The Hornpout or Ameiurus nebulosus is a freshwater fish that is found in many places in North America. This fish goes by a few different names including the Brown Bullhead, Mud Pout, Horned Pout and the Mud Cat. Much like the Snakehead and many species of Catfish, this fish thrives in lakes and ponds with low oxygen levels and muddy conditions. They are bottom feeders that mainly eat fish, clams, leeches, insects and certain plants.
If you are fishing for the Hornpout you can consider using corn as bait which is know to work quite well. If you catch one of these fish in relatively clean and clear water they are edible, but generally the poorer the water quality, the worse they taste.
Hornpouts grow to about 7lbs, but are normally about 2lbs. As you can see, they have a series of long barbels on their faces. Spawning for these fish occurs in the hot summer months. If you have any additional information about the Hornpout please leave us a comment.
The Alewife or Alosa pseudoharengus is just one of the over 200 different species of Herring. This fish is anadromous, which means that they can survive in both freshwater and saltwater. Alewife go by a few different names including Grayback, Sawbelly, Kiack, Gaspereau, LY and Gray Herring. They can be differentiated from other Herring by their lower jaw which is longer than their upper jaw.
Alewife are silver or gray with a green or blue tinge. They will normally have at least one small shoulder spot which is darker than the rest of their bodies. These fish are often used as bait fish, because they only grow to about 15" maximum and can weigh about 1/2lbs. This fish is also edible, and is considered to be quite tasty when smoked. These fish are schooling fish that can be caught with nets fairly easily with a little practice. You can learn more about the Alewife in the video below...
Alewife will spawn from April to June and will often make their way into freshwater rivers to lay their eggs. The landlocked Alewife will simply retreat to deeper waters to spawn. Their eggs are left unattended and hatch in about a week. The fry will feed on diatoms, copepods, plants and ostracods. As they grow older, they will begin to eat small fish and shrimp.
If you have any additional information about the Alewife please leave us a comment.
The Convict Tang or Acanthurus triostegus, much like the Convict Cichlid, gets its name from the vertical stripes that makes this fish looks like it belongs in a prison. Convict Tangs have six vertical stripes that are black in color. Their have white or silver bodies, with a bit of yellow that really makes these stripes pop out, and makes it a great addition to any aquarium.
Convict Tangs are not very big, only growing to about 8" in maximum length. These fish from the Acanthuridae family, and can live to about 7 years old. They are native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In the wild they are almost always found in schools, sometimes these groups can number into the thousands! In many places they are caught and used as food.
Also known as the Convict Sturgeonfish, and Manini, these saltwater fish can be kept in an aquarium of 75 gallons or more with the following water conditions, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4 and sg 1.020-1.025. They get a long well with other peaceful fish, but should not be housed with other species of Tangs. Multiple Convict Tangs can coexist together, but they should all be introduced to the tank at the same time for best results.
Convict Tangs can be bred in an aquarium, but it not an easy task because the fry are so very small and essentially just drift around the aquarium for months. They will often become victims of aquarium filters. If you are lucky enough to get these fish large enough, or simply buy one from a pet store, you should feed them a variety of foods. Plenty of meaty foods along with marine based seaweed and algae at least 3 times a week is recommended. You can check out the Convict Tang in the videos below...
If you have any additional information about the Convict Tang that you would like to add please do so below in the comments...
The Tambaqui or Colossoma macropomum is a species of freshwater fish that goes by many different names, including the Gamitana, Black Pacu, Black-finned Pacu, Giant Pacu, Cachama or simply Pacu. These fish are found in South America, and are often confused with Piranha. They have a similar body shape, but can easily be differentiated by their teeth. Tambaqui have teeth that look almost human, and are more squared off then the razor sharp teeth of the Piranha.
Tambaqui are quite large as well, growing to over 1 meter in length and weighing in at over 32kg. This fish has large eyes, and is normally black in coloration with dark spots near the middle of its body.
This species from the Characidae family often begins its life in flooded forests of South America. They will feed on fruits, grains, insects, snails, zooplankton and plants. If you manage to catch a Tambaqui you will notice that they have a lot of fat, but are none the less quite tasty.
You can check out the Tambaqui along with an Arowana and a Redtail Catfish in the video below...
If you have any additional information about the Tambaqui leave us a comment.
