A “Valentine” Synodontis, often sold as Synodontis sp. “Valentiana”, is generally regarded as a hybrid although its origins are unfortunately unclear. Can we do better? Image credit: Guillermo Guerao Serra/Shutterstock
A special excerpt from the September/October 2019 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine, by Matt Pedersen
An excerpt from the September/October 2019 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine, MAN-MADE FISHES. Click to order the back issue!
Replace animosity with kindness, encourage compromise through transparency, and the fish keeping hobby has a truly bright future—even for those who love man-made fishes.
Most man-made fishes are simply genetically different than their wild ancestors. Single-gene mutations, such as veil fins in angelfish, are truly a non-issue once they’re understood. However, hybridization (the mixing of genes from two unrelated species or location populations) cannot be “undone”, and therefore remains a thorn in the side of aquarists who appreciate our planet’s natural biodiversity.
It wasn’t until I became enthralled with East African cichlids that the concept of hybrid fish first presented itself. Hybrids, at the time, were to be avoided at all costs, and with good reasons. Hybrids could be passed off as pure species, either unwittingly or intentionally. In some cases where juveniles share a commonly bland coloration, the fraud wouldn’t be realized until months or years later when the fish matured and failed to meet the originally labeled expectations.
Dangers of Hybridization
In the case of endangered fishes, such as many Lake Victoria haplochromines, hybridization could effectively be the genetic poison that wipes out remnant captive-bred populations, with little to no hope of finding fresh, unadulterated stock to restart genetically pure, fail-safe populations in captivity.
I remember being directly confronted with the dangers of hybridization when visiting a private aquarist’s home to purchase some Aulonocara spp. peacocks. When shown his broodstock, I was surprised to see at least a half-dozen unique varieties of Aulonocara, both males and females, all sharing a modest aquarium. The hobbyist insisted that the fish only mated within their own varieties. Even if that were remotely true, however, the maternal fish were outwardly indistinguishable; how could he ever hope to assure me that the fish he sold as one variety were not in fact another? Needless to say, I backed out the door and left the fish where they swam; there was virtually no hope of ever getting a reliable and/or pure fish out of that scenario. Unfortunately, how many other aquarists gladly purchased fish from this fishkeeper, passing them around to other aquarists and club members?
It is circumstances like these that drive hard line, if not absolutist, viewpoints aimed at instilling an ethic in the aquarium hobby that decries any sort of hybridization or designer breeding because too much is at risk. I understand it and, for a long time, ardently adhered to it. The problem? You will never get 100 percent adoption and compliance!
Browbeating folks who “create” new fish through hybridization and selective breeding will only be divisive and counterproductive; some people are always going to focus on ornamental pursuits and the creation of something new, and the more vehemently we object, the more determined they’ll be to forge ahead in defiance. The solution to our problem is transparency and mutual respect.
Transparency Model
We actually have a good transparency model to follow—the orchid community. This plant industry and community has a century’s old ethic of transparency when it comes to hybridization; all hybrids can be registered once bloomed, and then the parentage is known to everyone. Ornamental breeders can make informed choices, whether checking to see if their ideas have already been realized by another breeder, avoiding recreating hybrids that weren’t well-received, or having a road map to recreate a long-lost variety. Stemming from this model is the reality that an orchid which loses its tag, a “NOID” plant (no identification), becomes immediately worthless for breeding as you can’t register the offspring! Even casual breeders appreciate that they need to know exactly what they’re working with.
Transparent labeling and hybrid registry in the orchid trade gives breeders and collectors correct and uniform information. Paphiopedilum Coos (1) is a hybrid of P. chamberlainianum (2) x P. praestans (syn. glanduliferum). (3). Photos: M. Pedersen
Orchid hybrids now vastly outnumber natural species, and yet the species themselves aren’t necessarily apt to be lost in cultivation—they are literally the raw materials by which breeders can create ever-more new varieties. Orchid species are thus revered and collected, although the production and sales of hybrids (more popular with the masses) is probably the main source of revenues which allow orchid breeders to maintain even rare, unpopular, or difficult-to-culture species!
So much of this discussion is esoteric; the majority of the approximately 14 million freshwater-fish-keeping households in the U.S. are not breeding fish, they are simply people who casually keep aquariums as a hobby. These people buy the fish that appeal to their visual tastes and get along with what they already have. Every person reading AMAZONAS would have, at one point, likely self-identified as a casual hobbyist. Most of us started out that way and many still are!
To the casual hobbyist, whether a fish is a hybrid or not, man-made or not, natural or not, genetically pure or not, doesn’t matter. To the aquarium hobby and the industry, I’d argue that our man-made fishes are a powerful tool when it comes to recruiting new hobbyists and their financial capacity, where their purchases generate capital for more conservation-minded breeding projects. From the ranks of casual hobbyists, some will fall in love with the hobby, and some will one day devote their lives to the noblest of aquarium-keeping goals.
During a visit to Orchids by Hausermann in Villa Park, IL, Ethan Pedersen was immediately drawn to this Miltonidium Pacific Waters ‘Paul’s Pride’, blissfully unaware of its intergeneric hybrid origin; he just likes the mixture of colors. Photo: M. Pedersen
But for now, it’s important to remember that keeping aquariums is meant to be enjoyment. It’s leisure time. It’s optional time. Making someone feel bad about their preference for GloFish® or an orange-blotched (o.b.) peacock, or blue-colored gravel and neon plastic plants, doesn’t paint our pastime in a good light, and only serves to drive people away. Instead, encourage them to learn! Hand them a copy of AMAZONAS! Give them some extra fry from your endangered fishes to fall in love with (as the Goodeid Working Group recently did at the 2019 American Livebearer Association Convention). Help cultivate the curiosity of your fellow aquarist—it can lead to a deeper appreciation for all fishes.
Matthew W. Pedersen is a publisher and senior editor of AMAZONAS.
“In the end we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught.”—Baba Dioum
A flowerhorn on display at Global Pet Expo in Orlando. While hybrids like these are viewed as “second-class citizens” by many in the hobby, they are beloved pets and prized show fish for thousands of others. Love them or hate them, their popularity in the hobby can’t be ignored. Photo: M. Tuccinardi
A special excerpt from the September/October 2019 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine, by Michael Tuccinardi
An excerpt from the September/October 2019 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine, MAN-MADE FISHES. Click to order the back issue!
My introduction to the hobby was something of a trial by fire; learning the ropes while manning the fish room of a small but well-stocked pet store as a teenager in the early 2000s. It was an interesting time for the hobby, with the first iteration of GloFish® just emerging into the mainstream and fishes like flowerhorns still largely relegated to Southeast Asian breeders. Though I was always drawn toward the more uncommon fish myself, I spent years unpacking and selling fish like electric blue dempseys (Rocio octofasciata), long-finned white skirt tetras (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi), veil angels (Pterophyllum scalare), and a growing array of colorful livebearers to the casual hobbyists that made up the lion’s share of our customer base.
In those years, the idea that a so-called “man-made” fish might be inherently problematic or unethical never really crossed my mind. While I knew enough to avoid the still-popular dyed and injected fish, since the practice had an obviously negative health impact on those fish, I saw little inherent difference between a wild-type (but still many generations inbred) firemouth cichlid (Thorichthys meeki) than say, a German gold ram (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi) or red tuxedo guppy (Poecilia reticulata). And though my thoughts on the matter have evolved since, I still find it surprising the extent to which hybridized, selectively bred, or fish otherwise altered from their wild phenotype can cause debate, revulsion, and even nastiness in hobby circles both in-person and online.
Since the very earliest days of humans keeping fish as pets, we have manipulated their genetics, shapes, colors, and even behaviors in order to please our changing sense of aesthetics or simply out of curiosity. And yet the ongoing debate regarding the value or ethics of man-made fish tends to center on the new: transgenic fish, multi-generation hybrids, electric blues, and extravagant long- fin variants. The inherent problem with many of these discussions is that they are almost entirely subjective, with each fishkeeper approaching the topic with their own preconceived notions of what constitutes acceptable versus objectionable genetic “tinkering”.
For my part, I have tried to frame my views on the matter in at least a semi-scientific fashion when possible, ignoring the visceral reaction and tendency to humanize our pet fish in favor of critical thinking. In this, the most compelling arguments I have heard against some of our more extreme fish modifications are in regards to the welfare of the fish themselves. Severe deformities such as “short body” strains have been used and prized by goldfish breeders for centuries, but they now occur more regularly in other species, especially in Asia. One has to imagine that, in the more poorly developed specimens, this would have a negative overall impact on health and longevity, but, without conclusive study, this is difficult to prove. There are certainly many examples of decades-old and apparently healthy ryukin and ranchu goldfish that contradict this assumption. The extravagant flowing fins of a halfmoon betta or longfin bushynose pleco surely pose something of an inconvenience, but these fish remain widely accepted.
Another frequent argument against the man-made fish comes from a conservation standpoint, which in my mind is hard to justify. Yes, certain fish in the hobby are endangered in the wild, even critically so, and it is wonderful that many dedicated aquarists worldwide propagate, share, and maintain pure lineages of these fish for others to enjoy. But beyond that? The idea of eventual reintroduction to the wild is often hinted at but, in most cases, is unrealistic. And while it saddens me as a hobbyist to think that pure wild strains of many freshwater stingrays, for example, will likely be nearly impossible to find in years to come due to intentional hybridization by commercial breeders, it has little bearing on the survival of the species themselves. Yes, the accidental or intentional release of hybrids or non-wild type fish could, in theory, impact wild populations, but the same holds true for any of the fish we keep, natural or man-made. Any have the potential to vastly impact nonnative ecosystems if released. It is with some revulsion that I read about the serious impact introduced flowerhorns have had in Sulawesi’s lakes, but would I feel differently if the invader was the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), an even more destructive fish that has wreaked havoc on aquatic life for much of the last century after being intentionally introduced as a food fish?
Michael Tuccinardi is a publisher and senior editor of AMAZONAS.
In the end, I’m happy to maintain my biotope-style aquariums with habitat-appropriate wild fish and to let other hobbyists enjoy their spectacularly colored king kamfa flowerhorns or lyretail koi swordtails or even a tank full of transgenic tetras, if that’s what brings them joy. I find that the diversity of the fish we keep strengthens, not diminishes, the hobby we share. The impulse to take something from nature and mold, tweak, prune, or modify it to suit our desires or merely our curiosity is something intrinsically human—as is, perhaps, the desire to argue about the results.
AMAZONAS Magazine, Volume 8, Number 6, Exploring Pelvicachromis, on sale October 8th, 2019! On the cover: Top: Pelvicachromis kribensis ‘Njanje’, female. Middle: P. drachenfelsi, female. Bottom: M/F pair of P. kribensis ‘Bandewouri’ with young. Photo credits: M. Keijman and U. Werner.
The November/December 2019 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine is printed and arriving at the homes of magazine subscribers, local aquarium shops and better bookstores!
For our 6th issue of 2019, we turn to the genus Pelvicachromis, home of the ever-popular “Kribensis”. With taxonomic revisions still flustering veteran aquarists and a wealth of beautiful species and local varieties to choose from, these somewhat mild-mannered fishes (for a cichlid) deserve a little time in the spotlight. Travel with us to western African, and specifically Cameroon, to learn why these fishes deserve some tank space in your home.
Beyond our cover feature, you’ll be privy to the first fully documented report of breeding the palpitation-inducing Blue-Eyed Pleco (Panaque cochliodon). Well take you on a marathon fish swap road trip through Germany in our Fishroom Tour, introduce you to the Volcano Bitterling (Sinorhodeus microlepis), breed the Fahaka Puffer (Tetraodon lineatus), search central Brazil for rare Aspidoras catfish and so much more.
Readers of the Digital Edition can access this issue starting October 17th, 2019:AMAZONAS DIGITAL EDITION
Paid subscribers can log in with their email addresses and password for instant access. The AMAZONAS web-based digital version is available for desktop and laptop computers, tablets and phones.
To gain access to the current issue and a digital archive of back issues, become a subscriber by following this link:
If you just can’t wait to see what’s showing up in the mail, or your favorite retailer keeps all the AMAZONAS in their protective poly sleeves, we are offering this INSIDE LOOK at the newest issue—a sampling of articles and opening pages for readers curious about what the issue will bring.
The Table of Contents for the November/December 2019 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine. You can view this TOC online!
“Sometimes,” muses Exec. Editor Ann Whitman, “fish keeping seems like a drudge when so many other activities and commitments compete for our time and attention…when I need to feel appreciated and inspired, the fish greet me enthusiastically at the glass and, once again, I remember why we do this.” Find more inspiration in Ann’s Letter from the Editor.
Rusty Wessel and Morrell Devlin bring a report from the American Livebearer Association’s 2019 Convention. Learn what goes into hosting a national event like this, and why you should consider attending the 2020 convention!
Tell Me a Story. Rosario LaCorte’s memoirs span the heyday decades of the tropical fish hobby and his collecting adventures in South America.
Wasting no pages, we jump into our feature content with Michel Keijman and Uwe Werner’s overview of the 2014 revision to the genus Pelvicachromis, paying special attention to Pelvicachromis drachenfelsi and P. pulcher (the fish we all know to this day as the Krib or Kribensis).
Exploring the many rivers and tributaries of Cameroon in search of Pelvicachromis kribensis leads Michael Keijman & Uwe Werner to treasure troves of local variants, some well-known in the hobby and some rarely seen.
Breeding Pelvicachromis from Cameroon: their requirements for maintenance and breeding are quite feasible, even for beginners hoping to find success.
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, the code has been cracked. Learn how, in “Cracking the Breeding Code: Success with the Blue-Eyed Pleco (Panaque cochliodon)”, from authors Hans-Georg Evers and Jeffrey Christian.
Hans-Georg Evers and Jeffrey Christian share the secrets of breeding the Fahaka Puffer (Tetraodon lineatus).
