending on the sex of the parents
chosen!
Maternal Effects
If the mother was a Limia vittata,
then the offspring had more spots
(Average 39) on their caudal fins (a
'vittata' characteristic) than if the
mother was a Limia melanogaster
(Average 12.3).The same applied to
the other fins.
Also, if the mother was a Limia
melanogaster, the hybrids had
more vertical bars (Average 7.8) on
their body (a 'melanogaster' characteristic) than if the mother was a
It therefore seems that, at least in
these two Limia species, while both
parents may contribute equal
amounts of nucleic genes, the
mothers may be contributing
something extra, thus influencing
what their offspring look like.
I raised F 1 (first-generation)
hybrids and found them to be fertile. However, shortly before the
F 2's had reached sexual maturity
and their spots and bands could be
4
counted, I lost them all, owing to a
major electrical breakdown, during
which I also lost stocks of Goodeids
I was working on, along with two
populations of Astyanax mexicanus:
a cave morph population and a
normally pigmented one, plus
some Poecilia hybrids and Colisa
5
hybrids as well. Things have moved
on since this and I haven't repeated
these Limia crosses, but, perhaps,
someone reading this article will
do so. If so, please let me know, I'd
love to hear from you.
The accompanying pictures illustrate all main points mentioned in
the article. Figure 1 shows a male
Limia vittata with beautiful spots,
and a female Limia melanogaster.
You can see some vertical bars in
the posterior half of her body. In
Figure 2, we have the reverse situation: a Limia melanogaster male
and a Limia vittata female. In Figure
3, the vertical bands of this Limia
melanogaster male are clearly
visible. Also note that there are no
spots at all in the caudal fin. Figure
4 shows an adult Limia vittata male
(the larger fish) and a hybrid male
with good body bands and very
few fin spots, indicating that his
mother was a Limia melanogaster.
In Figure 5, the specimens shown
are F 1 hybrids having a Limia
vittata mother. Note the large
number of spots on the fins and
the weak body bands.
Ihr Nachschlagewerk
your reference work!
Demnächst
coming soon:
Killifishes of the World
New World Killis
Dr. Lothar Seegers
ISBN 3-931702-04-9
ISBN 3-931702-07-3
ISBN 3-931702-10-3
ISBN 3-931702-01-4
sh
Full Engiolin
Vers
ISBN 3-931702-29-4
NEU
ISBN 3-931702-13-8
ISBN 3-931702-21-9
ISBN 3-931702-25-1
Neue Ergänzungsbögen erschienen:
New Supplements available now:
Ergänzungsbogen Nr. 2
für AQUALOG Southamerican Cichlids III
(ISBN 3-931702-27-8)
Ergänzungsbogen Nr. 7
für AQUALOG Loricariidae all L-numbers
(ISBN 3-931702-35-9)
Ergänzungsbogen Nr. 3
für AQUALOG all Corydoras
(ISBN 3-931702-37-5)
Ergänzungsbogen Nr. 1
für AQUALOG all Labyrinths
(ISBN 3-931702-36-7)
Vertrieb in Deutschland: amtra - Aquaristik GmbH,
Liebigstraße 1, 63110 Rodgau, Tel: 06106 - 690 150, Fax: 06106 - 690 158
ISBN: 3-931702-30-8
This book contains all known
species and many undescribed
forms of South American dwarf
cichlids (Genera: Apistogramma,
Mazarunia, Dicrossus, Crenicara,
Taeniacara, Apistogrammoides,
Biotoecus and Microgeophagus);
the behaviour, the keeping in
captivity and the breeding is
depicted. An absolute must for
every friend of the South American dwarf cichlids. Hardcover,
190 pp., more than 140 brilliant
fullcolour pictures, maps.
Authors: Hans-J. Mayland,
Dieter Bork
Southamerican Cichlids IV
Discus & Scalare
Manfred Göbel
Hans-J. Mayland
alle Lebendgebärenden
all Livebearers and Halfbeaks
Michael Kempkes
Dipl. Biol. Frank Schäfer
Goldfische und Schleierschwänze
all Goldfish varieties
Karl-Heinz Bernhardt
International sales: Verlag A.C.S. GmbH,
Liebigstraße 1, D- 63110 Rodgau, Fax: +49(0)6106 - 644692
Aqualog news
Aqualog news
EVERGREENS
Aktion:
COLOURFUL AQUARIA
by Ursula Glaser-Dreyer
Mehr Ausbildungspl tze in der Aquaristik!
