Community Fish

Odessa Barbs (Pethia padamya) are a freshwater fish that comes from Southeast Asia. They are pretty much exclusively found in the country of Myanmar but some have reported seeing them in nearby countries too (these reports haven’t been verified).

The waters where they originate are rich in vegetation and slightly acidic. They also have a moderate current which these fish can navigate with ease.

This is a shoaling species that will spend most of their time in a group (we’ll get into that in more detail later). They’re a rather active fish and will display curiosity and willingness to investigate all levels of the tank.

While this species is from Myanmar, they actually got their name from Ukraine. The city of Odessa was where these fish picked up initial traction within the fishkeeping community. Soon, this interest spilled into other areas around the world.

The oranda goldfish is a fresh water fish of the Cyprinidae family. These fish are a product of selective breeding and are closely related to the common goldfish

The Galaxy Rasbora is a tropical fish that has remained a favorite amongst aquarists since its discovery in 2006. This fish is one of the latest additions to the aquarium trade that caused a great hit with fish keepers worldwide. The fish has got a fantastic coloration on its body, the reason why it is one of the most sou

The Galaxy Rasbora is a striking tropical fish prized for its vibrant, iridescent coloration that captivates aquarists worldwide. Since its introduction in 2006, it has become a sought-after species due to its unique and dazzling appearance, which often exceeds expectations when viewed in person. Ideal for community tanks, the Galaxy Rasbora adds dynamic color and activity, making it a standout choice for enthusiasts seeking a visually stunning and lively addition to their aquarium. Indeed its unique colors look so good that a section of fish keepers was skeptical of it and thought that the colors were sort of a ploy to hoodwink the public into buying it. Surprisingly, when seen in an aquarium, the fish looks even more stunningly beautiful than even from photos

These fish are native to the freshwater Atrato and San Juan River basins of Colombia in South America. They frequent areas that are slow-moving, such as small tributaries and streams, where the temperature ranges from 73 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Though the emperor tetra is distributed over a narrow range in the wild, it has become a favorite aquarium pet and is farmed for sale around the world. As of 2014, the IUCN Red List (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) has insufficient data to determine the status of this species in its natural habitat in the wild; more research is needed. In captivity, the species breeds readily. The attractive coloration and elegant fins of the regal emperor tetra leave little doubt why the emperor tetra was given its name. Introduced to home aquaria in 1960, it has become one of the more popular of the tetra family of fishes. Fins of both sexes have a yellow hue and are edged in black on the outer periphery; they are red where the fin meets the body. The body of the fish is blue-gray with mauve tones, and it displays an almost iridescent sheen. A dark stripe runs horizontally from head to tail, and the body is lighter in color below the stripe.

The bumblebee goby is hands-down one of our favorite fish. These interesting and adorable little critters steal the show in almost any aquarium, and we’ve heard from countless owners who can’t stop talking about them.

Scientifically, bumblebee gobies are known as Brachygobius. Technically speaking, Brachygobius is the genus name. There are several types of fish sold under the “Brachygobius” moniker, but the differences are so minor that most can’t even tell them apart.

The oranda goldfish is a fresh water fish of the Cyprinidae family. These fish are a product of selective breeding and are closely related to the common goldfish

Leopard Puffers are pufferfish that inhabit a wide range of territories in the wild. This includes Southeast Asia, Southern Asia, and Africa. More specifically, they’ve been found in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and China. Within these various regions, they inhabit freshwater and brackish bodies of water, such as streams, rivers, and estuaries.

Leopard Puffers have a yellow-green body and a white-colored belly. Their body is covered in black spots of various size. Therefore, these fish are also known as Green Spotted Puffer. They become more brightly colored as they mature. They have a round body shape, large eyes, and a tiny mouth. The females tend to be more round than the males. The males also have darker black spots. The difference between males and females becomes more obvious as they mature

FURCATA rainbowfish also called forktail blue eye rainbow tetra, The bright yellow pectoral fins on this fish remind me of the pom-poms cheerleaders use at halftime. As you can see in the video, these are an active fish which is continually "cheering.' Bright fish with a lot of flash and personality, these are peaceful and will do well with other appropriately sized peaceful tank mates.