Known for its pugnacious nature, Trichromis salvini (the Salvini Cichlid) is nevertheless among the most colorful of the Central American cichlids. Author Rusty Wessel’s favorite variant, from the Subin River in Guatemala, is even more colorful than most…
A number of North American killifishes are beautiful and easy to breed as aquarium fish. Friedrich Bitter introduces you to many ideal species, with images by Isacc Szabo and others.
Sebastian Wolf shares his preliminary experiences with the newly described volcano bitterling (Sinorhodeus microlepis) from the Yangtze River in China, which shows real promise as an aquarium fish.
The Least Killifish, Heterandria formosa, has captivated European aquarists for over 100 years now. Learn more about this tiny livebearer in the latest Century Species installment by Ute Dederer and images from Friedrich Bitter.
Come along for the ride with Michael Pilack: preparing for a long-distance road trip through Germany to exchange big cichlids and visit friends’ fishrooms sometimes takes unexpected detours.
Author Hans-Georg Evers remarked that, “The chance to collect and photograph rare Aspirdoras sp. and discover exciting new fish species for scientific research made this adventure through central Brazil a trip of a lifetime.” Immerse yourself in our Notes From the Field…
Look for AMAZONAS Magazine in outstanding local aquarium shops throughout the U.S. and around the globe! You can find these retailers in our online sources guide anytime! Want your shop listed? Email janine.banks@aquaticmediapress.com to find out how!
AMAZONAS Magazine’s Species Snapshots bring you closer to exciting new imports and rekindle passions for varieties that sometimes fall out of favor. In this issue, we share in-depth looks at Neolebias cf. trewavasae, Apistogramma agassizii ‘Tefe’, Tilapia cf. sparrmani and T. sp. ‘Mweru’. This exclusive content is found nowhere else but the pages of AMAZONAS Magazine!
AMAZONAS Magazine, Volume 9, Number 1, Spectacular South America, on sale December 4th, 2019! On the cover: Left: Rosy Tetra (Hyphessobrycon paepkei) and center: Corydoras luxozonus by F. Bitter. Right: Cichlasoma orinocense, by Rainer Stawikowski. Bottom: River near Iquitos, Peru by Ernst Sosna.
The January/February 2020 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine is printed and arriving at the homes of magazine subscribers, local aquarium shops and better bookstores!
For the first issue of a new decade, and starting our 9th year in English publication, we turn our attention to the content where AMAZONAS originally derived its name—SPECTACULAR SOUTH AMERICA. A diverse range of feature topics includes a dive into the history of the genus Cichlasoma, the first breeding of the rare doradid catfish Wertheimeria maculata, successful breeding of Scobiancistrus sp. Lo82, and learning about several new Corydoras species in the hobby. Journey to Iquitos will continue on into Part 2 of our quest for rare Aspidoras catfishes in northeastern Brazil.
As always, we branch out beyond our cover feature, offering something for every aquatic taste. Everything from the Cardinal Guppy and the Cherry Spot Dario, to fresh looks at Wallaceochromis and Enigmatochromis cichlids from western Africa. Get an inside look at aquarium company sera GmbH in Germany, and experience the winners of the 2019 International Biotope Aquarium Competition. There’s even more in our Aquatic Notebook and Species Snapshots, just waiting to be discovered when you dive into the issue.
Readers of the Digital Edition can access this issue starting December 11th, 2019:AMAZONAS DIGITAL EDITION
Paid subscribers can log in with their email addresses and password for instant access. The AMAZONAS web-based digital version is available for desktop and laptop computers, tablets and phones.
To gain access to the current issue and a digital archive of back issues, become a subscriber by following this link:
If you just can’t wait to see what’s showing up in the mail, or your favorite retailer keeps all the AMAZONAS in their protective poly sleeves, we are offering this INSIDE LOOK at the newest issue—a sampling of articles and opening pages for readers curious about what the issue will bring.
The Table of Contents for the January/February 2020 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine. You can view this TOC online!
In an era where everyone with an Internet connection can be an ‘expert’, “At AMAZONAS, one of your key goals and responsibilities as a publisher is to present accurate, up-to-date information, and we take that charge seriously,” writes Executive Editor Ann Whitman.
The Hobbyist Role in Fish Conservation, by Deputy Executive Editor Courtney Tobler, is an important lead into this issue’s Aquatic Notebook. Also in this section: How zebra danio personalities influence their breeding success, and further discussion about breeding the Blue-Eyed Pleco, Panaque cochliodon, which we first reported in the November/December 2019 issue.
Visit your favorite fishes in their native waters? For many of us, this will remain a dream, but it may be easier to attain than you think. Join Ernst Sosna on an expedition launched from Iquitos, Peru.
The history of Cichlasoma? Willem Heijns tells all, in the first of a two-part series.
Corydoras lovers rejoice: Ingo Seidel introduces several new mailed catfishes for the aquarium hobby!
Almost incredible: successful breeding of the rare doradid catfish Wertheimeria maculata, as reported by Hans-Georg Evers and accomplished by the team at Piscicultura Tanganyika in Aquiraz, Brazil.
Successful breeding of L082, the Opal Spot Scobiancistrus, by Ansgar Bußkamp, highlights the challenges of breeding a species when previous spawning and rearing reports are rare or non-existent.
Good for the nano tank? Torsten Kortum believes the Cherry Spot Dario (Dario kajal) is a great candidate for small tank culture!
Supplying fresh, top-quality food and aquarium, terrarium, and pond products has always been at the heart and soul of the German company sera GmbH. Learn how the company faces the future with confidence despite challenges from a changing world.
Wallaceochromis & Enigmatochromis—they too were once Pelvicachromis. Anton Lamboj offers a closer examination of the less-common dwarf cichlids from West Africa.
Slice of Life 2019: competition judge and AMAZONAS Sr. Editor Michael J. Tuccinardi presents and discusses the winners of the recent International Biotope Aquarium Competition.
The Cardinal Tetra is rather familiar, but have you seen the lookalike Cardinal Guppy? Friedrich Bitter discusses two distinct new guppy strains with convergent appearances.
Note From The Field continues with Part 2 of Hans-Georg Evers’s journey through northeast Brazil on a quest to discover new and rare Aspidoras catfishes.
Look for AMAZONAS Magazine in outstanding local aquarium shops throughout the U.S. and around the globe! You can find these retailers in our online sources guide anytime! Want your shop listed? Email janine.banks@aquaticmediapress.com to find out how!
AMAZONAS Magazine’s Species Snapshots bring you closer to exciting new imports and rekindle passions for varieties that sometimes fall out of favor. In this issue, we share in-depth looks at Parananochromis ornatus, Betta cf. compuncta ‘Candy’, and Nannocharax altus. This exclusive content is found nowhere else but the pages of AMAZONAS Magazine!
AMAZONAS Magazine, Volume 9, Number 2, DREAMSCAPES, on sale February 4th, 2020! On the cover: Top: Nano aquarium and Danio margaritatus. Photo credits: Friedrich Bitter
The March/April 2020 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine is printed and arriving at the homes of magazine subscribers, local aquarium shops and better bookstores!
For our 2nd issue of 2020, all our attention is focused on the most artistic and expressive side of the freshwater aquarium hobby—the planted tank, the aquascaped aquarium. Our contributors furnish a concise starting point for any aquarist to get outside of their fish-only comfort zones and find success with underwater gardening.
Readers of the Digital Edition can access this issue starting February 11th, 2020:AMAZONAS DIGITAL EDITION
Paid subscribers can log in with their email addresses and password for instant access. The AMAZONAS web-based digital version is available for desktop and laptop computers, tablets and phones.
To gain access to the current issue and a digital archive of back issues, become a subscriber by following this link:
If you just can’t wait to see what’s showing up in the mail, or your favorite retailer keeps all the AMAZONAS in their protective poly sleeves, we are offering this INSIDE LOOK at the newest issue—a sampling of articles and opening pages for readers curious about what the issue will bring.
The Table of Contents for the March/April 2020 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine. You can view this TOC online!
“Our theme on planted aquariums comes at the time of year when many of us need an infusion of greenery after a cold, snowy, icy winter,” writes Executive Editor Ann Whitman. Turn the pages of our latest issue as we all look towards the coming of spring.
Aquatic Notebook is your first stop for concise stories of interest to aquarists. In this issue, Steven Grant puts forth a hypothesis for the underlying causes of color change in plecostomus, and Oliver Lucanus raises alarm over the ongoing damming of the Amazon’s rivers, often causing serious environmental damage that runs deeper than simply altering geography and river flows.
Attractively designed nano aquariums housing fascinating miniature fishes and invertebrates are extremely popular, and represent an excellent starting point into the world of planted aquariums. Lou Herfurth kicks off our exploration of the art and craft of creating miniature aquascapes with the article “Big Worlds In Small Spaces”.
It’s all about the fundamentals, and Ann Whitman will help you set the stage for your planted aquarium, examining the equipment, hardscape and design principals that lead to a successful aquascape and planted aquarium.
Vibrant, well-grown plants bring an aquarium to life. When thoughtfully arranged in an aquascape, they become living art: Author Lou Herfurth teaches you how to paint with plants.
If you’ve ever struggled to affix and keep plants attached to hard substrates, Lou Herforth shares several techniques that an aquascaper might leverage.
Surpassing the coloration of many attractive coral reef fishes, the incredibly photogenic Aphyosemion cameronense killifish species-group is investigated by Joris Aerts and Peter Venstermans.
Although numerous species exist, eel gobies are a rarely kept, but are a fascinating group. Ralf Britz introduces both Odontamblyopus rubicundus and Trypauchenopsis intermedia which he encountered during a collecting trip to Myanmar.
Continued from Part 1, Willem Heijns reveals the hidden backstories of each unique species in a history of the genus Cichlasoma.
An example of a vastly underappreciated species that ought to be more readily available in the aquarium hobby, Lou Herforth shares the husbandry and breeding of the Metallic Livebearer, Girardinus metallicus.
Earlier in the issue, we shared the fundamentals of aquascaping a small, planted aquarium. How far can you go? From beginner to the pinnacle of perfection, Cheryl Rogers of the Aquatic Gardeners Association (AGA) introduces the winners of the 2019 AGA International Aquascaping Contest.
Never underestimate a dark gray fish—that is probably the takeaway message from Hans-Goerg Evers and the collection of Melanotaenia susii during an expedition to the Bird’s Head Peninsula of western New Guinea.
Look for AMAZONAS Magazine in outstanding local aquarium shops throughout the U.S. and around the globe! You can find these retailers in our online sources guide anytime! Want your shop listed? Email janine.banks@aquaticmediapress.com to find out how!
AMAZONAS Magazine’s Species Snapshots present new and exciting species in the aquarium hobby, all worthy of your attention. In this issue, we share in-depth looks at Astatotilapia sp. ‘Chizumulu’, Dawkinsia rohani (Rohan’s Barb), and Hemigrammus machadoi. This exclusive content is found nowhere else but the pages of AMAZONAS Magazine!
AMAZONAS Magazine, Volume 9, Number 4, BOISTEROUS BARBS, on sale June 2nd, 2020! On the cover: (top to bottom) Hypselobarbus kurali, indigo barb (Pethia setnai), and Denison’s barb (Sahyadria denisonii). Photos: Ralf Britz (top and bottom), V.K. Anoop (middle).
The July/August 2020 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine is printed and arriving at the homes of magazine subscribers, local aquarium shops and better bookstores!
Readers of the Digital Edition can access this issue starting June 9th, 2020: log into AMAZONAS DIGITAL EDITION
Paid subscribers can log in with their email addresses and password for instant access. The AMAZONAS web-based digital version is available for desktop and laptop computers, tablets and phones.
To gain access to the current issue and a digital archive of back issues, become a subscriber by following this link:
If you just can’t wait to see what’s showing up in the mail, or your favorite retailer keeps all the AMAZONAS in their protective poly sleeves, we are offering this INSIDE LOOK at the newest issue—a sampling of articles and opening pages for readers curious about what the issue will bring.
The Table of Contents for the July/August 2020 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine. You can view this TOC online!
AMAZONAS Executive Editor Ann Whitman reflects on the past months of sheltering in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact it has had on the aquarium hobby.
Viewpoint: German biologist Peter Rockstroh, who now resides in Colombia, reminds readers of the aquarium hobbyist’s role in conservation.
Aquatic Notebook: Stephan M. Tanner, Ph.D., and Dr. Leandro Melo de Sousa discuss the impact of Brazil’s revised aquarium fish export law and how it may impact the future of Brazil’s aquarium trade. What changes will aquarists see? Find out, in “Brazil is Opening Up.”
The Western Ghats in India—a hotspot for cypriniform fishes? So says Ralph Britz, who starts by noting, “Some of the cypriniform fishes of India are old friends and popular aquarium occupants. But, the Indian subcontinent has any number of other species to offer from this huge group, including beauties largely unknown in the aquarium hobby.”
Unmesh Katwate brings you a fresh story of ichthyological discovery, an adventurous and somewhat circuitous journey in identifying small ticto barbs, using an integrative taxonomic approach, while addressing the long-standing taxonomic issues. Learn more in this cover story, “Discovering new Pethia barbs of the Western Ghats.”
Known for the males’ spectacular dorsal fin displays, some species of the genus Oreichthys, known as the drape fin or high fin barbs, make fascinating additions to lively, planted community aquariums. Friedrich Bitter provides a thorough investigation of the species and their husbandry.
Michael Pilack shares a harrowing tale of exploration and fish collecting in Chocó, Colombia.
Continuing our coverage of South American adventures, Frans Vermeulen is off in search of new and rare species of Bolivian Killifishes.
Betta rubra already had a devout fanbase among anabantoid lovers, but Hansjürgen Dieke is about to quicken pulses again with his story of the spade-tailed Betta rubra from Banda Aceh in Sumatra.
Who doesn’t love first breeding reports for new species? Sebastian and Richard Wolf share their experience breeding the spotted garra, Garra spilota.
