Practical Fishkeeping November 2025

THIS MONTH WE take a look at some underappreciated freshwater fish. New contributor, John Southall, picks out a few species that he has found a new love for, while Neale investigates the colourful and hardy Central American cichlids that often get overlooked. We also feature another group of fishes that aren't kept often – perhaps more down to their scarcity in the trade – the African tetras of Neolobias and Nannaethiops. Hopefully, Michel's stunning photos, and guide to their aquarium care, will inspire more stores to stock these fishes. A double whammy of new contributors for November sees Ollie explore why genetics matter so much when it comes to keeping and breeding livebearers. Meanwhile regular writer Tai builds an achievable nano nature aquarium and Chris showcases some of the terrific…

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 WINNER! TANK OF THE MONTH TANK OF…

LIVEBEARERS ARE AMONG the most popular aquarium fish worldwide, loved for their vibrant colours, energetic personalities, and ease of breeding. Many fishkeepers will already be aware that the vast variety available, from their unique shapes and patterns to differences in health and lifespan, it all comes down to their genetics. Having a basic understanding of these principles can make a big difference for any hobbyist. It helps you confidently identify the species or strains in your tank, spot potential health vulnerabilities and recognise inherited traits. Healthy fish start with healthy genes, yet many keepers notice that modern livebearers aren't as tough as they used to be. They may be thinner, less active, and more prone to common issues like white spot or unexplained deaths despite attempts to provide the best…

AS AN AVID fishkeeper, I often find myself searching for the latest discoveries, the rarest species or the downright obscure. I'm a hobbyist of nearly 20 years and often fall into the trap of pushing to find the most outlandish, rare or exotic species I can. Why? Because I have become accustomed to simply ignoring the fish we see in most stores, usually because I had kept them previously but at least partially because of a near obsessive tendency to follow a Pokémon-like “Gotta Catch ‘Em All” mindset. As a child I was surrounded by exotic animals, my dad is not only an avid fishkeeper but he also has a long-running passion for exotics in general. I'd regularly be brought along on numerous visits to pet shops up and down…

HAVING FINISHED KITTING up, we were now perched on the side of the dive boat, bobbing up and down alongside a Red Sea reef as the dive master went through our final safety briefing. As well as a run through of the dive site topography and the potential conditions beneath the waves, this was an opportunity to cover some of the more hazardous marine life we would likely encounter. It's quite a potent list in these parts – cone shells, scorpionfish, stonefish, coral catfish, tangs and lionfish all boast venomous weaponry, while various elasmobranchs, notably oceanic white-tip and mako sharks, along with ribbon-tail rays and electric rays, readily frequent these warm, shallow waters too. Unable to verbally communicate underwater, rather than just frantically gesticulating in the direction of noteworthy marine…

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 Is this catfish behaving oddly? I have…