December is here, bringing in the holiday season and our new fish of the month, the Nerite snail. Neritidae, more commonly known as Nerites, are a family of snails which range from small-to-medium in size and live primarily in the Southern hemisphere. In addition, these amazing animals can live in freshwater, brackish, or saltwater environments, making them some of the most adaptable mollusks. Many of the most popular Nerite snails for the home aquarium thrive in freshwater, including Zebra Nerites (Neritina natalensis), Tiger Nerites (Neritina natalensis), and Horned Nerites (Clithon corona). Zebra Nerites have a smooth, raindrop-shaped body, with distinctive black and yellow stripes. They’re native to Africa, commonly found in Tanzania, Kenya, and South Africa. Tiger Nerites have a teardrop-shaped body, with an orangey shell dotted by black spots, occupying the same range as the Zebra Nerites. Horned Nerites are a bit smaller than the other common types, with a rounder body and shell that has the distinctive spines that give it its name. These snails are native to Southeast Asia, and typically occupy tidal areas in the wild. Freshwater Nerites come in a variety of sizes, with some being only the size of a pea, and others reaching up to 1-1 ½ inches across. Some species of fish, like loaches, can prey on snails, so keep this in mind when deciding if Nerites are right for your tank.  Aside from this, Nerites are tolerant of a variety of conditions, and can live with tankmates ranging anywhere from other snails, tropical fish, to even some species of turtles. Despite the variety of shapes and sizes, all freshwater Nerites are also great algae eaters, so they’re a great choice to help keep almost any variety of aquarium spotless.
     A few things to keep in mind with caring for Nerite snails is that their care can differ than that of your fish, due to their interesting nature as gastropods.  For one, they require additional calcium to help promote healthy shell growth, so it stays smooth and strong, and if they eat all of the algae in your tank, they will sometimes need extra food. Another issue is that some common aquarium medications can negatively harm your snails if they contain copper or other chemicals, as some fish-safe ingredients can be toxic to invertebrates. Here at Centreville Aquarium, we carry solutions for both of these issues. A good way to provide additional nutrition to your snails is occasionally supplementing their diet with a high-quality sinking pellet, which can contain more calcium than plain algae, and algae wafers are also a great way to keep a snail from going hungry once they’ve done their job of cleaning your tank. We carry Hikari Crab Cuisine, which is a pelleted diet containing a rich source of calcium. Not just a diet for crustaceans, Crab Cuisine is an excellent choice to promote the shell health of Nerite snails. 

Hikari Algae Wafers are a great addition to the diet of your Nerite snails; rich in vegetables, it is a nutritious food your snails will love. If you need to medicate your fish, but are concerned about possibly hurting your snails, API Melafix, an antibacterial medication, and API Pimafix, an antifungal medication, are perfectly safe for your snails, and can even help them overcome their own illnesses.  Aside from these concerns, Nerite snails are less delicate than many of the most popular aquarium fish. Freshwater Nerites are a great choice for any beginner, due to their hardiness, low maintenance requirements, and ease of care. In fact, Nerites are actually one of the best choices for someone interested in setting up something as simple as a bowl. 

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     November is fin-ally here and with it is the Angelfish, our fish of the month here at Centreville Aquarium. Angelfish are endemic to the Amazon River basin, inhabiting waterways mainly filled by dense vegetation. There are three different species of the freshwater Angelfish: Pterophyllum scalare, Pterophyllum altum, and Pterophyllum leopoldi. P. scalare is the most popular species of Angelfish in the aquarium hobby, as the altum Angelfish are very difficult to keep due to their need for extremely soft, well-oxygenated water, among other specific care requirements, while P. leopoldi specimens have a very distinct, teardrop-shaped nose that can turn off hobbyists who find it undesirable. In the wild, P. scalare have silvery scales patterned with black vertical stripes, and this coloration is also the most popular variety in captivity. Due to their popularity and ease of breeding, freshwater Angelfish now come in hundreds of varieties, from marble to black veil.
     To breed freshwater Angelfish, it’s generally recommended that the new breeder starts with six juvenile fish, and waits for them to pair up, as young Angelfish can be challenging to identify as male or female. After the Angelfish pair up, it is suggested that the pair are moved to a 20-gallon high tank, with a sponge filter to prevent damage to the fry. With good water quality, live plants, and a nutritious diet, they’ll be producing young in no time.
   One of the most beneficial foods for freshwater Angelfish are brine shrimp, which help keep them healthier and have a taste that Angelfish love. At Centreville Aquarium, we carry a wide selection of the best brine shrimp for your fish, including live, frozen, freeze-dried, and even brine shrimp eggs to hatch into baby brine, so your Angelfish fry can enjoy the benefits that brine shrimp bring. 

