Dwarf suckermouth catfish a.k.a oto cat
otocinclus affinis

It belongs to the family Loricariidae

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Origin:
Southeast Brazil

Description:
A slender catfish with a suckermouth. A fairly high dorsal fin, but no adipose fins. About 1 ½ inches in length (4cm).

Color:
A base color that is light greenish gray to a muddy yellow. The fins have no color, or in some cases a light green.

Sexual distinction:
Mature females will be much bulkier.

Tank conditions:
Needs a current of some kind. So you can’t just have one in a bowl that doesn’t have a filter current, or current from a bubble curtain. Temperature 68-73 degrees Fahrenheit (20-23 Celsius). The ph and hardness ratings are not that important. The tank should be well planted with lots of hiding places.

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And don’t worry about the plants, the oto cat a.k.a dwarf suckermouth catfish will eat the algae that grows on them. That brings me to my next subject.

Food:
Will mainly eat vegetation, will also eat very small worms. Most people often buy the oto cat a.k.a dwarf suckermouth catfish to eat the algae growing in their tank, which it will earn it’s keep by doing.

Behavior:
Usually remains under cover during the day, most active at dusk and during the night, which is it’s normal feeding time. Will attach it self to the sides of vertical slabs of rock, plant leaves and stems or the side of the glass.

Sexual reproduction:
A difficult fish to breed, but what I’ve learned is that they breed similar to Corydoras. The eggs hatch after 2-3 days. The fry should be feed baby brine shrimp (artemia nauplii) micro worms or egg yolk powdered very very fine.

Compatibility:
Somewhat territorial but harmless. They will be just fine in a mixed aquarium when enough room is given.

Angelfish
Pterophyllum scalare

It belongs to the family Cichlidae

Click here to learn what a cichlid is.

Cost: $5-45, the more expensive Angelfish are the ones that are either wild, or are of a new cultivated form. The cheaper ones are usually home-bred youngsters.

Short Bio: The Angel seems to be one of the most popular cichlids around, even though most fish keepers don’t know that it’s a cichlid. That’s just because of the unusual shape that the angel fish has.

Origin:
Amazon drainage, South America.

Size:
Both, males and females get to around 5 in (13 cm) long.

Sexual distinctions:
There are some who can say that by physical differences, that they can tell the different sexes, but when it comes to Angelfish the best known way to tell the sexes apart are is to observe the genital papilla during spawning. During spawning the males will be pointed, and the females will be blunt.

Tank conditions:
The tank size should measure, 24 x 16 x 16 in (60 x 40 x 40 cm). For a pair the tank size should be 36 x 16 x 16 in (90x 40 x 40 cm) for a community.
All the conditions below are for both community tanks and specie tanks.

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Temperature 77-82 Fahrenheit (25-28 Celsius). Water, for tank-bred strains the water conditions are not as critical and they can thrive in almost any type of water chemistry. Now, for wild specimens the water chemistry is actually important. For the wild Angelfish use soft, slight acid (Ph 6-6.5) water. Avoid having strong currents in the tank.
The tank should be well planted with bogwood, but for tank-bred strains this is not critical.
The Angelfish will prefer to stay at the top of the tank, and since in the wild there are shoals of Angelfish, so there really is not limit to the number of Angelfish that you can keep in a tank the has adequate space.

Food: In the wild Angelfish eat aquatic invertebrates, but in aquariums will eat any type of omnivore or carnivore foods.

Behavior:
A very peaceful cichlid even during breeding but be warned, may eat small tank mates.

Breeding:
Tank-bred Angelfish will breed in the tank but odds are they will eat the brood, so artificial hatching may be needed. Two females will “pair” and spawn if no male is present.

Fighting fish better known as betta
Betta Splendens

All of this information is helpful for the basic needs of the Betta but I have got a great book that goes into great detail on how to have the Betta thrive in your tank and possibly if you wish have is breed in your tank, for the book Click Here!

