Thanks to the movie Finding Nemo, the Ocellaris Clownfish is the most recognizable fish on the planet. Every child wants one. Every parent tries to buy one. And sadly, many of them end up in a freshwater bowl, where they die in minutes. If you have read my previous post about the cost of saltwater […]
Can I Keep “Nemo” in a Small Tank? A Beginner’s Guide to Clownfish Read More »
In Malaysia, we call them “Ikan Laga” (Fighting Fish). The name itself suggests violence. We imagine a fish that wants to kill everything in sight. A fish that wakes up choosing violence every single day. But if you sit and watch a Betta in a planted tank for an hour, you will realize something surprising.
The Myth of the “Angry” Betta: Why Your Fish Isn’t Just a Fighter Read More »
We have all been there. You are at the Local Fish Shop (LFS). You walk past the Guppies and Tetras. Then, you see the blue glow. You see the coral. You see “Nemo.” You look at the price tag on the Clownfish: RM25. You think: “Hey, that’s cheap! I can afford that. Maybe I should
Freshwater vs. Saltwater Aquarium: The Honest Cost in Malaysia Read More »
If you show a non-hobbyist a tank with brown water, they will say: “Eeew, your tank is dirty. Go change the water.” But if you show that same tank to a master breeder in Penang, they will nod and say: “Beautiful. The fish must be very happy.” This is the concept of Blackwater. It is
Why Your Tank Water Should Look Like “Teh O Kosong” (The Blackwater Guide) Read More »
In our last post, we warned you that Penang’s soft water gives Guppies “The Shimmies.” But for Channa (Snakehead) keepers, that same water is a blessing. If you are keeping Channa pulchra, Channa limbata, or Channa andrao in Penang, you are playing the game on “Easy Mode.” While hobbyists in KL and Ipoh are fighting
Why Penang is Paradise for Channa (The Soft Water Advantage) Read More »
Cooking Nasi Lemak requires a balance. You need the rice, the sambal, the egg, and the ikan bilis. If you just have a plate full of sambal, it’s not a meal; it’s a disaster. An aquarium is the same. You cannot just throw random fish together. You need a balance of Top, Middle, and Bottom
The Perfect 2-Foot Aquarium: A “Recipe” for a Peaceful Community Tank Read More »
After a while in fishkeeping, something strange happens. You stop panicking. You stop scrubbing everything spotless. You stop chasing perfect numbers. And somehow… your fish live longer. This is usually when people realize a truth nobody teaches beginners: Fish don’t need perfect water. They need stable water. Why Beginners Obsess Over “Clean” It makes sense.
Clean Water Is Overrated (Stability Is What Matters) Read More »
If you walk into a fish shop and ask, “What should I feed my baby guppies?”, the standard answer is usually: “Just crush the adult flakes into powder.” This is why most home-bred guppies end up small, slow, and dull-colored. While crushed flakes will keep them alive, it won’t make them thrive. If you want
The Secret to Huge Fry: Best Food for Guppy Fry Growth (Stop Using Flakes) Read More »
(Why Your Tank Isn’t as Stable as You Think) There’s a pattern I see in the Malaysian fishkeeping community again and again. Month One: The tank looks great. The fish are active. Everyone is eating. You feel a sense of pride. You think, “I’ve finally mastered this.” Month Two: The plants grow in. Fry start
Why Your Guppy Tank Crashes After 3 Months Read More »
“Boss, my Guppy looks like a walking dead fish. His tail is shredded, he looks ugly, but when I feed him, he eats like a horse! Is he a zombie?” I hear this every week. You are confused because usually, sick fish don’t eat. If your Guppy is acting like a “Zombie”—falling apart on the
Guppy Tail Rotting but Still Eating? (The “Zombie Fish” Mystery) Read More »