      In the home aquarium, the popular P. scalare will typically reach an adult length of around 5-6 inches. Despite their size, freshwater Angelfish aren’t usually aggressive towards tankmates, although they can become territorial with each other when breeding or guarding their young. Good tankmates for these fish are tropical community fish that are too large to fit in the Angelfish’s mouth. Since Angelfish are a smaller-mouthed fish, this means that many species of tetras, barbs, corydora catfish, and rainbowfish all make appropriate company.  Angelfish can be surprisingly intelligent and reactive, going so far as to follow their owner as they walk by the tank and beg for food. Due to their beauty, temperament, and ease of care, most hobbyists and fish lovers find themselves having Angelfish in their collection eventually. 

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October and Fall are o-fish-aly here and at Centreville Aquarium we’re celebrating an incredible fish, the Tiger Barb.  Puntigris Tetrazona, also known as the Tiger or Sumatra Barb, are one of the most popular members of the extensive Barb family.  Originating throughout Indonesia, Tiger Barbs are a hardy fish. While they can also be found in other areas in Asia, it’s difficult to tell what the species natural habitat is vs locations they’ve been introduced to.  Tiger Barbs have been in the aquarium hobby for over thirty years.  In that time, they’ve been selectively bred to bring out their best traits and even a few variants such as the Albino, Platinum, and Green Tiger Barbs.

Tiger Barbs are well known for the black stripes that inspire their name, their red tip fins, and the incredible energy they add to any tank.  Growing to a maximum size of 3-4 inches, Tiger Barbs often seem like the perfect beginner fish.  The cool pattern and energetic personality, as well as how affordable they are make them hard to resist for the new fish keeper but there is one thing to keep in mind.  Tiger Barbs are notorious fin nippers when not kept in a proper school.  That is why here, at Centreville Aquarium, we encourage new fish keepers to purchase Tiger Barbs in a good school of 5 or more to minimize aggression towards other fish. 

Beyond the nipping Tiger Barbs are the perfect starter fish.  Very hardy and easy to care for, Tiger Barbs are easily housed with fish like Silver Dollar, Giant Danio, large bodied Gourami, various Sharks and many types of Catfish. With an Aqueon Aquarium kit, some Estes gravel, and a fun decoration or two, Tiger Barbs will b  a great addition to any household!     

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September is here and that brings Blue Tangs (Paracanthus hippatus). The Blue Tang goes by many names, Hippo Tang, Yellowtail Blue Tang, Regal Tang, Pallet Surgeonfish and most recently, Dory. Yes, this fish is a celebrity. Centreville Aquarium’s resident Blue Tang elicits squeals of recognition as visiting kids find Dory. Disney’s writers must have been familiar with the behavior of these fish. Constantly swimming, happy, forgetful are all traits of a Blue Tang. The aquarium in the movie was stocked with common choices for the saltwater community tank. Yellow Tang, Royal Gramma, Bannerfish, and Cleaner Shrimp are appropriate tankmates that bring a variety of colors, shapes and behaviors.
Originating from the Indo Pacific, fish collected from the Indian Ocean have a very desirable yellow belly. Blue Tangs are not for the average aquarist, they require a large saltwater aquarium as they grow to 12 inches. These fish are “reef safe” and make showy additions to larger reef tanks. Keep in mind that all tangs/surgeonfish have a scalpel sharp spine on their caudul peduncle (narrow part of the tail). A strike from a surgeonfish is lightning quick and certain to draw alot of blood. Generally accidents happen when handled or startled.

