Exotic Freshwater and Saltwater Fishes

With a jet black oval body , blue pectoral fins and an obvious white spot at the peduncle spines the Longnose Surgeonfish or Black Longnose Tang as others know it, this fascinating saltwater fish has become one praised in the aquarium hobby. Aquariumsandfishes.com A rather expensive fish, black tangs are quiet adaptable to aquarium life. Usually paired in a fish tank with several corals and invertebrates this herbivore will eat anything from dried seaweed to meaty foods. It is however recommended that live macro algae and or freeze dried algae sheets should be offered daily to maintain a healthy and balanced diet. As with all saltwater species, it is recommended to replicate water conditions of natural water. Keeping Ammonia and nitrite levels at an absolute zero, temperature at around 76F to 80F and of course a salinity level of around 1.024 to 1.026 Zebrasoma Rostratum Last recommendation to maintain and upkeep a black Tang is a minimum size tank of around 80gl to 125

With an oval shaped body and extremely colorful and bold body markings the Blue Powdered Tang has become the most sought off and wanted fish in the aquarium trade hobby. Being that Acanthurus leucosternon semi-aggresive it is highly recommended that you keep them in a tank of a minimum 125 gallons which will prevent other smaller fish from being eaten. Although blue powdered surgeon fish will eat meaty foods, including other small fishes it is suggested that you offer them plenty of marine based seaweed and algae to better strengthen their immune systems. Aquariumsandfishes.com Do keep in mind that this species of fish is very sensitive and highly recommended only for the most advanced aquarium enthusiasts as caring for a Acanthurus leucosternon can become quiet difficult. As always, beautiful and exotic fishes require special care and  patience, before going out and buying one for yourself make sure to have your tank and water conditions in good conditions. Keep in m

Many ocean creatures display amazing and beautiful patterns across their bodies. One of the most loved and eye pleasing patters is that of the freshwater Jaguar cichlid. Native to the freshwaters of Centra America this fascinating carnivorous fish can be found in waters across Honduras, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.   Being a highly predatory and aggressive, the Parachromis Managuensis has become very popular in the aquarium trade. Known to many as managuense cichlid, guapote cichlid and jaguar fish this robust cichlid displays stunning shades of yellow and bronze jaguar like patters across its body making it and instant eye candy for any  home aquarium. In captivity these amazing creatures are limited to grow to their full potential. With a recommend aquarium tank size of 150 gallons a Jaguar Cichlid can grow to be up to 1 foot in size and several pounds in weight. One of the reasons many aquarium hobbiest tend to have a Jaguar cichlid is their easy to maintain lifestyles

One of the most common and popular fishes in the aquarium trade, the Mandarinfish is a small but brightly colored saltwater fish. Also known as the Mandarin dragonet this Pacific native fish can be found from Australia to the Ryukyu Islands. Found usually in sheltered lagoons and inshore reefs, these reef dwellers are quiet slow and can be spotted very  easily. Bottom feeding on small fish eggs, polychaete worms, amphipods and ostracods these small but active fish feed constantly throughout the day. Due to its specific feeding routines, it is recommended to have a reef tank established for at least 7 months before introducing a Mandarinfish in your tank. A minimum of around 70 lbs to 90 lbs of live rock is also a highly recommended idea, as Mandarinfish love to trap their prey in small areas. One of the unique features of the Mandarinfish is its oil secreting body which helps and prevents the Mandarin Dragonet from catching ich. Of course it is always a highly recommen

You'll find all sorts of shapes and colors within the ocean. Many fishes with vibrant and colorful colors that simply amaze. One of these amazing and exotic fishes is none other than the amazing and I might say aggressive Picasso Trigger fish. An omnivorous the Picasso trigger will eat and crush mostly anything including pellet foods with its powerful jaw. Which can be heard outside any aquarium as it crushes its prey. As you can see the Picasso Trigger sports amazing colorful variations that alike as human DNA can only be found on one single individual. Making all trigger fishes alike but different in their own certain way. Usually kept by aquarium lovers for their beautiful and outstanding colors, these amazing fishes are not reef safe. Eating any small invertebrate it finds, this hardy fish species is meant to be kept in aquarium tanks of 75 gallons or more. These amazing fishes can be found across the Pacific Ocean, Indian and Atlantic oceans making them