Friedrich Bitter reexamines a longtime classic favorite, offering a closer look at Bedotia madagascariensis, the Madagascar rainbowfish.
Century Species returns with the peppered cory: Corydoras paleatus. Ute Dederer shares the story of this aquarium staple, going all the way back to its initial collection by none other than Charles Dawrin.
We could all use an escape to spend a day in Catfish Paradise. Hans-Georg Evers will get you there in his latest installment of Notes From The Field, exploring the headwaters of the Río Araguaia and the Río Paraná in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul.
Given the current state of the world in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, aquarium-related events are being canceled or rescheduled as “stay at home” or “shelter in place” type orders are in effect. Event organizers, please keep Janine Banks (janine.banks@aquaticmediapress.com) aware of any rescheduled events and cancellations, and we’ll do our best to relay that information. View our events calendar online, anytime, for the most up-to-date information we have available, but remember, check with any event organizer directly to learn the status of their event. We look forward to a time when aquarists can once again gather to share their love for fishes.
Now more than ever, your local fish shop needs your support! You can find AMAZONAS Magazine being offered by independent pet retailers throughout the U.S. and around the globe! If you’re in need of a good read or trying to locate a back issue, why not give ’em a call and see if they have what you’re looking for! You can view this list online as well. Want your shop listed? Email janine.banks@aquaticmediapress.com to find out how!
We round out every issue with AMAZONAS’ Species Snapshots—concise glimpses at rare and unusual fishes showing up in the aquarium trade and hobbyist circles. In our latest installment, we give expanded coverage to two very unique species; Dr. Paul V. Loiselle makes the case for the striking “Victorian-type” Haplochromis aeneocolor from Lake George, and Anton Lamboj introduces us to the subtle beauty of a true African rarity, Distichodus hypostomatus.
AMAZONAS Magazine, Volume 9, Number 5, MEXICO: Depths of Diversity, on sale August 4th, 2020! On the cover: Río Agua Azul, Chiapas, Mexico, Photo by John Lyons; tequila splitfin (Zoogeneticus tequila), Photo by Oliver Lucanus; spot cheek cichlid (Thorichthys maculipinnis ‘Río de la Lana’), Photo by Uwe Werner Wolf.
The September/October 2020 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine is printed and arriving at the homes of magazine subscribers, local aquarium shops and better bookstores!
Readers of the Digital Edition can access this issue starting August 12th, 2020: log into AMAZONAS DIGITAL EDITION
Paid subscribers can log in with their email addresses and password for instant access. The AMAZONAS web-based digital version is available for desktop and laptop computers, tablets and phones.
To gain access to the current issue and a digital archive of back issues, become a subscriber by following this link:
If you just can’t wait to see what’s showing up in the mail, or your favorite retailer keeps all the AMAZONAS in their protective poly sleeves, we are offering this INSIDE LOOK at the newest issue—a sampling of articles and opening pages for readers curious about what the issue will bring.
The Table of Contents for the September/October 2020 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine. You can view this TOC online!
Traveling to Mexico in person may not be possible during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, but we hope these pages will inspire you to add this incredibly diverse and beautiful country to your bucket list for a future visit.
Aquatic Notebook brings you short articles on noteworthy happenings of interest to aquarists. Here, AMAZONAS Deputy Executive Editor Courtney Tobler examines the description of CW154 as Corydoras rikbaktsa.
Aquatic Notebook brings you short articles on noteworthy happenings of interest to aquarists. Next, AMAZONAS Sr. Editor Mike Tuccinardi discusses a mysterious recent import from Peru that appears to be the clouded ghost knifefish (Adontosternarchus nebulosus).
Good news is hard to come by amidst the barrage of reports of extinctions, habitat destruction, and pollution from around the world. But, in Mexico, one species is back from the brink. WELCOME HOME! Reintroducing Zoogoneticus tequila, the tequila splitfin by Arely Ramírez-García, Gerardo García, Michael Köck, John Lyons, and Omar Domínguez-Domínguez.
The Pacific Coast of Mexico conjures up images of white sand beaches with crashing waves, beautiful sunsets, and glittering resorts such as Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa, and Acapulco. It is all of that and much more for the freshwater hobbyist; join author John Lyons as he takes you Vacationing with the Freshwater Fishes of Mexico’s Pacific Coast.
Home to endangered jaguars, scarlet macaws, white nun orchids, and many endemic species of fish, the Usumacinta watershed in southeastern Mexico is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots.
Uwe Werner Wolf makes a proper introduction to Thorichthys maculipinnis, the spot cheek cichlid. It stands out from other Thorichthys species as being particularly colorful. A real eye-catcher!
Roman Burkardt travels to the Mexican border, trekking into the desert for pupfish; some fishes live in inhospitable and genuinely life-hostile regions.
Ute Dederer & Friedrich Bitter bring you along for a visit with crayfish breeder Markus Güsgen.
After years of misidentification and confusion, the tiger limia (Limia islai) has been officially described. As Paul V. Loiselle has discovered, this charming livebearer is worth seeking out.
Friedrich Bitter suggests that all shiners of the genus Pteronotropis are attractive, peaceful fishes that become real eye-catchers in the planted aquarium. While related species from other North American genera often exhibit their splendid colors for only a few weeks, these shiners display attractive coloration most of the time and can easily hold their own with similar species from the tropics.
Small, colorful, and lively is probably how most people would describe their first impression of the glowlight danio, Danio choprae. Author Ute Dederer notes that these fish are the perfect complement to a densely planted aquarium.
“If there is anything good in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is probably the fact that staying at home and keeping away from traveling and visiting friends made me review my old pictures on my hard drive. I have hundreds of thousands of images filed away—lots of fishes and nice memories of the journeys I undertook in past years,” says Hans-Georg Evers as he brings us back to Peru in search of new tetras.
Given the current state of the world in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, aquarium-related events are being canceled, rescheduled, or going “virtual” with online options. Event organizers, please keep Janine Banks (janine.banks@aquaticmediapress.com) aware of any rescheduled events and cancellations, and we’ll do our best to relay that information. View our events calendar online, anytime, for the most up-to-date information we have available, but remember, check with any event organizer directly to learn the status of their event. We look forward to a time when aquarists can once again gather to share their love for fishes.
Now more than ever, your local fish shop needs your support! You can find AMAZONAS Magazine being offered by independent pet retailers throughout the U.S. and around the globe! If you’re in need of a good read or trying to locate a back issue, why not give ’em a call and see if they have what you’re looking for! You can view this list online as well. Want your shop listed? Email janine.banks@aquaticmediapress.com to find out how!
We round out every issue with AMAZONAS’ Species Snapshots—concise glimpses at rare and unusual fishes showing up in the aquarium trade and hobbyist circles. In our latest installment, we give expanded coverage to two very unique species; Anton Lamboj brings us a look at a barb from western Africa, Enteromius diamouanganai, and Dr. Paul V. Loiselle shares the striking, rainbow-hued buckelkopf acara, Laetacara araguaiae.
The history of Laetacara araguaiae, both taxonomic and aquaristic, is convoluted. This colorful cichlid entered the German hobby in 1949 under the name Aequidens thayeri, a valid and closely related species described from the western Amazon basin. Given that the fish in question were exported from Belém in eastern Brazil, at the mouth of the Amazon River, and the fact that they sport very different color patterns, it is at first glance difficult to understand how such a misidentification could occur. However, due to the imprecise nature of the original description of Laetacara thayeri, as this species is now known, and how little was known of the distribution of Amazonian fishes 65 years ago, it is much easier to forgive this erroneous identification.
This Species Snapshot was first published in AMAZONAS Magazine, Volume 9, Number 5, MEXICO: Depths of Diversity, our September/October 2020 issue. Never miss our exclusive coverage of rare and unusual aquarium fish when you subscribe to AMAZONAS! This issue is also available directly from the publisher as a printed back issue.
In 1978, German hobbyists realized they were dealing with a different—and undescribed—species, upon which they bestowed the cheironym Aequidens sp. ‘Buckelkopf’ (meaning round or bump head) (Romer, 2000). Another 31 years passed before two Brazilian ichthyologists, F. P. Ottoni and W. J. E. M. Costa, formally described the buckelkopf acara, bestowing upon this distinctive little cichlid the name Laetacara araguaiae.
Husbandry
Smiling acaras, to give Laetacara species their English common name, are small cichlids, rarely exceeding 4 inches (10 cm). SL. Laetacara araguaiae is one of the smaller species of the genus, qualifying on the basis of size as a dwarf cichlid. Males can grow to 3 inches (7.5 cm) SL, but it is unusual to encounter specimens larger than 2.5 inches (6 cm) SL. Females rarely exceed 2 inches (5 cm) SL. Its temperament also qualifies L. araguaiae as a dwarf cichlid. The behavior of this species towards smaller schooling tankmates is exemplary. Indeed, it displays much less shyness when housed with small tetras, rasboras, or danios. Except when breeding, L. araguaiae poses no threat to Corydoras species or other callichthyid catfishes, nor does it have any issues with small loricariid catfishes such as Hypancistrus, Otocinclus, or Peckoltia species. Provided the tank is large enough, i.e., at least 36 inches (about 1 m) long, L. araguaiae will also co-exist amicably with other South American dwarf cichlids. Laetacara species neither eat nor uproot plants. Indeed, they are more comfortable, and certainly show their colors to the best advantage, in planted tanks with a dark substrate.
As its species name suggests, the type series of L. araguaiae was collected within the basin of the Araguaia River, a northward-flowing tributary of the Amazon. However, this species is more widely distributed and has been reported from the Tocantins, Tapajos, and Xingu Rivers, as well as from Isla Marajó, the large island situated at the mouth of the Amazon River (Romer, 2000). The south bank tributaries of the Amazon are clear-water rivers. This state of affairs greatly simplifies the aquarium maintenance of this species. Unlike black water species, which often require very soft, highly acidic water to thrive in captivity, pH values between 6.0 and 7.2 and hardness up to 10° DH suit L. araguaiae quite well. This is a tropical lowland species that does not tolerate chilling. A temperature range of 72–79°F (22–26°C) suffices for day-to-day maintenance, with an increase to 85°F (30°C) for breeding. This is an easily fed dwarf cichlid, with a healthy appetite for live, frozen, and prepared foods of appropriate size. Grindal and black worms, as well as frozen bloodworms and glassworms are particularly relished and are conditioning foods of choice.
This female Laetacara araguaiae is arguably even more attractive than the male form of the species! Photo by Paul V. Loiselle.
Breeding
Smiling acaras are usually easily sexed, as females have a roughly rectangular lighter-edged black spot in the spiny portion of their dorsal fin. Laetacara araguaiae is an exception to this rule. While some females may have an indistinct darker blotch in the spiny dorsal, most do not. However, in addition to being both smaller and fuller-bodied than males, females have less pointed soft dorsal and anal fins and usually show less coppery orange color on their flanks. This is an easily bred and surprisingly prolific little cichlid. A compact plaque of several hundred eggs is deposited on a solid surface. Both parents are actively involved in both hygienic and custodial brood care, although territorial defense is largely the male’s responsibility. Parental fish undergo a veritable Jekyll to Hyde behavioral shift and are likely to seriously injure or even kill tankmates unable to move beyond the boundaries of the pair’s territory.
The eggs hatch in 72 hours, and the fry are free-swimming six to seven days post-spawning. They are large enough to make an initial meal of Artemia nauplii or microworms and within a week one can add finely powdered flakes to their diet. Parental care can last for up to six weeks, but it is not unusual for the adults to re-spawn much sooner in captivity. As parents will not tolerate the presence of older fry in proximity to a new clutch of eggs, prudence dictates separating parents and offspring before the onset of a new spawning cycle, roughly three weeks after the fry have become free-swimming. With good feeding and frequent water changes, the fry grow fairly rapidly, reaching 1 inch (2.5 cm) SL at an age of about two months. By their eighth month, they are old enough to pair up and begin breeding.
Unlike its congeners L. curviceps and L. dorsigera, L. araguaiae has not attracted the attention of fish farmers in Florida or the Far East. Given that it is significantly more colorful than either of those species and just as hardy and prolific, this state of affairs can be expected to change in the near future.
Reference
Romer, U. 2002. Cichlid Atlas. Volume I. Natural History of South American Dwarf Cichlids. Mergus, Melle, Germany.
AMAZONAS Magazine, Volume 9, Number 6, KEEPING CHARACINS, on sale October 6th, 2020! On the cover: Lemon tetras (Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) top, spotted silver dollar (Metynnis maculatus) middle, and lipstick leporinus (Leporinus arcus) bottom. Photos by Horvath82/ Shutterstock (top), and Ernst Sosna (middle, bottom)
The November/December 2020 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine is printed and arriving at the homes of magazine subscribers, local aquarium shops and better bookstores!
Readers of the Digital Edition can access this issue starting October 13th, 2020: log into AMAZONAS DIGITAL EDITION
Paid subscribers can log in with their email addresses and password for instant access. The AMAZONAS web-based digital version is available for desktop and laptop computers, tablets, and phones.
To gain access to the current issue and a digital archive of back issues, become a subscriber by following this link:
If you just can’t wait to see what’s showing up in the mail, or your favorite retailer keeps all the AMAZONAS in their protective poly sleeves, we are offering this INSIDE LOOK at the newest issue—a sampling of articles and opening pages for readers curious about what the issue will bring.
