You walk into the fish shop. You see a tank of small, dark fish with orange patterns wagging their tails at the front glass. They are begging for food. They follow your finger.You look at the price: RM15. You think: “Wow, a smart fish for cheap!” Meet the Oscar Fish (Astronotus ocellatus).They are intelligent, they […]
The Oscar Fish: Why This “Drama Queen” is the Best Wet Pet You Can Own Read More »
You have a planted tank. Everything is going well. Then, you see it. Tiny tufts of black, fuzzy hair growing on your driftwood and Anubias leaves. Black Beard Algae (BBA). You try to scrape it off. It won’t move. You try to poison it. It comes back. You go to the shop and ask for
True SAE vs. Flying Fox: How to Spot the Real “Algae Killer” Read More »
They are striped like tigers. They act like tigers. The Tiger Barb (Puntigrus tetrazona) is one of the most famous fish to come out of Southeast Asia (Borneo/Sumatra/Malaysia). They are energetic, hardy, and extremely fun to watch. But they have a dark side. If you put a Tiger Barb in a tank with an Angelfish
The Tiger Barb: Why This “Local Gangster” Needs a Strict School Read More »
You buy a Guppy from the shop. It looks okay. It has a nice yellow tail. Two weeks later, you visit your friend’s house. He has the exact same breed of Guppy, but his looks different. His fish is glowing. The yellow is deep gold. The body is thick and energetic. You ask him: “Where
The “Glow Up” Diet: How to Feed Your Guppies for Maximum Color Read More »
You have algae on your glass. You have algae on your plants. You go to the shop and ask for an “Algae Eater.” The uncle points to a long, grey fish sucking on the glass. “Chinese Algae Eater. RM3. Very hardworking.” Do not buy it. That fish will grow to 6 inches, stop eating algae,
The Otocinclus (“Oto”): The Only Algae Eater You Should Ever Buy Read More »
You want a “Centerpiece Fish”—a star of the show. You look at a Betta? Too aggressive; he might kill your shrimp. You look at a Dwarf Gourami? They are infamous for dying suddenly (Dwarf Gourami Disease). You look at an Angelfish? Too big for your 2-foot tank. Let me introduce you to the best-kept secret
The Honey Gourami: The Most Underrated Centerpiece Fish for Small Tanks Read More »
They are named Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) for a reason. With their long, flowing fins and graceful swimming style, they look like they are gliding through heaven. They are the classic “Centerpiece Fish.” You put a pair in a planted tank, and it instantly looks classy. But do not let the name fool you. These are
The Freshwater Angelfish: Elegant Beauty or Community Bully? Read More »
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 »
You see a baby catfish in the shop. It has a cute, flat head, long white whiskers, and a bright red tail. It looks clumsy and friendly. It’s smiling at you. The shopkeeper says, “This one good. Eat leftover food. Good friend for your Arowana.” Do not be fooled by that smile. The Red Tail
The Red Tail Catfish: The Cute Monster That Will Eat Your Other Fish Read More »
You are at the fish shop. You see a tank full of active, silver fish zooming back and forth. They look like mini sharks. They have the high dorsal fin, the sleek body, and the cool “shark” swim. You ask the uncle, “How much?” He says, “Murah saja. RM2 seekor. Ikan Patri.” You think you
The “Patri Shark” Trap: Why You Must Never Buy This RM2 Fish Read More »
