Glass Catfish Kryptopterus Bicirrhis

Have you seen Catfish movie? As a wiki said "Catfish" is a 2010 American documentary involving a man being filmed by his friends as he builds a romantic online relationship on the social networking website Facebook beetween New York photographer Nev Schulman with a girl.

The trailer is fantastic, but I’m not representation of Catfish movie here. Yes, Catfish leaves a lot of room for discussion after watching it but now I’ll talk about one types of Catfish - the title used in this movie. Precisely Glass Catfish, one of the exotic aquarium catfish types.

Glass catfish with its scientific name of Kryptopterus bicirrhis differs from the “ghost catfish” (Kryptopterus minor), in terms of size in which the bicirrhis are much bigger and have relatively longer anal fins. Glass catfish is generally considered a friendly type of fish that can mix well with other non-aggressive tropical fish species and are compatible with the likes of tetras, small-sized gourami, killifish and otocinclus.

All glass catfish are very sensitive to changes in water quality. Most of the time, if these water parameters were not closely monitored, the fish will fall sick and when it does, the transparent body will turn to white opaque color. Overall, in terms of behavior, the species is not the type of fish which are active swimmers.

Plants are also beneficial in the sense that while they provide a sense of security for your exotic fish, at the same time it also helps to reduce nitrate level to the minimum resulting in less harm to your glass catfish.

If well fed, glass catfish can grow up to maximum 4 inches in length once it reaches adult age at around 15 months and normally the usual size will range from 3 inches and above.

Glass catfish are relatively difficult to keep, but if their basic conditions are met they make an interesting addition to a community tank or alone in a single species tank. If in a community tank, you must be sure to watch this "exotic fish" at feeding time to make sure they are getting some food.

If there ever was a fish that really cries out for a quarantine tank, glass cats are that fish. Even a 5 gallon tank will suffice. A quarantine tank should be used for all new fish you plan to introduce into an existing tank, but for glass cats it is an absolute must. Glass catfish care required a regular partial water changes in catfish aquarium to keep nitrates low and good filtration is recommended.

Red Line Torpedo Barb Puntius Denisonii

Red Line Torpedo Barb (Puntius denisonii)

• Common Names: Bleeding Eye barb, Red Line Torpedo Barb, Denison Barb, Red Line Barb, Red Comet Barb, Rose Line Shark, Red-line Shark
• Scientific Name: Puntius denisonii (may still be referred to as Barbus denisonii)
• Category: Barb
• Family: Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps)
• Origin: Southern India
• Main Ecosystem: Inhabits highly oxygenated fast flowing streams
• Salinity: Freshwater
• Chemistry: pH: 6.5 to 7.5 ; Hardness:4 to 18 dGH ; Temperature: 68-79 degrees F.
• Water Region: Fast-flowing streams and rivers - these are apparently full of vegetation and are highly oxygenated.
• Activity: Diurnal (day)
• Potential size: Maximum 6 inches
• Lifespan: Unknown; some say 5-7 years

Red Line Torpedo Barb are very mild-tempered and calm. Harmless Community Fish, peaceful in larger groups of 6 or more. With the tetras, the roseline sharks are just impressive. And the colors are just phenomenal. They love to be fed. They feed both in the water column and at the surface, sometimes with a big splash.

The rose line sharks get along great with the rams. Nobody bothers the sharks, and they don't bother the rams. And with all the color, it's just astounding - the colors of the rams, the colors of the tetras, and now the colors of the roseline sharks. It's just very impressive exotic fish.

Red Line Torpedo Barb is omnivore and have a small mouth, they’ll eat almost any high-quality prepared food, but wouldn't mind a serving (or more) of live food or even a nibble of your soft-leaved plants. So we could feeding puntius denisonii with a high quality flake food, spirulina flakes and discs, frozen and live bloodworms, all forms of brine shrimp (live, frozen, pellets), daphnia, cooked shelled peas are a favorite as is peeled cucumber and zucchini.

Puntius denisonii color is spectacular. The exotic fish is a shiny silver, with a solid black line running down the middle of its body . Streamlined and bullet-shaped with shimmering colors of gold, green, yellow, red and black. A horizontal black stripe from nose, across the eyes to base of tail, another horizontal stripe on top of this of red extending only midway with an occasional yellow just in between.. The dorsal fin is touched with red and ends transparent. Likewise the forked tail is almost transparent with a yellow and black short stripe just before the tips.

Puntius denisonii aquarium layout is open swimming spaces, plenty of plants and varied landscape above mid-level as they do explore and seem to play throughout. Tank size minimum 75g and tank zone mid-level.

They can adapt to cooler waters but imo that would tempt Ich and dropsy. The exotic fish can also adapt to warmer waters up to 82F provided plenty of oxygen in the form of powerheads and/or air pumps with plenty of bubble walls installed and regular weekly water changes.

Important notes for Puntius Denisonii :

• Stresses at temperatures hovering around 85F. The drop in oxygen levels is dangerous at these temperatures especially in the confines of an aquarium
• Sensitivities - react to temperature and pH changes during weekly water changes, but adapt fairly quickly - are also sensitive to landscape changes (very aware) more than other species
• Hardiness: Very hardy, tho have reported to be prone to dropsy (prevented with warmer temperatures above 75F-79F, a varied diet, regular weekly water changes and oxygenated water) - sensitive to temps over 85F
• Puntius denisonii breeding is not reported in captivity

Tropical Bumblebee Goby

Bumblebee Fish or Bumblebee Goby, synonym: Brachygobius xanthozona is a brackish water ornamental fish derived from the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. The Bumblebee Goby is a small, relatively peaceful fish that does not tolerate intrusion into its territory. It features a long thin body that is black with yellow stripes.

The ideal set-up is an aquarium with brackish water and plenty of plants and rocks providing the Gobies with ample hiding places. Although they do well in a community setting, they will thrive the best in the company of only their own species.

Even though they live in the brackish water, the addition of freshwater will induce spawning. The female will lay the eggs in the substrate beneath a root or rock where the male will fertilize them. After fertilization, the male will guard the eggs for approximately four days until the fry become waterborne.

The Bumblebee Goby requires a diet rich in small, live foods such as tubifex worms, bloodworms, brine shrimp and daphnia. 'Bumblebee Gobies' generally will not accept flakes and live food is recommended, however frozen meaty food and freeze dried food may sometimes be taken. Start feeding them with live bloodworms, blackworms, bbs, etc and then gradually introduce frozen versions of such food. If the frozen worms or shrimp are seen to move in the current they will be taken. Then you can make such food the staple, but feed them with live specimens at least once a week. Add plants, rocks, driftwood, etc. so territories could be staked.

Bumblebee Goby as seen in pictures is a very exotic, colorful and attractive fish that stays very small. Although these Gobies have been found as brackish fish but they can also be kept in freshwater, this exotic fish does better in a brackish water set-up. Addition of marine salt to the water to simulate low end brackish water conditions is recommended.

The Bumblebee Goby prefers a moderately low current especially in the bottom area of the tank where this fish resides. Live blackworms and live brine shrimp are both relished.