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 »
In Malaysia, the Arowana is the King. But the King needs a palace (a 5-foot tank). What if you live in a condo? What if you want a fish that recognizes you like a puppy, eats from your hand, but fits in a 1.5-foot tank? Enter the Nano Channa (Snakehead). This is the fastest-growing trend
The “Pocket Dragon”: A Beginner’s Guide to Keeping Nano Channa Read More »
This is the scariest moment for a beginner. You wake up, look at your tank, and your beloved Betta is bobbing on the surface like a cork, struggling to swim down. Or worse, he is stuck on the bottom, dragging his belly like a heavy stone. You think: “Is he broken? Is he dying?” The
Help! My Betta is Floating Sideways! (The Swim Bladder Guide) 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 »
Your fish was swimming fine yesterday. Eating. Exploring. Looking… normal. Then today — gone. No white spots. No fungus. No obvious injuries. So you assume the usual answer: disease. But here’s the uncomfortable truth most fishkeepers learn too late: Your fish probably didn’t die of disease. It died of shock. And shock is sneaky. It
Why Your Fish Didn’t Die of Disease (It Died of Shock) 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 »
It is a feeling every Betta owner knows. You are sitting at your desk working. You feel eyes on you. You turn around, and there he is—your Betta, hovering motionless in the corner of the tank, staring right at your face. He isn’t looking at the wall. He isn’t looking at the plant. He is
Why Your Betta Watches You (And Yes, He Recognizes You) Read More »
When you walk into a fish shop, your eyes go to the big, flowing Delta tails. They look like underwater curtains. Then you see the Round Tail guppies. They look small. They look “Kampung.” But let me tell you a secret: The Round Tail is the 4×4 Truck of the guppy world. While the Delta
The Underrated King: Why “Round Tail” Guppies Are Stronger Than Deltas 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 »
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 »
