Aquarium Glaser-GmbH

Botia kubotai



Some botias, among them B. kubotai, are available only seasonal and for a quite short time per year. The very beautiful species B. kubotai originates from the Salween-tributary Ataran in the border region between Burma and Thailand. It becomes around 8-10 cm long, maximum length reported so far is 13 cm. This species is one of the most social species in the genus and should be kept under all circumstances in groups.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer.

Hypancistrus sp. L236 bred



Zebra plecos from the Rio Xingu and its affluents are banned for exportation for years already. Even at the times when a legal exportation was possible, L236 from the Rio Iriri (an affluent of the Xingu) was extremely rare and only few specimens were caught per year.





The specimens we currently have in stock are German bred ones, very stable animals with a bright white basic coloration. Only very few specimens go on sale in the wholesale trade per year, for the demand on these fishes is so high that the breeders are literally sold out permanently. Like all these types of Hypancistrus, L236 has a very variable pattern. So each specimen can be identified by its individual coloration.

Lexicon: Hypancistrus: a combination of the words "hypo", which means "less than" and "Ancistrus", which is another genus of catfish; the name refers to the low number of teeth in Hypancistrus.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer.

Scalare Red Devil



Once more we received a wonderful consignment of this attractive sport of the Angel. This time the fish are even more red than usual.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer.

Wild Ramirezi



Due to the regularly offered, amazing bred sports of the Ram (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi) one tends to forget, how breathtaking beautiful the wild collected fish is already. Currently we have fully grown, wild collected Rams from Venezuela in stock. By the way: wild collected Rams become only about 5 cm long (in males), females even stay smaller, so this species is definitely a dwarf cichlid!


male


female

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer.

Neolebias ansorgii


Regular coloration

This dainty little characin was a fairly popular aquarium fish in the 1950s and 1960s - according to the literature, at least. Nowadays it is only very rarely seen in the trade.

The species is comparatively widespread in Central Africa. It has been reported from Angola, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, and the D. R. Congo However, it would appear that this little fish (around 2.5 - 3 cm long) is commonly overlooked or prefers habitats where it can’t be collected effectively. Otherwise it is difficult to explain why the species so rarely turns up in the trade.

There is also a question mark over whether all fishes determined as Neolebias ansorgii actually belong to this species. Depending on the locality, these fishes look very different and it has yet to be clarified what the fish described by Boulenger in 1912, from the Lucula River in Angola, actually looks like in life. The fish we can offer currently are offspring from a sample of five specimens sent to our company in spring 2012. The variant or species exhibits a very attractive, brilliant green lateral stripe.


Courtship coloration

These dwarfs, which aren’t particularly delicate, are best maintained in a small species tank. In the company of larger and livelier fishes they become timid and pale, as also happens in brightly lit aquaria. So, muted light, dark substrate (peat fiber), soft water, pH 6.0-6.5, and a temperature around 24 °C. You should then get a lot of pleasure from these charming little fishes, which will eat all the usual fish foods of appropriate size.

There is a current discussion whether all species of Neolebias should be better placed in Nannaethiops, for the differences seem not to justify two separate genera.

Lexicon: Neolebias: from ancient Greek, means "new Lebias"; Lebias is a different genus of fish. ansorgii: dedication name for the collector of the species, William John Ansorge (1850-1913). Nannaethiops: means about "small Ethiopian".

Suggestion of a common name: Ansorge´s Neolebias

Text: Frank Schäfer, photos: Frank Schäfer & Dieter Bork.

Abramites hypselonotus



We received very nice Marbled Headstanders in perfect aquarium size (4-6 cm) from Venezuela. The shipment contains a lot of specimens with a very contrasting pattern.

Text & photo: Frank Schäfer.

Corydoras sp. CW 26 Bolivia / teniente



Last week we received a large shipment containing very interesting fishes from the Madre de Dios basin in the border region between Bolivia and Peru. Among them were beautiful Corydoras, which are obviously close relatives of C. melanotaenia, but for sure represent a species new to science. The fish have been named CW 26 by Ian Fuller (CW stands for Corydoras World). Our supplier sent them under the name of Corydoras "teniente".





Text & photos: Frank Schäfer.

Aphanotorulus frankei Bolivia



The genus Aphanotorulus contains only two species, following some scientists: A. ammophilus from the Orinoco basin and A. unicolor from the complete upper Amazon basin. However, aquarists are by far more splitting in this respect and distinguish at least four different species, among them A. frankei from Peru. We now received a shipment Aphanotorulus from the Madre de Dios basin in Bolivia, which are very similar to A. frankei. Astonishingly the sexes can be distinguished at a very small size already, eg 3-5 cm total length. Leopard-Plecos - this is the common name for Aphanotorulus - become usually around 15 -20 cm long and live on sand bottom. Possibly our recently imported species stays small?





Text & photos: Frank Schäfer.

