Freshwater Angelfish

   Timid, temperamental, and delicate, the Angelfish is familiar to every freshwater aquarist.

   The Angelfish is considered a community fish, but it is a cichlid and may not be as sociable with smaller fish. They will school peacefully when they are young, but tend to pair off and become more territorial when they are older. Being a bit timid, they can be frightened by shadows and fast movements. They will feel most at home and comfortable in a warmer aquarium that has hardy plants placed around the inside perimeter, has some rocks and roots, and has an open area in the center for swimming.

Flowerhorn Cichlid

Flowerhorn Cichlid
"So… am I a fish or a flower?"
11/4/2007

   A gorgeous hybrid, the Flowerhorn Cichlid makes a striking show fish in a large aquarium!

   The Flowerhorn Cichlid is a great fish for those who are looking for a unique and large cichlid. They are very interested in their environment and those who purchase them fall in love. Purchasing a juvenile for a particular look is risky though, as they haven’t yet developed their adult coloration. If you are looking for a specific pattern make sure you buy an adult, or buy several juveniles and hope one looks like what you want as an adult. But even obtaining just one juvenile, you can still end up with a beautiful fish.

False Mpozo Lionhead Cichlid

False Mpozo Lionhead Cichlid
"I perch on the bottom and do a ‘hop’ when I want to move!"
10/25/2007

   A more recent ‘lionhead’ addition to the hobby, the False Mpozo Lionhead Cichlid is still quite scarce and a real treasure if you can obtain one!

   The False Mpozo Lionhead Cichlid was scientifically described in 1976 and introduced into the hobby about the end of 1981 or beginning of 1982. Though this fish is one of the more recently discovered of the nine described Lionheads, it hasn’t been around since 1899 like it cousin the Blunt-head Cichlid S. gibbiceps. Nor is it as available as the more popular Lionhead Cichlid S. casuarius. Still it has the conspicuous shape and the modest needs of this species, and would definitely make a very unique addition to your tank.

Chubby the Bunny

Chubby
"Chubby’s 1st Birthday!!"
11/12/2007

Here’s what Frank says about Chubby:

“Chubby’s 1st birthday party”

“It looks like Chubby had a great birthday party. Cake and ice cream is my favorite! Thanks for sharing him with us.”

Lionhead Cichlid

Lionhead Cichlid
"I have a very very big head, I wonder it that means I’m smart?"
10/25/2007

   With its conspicuous shape and modest needs, the Lionhead Cichlid has earned a well deserved place in the aquarium hobby!

   The adult male Lionhead Cichlid has an imposing air about it because of its huge humped forehead. No matter what you find the Lionhead Cichlid called, all the common names are descriptive of this prominent nuchal hump.

What’s in the name?
‘Steato’ ‘cranus’	means	"fat" + "head"
casuarius	means	refers to "prominent hump"

  The Lionhead Cichlid is definitely a unique addition to your tank. Simply looking at their picture gives you some quick clues as to the special characteristics of this fish. They seem to perch on the bottom and their movements are similar to gobies where they tend to ‘hop’ or ‘jerk’ from place to place rather than swim. This is because they have adapted to the fast moving streams of their natural habitat. Their lower fins act as struts for support and their swim bladder has been greatly reduced, which keeps them from readily floating and then having to swim against the current.

Golden Severum

   Much sought after by aquarists, the Golden Severum is a colorful addition to a community aquarium!

         The Golden Severum is one of the most readily available of the Severums. Varieties of the Severum, also called the Banded Cichlid, are easily recognized and popular with both beginner and advanced aquarists. They come in many attractive color combinations and are inexpensive, lending them a playful reference as the ‘poor man’s discus’.
Compared to a 12” Discus, their smaller overall size of 7” makes them more manageable as they can be kept in a smaller aquarium. They have a great disposition and unique behavior that has granted them a great following.
Golden Severum
"Looking for a ‘discus’ that doesn’t cost as much as a discus?… Try me!"
10/25/2007

Fuzzy the Bunny

Here’s what Benjamin says about Fuzzy:

“This bunny wuz one teeny wittle bunny I found in my backyard so I took him in. He’s soooo cute! After he had been tested/vaccinated and all that stuff, I loved him and petted him and gave him security. In the picture, my cute little bunny looks like he’s clapping his hands—like I said, he’s soooo cute!”

Fuzzy
"A bunny that can clap!"
11/03/2007

Jaguar Cichlid

Unlike many of the cichlids, when the Jaguar Cichlid or Managuense reaches its adult size it is actually more beautiful than when it is a juvenile!

Full grown mature males lose all bars seen on younger specimens and have a ‘jaguar’ patterning evenly distributed over their body and fins, thus earning them their common name. Not only is the Jaguar Cichlid very handsome as an adult, it is also a very impressive size. In the wild these fish will reach up to two feet and weigh about 3 1/2 pounds. Fortunately they are smaller in the aquarium, only reaching about 16″. They are a great fish for a huge system of large South and Central American fish. Use dark gravel to bring out their light purple base color.

Jaguar Cichlid
"When I grow up, I look just like a jaguar, except for the fins!"
10/25/2007

Redhump Eartheater Cichlid

True to its name, the Redhump Eartheater sifts through the substrate with its mouth looking for tidbits of food!

The handsome Redhump Eartheater, also called the Redhump Geophagus, is a fairly small cichlid, generally reaching only about 6″ in the aquarium. It is considered a good beginner’s cichlid and has a beautiful coloration, metallic green speckling along its body that contrasts nicely with the red on its forehead. It is also a really neat fish to observe as it sifts out particles of food from the sand. Generally it will get along with other non-aggressive tank mates, a very peaceful cichlid that can be kept with tetras and other non-cichlids. Like other cichlids it will become territorial, especially toward conspecifics, during spawning.

Redhump Eartheater
"Got dirt?… Then I’m your fish!"
10/18/2007

Teddy Bear Hamster, Jerrie

Jerrie
"Starring in his own Book!"
10/27/2007

Here’s what Cassie E. John says about Jerrie:

“Jerrie is my baby. I have had him for over a year and have written a book about him that I hope to publish some day. Jerrie is so sweet. When I first got him he bit, peed, and pooped (on) me. He never does any of those things except bite because he is getting old and weak. I can put him in my bed, on my shoulder, or anywhere! He doesn’t even mind if I just go and pick him up while he is sleeping without giving him a warning he still won’t bite. Even when he does bite it is just a nibble. I suggest a teddy bear.”

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