The Silver Rocket of the Aquarium
If you have ever walked through the fish aisle and seen a group of sleek, silver fish with black-edged fins zipping through the water like tiny torpedoes, you were likely looking at a Bala Shark (Balantiocheilos...
The "Invisible" Cleaner
The first 10-gallon tank I ever set up. Like most people, I hated seeing green film on the glass. I went to the store, and the clerk sold me a 2-inch fish with a suction-cup mouth. "He'll eat all...
The Most Misunderstood Fish in the World
We have all seen the movies. A cow falls into a river, the water turns red and bubbly, and ten seconds later, only a skeleton remains. Because of these scenes, most people think Piranhas are...
The "Clear Water" Trap
I want to tell you about a mistake I made. I saved up my money, bought a beautiful 10-gallon tank, and went to the store. I bought the gravel, the plants, and five bright orange Guppies. Set it...
The Silver Rocket of the Aquarium
If you have ever walked through the fish aisle and seen a group of sleek, silver fish with black-edged fins zipping through the water like tiny torpedoes, you were likely looking at a Bala Shark (Balantiocheilos...
The "Invisible" Cleaner
The first 10-gallon tank I ever set up. Like most people, I hated seeing green film on the glass. I went to the store, and the clerk sold me a 2-inch fish with a suction-cup mouth. "He'll eat all...
The Most Misunderstood Fish in the World
We have all seen the movies. A cow falls into a river, the water turns red and bubbly, and ten seconds later, only a skeleton remains. Because of these scenes, most people think Piranhas are...
The Gentle Giant of Africa
First time I saw a colony of Frontosas in a 200-gallon tank. I was used to the high-speed chasing of most African Cichlids, but these fish were different. They didn't zip around; they glided. With their deep...
The Piranha That Eats Fruit
If you were walking along the banks of the Amazon River and saw a large, silver, flat fish with a red belly, your first instinct would be to run away. You would think you had found a...
The Fish That Pet You Back
Imagine walking up to your aquarium and having a fish not just swim toward you, but actually follow your hand, "dance" for your attention, and even...
Meeting the Water Dragon
If you have ever seen a long, silver flash at the top of a massive aquarium, you have likely met a Silver Arowana (Osteoglossum bicirrhosum). In many cultures,...
The Lesson I Learned the Hard Way
Want to tell you about a mistake I made early. I had a beautiful 20-gallon planted tank with twelve Neon Tetras and a Betta. One morning,...
Meeting the King of the Aquarium
Still remember the first time I saw a Discus fish , I was walking through a fish gallery, and I saw a tank filled with fish...
The Case of the "Mistaken Identity"
I want to start with a story. A few years ago, a man said, "I bought a beautiful Goldfish for my 20-gallon tank, but in six...
Why This Hobby Can Be Tricky?
The day I got my first real aquarium. I was so excited that I couldn't sleep! I had visions of a perfect underwater world in my...