Corydoras weitzmani WILD



We received a shipment of beautiful, fully grown wild collected Corydoras weitzmani from Peru. The species is extremely rare in the trade. Our fish have a perfect condition!

There were strong doubts not long ago that the species might not exist at all or that it has been extinct. This was due to the fact that the scientific description of the species in 1971 gave "Cuzco in Peru" as type locality. Several expeditions searched in the region for this unique cory, but all failed. Now we know that the information on the collecting site given to the scientist who described the species was wrong. Corydoras weitzmani originates from the Madre de Dios region where it was rediscovered in 2004 by ornamental fish collectors.



Keeping the beautiful species is pretty easy. Corydoras weitzmani is a social species that should be always kept in groups. Former speculations said that the fish probably has to be kept at low temperatures, for Cuzco in the Andes lies at an altitude of 3.400 m. However, this is completely wrong. In fact neither the water chemistry nor the water temperature are of greater importance for the successful keeping of the fish, which is a perfect tankmate for a community tank.

Lexicon: Corydoras: from ancient greek, means „with helmet and spear“. This refers to the strong armor and fin spines. weitzmani: dedication name for the ichthyologist Stanley H. Weitzman

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer.

Hypostomus sp. Bolivia Redfin



In the Mergus Welsatlas, Vol.2, page 1110 the authors H.-G. Evers and I. Seidel illustrate a pretty Hypostomus originating from Bolivia. The determination of the species was not possible yet. The species reminds one strongly of L231 from Peru, but the new pleco from Bolivia has nice orange-reddish seams in the fins. We currently received a number of these new plecos as a bycatch of Aphanotorulus frankei Bolivia. Our fish are 3-5 cm long.

Text & photo: Frank Schäfer.

Apistogramma sp. BOLIVIA GOLD


male

The shipment from the Madre de Dios region in Bolivia also contained a pretty new species of Apistogramma. The fish is without any doubt a close relative of A. luelingi. Due to its bright yellow coloration we provisionally named it "Bolivia Gold". Our largest males have a length of about 4 cm, the females are even much smaller. So this new Apistogramma obviously represents a real dwarf species.


female

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer.

Blue Dempsey Cichlids German Bred arrived



We received very nice German bred specimens of this breathtaking cichlid. For more information on the species please click here: http://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/cichlasoma-nandopsis-octofasciatum-blue-dempsey_de_1032.html



Text & photos: Frank Schäfer.

Corydoras sp. aff. elegans CW 19



This is a further new species of Corydoras from the Madre de Dios region. The species attains a maximum length of about 4-5 cm. Males and females look very different. Whereas the males have a coloration similar to that of C. elegans, the females imitate the C. aeneus "Madre de Dios". In contrast to many other species of Corydoras, this species often swims free in the water column.


male


female

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer.

Rivulus rubrolineatus


male

This beautiful killifish originates from Peru. Currently we can offer this rare fish as wild collected ones. Rivulus are dwelling always near the water surface and especially R. rubrolineatus is a perfect aquarium fish for the upper region of a tank. However, one must cover the tank perfectly, for Rivulus use to change their habitat by wandering over land. When the weather is wet, the fish jump through the land vegetation in order to reach a new water. This migratory instinct also breaks out from time to time in aquaria.

The genus Rivulus has been splitted in several new genera back in 1992 already, but this was followed only hesitantly. According to this, R. rubrolineatus belongs to the genus Anablepsoides.


male

In contrast to many other killifish, Rivulus rubrolineatus can reach a quite normal age for small fish, eg about 3 years under aquarium conditions (of course much shorter in the wild). The animals are very undemanding regarding food and water chemistry a fit quite well in a community tank along with peaceful tetras, catfish etc. Rivulus attach their eggs in fine plant material. The eggs do not need a dry period and hatch after about two weeks. Males and females can be easily distinguished by the coloration. In case the fish show stress coloration (for example when they should be catched) the females can be recognized by the typical dark spot on the upper end of the caudal peduncle.


female

Lexicon: Rivulus: Latin, means "small brook". Probably the name was given, because the describer was told the fish live in brooks. rubrolineatus: Latin, means "with red lines". Anablepsoides: in allusion to the genus Anableps (four eyed fishes), due to the watersurface-dwelling behaviour.

Suggestion of a common name: Redlined Rivulus.

Geophagus sp. Rio Caete



Once more we were able to import this beautiful eartheater from the Rio Caete in the northeastern part of Brazil. The species is not described scientifically yet, but belongs without any doubt to the close relationship of the species Geophagus parnaibae and G. sp. "Pindare". In all probability G. sp. Rio Caete attains a similar total length as the both mentioned species, eg about 15 cm. There are no reports on a successful breeding of the species. G. parnaibae is an ovophilous (= takes the eggs in the mouth) mouthbrooder, whereas the very similar G. sp. Pindare is a larvophilous (= takes the hatched larvae in the mouth) mouthbrooder (see Weidner, 2007). For G. sp. Rio Caete the mode of reproduction is still unknown, maybe you, dear reader, can solve this riddle?

