The Fish Tank Biologist

One of the best fish for beginner hobbyists and new tanks is Puntius titteya, the cherry barb. This fish species is hardy, colorful, and peaceful. They are forgiving of beginner mistakes and fluctuations in water chemistry, common with newly setup aquariums. The males are a striking deep red with a streamlined shape. As a peaceful schooling species, P. titteya does well with most community fish and makes a great addition to the freshwater community aquarium. P. titteya was fi

Fish do not sleep in the same way as humans and other mammals. Fish do however enjoy the same biological benefits of sleep. Similar to what we call sleep, fish enter an extended rest period where their brain activity lowers, and their metabolism and respiration slow down. Sleep research in fish is an active field of study and there is still much to be discovered about the details of how and why fish sleep. Fish sleep could be classified as a lighter form of the deeper sleep h

One of the aquariums I care for is home to a group of gregarious panda corys (Corydoras panda). They are always active, exploring the vegetation, and have actually bred at least once. C. panda are a great addition to the right aquarium. They are entertaining to watch, are great at sifting sandy substrates and cleaning up food particles at the bottom of the aquarium. They prefer pristine water and do well in groups. C. panda are a relatively new species to western science. The

My destination is a pristine, healthy, beautiful Iwagumi aquascape. I have not arrived there yet, but the first leg of my journey is complete. I wanted to write this article to journal what I've done so far in my quest to try something new in the aquarium hobby. One of the aspects of the aquarium hobby I love the most is trying new things and overcoming new challenges. I have always enjoyed naturescapes more than other aquascaping styles. There are many different types of nat

The naming conventions for fish and invertebrates in the aquarium hobby is widely varied and therefore commonly leads to misidentification. Picture the first fish that comes to mind, then think about all the synonyms you’ve heard or seen for that species. Think about how the last time you went to a fish store and two different species looked awfully similar, or two completely different looking individuals had the same label. This confusion in properly identifying and naming a