The Table of Contents for the November/December 2020 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine. You can view this TOC online!AMAZONAS Executive Editor Ann Whitman’s last Letter from the Editor, as she passes the torch. “On a personal and professional note, this issue is my last as Executive Editor of AMAZONAS, although I will be continuing as an editorial advisor…Thank you to all who have shared this wonderful journey with me and made my life richer.”Already a valuable member of the AMAZONAS team, Publisher Stephan Tanner introduces Courtney Tobler as the new Executive Editor of AMAZONAS Magazine, starting with our next issue, January/February 2021.AMAZONAS’ Aquatic Notebook brings you concise news and stories of relevance to the aquarium hobby and trade. In this issue, the editorial staff assembles a frontline report on the Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tropical fish trade, the discovery of a new harlequin rasbora species, and the Aquatic Gardeners Association celebrates 20 years of aquascaping competitions!What makes an aquarist happy? Everyone has
their own answer to that question. Our former German editor-in-chief of AMAZONAS, Hans-Georg Evers, is particularly happy when he gets his hands on a new tetra species and is able to breed it.Finding suitable tankmates for large cichlids isn’t always easy, but some characins from South America are virtually predestined for the role, as they live together in their native biotopes as well. The fact that these attractive characins exhibit fascinating behavior makes them all the more interesting for the large community aquarium. Ernst Sosna presents “Cichlid-Proof”—robust characins for cichlid tanks.B-grade horror movies and sensationalist stories about piranhas have kept the public morbidly intrigued with this carnivorous species since the 1970s. Patrick Langer, however, has been keeping piranhas for more than 30 years–quite simply because they are his favorite fishes, and he views them with totally different eyes.At first glance, substrate spawning eartheaters of the Gymnogeophagus rabdotus species-group may be difficult to differentiate. Author Uwe Werner shares his personal field experience in Uruguay to shed light on ways to distinguish three of these commonly confused cichlids, as well as how to successfully maintain them in the aquarium.Described in 1995 (Roberts) as a Botia species, the jaguar loach (now Yasuhikotakia splendida) is still fairly rare in the hobby, but definitely worth a closer look! Ute Dederer reports…Luxuriant plants and a colorful group of peaceful fish is the epitome of harmony and relaxation for many aquarists. What could be more appropriate for such an aquarium than a shoal of lively lemon tetras? Erst Sosna shares the husbandry and breeding of Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis.When choosing the correct light for your aquarium, you have more to consider than simply how to illuminate the tank. Not all lighting options are equal and making sense of the sometimes confusing topic is not always easy. In this article, Refet Ali Yalçin addresses and simplifies the complexity of light.AMAZONAS contributor Steve Waldron of Aquarium Zen in Seattle, WA returns to share insights into one of the most high-profile aquascapes of his career: scaping the 600-gallon planted aquarium installation at AMAZON’s Seattle Spheres.Aquarists rely on a fantastic array of equipment that supports our hobby; and equipment requires spare parts. We are also avid do-it-yourselfers and collectors of everything that may be useful someday. Hans-Georg Evers discusses all the little things you need.Given the current state of the world in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, aquarium-related events are being canceled, rescheduled, or going “virtual” with online options. Event organizers, please keep Janine Banks (janine.banks@aquaticmediapress.com) aware of any rescheduled events and cancellations, and we’ll do our best to relay that information. View our events calendar online, anytime, for the most up-to-date information we have available, but remember, check with any event organizer directly to learn the status of their event. We look forward to a time when aquarists can once again gather to share their love for fishes.The next time you’re in need of that gotta-have-it fish or aquarium plant, give these fine retailers a call. All of them carry single-copy issues of AMAZONAS (and they might even be a great source to obtain some harder-to-find back issues)! Remember to support your independent pet retailers, especially during these challenging pandemic times! View this list online, now!We round out every issue with AMAZONAS’ Species Snapshots—concise glimpses at rare and unusual fishes showing up in the aquarium trade and hobbyist circles. In our latest installment, Dr. Paul V. Loiselle introduces the cichlid-like Pristolepis rubripinnis from India, and Jeremy Basch documents his experiences keeping and breeding Balroglanis schultzi, the driftwood woodcat.
Subscribers, log in to the digital edition to read the complete article in the November/December 2020 issue of AMAZONAS.
A partial excerpt from the November/December 2020 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine. Subscribers can log in to the digital edition for full access.
by Steve Waldron with images by Daniel Sheehan unless noted • Aquascapes and planted aquariums have become increasingly popular over the past 20 years. This new column, All Things Aquascaping, is dedicated to the beauty of aquatic plants and design, and will feature the expertise of master aquatic gardeners sharing their passion, knowledge, and skills.
Standing in the middle of an empty 600–gallon (2,270–L) fish tank, I leaned over and asked my assistant to hand me the largest piece of manzanita wood in the pile of our hardscape material—dark lava rock and manzanita branches from California. The manzanita had been soaking outdoors in tubs of water throughout the summer and autumn, and now was the moment when it would come into play and bring my creative vision alive. I felt a wave of anxiety; this fish tank happened to be the largest aquascape I had ever worked on, and here I was standing in the middle of it, in the middle of Amazon.com’s new corporate headquarters in downtown Seattle.
A series of sprawling skyscrapers had been built to flank Amazon’s futuristic structure known as The Spheres: three spherical, joined greenhouses designed to house a world-class collection of over 40,000 rare and beautiful tropical plants. Like something from science fiction, The Spheres was planned as the heart of Amazon’s cutting-edge campus; a unique architectural concept where busy tech workers could take a break from their daily work stress and find a little piece of natural solace deep in the heart of the urban jungle.
Inside The Spheres lies a rainforest, complete with waterfalls, rushing streams, vertical gardens soaring four stories tall, full-sized mature trees, and meandering paths winding through beds of jungle vegetation. All this exotic, natural exuberance is juxtaposed against a modern architectural framework of steel girders, angular glass panels, and high-powered horticultural lighting. A series of automated misters power on and off like a synchronized symphony of misty hydration throughout the space. The scene is accomplished with amazing horticultural technology, breathtaking tropical foliage, architectural wonder, and one 600–gallon fish tank.
The Spheres aquarium is strategically placed between living wall displays. One of these vertical gardens reaches an impressive four stories in height.
The Zen of Design
I gently hoisted the 6-foot (1.8-m) tall manzanita branch up and over the sides of the tank from the hands of my assistant, taking care not to scratch the acrylic side panels, and considered my next move. To clear my anxiety, I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths. This was probably the most important aquascape of my career so far, and I was feeling a little dizzy from the pressure. I also knew that with my design process, the first hardscape placement would define and propel the momentum of everything to follow. This was the most critical creative phase of the whole operation.
I paused, trying to find some inner quiet in the hectic maelstrom of an active construction site filled with riveting, hammering, and welding; hundreds of gruff construction workers hurrying around, grunting, sweating, and issuing insults at one another (and me). I needed to find my zen in this chaos. With my eyes closed, I held on to the manzanita wood, felt its woody grain and texture and recalled countless hiking trips in the sunny coastal foothills of California where I grew up, first fell in love with the natural world, and had coincidentally, encountered manzanita shrubs growing on many arid chaparral-covered hillsides.
This mini-meditation settled me, and I remembered who I was, where I had been, and what circumstances in life had brought me to this moment—standing in the middle of a very large, empty aquarium about to create a beautiful aquascape for Jeff Bezos and his company. I leaned the branch against the central overflow box in the aquarium, propped it up and angled it a bit with lava stone at the base to give the branch a bit of extra dramatic vertical presence, and my creative process started to flow from there.
Materials and Methods
The aquarium system itself was built and designed by Tenji Aquarium Design + Build of Carmel, California, and in collaboration with the global architectural design firm, NBBJ. At 600 gallons, 30 inches (76 cm) tall and 102 inches (260 cm) wide, the aquarium was constructed of thick acrylic and shaped as a Reuleaux triangle—the geometric form at the center of three intersecting disks. It’s basically a triangle with rounded sides and when viewed from above, looks very similar to a guitar pick. This was my blank canvas to create a peaceful aquatic paradise of swaying plants, shoaling fishes, and artfully arranged natural wood and stone decor.
This was going to be a low tech, non-CO2 injected aquarium with as much emphasis on a large and diverse fish community as the planted aquascape itself. To that end, Tenji designed a below-tank sump filtration system consisting of a series of bag filters and a single large biofilter chamber filled with perpetually swirling plastic biomedia. A pair of jacuzzi pumps would quietly and amply circulate the water, and a UV filter would prevent green water and pathogens outbreaks. The whole system was connected to an Apex controller, allowing for remote monitoring and automated control.
An array of six Ecoxotic Cannon LED pendant lights were hung above the aquarium from a custom-built fixture that matched the Reuleaux triangle shape of the aquarium below. I wanted pendant, single-point-source lighting for this aquarium to create a dynamic light effect—shimmering glimmer lines that would bring in the kinetic energy of scattered light movement to this display. This type of lighting was a key feature to the aquascape’s presentation and success. I figured the aquarium could function as an exhibit of moving aqueous light energy that would complement the relatively static world of The Spheres’ collection of plants and architecture. The dancing quality of light would act as a sort of beacon to draw in viewers to the aquarium from various parts of The Spheres. Once the viewer was up close, standing in front of the aquarium, they would then start to explore and make discoveries about the living inhabitants and details of the aquascape itself.
Dappled dynamic lighting ripples over the white sand bed of the aquarium, acting as a beautiful display of aqueous energy.
Amazon-Themed Community
I chose an Amazon theme for The Spheres’ fish community. There’s the obvious connection to Amazon.com’s brand, but that was peripheral to my decision-making process. I chose Amazonian fishes simply because, in terms of diversity, beauty, personality, economy, and availability, it is hard to match this group when considering fish selections for a large community tank. In my opinion, fish that have co-evolved in the same natural habitats tend to blend more harmoniously with one another and create more impact than a haphazard menagerie of species thrown together from all over the globe. I wanted movement, color, and curiosity. I wanted tiny fish, giant fish, elegant fish, large schools, and goofy oddballs—I wanted a diverse slice of the legendary Amazonian fish fauna.
There are no 90-degree angles to this aquarium, and the fish move constantly in a flowing circumambulation around the rounded sides of the Reuleaux. A school of over two hundred green neon tetras (Paracheirodon simulans) shoal with smaller schools of diamond tetras (Moenkhausia pittieri), red and black phantom tetras (Hyphessobrycon sweglesi and H. megalopterus, respectively), rosy tetras (H. rosaceus), and other characins.
The várzea or flooded forests of the Amazon river basin were the inspiration for this aquascape created for Amazon.com’s corporate headquarters. Fish glide through manzanita wood branches below water and tropical epiphytic plants grow profusely above water.
Want more?
You’ll find the complete article in AMAZONAS Magazine, Volume 9, Number 6, KEEPING CHARACINS.
What other fishes dwell in AMAZON.com’s Amazon? What plants did Waldron opt to use, and how were they incorporated into the functional system. How did this project all come together, and how was it received? Just want to see more incredible images of this amazing planted aquarium?
If you want access to the full story, and years of back issues, subscribe to AMAZONAS Magazine today. Digital edition access is instantaneous with your paid subscription!
About The Project
Author Steve Waldron
Steve Waldron is the founder of Seattle-based Aquarium Zen, a retail aquarium shop specializing in freshwater Nature Aquarium design. Aquarium Zen’s website is www.aquariumzen.net and Steve can be found on Instagram @aquariumzen.
Photographer Daniel Sheehan specializes in photojournalism, editorial portraits, corporate portraits and corporate event photography. He is based in Seattle, WA. More at www.eyeshotphotos.com.
Tenji Inc. is a commercial member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of commercial-scale aquariums for public aquariums, commercial spaces, and large-scale private installations. Tenji is based in Carmel, CA, with an additional East Coast office in Newcastle, Maine. More at www.tenji.com.
First conceived in February, 2013, Amazon.com’s Seattle Spheres were officially opened in January, 2018, situated at Amazon.com headquarters in downtown Seattle, Washington. While currently closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic, public tours are ordinarily available on select weekends. Learn more at www.SeattleSpheres.com.
A special excerpt from the January/February 2021 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine
article and images by Sumer Tiwari
The need for cultured live foods prevents many aquarium hobbyists from keeping species that require live food to thrive. Although many different types of live foods are available to hobbyists these days, most require some level of involvement. As a hobbyist who likes to spend my time efficiently, I found myself looking for live foods that don’t require intervention every day and have a good nutritional profile.
A friend first introduced me to the use of peanut beetle (Ulomoides dermestoides) larvae as a live food for fish. These larvae have an impressive and rich nutritional profile; the richest nutritional profile seen compared to any other live food available in the hobby. The average peanut beetle larvae composition is approximately 55 percent crude protein, 18 percent crude fat, 3 percent ash, and 24 percent sugars (carbohydrates).
Furthermore, the content of amino acids in peanut beetle larvae is 47.4 grams per 100 grams of mass or 47.4 percent. Amino acids are the building blocks of all living animals. To understand the impressiveness of the amino acid content (AAC) of peanut beetle larvae, we can compare it to the average AAC of whey protein that people consume to increase protein in their diet. Surprisingly, the AAC of whey protein is 43 percent; lower than that of the peanut beetle larvae!
Two different larval instars and a pupa are comparable in size to Fluval® Bug Bites.
Moreover, it is a fantastic food for any fish that can fit it in their mouth. I have successfully fed this food to altum angelfish (Pterophyllum altum), Brunei beauty bettas (Betta macrostoma), and to the endemic Lake Tanganyika cichlid Altolamprologus compressiceps. But, because of their rich nutritional profile, I like to feed peanut beetle larvae to my fish only on occasion. Just like eating steak for breakfast, lunch, and dinner would not be a balanced diet, feeding these larvae to your fish three times a day wouldn’t be a smart idea.
Peanut beetle larvae go through seven instars, each larger than the last. Ruler is in inches.
I save this food for times when I feel the fish need an extra boost. For example, I feed these larvae to my Betta macrostoma pair when they start to get frisky. I know that once the male starts to hold eggs, he will go without eating for 15–20 days. In my opinion, this food gives them the “carb loading” effect along with extra protein to keep going during the incubation period without eating. Similarly, once the B. macrostoma male releases fry after incubating them for 15–20 days, he behaves and looks weak. I start off by feeding peanut beetle larvae to the male. It gives him a good boost of energy after fasting for such a long time.
