Practical Fishkeeping April 2024

EVERYWHERE I TURN this year its axolotl, axolotl, axolotl. I stroll into a fish shop, make a beeline for the coldwater section to get my weekly fix of ranchu, and instead there are albino salamanders staring back at me. Yes, they aren't fish, but they are aquarium denizens, and I simply cannot ignore the swathes of requests I'm getting for a feature on their care. So here it is! For the traditionally fishy crowd (like myself), it's a little tetra heavy this issue, and that's fine by me. Michel Keijman offers us a broad overview of the many characiforms of Cameroon, while Gabor Horvath sings up an aquarium classic: the X-ray tetra. I've kept them before and I'd be surprised if you hadn't. For budding aquascapers who have yet to…

AXOLOTLS AT A GLANCE NAME Although in the UK we pronounce the axolotl as ‘Acks-oh-lot-ul’ the correct native pronunciation is much closer to ‘ah-show-loat'. SENSITIVITY Just like fish, axolotls are sensitive to water conditions such as ammonia and nitrite. Any axolotl set-up must have a biological filter, and will need regular water testing to ensure things are safe. SIZE Long-lived and espeically huge axolotls may rarely reach up to 45cm long, though as pets they tend to end up somewhere between 15-25cm. COLOURS Wild axolotls are a dark grey/green colour with mottled olive, but in aquaria many colour morphs have been produced, including white albino, golden albino, leucistic, speckled, copper, black, lavender, piebald and more. There's even an axolotl that has been genetically modified with fluorescing proteins to glow under…

For many years, axolotl care products were either DIY a? airs (such as Holtfreter's Solution), or repurposed from aquarium fish use, as in the case of dried foods, medicines and water conditioners. More recently, axolotl specific products have become readily available, taking the guesswork out of axolotl care. Here are four we wouldn't want to be without… PRO?F AXOLOTL PELLETS — when it comes to dry food, axolotls want a nutritionally balanced, quick sinking food with a high protein content. Rich in smell to entice even the most stubborn of axolotls, Pro-f pellets remove the risk of introducing disease pathogens from live foods. Smaller junior pellets are richer in protein and vitamin content (for healthy growth) while the larger adult pellets ensure optimal nutrition without excess pollution. AXOSAFE TAP WATER…

TROPICAL Alestidae ALESTIDAE, THE FAMILY of freshwater fish commonly known as African tetras, constitutes by far the greatest diversity of African characiforms, with current estimates of 118 species distributed among 19 genera. They are found in various parts of Africa, including the Congo River basin, the Nile River, and other rivers and lakes throughout the continent. Some are pelagic or semi-pelagic. And they are easily distinguished from the similarly-shaped cyprinids by sharp teeth on the jaws and a small adipose fin. Some of the most familiar include the African tigerfish, Hydrocynus vittatus, the Congo tetra, Phenacogrammus interruptus, and the Nurse tetra, Brachyalestes nurse. In the wild, these tetras can be important food fish for African communities, and prey for larger fish and other animals. Habitats and feeding As young Alestidae…

Choosing a tank The right starting point is essential if you want the best from your layout—it's di? icult to strip and reassemble a grown-in ‘scape if you later decide the tank isn't to your liking. Standard aquarium kit Any aquarium kit marketed for fish will work as an aquascape on some level, but with limitations. If the tank has a closed hood, it may be di? icult to add equipment, and you may be tied in with inadequate lighting. Pipework and filtration may also be fixed in place in an unsightly way. Many fish tanks have slightly di? erent glass to aquascaping tanks, and may not be as good for photography. Dedicated aquascaping tank Often open-topped for visual e? ect, aquascaping tanks normally use low iron glass for extra…

A smaller tank will be more affordable in outlay and running costs, but does come with the risk of being unstable. Smaller bodies of water have less ability to dilute down pollutants, and are more prone to sudden, drastic swings in water chemistry. While they can be quick to maintain, they may require much more frequent maintenance than a larger set-up. Larger tanks are more stable, but do present more of a risk to the newcomer. If you get a catastrophic algae outbreak, or struggle to maintain the water chemistry in a huge tank packed with expensive plants, you could be severely out of pocket. As a beginner, a tank of around 60cm long is a good starting point—not too big, not too small.…