It belongs to the family anabantidae

Click here to learn more about Anabantoids, and what makes them unique.

Cost: $2-3

Origin:
Malayan peninsula and Thailand

Description:
General shape, slender-bodied, compressed sides that give it a skinny look. Fins, long,broad anal fin, with a long and tall dorsal fin. It has narrow, pointed, and elongated pelvic fins. Gets up to 2 ½” (6cm)

Color:
Many variations.

Sexual distinction:
The females look much plainer then males.

Tank Conditions:
Temperature 77-86 degrees Fahrenheit (25-30 Celsius.) The higher temperature is for breeding only. Ph and water hardness are not really that important. It’s recommended, that if possible, that softer water be used. The tank needs moderate to good lighting. The tank should be sooted with medium to thick vegetation. The water level should be a little on the low side to prevent the fish from jumping out. The substrate should be soft with a thin layer of humus. A well covered tank with some floating plants will finish this magnificent fish’s living space.

Food:
Mostly live food such as brine shrimp or I use guppy fry, but a high quality dry food will be fine.

Behavior:
The males are extremely aggressive and will compete in vicious battles.

Sexual maturity and reproduction:
Builds bubble nests among the plants and decorations in the tank. They use the bubbles to support the eggs. After the spawning process has finished the female will need to be removed, the male will look over the new brood. Once the eggs begin to hatch (24-30 hours later) the male will need to be removed.

Compatibility:
Do not keep the males of the same species together in the same tank. Best if just kept in specie tanks.

FireMouth Cichlid
chichlasoma meeki

It belongs to the family Cichlidae

Click here to learn what a cichlid is.

Cost: $5-45, with the wild caught specimens costing more.

Origin:
Guatemala Yucatan (Mexico)

Description:
Typical cichlid shape, but with a larger head. Upper body more arched then lower one. About 6 inches (15cm).

Color:
Consists of many different colors, the basic solo is a bluish gray with a nice purple sheen. The back tends darker, while the belly is a yellowish olive, the throat an lower jaw define what the fish is called because they are a magnificent brick red. A black line that is often divided in to spots, starts at the top edge of the gill cover and extends all the way to the bas of the tail. In the middle of the body there is a large gray-edged patch.

Sexual Distinction:

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Female will be duller in color, while having less pronounced spines of the anal and dorsal fins.

Tank conditions:
Temperature 68-73 degrees Fahrenheit (20-23 Celsius). Ph and hardness rating that too important, middle ranges with soot this fish best. Does not do well in planted tanks.

Food:
Live food, with a little plant food.

Behavior:
A relatively peaceful fish. Does better with other cichlids.

Sexual maturity and reproduction:
Reach a sexual maturity at around 3 inches (8cm). Pair forming, and when trying to breed you can raise the tank water to 75-79 degrees Fahrenheit or (24-26 Celsius).

Compatibility:
Should be kept with other cichlids. Become territorial.

Red-bellied piranha
pygocentrus nattereri

For more information on Characins click here.

Cost:
Before I tell you how much the Red-bellied piranha cost let me just lay down a few facts. The price will vary on these factors; specimen size, maturity and supplier. Now that you understand the variable the common price for the Red-bellied piranha is $7-15.

Short Bio:
The popular opinion about the Red-bellied piranha is the they are bloodthirsty beasts, well this is not the normal case. The Red-bellied piranha is actually a very timid fish when kept in small numbers in the home aquarium, with the younger specimens are actually spooked rather easily. The bloodthirsty beast side of the Red-bellied piranha is only applied to the large school found in the wild and that side is still greatly exaggerated. Even though I just tried to make you think twice about the ruthless nature that is so commonly associated with Red-bellied piranha think carefully before purchasing any.

Origin:
South Brazil, Amazon River Basin.

Sexual Distinctions:
The male Red-bellied piranha will be slightly more slender and while in breeding condition will darken greatly.