Culturing Peanut Beetle Larvae
When it comes to culturing these beetles and larvae, it is relatively simple in comparison to culturing other live foods, such as grindal worms or white worms. Let me explain how easy it is to culture and harvest these larvae. All you need is:
A plastic container, such as a plastic shoebox, with a solid or mesh lid
Old fashioned oatmeal, wheat bran, or cracked wheat
Unsalted roasted or raw peanuts in the shell
A water source, such as raw potato pieces, raw cabbage, an apple core, or a banana peel
A starter culture of beetles
To start a new culture, you:
Simply either drill or use an ice pick to make a few small (~1.5 mm) holes in the container’s lid. Omit this step if your lid already includes a mesh screen.
Put about an inch-thick layer of uncooked, dry oatmeal and/or wheat bran on the bottom of the container. It’s not a requirement to use both.
Next, add unsalted peanuts. A layer one-peanut deep will suffice.
You are now ready to add the starter culture. Dump the culture on top of the peanuts.
Place a few pieces of your water source on the peanuts. This is what the beetles and larvae will use to get water. Replace weekly or when dry.
Close the container and put it in an out of the way place. They do just fine at room temperature.
Oats, wheat bran, or whole wheat, peanuts, and a cut potato provide enough sustenance for a healthy peanut beetle colony.
The Larval Stage
The life cycle of the peanut beetle consists of four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. An egg takes about two weeks to hatch into a larva. The larval stage of the peanut beetle consists of seven instars; that is the larvae will molt (growing larger with each molt) seven times prior to the pupal stage. The initial larval instars are very small, only a couple of millimeters long, and make excellent food for smaller bettas, such as species from the Betta coccina-complex. Collecting the peanut beetle larvae at this size is difficult. The early instars are very small; they may pass through any sieve you might use to separate them.
Peanut beetles can be fed to fishes through the duration of the larval stage. This stage lasts for about six to eight weeks depending on temperature and food availability. This is also the stage where they are most nutritious. Since larvae consume a lot as they continue to molt, they usually stay inside a peanut eating it. The best way to harvest them is to look for a peanut full of larvae. Once you have found one, it is very easy to shake them out into a separate container. I usually go through a few peanuts with forceps until I see one that is full of larvae. One such peanut usually contains a good combination of various sized larvae. Many late instar larvae dig into the substrate to enter the pupal stage. If you can’t find a peanut full of larvae, just go through the substrate and pick larvae using a pair of forceps as you see them.
A single peanut shell can hold an incredible number of larvae.
BONUS VIDEO: A look at harvesting peanut beetle larvae for feeding
The Pupal Stage into Adulthood
Commencement of the pupal stage means that the beetle has started the process of building its defense mechanism. They definitely have a pretty hard cocoon. From my personal experience, cichlids, such as altum angels, don’t really show a preference between larvae and pupae as they will eat whatever fits in their mouth. That being said, we know that once the pupal stage has started, the pupa has no means of consuming any kind of food. At that point, it is using the energy that it had gained in the larval stage to complete its metamorphosis into an adult beetle. I have not seen the nutritional value breakdown of a pupa, but I would assume that it’s lower than a larva or even an adult beetle. With that understanding, I don’t see value in feeding pupae to my fish.
A pupa will transform into an adult beetle in about a week. Adults can live for a very long time—about two years. During their lifetime, they continue to produce eggs. Adult peanut beetles exhibit sexual dimorphism, meaning that males and females have different physical characteristics. However, I don’t think these differences are noticeable by the naked human eye. Scientists typically use microscopes to study the anatomy of beetles (order Coleoptera) and have determined that the major morphological differences between the sexes lie in the size and form of sensilla (sensory receptors), hind legs, and body size.
Personal Experiences
I have realized that it is very easy to overlook the larvae, and adult beetles can overcrowd your culture if you don’t harvest larvae regularly. If you think about it, it’s not a bad thing as it tells us that they are easy to rear; even when left unattended.
They can survive on peanuts and a water source alone. When it comes to providing them with a source of water, you can get as involved as much as you want to. I have heard of hobbyists that like to offer apple, but I have found that apple attracts fungus very fast. Within two days, you would see mold and fungus growing on apple. Potato, however, doesn’t promote mold or fungal growth. Therefore, I usually use potato pieces for the water source. Admittedly, I have forgotten to add fresh pieces of potato on certain weeks in the past, and I could not see any difference in the population. This is also because the peanut kernel does contain water. We also need to remember that these insects are agricultural pests. When they live out there in the “real world”, they don’t have access to potatoes for water; they survive in peanut holding facilities on nothing but peanuts.
After sorting the larvae from the debris, it is time to feed the fish.
The culture I started off with continued to provide me with about 50–60 larvae every third or fourth day. If you feel like you need more than this amount, try maintaining two cultures. I ran my first culture for five months before I felt the need to start a new one. After five months, I could see that the layer of oatmeal and wheat bran had converted into frass, which appears as a dust-like debris. This simply means that the beetles and larvae have consumed the oatmeal and wheat bran. At this stage, I add more oatmeal and wheat bran to the existing culture, and I also start a brand-new culture by taking some beetles, larvae, pupae, and frass/media mix which contains the eggs. Both the cultures continue to produce a sizeable number of larvae. Ultimately, when it comes time to dispose of an old culture, place everything in a bag and freeze it for at least 24 hours to kill any eggs and larvae.
These critters are very easy to ship as well. When sharing a culture with someone, I make sure that I include each stage: larvae, pupae, and adult beetle. I also add some frass/media mix in the hopes that some eggs will also be present. Having a culture with animals in each stage of life helps get the new culture up and producing faster than starting with just adult beetles, for example. When shipping a culture, I include in the package a piece of egg carton for the beetle adults and larvae to hold on to, which makes the journey easier.
Human Consumption
While doing research on these beetles, I also learned that people in many cultures, especially Eastern cultures, consume these beetles as a supposed cure against various diseases such as cancer, asthma, lower back pain, and even Alzheimer’s disease. In the early 2000s, when immigrants brought these beetles to South American countries such as Brazil and Argentina, many researchers tried to find out if there was any proof behind these medical claims.
These beetles contain many chemicals that are capable of killing cells—good and bad equally. They also contain some chemicals that might act as an anti-irritant. However, the beetles also contain toxic benzoquinone compounds that are used in their defense mechanism. These chemical compounds may cause harm when ingested. Bottom line—don’t eat these beetles, but do feed the larvae to your fish!
Flores, G.E., S.B. Padín, and R.E. Stetson. (2002). First records of the Oriental species Ulomoides dermestoides (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in Argentina. Revista de la Sociedad Entomológica Argentina, 61(3–4), 48–50. https://www.biotaxa.org/RSEA/article/viewFile/31907/28329
Gorissen, S.H.M., et al. (2018). Protein content and amino acid composition of commercially available plant-based protein isolates. Amino Acids, 50, 1685–1695. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6245118/
Morillo-Garcia, Y., J. Olivero-Verbel, and K. Caballero-Gallardo. (2016). Life cycle of Ulomoides dermestoides (Fairmaire, 1893)(Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) under laboratory conditions. Journal of Stored Products Research, 69, 272–275.
Natt, B.S., J.M. Campion, and K.S. Knox. (2014). Acute eosinophilic pneumonia associated with ingestion of Ulomoides dermestoides larvae (“Chinese beetles”). Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 11 (10), 1667–1668. https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1513/AnnalsATS.201410-483LE
Saldarriaga-Rivera, L.M., V.J. López-Villegas, and F.R. Toquica. (2017). Association of Ulomoides dermestoides “beetle-peanut” as cause of palpable purpura. Revista Cubana de Reumatología, 19 (3), Suppl 1, 224–227. https://www.medigraphic.com/pdfs/revcubreu/cre-2017/cres171j.pdf
The Río Bodoquero—and its diverse cathfish community.By Erlend D. Bertelsen, in the January/February 2021 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine.
In the January/February 2021 issue of AMAZONAS, author Erlend D. Bertelsen shares his personal experiences on a collecting expedition in Colombia in 2019. His article focuses on the diverse catfish community of the Río Bodoquero. Of course, he and his companions collected more than catfishes during their weeks in Colombia.
Bertelsen writes, “If you ask the participants of a fish-collecting trip afterward about the highlights of their tour, their answers often vary based on personal preferences. Looking back on our trip, however, my friends were unanimous that the most memorable experience for them was night fishing for the beautiful altum angelfish (Pterophyllum altum) on the Venezuelan side of the Río Atabapo.”
Bertelsen pointed us to a brief video of their experience, depicting how the fishes are collected by hand, at night, in the shallows.
Watch The Video Now
He continues, “There is no doubt that it was a quite extraordinary feeling to net the angels out, literally one by one in the warm, pitch-dark night. Many aquarists regard the Atabapo altum as one of the most beautiful and sought-after angelfish in the world. Being able to net out 55 specimens in the space of a few hours that night was really cool, I have to admit! But, despite the magic of that night, the highlight of the trip for me was catching some very different kinds of fishes.”
Read more in the January/February 2021 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine.
Read more about Bertelsens’s Colombian fish collecting expedition in the January/February 2021 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine. Currently available at fine independent aquarium shops, as a back issue directly from the publisher, and accessible to all subscribers, anytime, in our digital edition (log in now!)
AMAZONAS Magazine, Volume 10, Number 1, ALLURING LORICARIIDS, on sale December 8th, 2020! On the cover: Crossoloricaria variegata (top) and Sturisomatichthys tamanae (middle) by Oliver Lucanus; chocolate whiptail catfish (Rineloricaria lanceolata) (bottom) by Norman Behr
The January/February 2021 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine is printed and arriving at the homes of magazine subscribers, local aquarium shops and better bookstores!
Readers of the Digital Edition can access this issue starting December 15th, 2020: log into AMAZONAS DIGITAL EDITION
Paid subscribers can log in with their email addresses and password for instant access. The AMAZONAS web-based digital version is available for desktop and laptop computers, tablets, and phones.
To gain access to the current issue and a digital archive of back issues, become a subscriber by following this link:
If you just can’t wait to see what’s showing up in the mail, or your favorite retailer keeps all the AMAZONAS in their protective poly sleeves, we are offering this INSIDE LOOK at the newest issue—a sampling of articles and opening pages for readers curious about what the issue will bring.
The Table of Contents for the January/February 2021 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine. You can view this TOC online!AMAZONASmagazine #InsideLook: It’s official! Volume 10, Number 1, marks the first issue for our Deputy Executive Editor turned Executive Editor, Courtney Tobler. Get to know a little bit more about her, and what the issue holds, in her Letter from the Editor (Ann Whitman remains a valued and very essential member of the Aquatic Media Press team, as Senior Editorial Advisor!).We’ve been repeatedly forewarning readers and subscribers of our forthcoming price changes in 2021. This Letter from the Publisher, by Stephan M. Tanner, Ph.D., serves as another reminder. Don’t say we didn’t warn you! Fill those holes in your back issue collection during our 2020 AMAZONAS Holiday Sale, and take advantage of our legacy subscription prices through the end of the year.Multiple new studies provide new insights into the vocalizations of catfishes. Says author Michi Tobler: “These new observations show how little we know about many fish species, even those that are common occupants of our aquaria. That’s ultimately what makes them so fascinating to me.”How easily can a fish be nearly lost and found and all but lost again? Sr. Editor and Publisher Matt Pedersen shares his quest for a personal holy-grail cichlid from Lake Victoria—Haplochromis (Lipochromis) melanopterus—a colorful paedophage that briefly saw commercial availability in the aquarium trade as the “Melon Hap”.Common names used for our aquarium fishes may differ from region to region, but usually remain unchanged over the years. In the case of scientific designations, on the other hand, we may have to relearn the binomial nomenclature of a given fish now and then—and sometimes even several times. Norman Behr and Anja Katzschmann present new information on catfishes of the genera Strisomatichthys and Sturisoma. Continuing our feature coverage, Norman Behr and Anja Katzschmann investigate Rineloricaria lanceolata and ask, “Is the chocolate whiptail catfish really just one species?”Oliver Lucanus presents an overview of rarely seen loricardiids from the Chocó region of Colombia, helping to disambiguate similar species that may be encountered from regions on both sides of the Andes.An adventure to the Río Bodoquereo would have been unthinkable a few years ago, but the improved security situation in this part of Colombia made it possible to collect fishes in some areas. Erlend D. Bertelsen shares what he and his travel companions discovered. See a bonus video for this article, here.Colorful new tetras are welcome standouts when they become available in the hobby, and the watermelon tetra, Hemigrammus coeruleus, is a sensation in this respect. Ernst Sosna shares his experiences with this flashy rarity.Dark sleepers are a group of small carnivorous freshwater fishes native to subtropical and temperate eastern Asia. Somehow, this group receives little attention in the aquarium hobby despite their unique appearance and interesting behaviors. Author Mat Chen wants to bring these fishes into the light.German contributor Ernst Sosna shares his adventurous trip through rugged Guyana in search of dwarf pike cichlids. From sampling in the field to housing fish at home, he provides valuable insights to those interested in keeping Crenicichla wallacii.To expand his own knowledge, as well as his medaka stocks, Friedrich Bitter traveled to Japan to visit several medaka breeding facilities. In this article, he shares some of the tips that he learned along the way.Rearing your own live fish food may seem like a daunting task, but low maintenance, high-reward live food options do exist. Sumer Tiwari explores how peanut beetle larvae can be a nutritious part of your fishes’ diets. Read our exclusive FREE online excerpt, and watch the bonus videos!Master aquatic gardener Bailin Shaw, chairman of the Aquatic Gardeners Association, provides practical knowledge on how to successfully set up and maintain a low-tech planted tank.Although rummy nose tetras are long-time favorites in the hobby, new revelations about the species continue. From scientific reclassification to new breeding techniques, Hans-Georg Evers delivers the latest on Petitella bleheri.Given the current state of the world in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, aquarium-related events are being canceled, rescheduled, or going “virtual” with online options. Event organizers, please keep Janine Banks (janine.banks@aquaticmediapress.com) aware of any rescheduled events and cancellations, and we’ll do our best to relay that information. View our events calendar online, anytime, for the most up-to-date information we have available, but remember, check with any event organizer directly to learn the status of their event. We look forward to a time when aquarists can once again gather to share their love for fishes.The next time you’re in need of that gotta-have-it fish or aquarium plant, give these fine retailers a call. All of them carry single-copy issues of AMAZONAS (and they might even be a great source to obtain some harder-to-find back issues)! Remember to support your independent pet retailers, especially during these challenging pandemic times! View this list online, now!We round out every issue with AMAZONAS’ Species Snapshots—concise glimpses at rare and unusual fishes showing up in the aquarium trade and hobbyist circles. In our latest installment, Friedrich Bitter discusses the unusual bulldog goodeid, Alloophorus robustus, and Dr. Paul V. Loiselle shares his experiences with African barbs of the genus Clypeobarbus, particularly Clypeobarbus pleuropholis.