Basic care tips include protecting them from ich and velvet infections, as they are very susceptible. New tangs like warmer temperatures of at least 78 degrees and no stressful encounters with established tankmates. Feedings of fresh frozen foods like Piscene Mysis and Larry’s Herbavore Frenzy help new tangs thrive from day one. Science has yet to quantify the Blue Tang’s life span, living 20 years in captivity is not unsusual. Tangs are smart enough to tell the aquarist when a snack is warranted, but remember the scalpel. Always give them extra space when reaching in the tank and never handle any tang. Centreville Aquarium commonly stocks smaller 2″ Blue Tangs in the Fall. Always a gem in larger reef tanks, the Blue Tang is a fan favorite.

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The Celestial Pearl Danio (CPD), also known as the Galaxy Rasbora or Danio margaritatus, is August’s gorgeous fish of the month. Hailing from the densely planted ponds between the Nam Lang and Nam Pawn river, the Celestial Pearl Danio has risen to astonishing popularity amongst aquarium hobbyists.

Discovered in 2006 in Northern Myanmar, the Celestial Pearl Danio immediately took the Singapore aquarium trade by storm, fetching extraordinary prices. The demand for CPD’s exceeded their availability very quickly. Export from the wild for these fish was banned within a year, but not before breeding became possible for the average hobbyist.

Thanks to careful breeding, Celestial Pearl Danios are now some of the most sought-after fish in the freshwater aquarium hobby. Their peaceful nature makes them compatible with other small, docile fish and shrimp, but not aggressive or fast moving swimmers. Not growing more than 1 inch long, they are a fan-favorite in many nano-tanks across the world. CPD’s require a pH of 6-7.5, a temperature of 72-76 degrees, and a tank size of at least 5 gallons. With parameters like this, it is no wonder that nano-tank enthusiasts cannot get enough of the Celestial Pearl Danio. CPD’s are an omnivore in the wild and readily accept most types of flake food and insect or larvae based foods; the supplemental addition of live brine shrimp is also encouraged.

Male Celestial Pearl Danios are well known for their boisterous red speckled fins and dark bodies; the females are brightly colored and have speckled fins as well. Dark substrate will encourage them to bring out their colors more, and densly planted tanks are helpful for them to display their natural behavior and colors. CPD’s love to dart around the tank in their own unique way, hangout near their favorite shelter, or gather in a school for extended periods of time. Green Myriophyllum and Cabomba are just a few plants that CPD’s unite well with to create a beautiful tank environment. Housing Celestial Pearl Danios with other peaceful fish like Harlequin Rasboras or Cardinal Tetras will provide striking coloration that everyone can admire.

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This hot, summer month of July we celebrate the Fancy Guppy (Poecilia reticulata). One of the most prolific species of tropical aquarium fish, the Fancy Guppy has been intensely selectively bred since the early 1900’s. These members of the Poecilia family are native to the tropical waters of Antigua and Barbuda, but can be found on every continent, except the freezing waters of the Antartica. The guppy is a tropical fish and does best at a warm 78 degrees and a slightly basic pH. Guppies are extremely docile fish, they get along with almost all smaller community swimmingly! While they most commonly come in shades of red and green, these fish are available in a variety of colors and fin shapes. The electric patterns displayed by fancy guppies sometimes rival those of the most vibrant saltwater fish. The Fancy Guppy has inspired aquarium clubs, guppy shows, and even helps with disease control as they effectively eat mosquitos. The guppy has also been used by scientists studying topics like genetics and the effects of pollution, and they’re often utilized to feed small piscivores when needed. One thing that makes July’s Fish of The Month such a fascinating fish is that they are livebearers, which means that instead of laying eggs guppies produce live young. When kept in well oxygenated water, with bushy plants and proper feedings guppies reproduce rapidly.

While guppies seem like the perfect “hands-off” fish, there are some things the guppy keeper should be ready for. The most common issue with guppies seems to be that they won’t stop reproducing! This increase in fish waste can really take a toll on the wellbeing of their tank. That’s why it’s necessary to maintain your aquarium on time. Here at Centreville Aquarium, we recommend regular partial water changes accomplished with a gravel vacuum, accompanied by a monthly filter maintenance. A female guppy can have a brood every 28 days, even when kept without a male. This ability to store the male’s milt for more than 5 months is one more incredible reproductive trait that many livebearers possess. When the time comes to consider some form of guppy birth control, remember the fry come from the females. Keeping strictly male guppies is an affective, humane method to prevent an over population of guppies. The adaptability and versatility of the guppy makes it the perfect introduction for a new hobbyist into the world of fish. So next time you’re setting up a tropical community tank, make sure not to pass up an opportunity to take these fun freshwater fish home!

