The Harlequin Rasbora: Why Malaysia’s “Local Hero” Deserves a Blackwater Tank

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We often spend hundreds of Ringgit importing fish from the Amazon (Tetras) or Africa (Cichlids). But did you know that one of the most famous, beautiful, and aquascaped fish in the world is a local? Meet the Harlequin Rasbora (Trigonostigma heteromorpha). If you go to a high-end aquascaping competition in Japan or Europe, you will […]

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Neon Tetra vs. Cardinal Tetra: Why the “Expensive” One is Actually Cheaper

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You are standing at the fish shop. In Tank A, you see Neon Tetras selling for RM2.00. In Tank B, you see Cardinal Tetras selling for RM5.00. They look almost identical. They both have blue and red stripes. They both school together. Your wallet tells you: “Buy the Neons. You can get 20 Neons for

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The Tiger Barb: Why This “Local Gangster” Needs a Strict School

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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

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Rummy Nose Tetra: The “Canary in the Coal Mine” for Your Aquarium

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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,

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Chili Rasbora: The Ultimate “Nano Fish” for Your 1-Foot Office Tank

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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

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