The Redtail Catfish or Phractocephalus hemioliopterus is a large species of Catfish that was first discovered in South America. This fish has since made its way into the aquarium trade, despite its very large size. Reaching 4' and almost 100lbs in the wild, these fish should only be kept in a VERY large aquarium. Due to the lack of space in most aquarium settings, these fish rarely reach over 2' in length in captivity. An aquarium of around 700 gallons minimum is highly recommended. Once established these fish are quite long lived, reaching the ripe old age of 20 or more! You can check out the Redtail Catfish in the video below...
Redtail Catfish go by several different names including the South American Red Tail Catfish, Cajaro and Pirarara. These freshwater fish have a very wide mouth and a body that is dark gray with a white band that runs around the lower half of their bodies. They have three pairs of long barbels as well, which is a trait shared by all the Catfish in the Pimelodidae family. As you can see, they get their name from their caudal fin or tail which is red. When this fish is younger its colors tend to be more intense.
Redtail Catfish are omnivores that should be fed a variety of foods including fruits, crustaceans and fish. Watch out, this fish will pretty much eat anything that it can fit into its mouth. Be careful with other tankmates, and even objects in the tank. They will often eat decorations and then regurgitates them. As you can imagine, this is not very healthy for the fish. Be careful not to overfeed them as well, once a week should be fine.
If you have any additonal information about the Redtail Catfish please share...
The Giant Featherback or Chitala lopis is a fish that is native to the Mekong River basin where you can find many different species of fish, including the massive Mekong Catfish! This freshwater fish is from the Nototeridae family, which are often referred to as Featherbacks or Knifefishes.
Giant Featherback fish are sometimes called the Indonesian Featherback or Pla Satu. They have a silver body with a dark back. Their caudal fin is long and they will often have a silver or white underbelly. They can grow to about 100cm (39 Inches) and can live up to 50 years old!
When fishing for Giant Featherbacks you will often find them hiding around submerged rocks or roots in freshwater rivers and lakes. Like with most fish, live bait always works best, but spinners, spoons and flies will also work. Once hooked this fish puts up a decent fight and is known for its jumping abilities and stamina. You can check out this fish in an aquarium setting in the video below...
If you have any additional information about the Giant Featherback fish please leave us a comment!
The Scissortail Dartfish or Ptereleotris evides is one of the easiest saltwater fish to care for in an aquarium setting. This fish only requires an aquarium of about 35 gallons with the following water conditions, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4 and sg 1.020-1.025. They are carnivores that require a meaty diet including brine shrimp, mysis shrimp and other meaty preparations. Pellet food and flake food is acceptable as well.
Scissortail Dartfish are sometimes referred to as Scissortail Goby, Black Fin Dart Goby and the Black Fin Dartfish depending in the pet store. This fish can easily be identified by its elongated body and large dorsal and anal fins. Their coloration is often light blue with a white head and darker tail. They get their name from their black tails, which are shaped just like scissors. They are not particularly large, only growing to about 5-1/2" maximum. They are often found in the Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean and the Red Sea in and around reefs. This fish is from the family Microdesmidae which are referred to as Dartfish.
One thing to note about this species of Goby is that they like to burrow on the bottom of the tank and therefore should be provided with a few inches of bottom sand. They are also known to jump right out of tank, so be sure to have a nice tight lid on your aquarium. This fish is only considered to be aggressive towards its own kind. A mated pair though will always play nice together. You can check out a Scissortail Dartfish in the video below along with a Tang.
The Golden Dorado or Salminus brasiliensis is a species of trophy fish that is considered to be one of the hardest fish to catch pound for pound. Also known as the River Tiger, they have the ability to leap out of the air with ease and have unmatched fighting power and stamina. Anglers from all over the world come to places like Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia and Brazil to seek out these tasty fish! The warm waters of the Plate and Amazon systems are the best places to find these freshwater fish. It is also the national fish of Argentina where it is illegal to catch one.
Golden Dorado have a distinct golden coloration with large heads. They can grow to about 3' (1M) in length and can weighed up to 70lbs! They are vicious predators with powerful jaws and a mouth filled with sharp teeth. They go by a few different names including Dourado, Dorado, Harritetra and Jaw Characin.
These fish are carnivores that will often dine on Sabalo, but they will eat frogs, birds and even some mammals as well. You can check out the Golden Dorado in the video below...
If you have any additional information including recipes and fishing tips for the Golden Dorado please leave us a comment.