One of the most important reasons why the aquarium hobby
Die Aquaristik ist nicht nur ein schönes, naturnahes und zeitgemäßes
Hobby, sondern bietet auch zahlreiche, interessante und zukunftsorientierte Arbeitsplätze in verschiedensten Bereichen:
gains more and more friends the world over is the incredible
variability of this fascinating hobby. On this page we would like
Im Zoofachgeschäft zum Beispiel als Einzelhandelskaufmann/frau, in
Zierfischgroßhandlungen als Groß- und Außenhandelskaufmann/frau.
In der Industrie als Industriekaufmann/frau oder als Groß-, Außenoder Bürokaufmann/frau.
to show you some of the exciting fishes that are available at the genus. All Julidochromis species
moment.
L
et's begin with a fish that
belongs to the Central European fauna: the ide (Leuciscus
idus). The white-golden form of
the ide is an especially beautiful
variety of this surface-oriented
living fish from the family of carps.
Although this fish can attain quite
remarkable lengths between 30
and 40 cm, it is very well suited for
both, coldwater aquarium and
garden pond keeping, because the
ide adapts its growth to the surroundings it lives in. In an aquarium that is 150 cm long a swarm
of ides feels really well. As a garden
pond inhabitant, the ide is especially popular as it can overwinter
outside as long as the water is
deep enough; also, the fish's surface-oriented way of living makes it
the perfect (because visible) ornament of every pond.
A small tetra from South America,
the Black Neon Tetra (Hyphesso-
8
NUMBER 17
displays: Threatening males that
fight out the hierarchy among
each other put their mouths
together so that it looks like they
were kissing. As the Kissing
Gourami (Helostoma temmickii) is a
rather quarrelsome fish, this interesting behaviour can be observed quite often. Towards other
species it is absolutely peaceful.
Feeding requires some extra effort
because the Kissing Gourami
needs very fine food.
From Africa, or, to be more precise,
from Lake Tanganyika, comes the
last "Evergreen" we would like to
present this time: Julidochromis
marlieri, Marlier's Julie. Like all
other fishes mentioned above, the
available specimens are commercial breeds and no wild-caughts.
This very attractive cichlid can
grow 12 cm long which makes it
one of the largest species of the
are monogamous fishes. They are
cave-spawners and inhabit rocky
habitats. Both parents take care of
eggs and fry. As the sexes can
hardly be distinguished, I recommend to buy 5-7 young specimens
(a recommendation I give for nearly all cichlids). From this batch,
harmonising couples will form.
Marlier's Julie belongs to the more
quarrelsome cichlids, so please
keep an eye on them when you
introduce them to a community
tank. Many hiding places are especially important. A swarm of fish
that swim freely everywhere in the
tank (like, for example, quick barbs,
tetras or Cyprichromis contribute
to a harmonious tank life. These
fast swimmers are the perfect
"aim" for the cichlids' aggressiveness and help them to cool down
without harming any member of
the community. And then there is
the old rule of thumb: the larger
the tank the less numerous the
fights.
Daher startete die Aqualognews mit der letzten Ausgabe die Aktion,
jungen Menschen mit Interesse an der Aquaristik, einen Ausbildungsplatz zu vermitteln.
Allen ausbildenen Betrieben der Aquaristik bieten wir das Schalten
von Stellenangeboten an. Unsere Redaktion steht für weitere Auskünfte gern zur Verfügung.
Wir freuen uns, heute das erste Angebot zu veröffentlichen und hoffen, mit weiteren Anzeigen in den nächsten Ausgaben, noch vielen
interessierten, jungen Menschen bei der Vermittlung eines Ausbilungsplatzes behilflich sein zu können.
Unsere Produkte für die Aquaristik und den Gartenteich vertreiben wir in der ganzen Welt.
