Practical Fishkeeping的January 2026目录

THE FIRST ISSUE of 2026 is here, ready to help inspire your next aquarium project. We start by looking at some incredibly rare, weird and wonderful creatures. Firstly, Michel provides an overview of Labeobarbus, before outlining how he cares for one of the smallest species in the genus that is almost never exported out of Africa. Then, Chris has a double whammy of features. Initially, he explores a goby which many may consider vile but he has a rather soft spot for before taking a look at some organisms that are 95% water… jellyfish! Sticking within the salty side, Jeremy continues his beginners guide, this time looking at the all important reef lighting. To round off the issue, we head back to the freshwater world, with the best biotopes of…

FOR MANY AQUARISTS, their first foray into fishkeeping is entirely influenced by the shimmering shoals of brightly coloured fish darting about the local fish shop. The perennial favourites like guppies, platys, neon tetras and cherry barbs are prized for their eye-catching, in-your-face colouration, serving to light up even the drabbest of tank interiors with minimal effort. Equally, over on the salty side, it feels like every fish got the memo about dressing to impress. From the psychedelic attire of the harlequin tuskfish to the dapper flasher wrasse, marine reef-keepers are spoilt for choice. But when it comes to perceived beauty, it’s fair to say that not all fish were created equal. Anyone who has spent any time perusing the set-ups at the more specialist stores will have almost certainly come…

STEP 1: I decided to use a shallow tank measuring 90×25×45cm (36×10×18”) for this display, to better mimic a small stream. You could simply use a standard tank partially filled; this will also help avoid the risk of fish jumping out! I imaged that my stream was running through a mountainous landscape of humid forest, where sunlight struggled to penetrate the canopy. I therefore used a single LED spot lamp for illumination. However, to prevent it from being too dark, I added a lightscreen to the back of the tank. STEP 2: I used a light, pale sand substrate, which I smoothed out over the base of the display. The light colour reflected the limited light that penetrated the waters brightening the overall display slightly. STEP 3: A single, pre-soaked…

AS I SAT down to put together the front cover of this issue, I looked over the topics that we covered. You may have noticed a biotope theme running through the end of this issue. I mean, when we are sharing the very best of the best, it made sense to pair it with similar topics showing some of the other possible routes you can take in biotope aquariums. These features perfectly illustrate the sliding scale of biotopes. From using only species and décor found in the exact area being replicated for contest biotopes, to vague themes inspired by natural aquatic habitats as we saw with David’s rice field aquarium. Tai’s swordtail tank sits nicely between the two, replicating the natural habitat of the swordtails closely. However, he mixed species…

Fancy being featured in the next issue of Practical Fishkeeping Magazine? Showcase your work and share your photographs with the Fishkeeping community – if you have a tank you’re proud of, we want to see it. For a chance to be included, simply send us your tank photos with a little bit of information about you and your tank. This month’s Tank of the Month will receive an Aquadip care package!* Submit yours to us via email at editorial@practicalfishkeeping.co.uk or visit our website here: practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/gallery. WIN AN AQUADIP CARE PACKAGE AQUADIP Liquid Filter Medium - 500 ml AQUADIP Plant Food+ - 500 ml AQUADIP Liquid Carbon - 500 ml AQUADIP H2O Maker - 500 ml Plus AQUADIP Aquascaping Towel TANK OF THE MONTH - MARC WEST Here is my new…

JELLYFISH ARE A fascinating bunch. With soft fossil records dating back 500 million years, they are one of the oldest groups of animals on Earth, yet despite this they don’t appear to possess any of the basics required for natural survival. Being invertebrates, they lack an internal, bony skeletal system, but they have also elected to forgo any form of solid exterior body protection, as well. In conjunction, jellyfish seem to have no discernible eyes, and a closer look reveals an absence of blood, brain, heart and lungs too. But while the focus tends to be on what they don’t have – after all, jellyfish are 95% water – it’s very easy to overlook how successful they have been in carving out their niche in an otherwise unforgiving world. Not…

Email: questions@practicalfishkeeping.co.uk WIN! Our Question of the Month letter will receive a Tetra goodie bundle worth up to £100* THE EXPERTS DR PETER BURGESS Peter is our disease expert. Send questions his way if you have pathogen problems. BOB MEHEN Bob is a master of fishkeeping general knowledge and community tanks. JEREMY GAY Jeremy is more than adept when it comes to cichlids, goldfish and marine species. GEORGE FARMER George is a world renowned aquascaper, photographer and author. MAX PEDLEY Max is like a living, breathing search engine. Cichlids are his speciality. NEALE MONKS Neale is the man for your technical queries. He loves brackish fish, too. TAI STRIETMAN Freshwater biologist Tai has studied habitats all around the world and is our biotope expert. TROPICAL Why are these cichlids hiding?…

1 The base is made up of layers of pond soil topped with Tropica Aquarium Soil. 2 A mix of WIO Savage Riverbed, sands and gravels were added to get the right aesthetic for the display. 3 Jade Boulders were the only hardscape used as the habitats were generally devoid of larger wood. 4 The various plants are added to the rear of the aquarium, keeping the front open. 5 Botanicals are scattered randomly across the foreground to provide that natural look that I craved. 6 The tank is filled just over half way and the fish are added once the display is mature.…

THE GENUS LABEOBARBUS (Family: Cyprinidae) represents a diverse and ecologically significant group of freshwater fishes widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, with a notable presence in West and Central African river systems such as the Niger, Volta, Congo, and Sanaga basins. Traditionally considered part of the genus Barbus, members of Labeobarbus have been reclassified based on morphological and molecular analyses, which revealed a closer affinity among the large-scaled, hexaploid African barbs. Characterised by their fusiform bodies (wide in the middle, tapering towards each end), thick lips, and often well-developed barbels, Labeobarbus species exhibit substantial morphological plasticity and trophic diversity, allowing them to occupy a range of ecological niches. Many species are adapted to fast-flowing rivers, although others thrive in lakes, floodplains, and wetland systems. This genus includes both generalist feeders and…

“CENTRAL AMERICAN" CAN mean different things to different people, and can be subjective, depending on their perspective. I recall a Mexican student in my sixth form who admonished me for talking about Mexico as part of Central America and who said it was actually part of North America. I asked where Central America began, and she said “Guatemala.” She was from a very wealthy family and clearly indicated my mistake was a slur on her country. I’ve met many Mexicans since, from more middle-class backgrounds, who are quite happy to be part of Central America and more likely to take offense at your support of the “wrong” football team in the Liga MX. According to the unofficial “geoscheme” of the Americas, as adhered to by the United Nations and many…