AMAZONAS Magazine, Volume 10, Number 2, SPINY EELS, on sale February 2nd, 2021! On the cover: Mastacembelus mastacembelus (top) by Jörg Freyhof; Mastacembelus sp. ‘rosette’ (middle) by Andreas Spreinat; Macrognathus aculeatus (bottom) by Frank Schäfer.
The March/April 2021 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine is printed and arriving at the homes of magazine subscribers, local aquarium shops and better bookstores!
Readers of the Digital Edition can access this issue starting February 9th, 2021: log into AMAZONAS DIGITAL EDITION
Paid subscribers can log in with their email addresses and password for instant access. The AMAZONAS web-based digital version is available for desktop and laptop computers, tablets, and phones.
To gain access to the current issue and a digital archive of back issues, become a subscriber by following this link:
If you just can’t wait to see what’s showing up in the mail, or your favorite retailer keeps all the AMAZONAS in their protective poly sleeves, we are offering this INSIDE LOOK at the newest issue—a sampling of articles and opening pages for readers curious about what the issue will bring.
The Table of Contents for the March/April 2021 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine. You can view this TOC online!“In each issue of AMAZONAS Magazine, we try to balance content from destinations around the globe and present representatives from a variety of fish groups. In this issue, we focused on the oddball spiny eels as well as aquarium classics like dwarf spotted danios (Danio nigrofasciatus) and clown loaches (Chromobotia macracanthus).” Executive Editor Courtney Tobler concludes, “This was a fun issue that I hope you also enjoy.”We remember the life of FISHGUY—Phil C. Benes—a backbone of the aquarium hobby in Ohio and Fellow of the American Cichlid Association. You can read our remembrances of Phil Benes online.Aquatic Notebook: A little more than a year after the discovery and scientific description of Aenigmachanna gollum and A. mahabali, the anatomy of the Gollum snakehead, A.gollum, has been studied in detail by applying modern CT-scanning methods.Author Ralf Britz starts our feature topic discussing the fascinating spiny eels—under-rated aquarium fishes. Frank Schäfer’s images of the fire eel (Mastacembelus erythrotaenia), the barred spiny eel (Macrognathus pancalus), and the peacock eel (Macrognathus siamensis) hint at what’s on the pages to come!Our spiny eel expert, Ralph Britz, focuses on the five Burmese (Myanmarese) species-groups of spiny eels, and also touches base on the remaining members of these groups that occur beyond the country’s borders. Some of these species are ideal for aquarium maintenance.Roughly 41 valid mastacembelid species occur in Africa, and one species occupies waters in the Middle East. Ichthyologist Ralf Britz briefly covers their nomenclature and explains what makes African and Middle Eastern spiny eels distinctive.Diving in Lake Malawi affords an entertaining glimpse of spiny eels in their natural habitat, but housing spiny eels from both Lakes Malawi and Tanganyika in a home aquarium allows for a more personal view into their interesting behaviors. Author Andreas Spreinat offers us his experience both in the field and in the hobby with African Rift Lake spiny eels.Placidochromis cf. phenochilus ‘Tanzania’ from northeastern Lake Malawi, also known as the star sapphire in the aquarium trade, differs from the long-known P. phenochilus from the northwestern part of the lake in a number of color characteristics. Or are they two different species? Author Wolfgang Staeck reports. In 2012, Frans Vermeulen traveled to remote areas of Venezuela in search of killifishes and adventure. He found plenty of both, and now he tells the tale.Apistogramma ortegai is a gorgeous dwarf cichlid with highly variable coloration, and it has proven to be easily maintained and bred. Numerous forms of this fish are available in the hobby, but perhaps not all variants are actually A. ortegai. Author Ernst Sosna provides his first-hand experience with this stunning fish.In a quest for new, rare, and exotic fishes to stock our aquariums, we often overlook more “common” species hiding in plain sight. It’s easy to scan past a tank of danios in a retail shop, but author Ute Dederer suggests that the lively dwarf spotted danio (Danio nigrofasciatus) deserves more than a glance.Ute Dederer looks ahead towards summer with a survey of floating plants for open-top aquariums and keeping outdoors.There may be no better feeling than the exhilaration of catching a desired fish in its natural habitat, although breeding the newly acquired fish may come in at a close second. Eric Bodrock shares his experience with a species of loricariid that has limited availability in the hobby and a disputed name.Hailing from the sometimes ephemeral waters of Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil, Austrolebias nigripinnis has a rapid lifecycle, but it is also quite manageable to breed and rear in the home aquarium.Although the clown loach (Chromobotia macracanthus) has been an aquarium fish for ages, hardly anything is known about their life cycle or the biotopes they inhabit on two of the Greater Sunda Islands, Sumatra and Borneo. Author Hans-Georg Evors shares his experiences visiting both of these Indonesian islands several times, collecting clown loaches in their natural habitats, learning about the fishery, and sharing some of the “special sauce” that helps improve the sustainability of the fishery.Given the current state of the world in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, aquarium-related events are being canceled, rescheduled, or going “virtual” with online options. Event organizers, please keep Janine Banks (janine.banks@aquaticmediapress.com) aware of any rescheduled events and cancellations, and we’ll do our best to relay that information. View our events calendar online, anytime, for the most up-to-date information we have available, but remember, check with any event organizer directly to learn the status of their event. We look forward to a time when aquarists can once again gather to share their love for fishes.The next time you’re in need of that gotta-have-it fish or aquarium plant, give these fine retailers a call. All of them carry single-copy issues of AMAZONAS (and they might even be a great source to obtain some harder-to-find back issues)! Remember to support your independent pet retailers, especially during these challenging pandemic times! View this list online, now!Every issue of AMAZONAS closes with something special—Species Snapshots—concise glimpses at rare and unusual fishes showing up in the aquarium trade and hobbyist circles. In this issue, we journey to Lake Inle in Burma/Myanmar. Friedrich Bitter illuminates Inle loaches (Petruichthys brevis), and Dr. Paul V. Loiselle shines a light on the red dwarf rasbora (Microrasbora rubescens).
The May/June 2021 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine is printed and arriving at the homes of magazine subscribers, local aquarium shops and better bookstores!
Readers of the Digital Edition can access this issue starting April 13th, 2021: log into AMAZONAS DIGITAL EDITION
Paid subscribers can log in with their email addresses and password for instant access. The AMAZONAS web-based digital version is available for desktop and laptop computers, tablets, and phones.
To gain access to the current issue and a digital archive of back issues, become a subscriber by following this link:
If you just can’t wait to see what’s showing up in the mail, or your favorite retailer keeps all the AMAZONAS in their protective poly sleeves, we are offering this INSIDE LOOK at the newest issue—a sampling of articles and opening pages for readers curious about what the issue will bring.
The Table of Contents for the May/June 2021 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine. You can view this TOC online!“We know that generally people favor the familiar, whether it is with food, a walking route, or what they expect to see in their favorite bi-monthly magazine. Perhaps introducing freshwater fishes to children at a young age, in a format geared directly at them, is what it takes to familiarize the next generation to the world of freshwater fishes, piquing their interest and eventually hooking them into the hobby.” – Executive Editor Courtney Tobler, sharing some thoughts on the weird and unique issue of AMAZONAS arriving to readers this month.“So, why is AMAZONAS devoting a cover and two stories to Weird Waters?” The short answer from Publisher and Sr. Editor Dr. Stephan Tanner: “Well, first and foremost, I am a fish geek, and I view anything that gets kids interested in (freshwater) fishes positively.” But that’s just the start of it. You’ll have to read the issue to learn all about it!Aquatic Notebook: On February 23, 2021, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Shoal, and 15 other leading conservation organizations released The World’s Forgotten Fishes, a report detailing the dazzling diversity of freshwater fish species and the myriad threats they face. Author Michael Edmondstone says that freshwater fishes are in grave trouble—and the aquarium hobby can help.Our cover story, Weird Waters, and our interview with creator Frank Sandor. Hmm…he looks a bit familiar…can you place him?The cartoon series Weird Waters is bound to make a splash amongst our youngest readers. Here, Executive Editor Courtney Tobler introduces some of the species behind the magical freshwater fishes and provides a brief guide on what it takes to keep a few of the Weird Waters characters in your home aquarium.Ghana has many splendid biotopes to offer and explore—and many gorgeous fishes to seek out. They include treasures such as a cichlid that many aquarists consider to be the pinnacle in West African cichlids. Mats Johansson shares his story of a fishing trip to Ghana.The Aquatic Gardeners Association celebrated the 20th anniversary of its #InternationalAquascapingContest in 2020. The contest began with fewer than 100 entries and has continued to grow, culminating this year with over 700 aquascapes in 11 categories.Takashi Amano, the famed Japanese aquarist, introduced distinctive styles and concepts to the world of freshwater aquascaping, including the use of pre-planted wabi kusa elements. Author Jack McCarley of STUDIO AQUATICA takes us on an introductory tour of the world of wabi kusa and teaches us how to create our own piece of living art.Achim Werckenthin, Daniel Konn-Vetterlein, and Hans-Georg Evers introduce a new Corydoras from Bolivia that is small and slender, unusual in its behavior, and now available in the hobby through a private initiative. Corydoras sp. CW 153 is a truly extraordinary member of its genus!Author Hans-Georg Evers shares insights into the origins of the domesticated bristlenose pleco and its many forms, with emphasis on the “super red” variety and some unexpected benefits it may offer.Stefan Koerber provides a lesson in aquarium history, with a focus on the Argentine fishes that were among the first species to reach German aquariums. One aquarist in particular, Paul Nitsche, was at the helm of privately organizing and refining the intercontinental aquarium trade in the nineteenth century.In recent years, scientists and traveling aquarists have investigated in more detail the rainbowfishes of the Bird’s Head Peninsula, New Guinea’s western extremity. Here, author Hans-Georg Evers features the Susi Creek rainbowfish (Melanotaenia susii) and the Klasio Creek rainbowfish (M. klasioensis), two species that live in karst creeks only a short distance apart.Given the current state of the world in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, aquarium-related events are being canceled, rescheduled, or going “virtual” with online options. Event organizers, please keep Janine Banks (janine.banks@aquaticmediapress.com) aware of any rescheduled events and cancellations, and we’ll do our best to relay that information. View our events calendar online, anytime, for the most up-to-date information we have available, but remember, check with any event organizer directly to learn the status of their event. We look forward to a time when aquarists can once again gather to share their love for fishes.The next time you’re in need of that gotta-have-it fish or aquarium plant, give these fine retailers a call. All of them carry single-copy issues of AMAZONAS (and they might even be a great source to obtain some harder-to-find back issues)! Remember to support your independent pet retailers, especially during these challenging pandemic times! View this list online, now!Every issue of AMAZONAS draws to a close with a special column—Species Snapshots—concise glimpses at rare and unusual fishes showing up in the aquarium trade and hobbyist circles. In this issue, Kevin W. Conway examines the tiny tetra, Cyanogaster cf. noctivaga, from the Rio Nanay, Peru, and Erick Brodrock highlights Ancistrus sp. ‘Madama’.
AMAZONAS Magazine, Volume 10, Number 4, FOSSIL FISHES, on sale June 1st. On the cover: Polypterus endlicherii (the saddled bichir) by Dany Kurniawan/Shutterstock
The July/August 2021 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine is printed and arriving at the homes of magazine subscribers, local aquarium shops and better bookstores!
NEW -> If you prefer video content, we are now offering Inside Look as a video too! Check it out!
Readers of the Digital Edition can access this issue starting June 8th, 2021: log into AMAZONAS DIGITAL EDITION
Paid subscribers can log in with their email addresses and password for instant access. The AMAZONAS web-based digital version is available for desktop and laptop computers, tablets, and phones.
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If you just can’t wait to see what’s showing up in the mail, or your favorite retailer keeps all the AMAZONAS in their protective poly sleeves, we are offering this INSIDE LOOK at the newest issue—a sampling of articles and opening pages for readers curious about what the issue will bring.
