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 »
There’s a moment every guppy keeper goes through. You stand in front of your tank, watching a fish you paid good money for—perfect tail, glowing colors, a clean “pure” strain—and you think: “Why does this one look like it’s about to die… but the ugly drain guppy I caught as a kid in the longkang
Why Fancy Guppies Are Weak (The Genetic Cost of Beauty) 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 »
It is the standard beginner mistake. You buy a tank. You buy some Goldfish or Guppies. Then, the shop uncle tells you: “You need a cleaner fish. Take this black one. Only RM3.” You take home the Common Pleco (Hypostomus plecostomus). In Malaysia, we affectionately call them “Ikan Bandaraya” (The City Council Fish) because they
Stop Buying “Bandaraya” Fish! (And What to Get Instead) Read More »
Tourists come to Penang for two reasons: Char Koay Teow and Asam Laksa. But if you ask a serious fish hobbyist from Germany, USA, or Japan why they are flying to Penang, the answer is different. They are here to buy Discus. For decades, Penang has been the global capital of Discus breeding. The strains
Penang Discus: Why the “King of the Aquarium” Rules the World (and Your Wallet) Read More »