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Summer temperatures have arrived and if you forget your sunscreen, you may end up looking like Centreville Aquarium’s June Fish of the Month: the Tomato Clownfish (Amphiprion frenatus). These saltwater mainstays are often seen but just as often underappreciated. Also known as the Blackback Anemonefish, Fire Clown, and Red Tomato Clown, this fish is a beautiful representative of the damsel fish family. Tomato Clowns are a vibrant orange-red color with a brilliant white bar, outlined in black, running over its head behind its eyes. Females show darker coloration along their sides, while males are red throughout and juveniles are darker red with 2 or 3 head bars. Tomato Clowns can grow up 5 1/2 inches long and live for 6-8 years.
These easy to keep fish thrive in an aquarium of at least 20 gallons with a pH of 8.0-8.4, a temperature between 72-80 degrees, and a salinity of 1.020-1.028. They appreciate plenty of hiding spots throughout the tank, as they are generally peaceful fish that will only become aggressive if another fish infringes on their space. Tomato Clowns can be kept with most other peaceful fish, but large, aggressive fish like triggers, lionfish, and fish-eating eels should be avoided. These fish will form a symbiotic relationship with
anemone but do not need this relationship to survive and may form that bond with a variety of other objects in their environment. It is generally recommended to have only one species of clownfish in a tank, either singly or in a pair. As matriarchal fish, the dominant (and typically larger) Tomato Clown will turn into a female while the submissive half of the pair remains or becomes a male. CaribSea’s Arag-Alive aquarium sand is a fantastic choice of substrate for Tomato Clowns

Tomato Clownfish are extremely receptive to change, be it new environments, new tankmates, or a variety of foods and feeding schedules. They are omnivorous, meaning that they will readily accept any of the packaged or frozen food options available at Centreville Aquarium. Their diet of choice includes a mix of marine pellets or flakes, and frozen soft meaty foods such as mysis shrimp. Live foods encourage Tomato Clowns to breed in the tank and the fry will readily eat baby brine shrimp and rotifers. Clownfish are very common saltwater fish in the aquarium hobby, but their easy care, symbiotic pairings, and endearing personalities combine to make them the star of any smaller saltwater community tank.

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The warmer weather that we have all been waiting for is finally here, bringing visions of days spent by the lake. We at Centreville Aquarium have our vision set on the Eastern African Lake Malawi, home to our May Fish of the Month: the Red Zebra Cichlid(Metriaclima estherae). Also known as the Orange Zebra Cichlid, this fish is one of the most commonly kept specimens of the mbuna (rock dwelling) cichlid family due to its bright coloration and classic African cichlid personality. Red Zebras are a beautiful orange-red color with faint traces of blue on their scales and yellow spots freckling their dorsal and anal fins; unlike most other mbuna, the females usually display richer colors than the males. Red Zebras can grow up 5 inches long and live for 10-12 years if properly cared for.    As representatives of the mbuna cichlid family, Red Zebras like an aquarium of 50-75 gallons with a slightly higher pH of 7.6-8.6 and a temperature of at least 78 degrees. They require rocky surroundings in their tanks, with plenty of places for the less dominant fish to hide, as Red Zebras are moderately agressive and will establish territory with a pecking order. These fish can be kept with Synodontis catfish and, of course, other Red Zebras. Using smooth pebbles as substrate is a fantastic choice for a Red Zebra tank, as they will rearrange your carefully thought out aquascape to their liking as they establish themselves. Once the territory and dominance have been established, Red Zebras are quite easy to breed. One male kept with 5-7 females provides the best chances for these mouthbrooders to display their matriarchal family behaviors.

Red Zebra Cichlids are not picky eaters, adjusting to a plethora of foods and feeding schedules. They are omnivorous, meaning that they will enjoy any of Centreville Aquarium’s fine packaged and frozen food options, but prefer a mostly herbivorous diet that consists of algae and cichlid pellets with occasional treats of fresh green vegetables and frozen soft meaty foods like mysis shrimp. High protein and fat foods like bloodworms or pellets containing large amounts of fish meal should be avoided as these can lead to Malawi Bloat, one of the most common diseases seen in African cichlids. Red Zebras may be a common fish in the aquarium hobby, but their unique beauty and bold personality make them a fantastic addition to any fish-loving home.