The Table of Contents for the July/August 2021 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine. You can view this TOC online!“In this issue, we delve into keeping fossil fishes, including bichirs (Polypterus spp.), the African arowana (Heterotis niloticus), and even a species of snakehead (family Channidae). For those interested in killifish, cichlids, aquascapes and travel logs, keep reading for new information and photographs. Cheers!” – Courtney Tobler, Executive EditorAquatic Notebook features shorter stories and articles of interest to freshwater aquarists. In this issue we showcase a new species of filament barb from the Western Ghats, and shown here, Steven Grant looks at his involvement in the taxonomic description of multiple Corydoras catfishes. Watch the AMAZONAS YouTube Channel for an exclusive video interview with Steven Grant to learn even more about this story!Author of The Bichir Handbook, Joshua Pickett takes us on a journey into the deep past. Long before humans roamed the earth, there were bichirs…Increasingly popular with aquarists, bichirs have unique personalities, anatomy, and history. South African author André Barnard shares his experience with keeping one of the most common bichirs in the hobby: the Senegal bichir (Polypterus senegalus).Fossil records indicate that the ancestors of the African arowana (Heterotis niloticus) have changed little over the span of millions of years. Josh Pickett introduces us to the ancient Heterotis lineage and also provides important information on what it takes to maintain the fish in a home aquarium.Last year, prior to the global pandemic, author Wolfgang Staeck took part in an exciting, exploratory trip to Colombia in search of fish-friendly habitats. He describes each leg of his journey while providing an array of photographs from his time spent amongst characins, catfishes, cichlids, and more.Steve Waldron is passionate about the art and beauty of the naturalistic aquascape. He imagines the process of designing and building an aquascape as a river, and gives us a glimpse into his creative flow.Gregory J. Niedzielski surveys the Aphysosemion calliurum species-group; it includes the widely known lyretail killi (A. australe), but it also contains nine other closely related, desirable species.The U.S. bans the import and interstate transport of snakeheads (family Channidae) without a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, but these fishes are popular aquarium residents in other parts of the world. German AMAZONAS editor Friedrich Bitter provides a glimpse of what it is like to keep and breed one such fish that is prohibited to aquarists on U.S. soils; Channa ornatipinnis, the ornate snakehead.In 1996, author Uwe Werner traveled in the Brazilian federal state of Rondônia, where various cichlids of the demon eartheater (Satanoperca jurupari) species-complex live, sometimes together, in the Río Madeira drainage. Because he was able to bring back live specimens at that time, he is now able to report on one of these species, described as Satanoperca curupira in 2018.In this edition of Notes from the Field, Hans-Georg Evers reminisces about a memorable trip with friends to the vicinity of Vang Vieng, Laos.The cartoon series Weird Waters is bound to make a splash amongst our youngest readers. Here, we continue our coverage of the species behind the magical freshwater fishes and provide a brief guide on what it takes to keep Melloo (an upside-down catfish) and Zinker (a glass catfish), two characters from the show, in your home aquarium.Even as we see the light at the end of the tunnel, the COVID-19 pandemic still has a strong impact on aquarium-related gatherings. Event organizers, as you start to “reopen” your clubs and swaps, be sure to notify Janine Banks (janine.banks@aquaticmediapress.com) so we can return to normal and start sharing these gathering opportunities once more! View our events calendar online, anytime, for the most up-to-date information we have available, but remember, check with any event organizer directly to learn the status of their event.As summer draws near and we tend to pay less attention to our aquariums, please take a moment to consider supporting your local fish shop! All the retailers listed in our SOURCES page carry single-copy issues of AMAZONAS (and they might even be a great source to obtain some harder-to-find back issues)! View this list online, now!Every issue of AMAZONAS draws to a close with a special column—Species Snapshots—concise glimpses at rare and unusual fishes showing up in the aquarium trade and hobbyist circles. In this issue, Friedrich Bitter introduces a unique ricefish, Oryzias sarasinorum, and we share a barb that comes along with an interesting history as told by Dr. Paul Loiselle; meet Pethia phutunio!
We’re excited to bring you our pre-issue sneak peek in a brand new format!
That’s right, you can now get Inside Look, your exclusive sneak-peek at the brand new issue of the aquarium magazine AMAZONAS, in video format! Host Alex Rose walks you through the latest issue, FOSSIL FISHES, the July/August 2021 edition. You can still get a FOSSIL FISHES Inside Look in a readable format as well!
Readers of the Digital Edition can access this issue starting June 8th, 2021
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We’re excited to bring you our pre-issue sneak peek in the new video format!
That’s right, you can now get Inside Look, your exclusive sneak-peek at the brand new issue of the aquarium magazine AMAZONAS, in video format! Host Alex Rose walks you through the latest issue, GUDGEONS & GOBIES, the September/October 2021 edition. You can still get a GUDGEONS & GOBIES Inside Look in a readable format as well!
Readers of the Digital Edition can access this issue starting August 10th, 2021
Not a subscriber yet? SUBSCRIBE & SAVE!Print subscriptions include free digital edition access and start at just $39 per year—Save 35% off the newsstand price!
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AMAZONAS Magazine, Volume 10, Number 5, GUDGEONS & GOBIES, on sale August 3rd. On the cover: Microphysogobio tafangensis, N. Chiang; Rhinogobius wuyanlingensis and R. henshuenensis, W.-C. Tseng and T.-C. Chang; Sicyopus multisquamatus, H.-G. Evers
The September/October 2021 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine is printed and arriving soon at the homes of magazine subscribers, local aquarium shops and better bookstores!
NEW -> If you prefer video content, we are now offering Inside Look as a video too! Check it out!
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If you just can’t wait to see what’s showing up in the mail, or your favorite retailer keeps all the AMAZONAS in their protective poly sleeves, we are offering this INSIDE LOOK at the newest issue—a sampling of articles and opening pages for readers curious about what the issue will bring.
The Table of Contents for the September/October 2021 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine. You can view this TOC online!Gudgeons & Gobies or Dungeons & Dragons? “In D&D, the “Dungeon Master” acts as the referee and narrator,” explains AMAZONS Exec. Editor Courtney Tobler. “This is a very similar role that you and I enact every day as aquarists.”In Memoriam: we look back at the life and times of Wayne S. Leibel.In Memorium: We reflect on the passing of Aleck Brooks.Will you attend the Triple Crown Convention of the freshwater aquarium hobby in 2022? Rusty Wessel extends an invitation to join the American Cichlid Association (ACA), the American Killifish Association (AKA), and the American Livebearers Association (ALA) all in Louisville, Kentucky next summer!Drake Shaw and Nathan Chiang report on Microphysogobio tafangensis. It has been known to science for over 85 years, however, it was only recently introduced to a marveling public in the autumn of 2020 via Internet photos and videos.“Today, I am again looking for gobies…With my underwater camera setup in my right hand, I balance on a path of slippery rocks in the middle of a mountain creek. We are inland on Negros Island in the Visayas region of the Philippines.” – Klaus M. StiefelSometimes available in the hobby from specialist importers, gobies of the genus Rhinogobius from East Asia are entertaining and striking aquarium occupants. Author Nathan Chiang introduces several species you may encounter originating from China and Taiwan.In partnership with the Toronto Zoo, Oliver Lucanus has his sights set on breeding the endangered Joba Mena (Ptychochromis insolitus), and bringing it to the aquarium hobby this year.Travel to the highlands of the Peruvian Andes and discover what secrets they hold (could it be rare catfish?!). Anja Katzschmann an Norman Behr return with the story, and pictures, to share their journey!Flying fish from around the country, or importing from around the world, Andrew Bogott walks you through how it’s done, legitimately and legally.Bailin Shaw doesn’t simply think CO2 for planted tanks works, he explains exactly why it’s mission-critical for planted aquaria and aquascapes. Plus, he provides a fundamental overview of the available options for carbon dioxide application in your home aquarium.Live foods offer a wide array of benefits in the aquarium-keeping hobby, from getting hesitant fish to eat to stimulating fish to reproduce. In this issue, Friedrich Bitter presents two options that can be easily cultured outdoors with minimal effort.Follow along as Hans-Georg Evers goes on the hunt for an enigmatic goby. Discover Sicyopus multisquamatus in the remote northern reaches of West Papua’s Bird’s Head Peninsula.The cartoon series Weird Waters is bound to make a splash amongst our youngest readers. Here, we continue our coverage of the species behind the magical freshwater fishes and provide a brief guide on what it takes to keep Von Kutcha (the frontosa cichlid) and Mr. T. Tanic (a redtail shark), two characters from the show, in your home aquarium.Finally, the AMAZONAS Events Calendar returns with ACTUAL EVENTS to share! Event organizers, as you start to “reopen” your clubs and swaps, be sure to notify Janine Banks (janine.banks@aquaticmediapress.com) so we can return to normal and start sharing these gathering opportunities once more! View our events calendar online, anytime, for the most up-to-date information we have available, but remember, check with any event organizer directly to learn the status of their event.Looking for a missing issue? Want to see a printed copy of AMAZONAS before you commit to a subscription? Or, just looking for a way to support some of the finest independent aquarium retailers? Be sure to check out the AMAZONAS Magazine sources list. It’s in the back of each issue, and available anytime online!We close out each issue with Species Snapshots, a look at rare and unusual fishes showing up in the aquarium trade and hobbyist circles. In this issue, we take the entire column to focus on one very special fish, the red melon dario (Dario hysginon), shared by Dr. Paul V. Loiselle.
Perhaps surprising to some, it is possible to fly with aquatic livestock in carry-on luggage. Photo: Qilin’s prance Filmmaker/Shutterstock
An exclusive excerpt from the September/October 2021 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine
article & images by Andrew Bogott, except as otherwise noted
Flying with and importing fish may seem like daunting endeavors. However, both are possible if you dedicate a little time, money, and gumption to the task.
Reading Hans-Georg Evers’s description of the Chatuchak Market in Thailand in the July/August 2019 issue of AMAZONAS strikes an uncomfortable note during a worldwide pandemic. It seems like a lifetime has passed since I’ve been in a crowded shop of any kind, much less one in a distant country.
This article first appeared in the September/October 2021 issue of AMAZONAS Magazine. Subscribe today!
His article also tells another all-too-familiar story: First, Evers begins by asserting that he’s not there to buy and that everything for sale in Bangkok is also available in his home city in Germany. Then, inevitably, he discovers a few tanks containing unusual tetras or a betta form that’s rare or entirely unknown at home. It reminds me of the feeling that I’ve had a dozen times, in an overseas fish store or even browsing online: I see a fish or an invertebrate that I would love to keep, only to realize that they are several customs barriers away from my fish room.
After years of simply browsing Asian fish shops, I finally buckled down and did my research. It turns out that for a U.S. resident, many of the obstacles to traveling with aquarium inhabitants are obscure but surmountable. Here, I will first give some background information on various agencies and services that will help with your importing needs for when the time comes that the spectre of COVID is no longer a concern for international travel. Then, I follow up with my personal experience with transporting aquatic animals nationally and internationally.
Key Players
Depending on where your fish are coming from and where they’re going, a variety of agencies and agents will be involved. Get ready to make phone calls, read websites, and fill out forms. Almost all of these regulations are locally determined, and there’s no reason to think that any of the involved countries have coordinated their policies. So, it’s best to familiarize yourself with all the steps of export and import from start to finish.
It is often tempting to make a purchase when browsing overseas markets. Photo: esdwek/Shutterstock
With that in mind, here are the folks you might be dealing with if importing fish into the U.S.:
Customs Services in the Country of Origin
To import a fish into the U.S., first it must be exported from the country of origin. There’s no rule of thumb here; some countries care, some don’t, and some require commercial export licenses. Singapore (the only country I’ve personally exported from) has a two-tier system. It considers exports of thirty or fewer fish as a personal allowance that does not require any special permission or paperwork. Some countries may restrict live animal export to licensed commercial dealers or forbid them entirely.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
As the department in charge of managing livestock disease, the USDA has a strong but selective interest in fish imports. The department does not regulate most tropical fishes, however some fishes, such as carp (including goldfish) and tilapia, require special USDA inspections and certification. The usda.gov website has a page titled “Bring Live Animals into the United States” which provides up-to-date information about restricted species. Better yet, directly contact the USDA officials at your point of entry to see if they have interest in any of the particular species in question. As long as you’re not bringing in food fish or a closely related species, they’re unlikely to be directly involved in the import process.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)
The FWS is responsible for wildlife and habitat preservation and protecting endangered species. Naturally, they’re going to be very interested in what exact species you’re importing and will want to verify that your fish are indeed what you say they are. If your import isn’t listed by CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), then the application for a permit or import license is fairly straightforward.
The FWS only supports imports through a select list of airports called “Designated Ports”. These are the airports with FWS staff available to inspect shipments and baggage. If aquatic livestock are being shipped via air freight, then they will need to travel through one of these ports for inspection prior to being passed on to your local airport. A transshipping service (see next page) generally handles this step. If you are planning to bring animals into the U.S. by air (either as air freight or as personal baggage) and are not traveling via a designated port, then you will need to request an exception or change your travel plans.
Anchorage, AK
Honolulu, HI
New Orleans, LA
Atlanta, GA
Houston, TX
New York, NY
Baltimore, MD
Los Angeles, CA
Newark, NJ
Boston, MA
Louisville, KY
Portland, OR
Chicago, IL
Memphis, TN
San Francisco, CA
Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
Miami, FL
Seattle, WA
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Designated Port Cities
Depending on how many animals you wish to import and what you want to do with them afterwards, you may need an importer’s license. The FWS allows importations for “personal use”, but the terms are quite restrictive and are more geared towards the transport of a single beloved pet. If you plan to trade or resell any of the imported fish or any future fry, then the agency will consider you as a commercial importer who needs a permit. Acquiring a commercial importer’s license is not difficult, but it does involve additional forms and fees. As it stands, FWS declares the importation of eight or more specimens of a given species to be commercial.
Finally, there is a question of timing. The FWS doesn’t inspect every bag or every shipment, but it reserves the right to do so. That means that if you arrive on a weekend, holiday, or outside of normal business hours, you may be on the hook for overtime pay (at least $105) if they opt to inspect. Presumably, the same is true for air freight inspections unless you want your fish sitting on a loading dock until 9:00 am on a Monday.
I’ve contacted FWS officials a few times, and they’ve been consistently responsive and helpful. Many of the above concerns can be resolved via friendly emails, and the necessary forms are readily available on the FWS website. Overall, they do not seem at all hostile to hobbyist imports, as long as you aren’t smuggling snakes in your pants.
For air travel, TSA will screen any fish-transport containers along with all other carry-on baggage. Photo: Jaromir Chalabala/Shutterstock
Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
I long assumed that the liquid ban imposed on U.S. air travel in 2006 ruled out the ability to transport fish in carry-on luggage, but this turns out not to be the case. According to the TSA’s “What Can I Bring?” website, “live fish in water and a clear transparent container are allowed after inspection by the TSA officer”. The same site says that fish in checked baggage are not allowed but doesn’t provide any additional details.
