500 Freshwater Aquarium Fish: A Visual Reference to the Most Popular Species

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Praise for the hardcover edition:
“For users looking for specific information on freshwater aquarium fish this will be a useful and interesting resource.”
–American Reference Books Annual 2007

“Any home or library collection strong in aquarium references — and many a fish store — will find this packed with in-depth detail perfect for setting up an aquarium.”
–The Midwest Book Review

This comprehensive full-color reference covers 500 of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish. It provides concise at-a-glance information on their behavior, diet and breeding along with guidance and recommendations on setting up a freshwater aquarium.

Substantive and well organized for easy navigation, the book satisfies a wide of needs. Beginners can start their hobby with confidence and experienced keepers can use the book as an authoritative reference.

The most important update of this edition is that species names have been changed in accordance with the latest international revisions, made to take into account recent DNA information. In all, about 120 names are updated.

Freshwater Aquarium Fish is a “window shopping” trip guided by an aquarium specialist ready to offer advice. The directory details every species appropriate for a freshwater aquarium. While most require a heated aquarium, other varieties can be kept in an unheated one (such as bloodfin tetras, white clouds and the beginner classic, goldfish).

The book organizes the freshwater aquarium species in major groups, among them: Cichlids (such as angelfish and discus); Catfish; Cyprinids (such as barbs, danios, koi and goldfish); Characoids (such as tetras, neons and piranhas); Loaches and suckers; Gouramis (such as bettas, paradise fish and snakeheads); Rainbow fish and blue-eyes; and Livebearers (such as mollies and platies).

This comprehensive and useful reference is from a highly respected fish keeper with more than 50 years’ experience. His advice and guidance will be welcomed by amateur fish keepers of any age and expertise.

From the Publisher

500 Freshwater Aquarium Fish: A Visual Reference to the Most Popular Species

THERE ARE WELL OVER 24,000 SPECIES OF FISH known to science, and that number appears to be increasing daily. With so many thousands of species in existence—from whale sharks to minnows—we should all know what a fish is. However, things are not that simple, since there is no categorical definition of the term “fish.”

Identifying combined characteristics associated with fishes, such as an aquatic lifestyle and the possession of gills and fins, might seem to bring a definition a little closer— but other animals such as cuttlefishes (Sepia, etc.) and squids exhibit the same characteristics.

In broad terms there are two groups of fishes:

Cartilaginous fishes (Class Chondrichthyes): Sharks, rays, and chimaeras (about 700 species).

Bony fishes (Class Osteichthyes): A large class of species ranging from guppies to seahorses (over 23,000 species).

Of these two categories, the one that is encountered almost (but not quite) exclusively in aquaria and in ponds is the Class Osteichthyes, the bony fishes. It is possible, with difficulty and numerous exceptions and qualifications, to list the characteristics that, in combination, allow us to recognize a bony fish as such.

Bony fish:

• Possess a braincase and limb (fin) skeleton consisting, at least in part, of bone.

• Possess fins, usually with spines and/or rays.

• Breathe through outwardly directed gills covered by an operculum (gill cover) that appears externally as a slit-like aperture.

• Have bodies totally or partially covered in scales (with some important exceptions).

• Possess an air/gas swim-bladder used in buoyancy control (with a few exceptions).

• Possess a sensory mechanism called the lateral line system, which runs in a head–tail direction.

• Are poikilothermic (cold-blooded): their body temperature is determined by that of the environment.

Bandit Corydoras (Corydoras metae)

This pink and black corydoras has a black “mask” that extends from the top of the head, through the eye, to the bottom edge of the gill covers— hence the “Bandit” part of the name. The front of the dorsal fin is also black, this pigmentation running in a single central band along the back to the top front edge of the caudal fin and then down to the bottom front edge of the fin. From the side it can easily be confused with C. melini (Diagonal Stripe, or False Bandit, Corydoras) from the state of Amazonas in Brazil. However, from above the single black dorsal band of the Bandit Corydoras splits into two separate narrower bands in C. melini; they extend diagonally toward the caudal peduncle (the base of the tail fin).

Black-belt Cichlid (Vieja maculicauda)

The Black-belt Cichlid is an old favorite. It is easily distinguished by its prominent vertical central-body band, from which the common name derives. This band runs from the center of the dorsal fin right down to the belly, although its breadth and sharpness vary from specimen to specimen and according to the individual’s mood.

Fenestratus (Protomelas fenestratus)

Also known in the trade as Haplochromis steveni “Thick Bars,” this is one of several Protomelas species available, some of which are still awaiting scientific description. Male Fenestratus are the more brightly colored of the sexes, with the females having a more inconspicuous gray to silver coloration.

African Buffalohead (Steatocranus casuarius)

All the common names of this species—which is the only Steatocranus frequently seen in the hobby—accurately describe the head shape of fully mature males. Females also possess the nuchal (head) hump, but it is much less pronounced than in males. Steatocranus is a bottom dweller with limited swimming ability.

Green Terror (Andinoacara rivulatus)

This relatively large fish has distinctive cheek markings that are similar to those found in the Blue Acara. However, the head, particularly in males, is considerably larger, with a noticeable “forehead.” The Gold Saum and Silver Saum have golden/reddish and whitish/silvery edges to the dorsal and caudal fins respectively.

Orange-finned Loach (Yasuhikotakia modesta)

This is an unusually, but most attractively, colored species. It is sometimes confused with B. lecontei (Leconte’s Loach). However, in Orange-finned Loach all the fins are orange to yellow, while in B. lecontei the dorsal fin is grayish blue.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Firefly Books; Updated edition (June 1, 2018)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 528 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1770859195
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1770859197
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.13 x 6.25 inches