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April is here and everyone (including us at Centreville Aquarium!) has spring cleaning on their minds, but our Fish of the Month keeps your sand bed looking pristine all year long! The Diamond Goby (Valenciennea puellaris), also know as the Maiden Goby or Orange Spotted Sleeper Goby, is a bottom dwelling saltwater fish native to the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans. With vibrant orange dots and dashes along its body, iridescent cyan markings on its face, and yellow eyes, the Diamond Goby is a striking addition to home aquaria; especially when kept on dark backgrounds or substrate.
Diamond Gobies use their powerful mouths to sift through the sand, digging burrows and creating small piles of sand as they do so. Growing up to six inches long, the Diamond Goby should be kept in at least 30 gallons of water with a live sand bed. These fish can be kept singly or in pairs thought to be monogamous. When introducing a pair, it is wise to have one goby that is larger than the other, as these fish will change sexes once dominance in the pairing has been established. At Centreville Aquarium, we feed our Diamond Gobies a variety of live and frozen foods such as mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, blackworms, and other meaty items from the sand bed, all available for you to take home from our live and frozen food sections. They do stay very active, sifting sand and looking for food all day, so snacks hidden near their burrows twice a day are appreciated. These are very hardy fish that thrive in typical saltwater tank temperatures of 72-78 degrees with specific gravity of 1.020-1.025, making them fantastic choices for community tanks.

Diamond Gobies Shine when kept on Carib Sea’s black substrate.

Diamond Gobies thrive on Piscene Mysis, Blood Worms, and blended foods like LRS Reef Renzy.

Diamond Gobies may become territorial with other similar-looking sand sifting gobies, but will happily cohabitate with jawfish. Highly aggressive fish such as fish-eating eels, large angelfish, and triggerfish may find the Diamond Goby to be easy prey, so cohabitation is not recommended. As a peaceful bottom dweller, the Diamond Goby can be housed with a plethora of tank mates that are not members of the aforementioned special cases; good tankmates include clownfish, jawfish, shrimp, dwarf angels, wrasse, and many others. If you demand both beauty and utility in your saltwater tank, than you can do no better than a Diamond Goby (or maybe even two!).

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March is the perfect time to celebrate the Clown Loach (Chromobotia macracanthus).  The clown loach is the most popular Botia fish in the aquarium hobby.  Wild caught and farm raised, the clown loach is native to Borneo and Sumatra.  Slight variations in color and stripes are normal, no two clown loach look exactly alike.  Females are wider and heavier set than thinner males.  Many stories exist about their maximum size, adult clown loach are typically 6-8 inches.  They can live more than 10 years and  may grow larger with a generous diet.
Clown loach like a peaceful, planted aquarium of at least 30 gallons with a moderate pH near 7.2 and a temperature of at least 78 degrees. Aquarium wood provides a great place for their mid day naps that are often mistaken for death.   When kept alone clown loach hide more than when kept in groups of three or more.  Swimming upside down, sideways and even backwards is not unusual for these clowns.

Clown loach are more active when kept in groups.

Clown loach supplies include blood worms, aquarium wood, bottom feeder pellets and a worm cone feeder.

Clown loach are often purchased for their ability to eat unwanted snails. In time, many hobbyist become very attached to their clown loach.  These fish are very soft looking but there is a paradox.  The clown loach has very sharp spines on each side of it’s mouth, never handle these fish.  One more surprise from these clowns is the sounds can they make with their pharyngeal teeth.  Frequently dogs and cats are quite surprised by these fish when they hear the odd sound coming from the aquarium. New clown loach are succeptable to ich.  Warmer water and feedings of blood worms and shrimp promote a strong immune system.  Remember clown loach are scaleless if medication becomes necessary. Traditional ich medications must be used with caution, Seachem’s paraguard is a safe and effective cure if needed.  Although loaches like it warm, wintertime is clown loach season at Centreville Aquarium.

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