Zum 01.09.1998 haben wir die Stelle eines/er Auszubildenden für den Beruf des
Groß- und Außenhandelskaufmann/frau
zu besetzen.
Wir wünschen uns eine/n Mitarbeiter/in,der/die neben Interesse an der Aquaristik über
gute Englischkenntnisse verfügt und Freude an der EDV-gestützten Arbeit im kaufmännischen
Bereich hat.
Bitte senden Sie Ihre Bewerbungsunterlagen zu Händen von Frau Sackel.
amtra Aquaristik GmbH,Liebigstr.1,D-63110 Rodgau
Fon:06106-62277,Fax:06106-690158
FLASHLIGHTS
Here, we'd like to show some fishes that we got notice of shortly before the news went to press. We thought them to be so
spectacular that we took the opportunity to print at least some
photographs; more information will follow in the next issue of
the news.
1
2
161/128-3
Corydoras sp. aff. reynoldsi„Longnose“
W, 7 cm
Brazil: import via Manaus
öKNPGVcXf
Photo: Frank Teigler / A.C.S.
3
1- Apistogramma sp.„Pebas“
Peru: Rio Ampiyacu
2- Barbus cf. melanampyx
India
3- Crenuchus sp.
Brasilien: via Recife
photos: 1 D. Bork,
2+3 F.Teigler, all A.C.S.
Corydoras sp. aff. melini
1 S19320-4
W, 5 cm
Brazil: import via Manaus
2 162/128-5
ö
K
N
P
G
V
W
cXfI
3
ABONNEMENT NEWS
Yes, I wish to subscribe to Aqualognews. Herewith I order the news for 12 issues
at the price of DM 46,80 (incl. postage expenses).
Please start this subscription with issue No.
1
2
Name
Address
Photo: Frank Teigler / A.C.S.
4
Code number
3
Symbol-text Aqualog-books
1.number: continuous picture-number
2.number: page number in the book
3.number: picture number on the page
(continuously numbered from 1–8 from
the top left corner to the bottom right)
4
Photographer
Country/Post Code
impressum
Payment as follows:
Bar/Check
Visa
Cardnumber
Herausgeber:
Ulrich Glaser, sen.
Chefredakteur/Editor: Dipl.-Biol. Frank Schäfer
Redaktionsbeirat:
Dipl.Ing. agr. Gregor Beckmann
Dr. med. vet. Markus Biffar
Ulrich Glaser, sen.
Dipl.-Biol. Uwe Krüger
Übersetzungen:
Monika Schäfer, M.A.
Gestaltung:
Gaby Geiß, Büro für Grafik, Ffm
Druck:
Societäts-Druck, Mörfelden-Walldorf
Anzeigendisposition: Verlag A.C.S. GmbH
Eurocard/Mastercard
Expiration Date
Date/Cardholder´s Signature
Verlag A.C.S. GmbH
Redaktion: Liebigstraße 1, 63110 Rodgau
Fax: +49 (0) 6106-644692, http:// www. aqualog. de
✁
brycon herbertaxelrodi) follows
next. The fish reaches a maximum
of 4.5 cm length and is offered
from German stocks in large quantities right now. It is a very peaceful
swarm fish that inhabits the
bottom regions of aquaria. Males
and females can be distinguished
quite well in adult specimens:
Females are larger and much
stouter than males.
A very different kind of fish is the
Kissing Gourami, a labyrinth fish
from Southeast Asia. In its home
countries, the Kissing Gourami is a
popular food fish and thus, it is distributed widely in the tropical regions of Asia. The fish's common
name derives from the special
behavioural pattern the species
These Stickups supplement AQUALOG all Corydoras.
S19804-4
ISSN 1430-9610
Verlag:
A.C.S. GmbH
Rothwiesenring 5
D - 64546 Mörfelden-Walldorf
Redaktionsanschrift:
Verlag A.C.S. GmbH,
Liebigstr.1, 63110 Rodgau
Fax: +49 (0) 6106 - 644692
All rights reserved. The publishers do not
accept liability for unsolicited manuscripts
or photographs. Articles written by named
authors do not necessarily represent the
editor’s opinion.