Hasemania nana is a 2-inch (5 cm) schooling fish that hails from the rivers and streams of Brazil. What sets it apart from your typical South American nano tetra is its high activity level. During mealtimes, you will see them swarm together in a feeding frenzy reminiscent of their larger neighbor, the piranha.  Their bold, outgoing nature is one of the many reasons they are among the most popular fish sold at Aquarium Co-Op.

Adult males deepen into a coppery-orange color, whereas adult females and juveniles have a translucent, lemon-yellow hue. Their common name comes from the white tips on their fins, and their forked tail has a short, black stripe in the middle. Most silver tip tetras in the aquarium trade are captive-bred at fish farms, and they have developed an albino version for sale as well.

The Golden Wonder Killifish, also known as the Malabar Killifish or Striped Panchax, is a very colorful, relatively undemanding fish that has become incredibly popular among aquarists over the past few years.  Originally a gray-green, striped fish in its native India and Sri Lanka, this fish has been selectively cultivated to develop an incredible iridescent gold and blue-green coloration across most of its body.  While some killifish have a reputation for being difficult to keep, the Golden Wonder Killifish is highly adaptable and makes a great addition to many aquariums.

Killifish typically occupy the top level of the water column, although they can often be seen swimming and feeding in the middle and bottom levels as well.  They are also not afraid to jump, so they must be kept in an aquarium with either a lid/hood/canopy or at least a significantly lowered water level.  They will not eat or bother plants, but they are fairly voracious predators of dwarf shrimp and even small fish such as microrasboras and very small danios or tetras.  As with most predatory fish, the Golden Wonder Killifish will eat any animal that will fit in its mouth. Still, there are several species of fish and some invertebrates that make for suitable tankmates.  Rams or other dwarf cichlids, larger tetras, Banjo Catfish, Otocinclus, and most Corydoras Catfish are suitable tankmates to Golden Wonder Killifish.  Snails are also safe, and large, peaceful crustaceans such as Vampire Shrimp could live peacefully with this fish as well.  Golden Wonder Killifish are best kept in small groups.

The cherry barb is a freshwater fish of the Cyprinidae family. The fish is small, bright red, and has a distinctive lateral stripe that spans the length of the body. Cherry barbs are active and peaceful schooling fish. The species thrives in groups of six or more. The fish’s hardy nature makes it popular among beginner and experienced fish keepers alike

If you're looking to maximize the color-to-size ratio of your fish, you'll be hard pressed to beat Cherry Barbs (Puntius titteya). Males are an electric red color that can be spotted from across the room, despite their average size of 1-1.5". Females sport golden-orange bodies and may be required for males to show their full colors. 

Cherry Barbs like calm, planted tanks. Tankmates include other small cyprinids, tetras, livebearers, and most peaceful fish. They are extremely tolerant of water chemistry - ideal for the beginner aquarium.

The Red Beckford’s Pencilfish typically occupies the top and middle level of the water column, although it can often be seen swimming and feeding in the middle and bottom levels as well. It is safe with other peaceful, small fish. Adult dwarf shrimp are generally safe as well, but adult Red Beckford’s Pencilfish may eat small dwarf shrimp and their fry. Larger, peaceful invertebrates can also make good tankmates. Red Beckford’s Pencilfish must be kept in schools of 6 or more. Since they are tank-raised, Red Beckford’s Pencilfish are very adaptable, but their natural habitat contains soft, acidic water rich in tannins and leaf litter.

While not a picky eater, the Red Beckford’s Pencilfish will thrive and remain very colorful on a varied diet of meaty foods. High-quality flake food, pellets, and frozen or freeze-dried meaty foods will all be readily accepted.

• Species -Nannostomus beckfordi
• Common Name – Red Pencil Fish, Golden Red Pencil Fish
• Origin – Brazil, Columbia, and Peru in South America
• Diet – Omnivore