Tank conditions:
Your tank should measure at least 60 x 24 x 24 inches (150 x 60 x 60 cm).
The temperature should be between 72-82 degrees Fahrenheit (22-28 Celsius).
Red-bellied piranhas are able to thrive in many different types of water conditions, just avoid very hard and alkaline water. The tank should be decorated with hidings spot amongst large pieces of bogwood. If you have a desire to use plants in that tank be sure to use more robust species the Red-bellied piranha may eat more delicate species.

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The Red-bellied piranha should be housed in groups of at least four, try to keep an eye out for weaker ones in the group since you may need to remove the weaker one if fighting or bullying occur or it may end up as lunch.
The Red-bellied piranha prefers to occupy the middle of the tank and is best kept in a species tank.

Food:
There diet for the Red-bellied piranha should be split up into two parts.
First you have the frozen meaty foods, which includes but is not limited to, cockles, mussels, and fish. You can also feed the Red-bellied piranha larger live foods such as shrimp or fish, just make sure the live fish are not diseased.
The second part of the diet should consist of dried pellet foods. Almost all typed of dried food will work, the reason they need this type of food is that it contains many vitamins and minerals that may be lacking in their other foods.

Behavior:
Here’s the section that I’m sure many have been waiting for. The Red-bellied piranha is rather scatty when younger, and actually slow-moving and quite timid when mature. But none the less may still take bites out of tanks mates. With adequate feeding and hardy, larger sized tankmates the Red-bellied piranha can make a great addition to your home aquarium.

Breeding:
When breeding the Red-bellied piranha you will need a very large aquarium and the spawning will usually take place after a water change. The parents will protect their young.

Silver Dollar
mytnnis argenteus

For more information on Characins click here.

Cost:
The price I am going to tell you is for younger Silver Dollars, the price for more mature/larger specimens varies considerably. So with you understanding that the younger one are cheaper then you should be able to find young Silver Dollars for sale for about $4-7.

Short Bio:
The Silver Dollar is closely related to the Piranha but unlike its cousin is almost entirely a vegetarian. When young the Silver Dollar is quite timid so make sure the tank is place in an area where the outside world activities will not spook the young Silver Dollar. The roundness shape of the Silver Dollar give the it a strong presence in the fish tank. The Silver Dollar is a great addition to any tank that has other large, peaceful fish. The Silver Dollar can also be tankmates with some larger species of cichlids.

Origin:
South America in rivers where vegetation is found both above and below the water.

Sexual Distinctions:
To sex the Silver Dollar look at the anal fins. The male Silver Dollar will have a slightly larger, more colorful anal fin then the female.

Tank Conditions:
The minimum tank size dimensions for housing the Silver Dollar are as follows:
48 x 18 x 18 inches (120 x 45 x 45 cm).
The temperature should be in the range of 75-82 degrees Fahrenheit (24-28 Celsius). The Silver Dollar will adapt well to most water conditions.

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In the wild though the Silver Dollar is found in water that is acidic to neutral. There are no special needs that the Silver Dollar has as far as decorations in the tank goes, but it does like to have a few large hiding places under some rocks or bogwood. Like its cousin the Silver Dollar should be kept in groups of at least four or more. The Silver Dollar tends to occupy the middle and lower parts of the tank.

Food:
In the wild it feeds almost solely on vegetation and seeds, which its diet should reflect in the aquarium as well. Feed the Silver Dollars pellet foods, and for younger/smaller Silver Dollars who can not fit pellets into its mouth feed herbivorous flakes, algae wafers, lettuce, cucumber, and plant matter. Even though I named these foods off for smaller Silver Dollars you should feed all of this the the adults as well.

Behavior:
The Silver Dollar is very peaceful and active, but will eat almost all plant aquarium plants.

Breeding:
The Silver Dollar will breed in the aquarium but it needs a vary large aquarium and will also need soft water. When the male Silver Dollar is in spawning condition his colors will intensify greatly and various patterns will appear.