You see them in every aquarium shop. They are bright orange, they have three distinct black stripes, and they wiggle excitedly at the glass like puppies. They are often labeled “Clown Loach – RM8.” They look perfect. They look like “Nemo” for freshwater. You think, “I’ll take three for my 2-foot tank.” Stop. The Clown […]
The Clown Loach Warning: Why You Should Probably NOT Buy This Fish Read More »
Walk into any fish shop in Malaysia, and you will see a tank full of cute, whiskered fish wiggling on the bottom. The shopkeeper might tell you: “This is a cleaner fish. Buy one. It will eat the poop.” Please, do not listen to that advice. The Corydoras Catfish (“Cory”) is not a vacuum cleaner.
Corydoras are NOT Janitors: Why You Need 6 of Them (And Why Sand is Mandatory) Read More »
In most parts of the world, a “pet fish” costs RM5. In Malaysia, we have a fish that can cost as much as a used Perodua Myvi. Meet the Asian Arowana (Scleropages formosus). Specifically, the Malaysian Golden Arowana (Crossback Golden). Known as the “Dragon Fish,” it is the crown jewel of the aquarium world. In
The Golden Arowana: Why This Fish Costs as Much as a Myvi (And How to Buy One Safely) Read More »
It is the worst feeling in the hobby. You bought a pair of beautiful Guppies on Saturday. By Tuesday, one is floating at the top. The other one is sitting at the bottom, fins clamped tight, looking miserable. You ask: “What did I do wrong? I fed them, I have a filter, the water is
Why Is My Guppy Dying? The “Emergency Room” Guide (Worms, Ich, and Stress) Read More »
Introduction Guppy fish (Poecilia reticulata), also called rainbow fish or millionfish, are small, vibrant live‑bearing freshwater fish native to the streams and pools of northern South America and the Caribbean. They have been bred since the late 19th century and now exist in hundreds of strains with almost every color and fin shape imaginable. Guppies
Guppy Comprehensive Guide Read More »
In the old days, coal miners used to carry a caged canary down into the tunnels. If the bird stopped singing or fainted, the miners knew there was a gas leak and ran for their lives. The bird was an early warning system. In the aquarium hobby, we have our own canary. It doesn’t sing,
Rummy Nose Tetra: The “Canary in the Coal Mine” for Your Aquarium Read More »
You have a small 1-foot aquarium on your office desk. You want movement. You want color. You look at a Goldfish? Too big (it needs a pond). You look at an Angelfish? Way too big. Even a Neon Tetra looks a bit cramped in a tiny cube. Enter the Chili Rasbora (Boraras brigittae). These fish
Chili Rasbora: The Ultimate “Nano Fish” for Your 1-Foot Office Tank Read More »
Most snails are boring. They sit on a rock, move 1 inch, and sleep. But there is one snail that has “Main Character Energy.” Meet the Mystery Snail (Pomacea bridgesii). They are big, they come in crazy colors (Purple, Blue, Ivory, Magenta), and they are genuinely hilarious to watch. They don’t just clean your tank;
The Wet Hamster: Why Mystery Snails Are the Ultimate Aquarium Pet Read More »
We have the Malayan Tiger. We have the Malayan Tapir. But did you know the most famous aquarium snail in the world is also named after our country? Meet the Malaysian Trumpet Snail (or MTS for short). If you ask a fish shop uncle about them, he might scrunch his face and say, “Aiya, that
The Snail Named After Us: Why Every Tank Needs the Malaysian Trumpet Snail Read More »
If you tell an old-school fishkeeper that you bought Ramshorn snails, they will laugh at you. “Why you pay? I have 1,000 in my filter. You want? I give you free.” For years, the Ramshorn Snail was public enemy number one. They hitchhiked on plants, took over tanks, and looked like ugly brown specks. But
From Pest to Pet: Why You Should Keep “Designer” Ramshorn Snails Read More »
