Tank & Tendril
A working ichthyologist's reference for the freshwater aquarium: species identification, husbandry, water chemistry, planted tanks, and the practical guidance that survives a real aquarist's decade.
Topics
Cichlids
Cichlidae — African Rift, neotropical, and dwarf cichlid species: identification, behaviour, breeding, and water-chemistry requirements that defeat most beginner setups.
Tetras
Characidae and related characiforms — neons, cardinals, rummynose, and the small schooling fish that anchor most community aquariums.
Livebearers
Poeciliidae — guppies, mollies, platies, and swordtails: matrotrophic fish that breed reliably in any tank that holds water.
Catfish
Siluriformes — corydoras, plecostomus, otocinclus, and the bottom-dwellers that do most of the substrate work in a planted tank.
Gouramis & Bettas
Anabantoidei — bettas, dwarf gouramis, pearl gouramis, paradise fish: labyrinth fish that breathe atmospheric air and build bubble nests.
Rasboras & Danios
Danionidae — harlequin rasboras, chili rasboras, zebra danios, pearl danios: the small cyprinids that fill the middle of a planted tank.
Barbs
Cyprinidae proper — tiger barbs, cherry barbs, rosy barbs, denison barbs, and other shoaling cyprinids that require open swimming water.
Loaches
Cobitoidea — kuhli, clown, yo-yo, hillstream, and the substrate-disturbing fish that need company more than they need quiet.
Shrimp & Snails
Neocaridina, Caridina, Amano, and the aquarium snails — freshwater invertebrates that breed at the parameters fish only tolerate.
Aquatic Plants
Anubias, Java fern, Vallisneria, cryptocorynes, stem plants, mosses, carpet plants — what grows under low light and what needs CO2 injection.
Aquarium Care
Cross-species practical guides: cycling, water chemistry, filtration, lighting, disease diagnosis, algae control, and the maintenance habits that keep a tank stable for years.
Latest
Why Won't My Aquarium Cycle?
A stuck aquarium cycle almost always traces to one of four chemistry problems: pH or KH too low, ammonia source wrong, temperature too cold, or something actively killing the bacteria. Identify which nitrogen step is stalled, then fix the root cause.
Why Is My Fish Swimming Sideways?
A fish swimming sideways signals anything from constipation in a fancy goldfish to terminal neurological collapse. Identify the presentation type and test water before attempting any treatment.
Why Won't My Fish Eat?
Feeding refusal in aquarium fish ranges from normal post-transport stress to early-stage disease. Covers ten causes, acute vs chronic timelines, and targeted fixes.
Fin Rot Diagnosis: Causes, Treatment and Recovery
Fin rot is progressive fin-tissue loss, usually bacterial and usually triggered by poor water, injury, crowding, or stress.
Sponge Filter vs HOB Filter: Which Is Right for Your Tank?
Sponge filters and hang-on-back filters serve different aquarium roles. Sponges win for shrimp, fry, quarantine, and low-tech tanks.