Known as Chambira in its native country of Peru, The Vampire Tetra is one of freshwater fish with very impressive teeth. Also known as Saber tooth barracudas, Dracula Fish, saber tooth dogfish, water wolf, tiger characin and payara these amazing fish use their dracula like teeth to chop their prey without a chance of escaping. In Peru, anglers tend to use piranhas as bait to lure and catch Vampire Tetras which can reach lengths of up to three (3') to four (4') feet. However if kept in captivity, or in a home aquarium a rough size of about one foot is all you'll get. Why? you may ask, well it's simple, these amazing creatures need plenty of room to swim and need a constant supply of piranhas.  Hydrolycus scomberoides The more room you you give your Water Wolf the faster and larger it will grow. The above is a good example of the maginificent teeth these guys have. Compare them to a piranha, there is simply no competition. Rhaphiodon vulpinus

Today I'll be sharing amazing freshwater male and female guppies. One of the smallest freshwater fishes in existence, these magnificent fishes come in a large variety of colors. Ranging from one to two inches in full length, these active guppies bring the real beauty of any freshwater tank. Making any aquarium very eye appealing and soothing with their multiple arrangement of colors. Most aquarium hobbyist tend to place large schools of guppies in to a single aquarium tank, thus enhancing the appearance of any room. Guppies are small fish, that pack a huge punch and play a large role in any small or large freshwater environment.

Mantis shrimp or stomatopods are marine crustaceans, that are very active, elusive and powerful hunters.  With an amazing eye sight, or should I say, the best eye sight in the world. These marvelous creatures have many secret weapons. One of these weapons is their hammer, club like arm which it uses to smash and knock out any prey it may encounter. Of course this club like weapon differs in species as there are also spearing mantis shrimp which use their spear like claws to attack and capture fast moving prey like fish and octopus. Capable of smashing and breaking even the thoughest of shells. This amazing hunter also displays a large selection of colors across its entire body which it molts several times throughout its lifetime. Here you'll see  the amazing mantis shrimp in action as it takes on a large hermit crab. See and even hear the amazing power it posses as it strikes underwater making it one of the worlds most dangerous elusive and powerful marine hunters.

Also called turkey fish, dragon fish and scorpion fish, the Lion Fish are native to the reefs and rocky crevices of the Indo Pacific Ocean. However they have managed to find their ways to other warm water regions across the world. Wanted as a food source in some places of the world, this beautiful yet dangerous fish has become very popular in the aquarium trade industry. Growing up to one foot in size and weighing up to two pounds these fascinating creatures carry a powerful venom which delivers via an array of up to 18 needle like dorsal fins.  Although its venom is purely defensive and not intended to harm,  it also relies on its camouflage and super fast reflexes to capture prey, like fish and shrimp. A sting from a lion fish is very painful to all humans and causes nausea, difficulty breathing and in very rare case death.

Growing up to three feet in length and weighting several pounds, the Asian Arowana has become one of our favorite freshwater fishes. Found throughout Southeast Asia with common names as the Asian bony tongue, dragon fish and a number of different names depending on their variety of colors. Native to Southeast Asia, Asian arowanas can be found in blackwater rivers, slow moving waters flowing through forest swamps and common water welds. As juveniles, this amazing fish eats insects. Once its has reached an adult stage it will consume insects and other fish. Popular in Chinese culture, this aquarium fish has a lot of special cultural significance in South Asian areas. Primarily due to its resemblance to the Chinese dragon being named the dragon fish has had both positive and negative effects on the population of this endangered species of freshwater fish.

With an average size of about 2"-3" the poisonous blue ring octopus is a sea creature to respect. Found around tide pools and coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, this tiny creature packs a powerful and venomous  neurotoxin  capable of up killing up to ten  full grown man in a matter of minutes! Don't let its beautiful colors fool you, great at camouflaging it self in small openings its diet consists primarily of crabs and mollusks ambushing its prey from behind and enveloping them within it's arms. Injecting poison saliva into the victims shell with its bird like beak none of its prey have a slight chance of escaping alive.