If you walk into my shop and ask, “How do I save more baby guppies?”, I won’t sell you a plastic breeding box. I won’t sell you expensive “Liquifry” food. I will tell you to go to a nursery, buy a cheap RM15 clay lotus pot, and put it outside. In the US and UK, […]
The 90% Survival Rate: Why Outdoor Ponds Beat Breeding Boxes Read More »
In the fish shop, you see hundreds of names: Red Dragon, Blue Moscow, Black Metal Lace. It’s confusing. But if you strip away the fancy marketing names, there are really only Three Basic Types of guppies based on their history and purpose. Here is the evolution of the guppy, starting from the grandfather of them
Back to Roots: The “Original” Guppy and the 3 Basic Types Read More »
When you walk into a fish shop, you usually just point and say, “I want the Red one.” But if you look closer, you will see that the “Red one” might have a triangle tail, while the “Green one” has a fork tail. Breeders have spent 100 years engineering these shapes. Understanding them helps you
Guppy Tail Shapes Explained: From Fan Tails to Double Swords 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 »
“Don’t cry. It was just a fish. We can go to the shop and buy another one for RM10.” If you have ever lost a Betta, you have probably heard this from a well-meaning friend or parent. They mean well. To them, a fish is just a decoration that moves. But to us, it feels
“It’s Just a Fish”: Why Losing a Betta Hurts More Than You Expect 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 the modern aquarium hobby, we are often obsessed with clarity. We buy expensive filters, carbon media, and polishing pads to make the water look like invisible air. But if you look at a natural river or a rice paddy, the water isn’t crystal clear. It is tinted. It is golden. It looks like tea.
The Quiet Power of Indian Almond Leaves (Ketapang): Why “Teh O” Water is Magic Read More »
We all love the look of a “Super Red Halfmoon” or a “Dragon Scale Plakat.” They are stunning. They look like swimming paintings. But have you ever noticed what happens when they get old? By the time a fancy Betta is 1.5 or 2 years old, he often spends most of his time resting on
The Aging Game: Why Wild Bettas Live Longer Than “Fancy” Ones 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 »
Breeding guppies feels harmless at first. It starts accidentally. A few babies appear in the plants. You feel a small spark of pride. “Life is happening in my tank.” But there’s a point — usually subtle — where breeding stops being nature and starts becoming pressure. Most people don’t notice that line until they’ve crossed
When to Stop Breeding Guppies (Before It Becomes Cruel) Read More »