Literature: Weidner, T. (2007): Überraschendes Fortpflanzungsverhalten bei Geophagus parnaibae Staeck & Schindler, 2006. DCG-Info 38 (1): 16-23

Text & photo: Frank Schäfer.

Melanotaenia rubrostriata



We obtained very nice German bred specimens of this colorful rainbowfish, which is found in the trade only very occasionally. Our specimens are currently 5-7 cm long. The species attains a maximum length of about 14 cm and each centimeter the fish grows it becomes even more colorful!

Text & photo: Frank Schäfer.

Cyphotilapia frontosa "Black Widow"



We received very nice specimens of this rare mutant of the Lake Tanganjika Humphead, which occured around the year 2004 for the first time. Our fish have a size of 7-8 cm.

Text & photo: Frank Schäfer.

Ossancora punctata



Despite the facts that this pretty thorny catfish, which we were able to import once more from Paraguay, is known to science since 1855 and has an enormous wide distribution in South America - it is reported from Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru, where it is found both in white and black water - it was always an absolute rarity in aquaria. This is hard to understand, for the fish are nice and hardy and reach only a maximum length of about 10-12 cm.



The striped tailfin and the long "beard" are the most striking features of the species. The coloration of the body is very variable: plain fish occur as well as fine spotted ones or animals with large spots on the flanks.

As already mentioned, the fish are extremely undemanding regarding water chemistry. They feed readily on any usual type of aquarium fish food. Plants are ignored. Ossancora punctata are most active at dawn, so their tank should contain some hiding places. Nevertheless the fish are often visible at daytime, especially when the fish are fed. These thorny catfish are absolutely peaceful against tankmates, may they belong to their own or to different species.



Lexicon: Ossancora: Latin, means "anchor-shaped bone"; this refers to a bone in the shoulder of the fish. punctata: Latin, means "spotted".

Suggestion of a common name: Emperor-Wilhelm-Catfish (referring to the "beard")

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer.

Nothobranchius guentheri



Just in: wonderful German bred Nothobranchius guentheri. This Nothobranch reaches an age of about two years under aquarium conditions.





Text & photos: Frank Schäfer.

Crenicichla compressiceps


male

The season for this wonderful dwarf cichlid has started. Males attain a maximum length of about 8 cm, females stay smaller and become only 6-7 cm long. Both sexes of the variety we currently have in stock has black bands in the vertical fins. Males can be recognized best by the overall shape (larger and more slender). Moreover, in males the black vertical bands are more intense and the males have a bright red band in the dorsal fin which is lacking in females. Finally, it is quite easy to recognize a female by its behaviour, for in Crenicichla compressiceps the females are the ones that wear the trousers.


female

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Trachydoras paraguayensis



We have received one more charming species of thorny catfish from Paraguay. T. paraguayensis becomes around 10 cm long and can be kept in the same way as a larger species of Corydoras. This means: a peaceful fish, undemanding regarding food and likes to swim in company of its own kind.



Text & photos: Frank Schäfer.

Spotted Ancistrus - L181



We abtained very nice German bred L181. The fish are currently 4-6 cm long.



Text & photos: Frank Schäfer.

Lasiancistrus heteracanthus



We were able to import the rare Red-eyed Deltatail-suckercat, Lasiancistrus heteracanthus, in small numbers from Peru. The species attains a total length of 15-18 cm. Besides the bright red eye the most striking feature of the species is the pretty brown-red lower lappet of the caudal fin.

Lasiancistrus, in general, are good algae-eaters and fit in any community tank of appropriate size. The water temperature should be a bit higher than usual, 25-29°C are ideal. In the natural habitat, the water is only slightly acidic or even alcalic; so there is no need for a low pH, to the contrary, one should avoid a pH lower than 6.5.



Like almost all species of ancistrine catfish this species is a cave-brooder. A clutch of eggs found in the wild contained about 200 eggs and was deposited in a cave in a tree lying under water. The male guards the eggs.



Lexicon: Lasiancistrus: Latin, means "shaggy ancistrus", referring to the skin-spines (odontodes). heteracanthus: ancient Greek, means "with aberrant spines".

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer.

Steatocranus sp. Ultra Slender



For the first time we can offer this scientifically still undescribed species that originates from the Congo. It represents the smallest and most slender species of humphead cichlid known so far. Males are sexually ripe at a length of about 6 cm, females at about 5 cm. Our fish are German bred ones.





Text & photos: Frank Schäfer.

L102: the season has started!



Finally we could import the first Hypancistrus sp. L102 "Snowball" of the new season, which has started right now!

Text & photo: Frank Schäfer.