Warm Fresh waters

It owes its name of "freshwater shark" only to the shape of its dorsal fin. It behavior and it food have nothing comparable. It acclimates easily to the aquarium.

It has a body allowing it to breathe oxygen from the air and is able to survive in the mud. With its pectoral fins, sturdy and with large thorns, it may leave the water at night in search of prey or of a nesting site. It is used intensively in pisciculture under the name "Claresse". In some countries, it is an invasive species.

Small barbs located around its mouth enable it to search for food in the sand or mud. It goes regularly at the surface to breathe oxygen from the air. It acclimate easily to aquarium.

It is most active at night. The dominant male is easily recognized by the bump on its front. In captivity, it does not hesitate to devour specimens from smaller species. Growing up, it moves it habitat to the bottom of the aquarium.

It is a very easy fish to breed in an aquarium. It is used as a "laboratory animal" for studies on genetics and on the embryonic development of vertebrates. Danios varieties have been genetically modified: the « Glofishs » © they are fluorescent in the dark.

Its dark bands allow it to hide in the vegetation. Its reproduction in aquarium is more difficult than that of other species of tilapia. Nevertheless, it is bred in pisciculture.

It easily accommodates to life in the aquarium even if it is sometimes aggressive towards other fish. After the eggs have been laid, it is necessary to separate the adults from the eggs. It is sometimes called "jewel" tetra because of its color and the dark spot in the middle of it body.

The female is stockier than the male. It easily accommodates to life in the aquarium. It is recommended to isolate the breeding pair. After spawning, remove the adult from the nesting site because they could eat the eggs and juveniles.

Its mouth, equipped with full lips, allows it to cling to various surfaces. It uses it rough tongue to scrape the algae growing on the rocks ... and on the glass of an aquarium. Warning, it measures a few centimeters when you bought it, but it can grow quickly.

Much of it body is transparent. In the rainy season, it takes advantage of the floods to exit the riverbed where it lives to breed. It easily accommodates to life in the aquarium. Its flesh is used for the production of a "fish sauce".

Color varies according to gender: the male is blue and yellow, the female is brown and green. Once formed, the pair lays each day some eggs in the vegetation. The eggs hatch after 12 days. It is easy to breed in captivity.

During breeding, the male digs a hole in the sand. A female will deposit it eggs that it will shelter in its mouth. After hatching, the young remain close to the adults. In case of danger, they take refuge in the mouths of their parents. It is bred in pisciculture.

It is one of the most known species to aquarists. It breeds easily in captivity, but it is too often taken from the wild. For several years, it has started to being raised in it home region. It became a source of income for local people.

Its attractive coloring is mainly due to the refraction of light on the scales. They breed easily in aquariums.

The male is much smaller and more colorful than the female. It is an ovoviviparous species, the male fertilizes it partner through its anal fin which forms a kind of gutter. It is the most popular aquarium fish, there are many varieties.

It has special organs that allow it to breathe out of the water. In the dry season it silts up, gets surrounded by a cocoon made of mucus and reduces its biological activity to a minimum. It can remain in the state for more than a year. It belongs to the same class as the terrestrial vertebrates.

The stripes of it body allow it to hide. Parents lay their eggs in the vegetation, and provide for their offspring long parental care (custody, ventilation ...). Very popular among aquarists: there are many color varieties obtained through breeding.

Thanks to its small size, it is an ideal fish for beginner aquarists. It is easy to maintain and reproduce in the aquarium.