Airport Security in the Country of Origin
It’s easy to forget that TSA does not govern every airport. Even though air travel security rules are increasingly standardized throughout the world, it’s still important to check local regulations before your departure. The last thing you want is to have a security guard demand that you drop your fish in a trash bin before passing through the metal detector.
Airlines
The TSA has taken on almost all of the responsibility for baggage inspections and regulations for U.S. airlines, but, alas, not all of them. I have yet to encounter one that explicitly bans live fish in carry-on luggage, but it wouldn’t surprise me if some do. Worse yet, in my experience, the airlines tend to be less explicit and coherent about their regulations, so you might get different answers from different officials.
The safest option is to ask in advance, document what you’re told, follow the rules, and don’t do anything to invite extra scrutiny. I once showed up at an airline check-in counter with a box marked “Live Fish, Handle with Care”. The airline official turned me away, and I had to reschedule my flight. If I hadn’t labeled the box, perhaps there would have been no issue.
State Wildlife Officials
State wildlife officials might not maintain a presence at the airport, but many states have local restrictions on exotic animal imports. For example, at least 23 states ban importing or keeping piranhas. There’s no general nation-wide rule; check your local restrictions and be ready to leave most piranhas, Asian arowanas, snakeheads, Gambusia, and snails where you found them.
Retailers (Remote or In-person)
You might be standing in a shop in Bangkok, or you might be browsing an online store a continent away. In either case, the folks selling you fish might be able to cut through some of your importing complications. They may ship regularly to the U.S. and already know the process or have business relationships with people in the U.S. who can smooth things out. If I have the option to pay someone else to navigate the rules and paperwork, I will pay!
Even if you’re talking to a small-time shopkeeper who has no knowledge or interest in international sales, they can still tell you things you’ll want to know. The FWS may ask you where your shrimp were raised, or where your fish were caught. They will definitely want scientific names. Learn and note down all you can, so if someone asks, you’re ready to answer.
Also, don’t neglect packaging. There’s a big difference between bagging a fish for a trip across town and packing one for a multi-day flight. A seller can’t pack fish for a long trip if they don’t know that you’re taking one.
Transshippers
If you want to spend money to make most of these complications go away, then you probably can. Transshippers are businesses or individuals who specialize in understanding import regulations and who already possess the necessary forms and permits to bring animals into the U.S. Typically, a box of fish would be sent to the transshipper via air freight at which point the transshipper receives the package, escorts it through customs, etc., and then sends the fish on to you using a domestic shipping service.
In the easiest case, you’re buying fish such as fancy guppies or bettas from an overseas retailer who already has a relationship with a domestic transshipper. In that scenario, the transaction may be as simple as giving the overseas seller your address and paying the fees. If that seller does a lot of business in the U.S., then the transshipper may be splitting up one international air-freight box and sending many smaller packages all over domestically, in which case the fees may be fairly affordable.
A more bespoke option is to make personal arrangements with a transshipper and then ship a package directly to them. This is the kind of arrangement that hobbyists often use when returning from a collecting trip.
The costs of importing goods through a transshipping service can really add up (international shipping + domestic shipping + service fees for the transshipper), but if you’re not planning to make frequent imports, it may still cost less than buying your own licenses. Plus, it will definitely save you headaches.
Real World Experience: Domestic Travel
I wanted to test the reality of the TSA policy about carrying fish through security. So, a few years ago when I was in Portland, OR for a friend’s wedding, I bought a bag of not-very-expensive Endler’s livebearers (Poecilia wingei) at The Wet Spot Tropical Fish. I told the shop to prepare them for a long trip, stuck them in an insulated lunchbox, and nervously lined up for airport security. As advertised, the TSA agents pulled out the fish, peered at them for a minute, and then sent me on my way. Unfortunately, upon arriving at my home airport, I accidentally left the bag on a bench at the train station. Luckily, after a bit of rushing around and a quick conversation with a policeman, I was able to recover the fish. I’m happy to say that they arrived safely in my fishroom and have since prospered.
I wouldn’t hesitate to repeat this process (minus the train-station abandonment) with a rarer or more expensive fish—it was entirely straightforward. For a single bag of fish, having them as carry-on rather than as checked baggage was more of a perk than a limitation since I was able to maintain control of their handling and transport and did not have to worry about the fish being held for inspection or rule violation.
Real World Experience: International Travel to the U.S.
I spend a fair bit of time in Singapore, where shrimp-keeping is a great deal more popular than here in Minnesota. There are multiple shrimp-only retail shops, and even a random pet store in a shopping mall is likely to have a few tanks full of black King Kong shrimp (Caridina cf. cantonensis var. ‘King Kong’) or painted fire shrimp (Neocaridina davidi var. ‘painted fire red’). Singaporean aquascapers will keep their algae under control with Yamato aka Amano shrimp (Caridina multidentata) if price is no object, but on a budget, they’ll buy a pre-packed bag of 100 Malaya shrimp (Caridina sp. ‘Malaya’) for $10.
Having kept and raised a range of wild-caught Caridina shrimp, Malaya shrimp have become a bit of a white whale for me. They were briefly available in the U.S., but they generally don’t show up on importer lists because they don’t have the bright colors of other domesticated varieties. What species are they? What is their life cycle like? Do they have larval phases or direct development? No one in Singapore seems to really know or care, they’re just cheap workhorses. I, however, wanted to try to answer those questions. But first, I’d need to get some home to a tank where I could observe and photograph them.
A few weeks before my return to the U.S., I started contacting officials. First, I had a friendly email exchange with a FWS official who sent me to the website to fill out some forms.
I also emailed the Department of Agriculture, and they, too, were responsive and helpful. Their response was, essentially, “We don’t regulate freshwater shrimp; you can ignore us”. They also suggested that I get a veterinarian certificate for the shrimp, but that struck me as highly unlikely. Since they didn’t say I needed to get a certificate, I opted to ignore this suggestion.
With the go-ahead from U.S. officials (and my prior positive experience with U.S. air security), the remaining hurdles were related to getting the shrimp out of Singapore in the first place.
Singapore has a personal pet quota for leaving the country with non-endangered animals. It has a personal quota for fish (many), a personal quota for marine invertebrates (no more than five specimens), and no real acknowledgment of freshwater invertebrates. Five shrimp are only barely enough to establish a colony, so I decided to risk it and pack a couple dozen shrimp, argue that they were “fish”, and hope that the customs agents weren’t zoologists.
I purchased 3.4-ounce (100-mL) plastic bottles from a discount store to be used for shrimp transport.
Then, I hit a roadblock. In the U.S., TSA has a special exception to the carry-on liquid restriction for fish; Singapore air security has no such exception. I emailed the Changi Airport security help desk, and their response was curt: “…each passenger may hand-carry up to 10 of the 100 mL (3.4 oz) bottles (total: 1,000 mL). Hence, we regret to inform that it is not advisable to hand-carry live aquarium fish onto the aircraft.” Not advisable, but … not forbidden. The shrimp that I wanted to bring home are very small, and 100 mL isn’t that much smaller than your average fish bag. After visiting a couple of local discount stores, I had a plan: transport the shrimp in 10 separate 100 mL bottles in an insulated cosmetics case.
Louis Law, owner of Aquatic Glasselli in Singapore, indulged me in my request for Malaya shrimp.
Finally, I had to acquire and pack the shrimp. Louis Law at Aquatic Glasselli was amused enough at my ambition that he ordered a tank full of shrimp, held onto them for me, and then helped as I packed them up for transport. We placed one or two shrimp in each 100 mL bottle, and I had a decent-sized breeding colony in my carry-on without running afoul of airport security.
Packed for carry-on: shrimp bottles mixed among the shampoo bottles.
I also printed out multiple copies of my conditional permit from the FWS and prepared to brandish them when challenged. The FWS notified me that they wouldn’t be coming in on the holiday and that the shrimp were “conditionally released” pending further approval.
I printed and made available my conditional release form from FWS.
Getting through security in Singapore was a non-event—they treated my tiny bottles of shrimp just as they would have treated bottles of shampoo. Also, my traveling companion graciously offered to carry half of the bottles, so the 10-bottle limit wasn’t an issue. Once on the plane, there was nothing to do but worry about the upcoming challenge of clearing customs.
On arrival at San Francisco International Airport, I filled out a standard customs declaration at the kiosk and clicked “yes” for the option about declaring live animals or wildlife. The machine printed out an admission form with a giant X over my face and a note to see a passport agent, which was not especially encouraging. After a long wait in an immigration line, the passport agent took my passport and did not give it back. It was alarming, but he promised that someone at the agriculture desk would return it.
Next, I needed to collect my checked luggage and locate the agriculture desk. There wasn’t one, but there was a generic customs inspection desk with another line behind it. After yet another wait, I chatted with a friendly agent and showed her my FWS form. She seemed mostly unconcerned, but “freshwater aquarium shrimp” was definitely a new one for her, so there was a long delay while she shopped the form around among her colleagues. Eventually, she returned and told me that I was free to go.
The rest of the trip was easy. There were no comments from security or baggage handlers, and the shrimp arrived at home alive and swimming. Puzzlingly, the FWS did not officially “release” the shrimp until I filed a few more forms: a flight plan, a receipt, and a personal letter professing my lack of commercial interest. Apparently, it was fine to file these after the fact because a few days later the shrimp were “released”. Of course, by that time, they were already zipping around my aquariums.
My Malaya shrimp (Caridina sp. ‘Malaya’) made it safely to Minneapolis, MN.
Should You Try This?
Overall, my experience hand-carrying fish on a domestic U.S. flight went smoothly. I wouldn’t hesitate to try it again or suggest it to someone else.
My international trip carrying shrimp also went fine, but it’s not entirely clear that I could reproduce the event with the same success. Singapore has especially lenient import/export rules, so traveling from someplace in Europe might be a whole other story. In addition, I don’t know if it was just good luck that I got on the plane without incident or if it was a sure thing.
Also, perhaps shrimp are easier to transport across borders than fish. The USDA might well care about fish, and most fish would be unhappy being crammed into a 100 mL bottle for a day and a night.
That said, I did see the paradisefish Macropodus honkongensis in a tank in Singapore. If they happen to still be there the next time I’m in the region, I may not be able to resist. Of course for ethical reasons, I would want to have flexible travel plans in case I would be turned away at the gate so that I could return the fish back to a local aquarium store rather than tossing it in the trash.
Here are my suggestions for someone else who wants to try an international trip with a fish or another aquarium animal:
Check in early with FWS and USDA. They are shockingly helpful and indulgent of eccentric desires.
Read and re-read local rules about exports before setting out.
Leave the airline out of it. My inclination is to make sure that everything is above board, but airlines are notoriously risk-averse and are likely to say “no” to any question that they haven’t heard before.
Be ready to assert that your livestock is not for commercial use and mean it. The non-commercial restrictions are a bit silly and clearly unenforceable, but I would hate for people to abuse the non-commercial license exception such that the rules wind up getting changed. If I import livestock again, I’ll probably just buy a commercial license.
Plan for failure. Failure might mean that you are turned away from your flight, or it might mean that you miss a connecting flight due to long customs delays.
If I Made the Rules
It would be great if all the airlines and all the world’s airline security counters would agree on rules about checked and carry-on baggage. Restrictions on liquids in carry-on baggage seem to be nearly universal these days, but the specifics vary from country to country. Even within the U.S., TSA agents are notoriously capricious, so I will always live in fear of an inspector who doesn’t know about the fish exception and doesn’t want to hear about it.
Rules against fish in checked baggage are frustrating and seemingly arbitrary. I’m unclear whether this ban is simply to prevent baggage-hold chaos caused by leaking liquids (in which case, it would make more sense to have rules about container types rather than container contents) or if it’s to prevent liability after the death of a beloved pet (in which case a disclaimer or waiver system might work just as well).
In general, I’m impressed with how helpful and consistent the FWS has been. The only real headache in that regard is their distinction between personal and commercial imports. It makes sense to me to have restrictions on the volume of imports (perhaps a limit on the number of fish imported per year), but it feels weird to have one species among all my tanks which I’ve promised not to trade or auction. Much like the airline baggage rules, the commercial versus personal labels make sense for those transporting a beloved pet but don’t really comply with the practices of the average aquarium hobbyist.
Before buying a fish in a foreign land, it is important to check the legality and logistics of exporting from the source and importing into your home country. Photo: Baloncici/Shutterstock
Hypothetical Scenario
Let’s assume you reside in the U.S. and select the commercial route to import aquatic livestock. First, you must apply for a new commercial import/export permit that is valid for one year. This permit costs $100 and may be renewed annually for the same fee. In addition, each live, non-protected, commercial import will cost you an additional $186 in inspection fees. You also must electronically file the following information with FWS prior to your import’s arrival: species names, count, flight number, and arrival time. Consequently, you will spend at minimum $286 to show your import to a FWS agent at a designated port. Obviously, the more specimens that you import, the cheaper the cost per fish becomes.
Yet, for a traveling hobbyist who desires to bring back only a couple of bags of fish, the $286 price tag is quite steep. As a result, often times fish may enter the country unreported and thus illegally. Maybe a special hobbyist import permit and reduced inspection fees could lower the number of unreported importations. After all, FWS is tasked to protect our natural resources from injurious wildlife and to prevent the trade of endangered species. It would be much easier for FWS to do their job, if a non-commercial legal route existed that encouraged people to comply with the rules rather than smuggling in their aquatic livestock.
Please remember that traveling with fish comes with rules. But even with these rules in place, transporting or importing aquatic livestock may be possible and easier than you think.
Editor’s Note: It is the responsibility of all travelers to be informed of laws governing the transport of aquatic livestock via air travel and across political borders. AMAZONAS magazine bears no liability to those who ignore or are naive to the rules set by officials.
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