The Blue Star Leopard Wrasse or Macropharyngodon bipartitus is one of the over 500 different species of Wrasse Fish in the world. This particular species is from the Labridae family, and goes by a few different names including the Vermiculite Wrasse, and the Divided Wrasse. These fish originate from Africa, and are quite small, only growing to about 5" in maximum length.
As you can see, they are brilliantly colored with yellows, oranges, browns and a series of light blue spots that cover its body. Their distinct coloration makes them a favorite pet for an aquarium. If you are considering buying a Blue Star Leopard Wrasse for your tank you should know that they thrive under the following water conditions, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4 and sg 1.020-1.025. These saltwater fish are not very easy to care for, and require an aquarium of about 60 gallons or more. They are carnivores that should be fed brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, pellet food, flake food and other meaty preparations. You can check out a Blue Star Leopard Wrasse in an aquarium in the video below...
If you have any additional information about Blue Star Leopard Wrasse including care tips please leave us a comment.
The Goonch Catfish or Bagarius yarrelli is a man eating freshwater fish! That's right, there have been a series of reports of this massive Catfish attacking individuals in three different villages on the banks of the Kali River in India. It is thought that this fish got the taste for human flesh after eating half burnt human remains discarded from funeral pyres on the river banks.As you can imagine the Goonch Catfish is absolutely huge, growing to over 6' long and weighing well over 150lbs! These fish have broad heads with a very wide mouth filled with sharp teeth that are backward shaped to help them swallow their prey, much like many sharks. Their gills openings are wide and the dorsal and pectoral fins have strong spines. They are normally an olive or brown in coloration matching the muddy river. You can check out the Goonch Catfish with your own eyes in the videos below...
These fish are not normally eaten and most people in India will simply kill them or release them back into the waters. They are considered a nuisance by many other anglers though treat them as trophy fish for their amazing size. If you have any additional information about the Goonch Catfish please leave us a comment below.
The African Butterfly Fish or Pantodon buchholzi is an odd looking freshwater fish that is found in many lakes in Africa. As you can see, this fish has a series of strange fins that look like bird's wings, a lot like the Flying Fish of the ocean. African Butterflyfish are speckled with a dark black or brown body. They are not very large only growing to about 4" in maximum length. This fish's strange appearance makes it popular in the world of aquatic pets. They only require an aquarium of about 40 gallons with the following water conditions, 75-86° F, KH 1-10 and pH 6.9-7.1. Be sure you provide them with plenty of plants to hide in and a tight lid to keep them from jumping to their deaths. In the wild, you will often see these fish toward the surface awaiting their prey to swim by or an insect to fall onto the surface. In an aquarium they are almost always found near the surface as well and should be fed brine shrimp, small fish, insects and other freeze-dried foods. You can check out the African Butterfly Fish in the video below...
Breeding the African Butterfly fish is quite possible. To increase the chances, lower the water in the aquarium for a couple weeks. When you go to refill it, use soft acidic water. After the two mate their eggs will turn dark and float to the surface. It is important to take the eggs out of the aquarium and place them in a birthing tank. After about two days the fry will hatch and they should be fed baby brine shrimp and daphnia.
The Freckled Hawkfish or Paracirrhites forsteri is just one of the over 30 species of Hawkfish on the planet earth. As you can see in the pictures, this species gets its name from the freckles that cover their faces and heads. These saltwater fish go by a couple different names as well including the Forster's Hawkfish, and the Blackside Hawkfish.
Freckled Hawkfish are often kept in an aquarium and should be purchased when they are young to fully appreciate them. When they are juveniles this fish will often be burgundy with a yellow tail. As they grow older, they can become brown, pink or olive in color. One thing that stays the same though is the red freckles that make this fish easy to identify from other Hawkfish. These fish can become quite large for an aquarium, growing to about 9" in length, so an aquarium of at least 80 gallons is highly recommended. Freckled Hawkfish must have gotten picked on a lot in their past lives, because this fish will harass almost all other fish, even ones much bigger than it! If you are keeping it with other aggressive fish be sure to introduce it last to the tank. The following water conditions are recommended for this type of Hawkfish, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4 and sg 1.020-1.025.
These fish are found in the wild around places like Hawaii and Australia. They are carnivores that feed on small fish and crustaceans. In an aquarium you can feed them marine meats, feeder shrimp and other meaty frozen foods.
