Erkut Akyildiz

10/19/2026

A school doesn’t have to race across the tank to make you stop and watch.

For me, Ghost Catfish are one of the most beautiful choices for a medium sized planted aquarium, with tall green stems or ribbon like leaves filling the background.

They may spend much of their time hovering together in the same spot, but that’s part of their charm. Those transparent bodies against the green are enough to hold my attention.

If you keep a group, I’d love to hear how they behave in your tank always in their favourite spot, or out exploring.

10/19/2026

There are a few species I always keep an eye out for when visiting aquarium shops here in Prague. Black Neon Tetras are one of them, but I haven’t come across any in the shops I’ve visited so far.

They’re commercially bred, yet local availability can be a different story. That silver-green stripe above the deep black band deserves a place in more planted tanks. Subtle colours can make just as much of an impression.

I’m sure some of you have your own list of supposedly common fish that are surprisingly difficult to find locally.

Share your city, whether Black Neons are easy to find there, and the last price you saw per fish with the currency. Add any other “common” species you’ve been searching for, too. It’ll be interesting to compare our experiences around the world.

10/19/2026

The Bronze Cory has a new scientific name, but the change is more than a simple rename. A major phylogenetic revision published in 2024 resurrected the genus Osteogaster, moving this familiar aquarium catfish out of Corydoras. The species is also more complex than its widespread trade name suggests: populations across South America show considerable variation, and researchers have noted that the traditional aenea grouping may contain more than one distinct species. Another fascinating adaptation is its ability to breathe atmospheric air through a specialised intestine, allowing it to survive in habitats where dissolved oxygen can be low.

10/19/2026

“Rare tetra” doesn’t always mean a fish with extraordinary colours sometimes it means a species that barely appears in the trade. Take the Morse Code Tetra (Hemigrammus sp. “Morse Code”): still without a formally described scientific name, it reaches only around 2.5 cm and tends to hover quietly in midwater rather than constantly schooling across the tank. Its biology remains poorly documented, making accurate identification and responsible sourcing especially important for specialist keepers.

10/18/2026

The Glowlight Tetra’s glowing orange red stripe looks almost artificial under aquarium lighting, but it’s a natural iridescent feature not pigment added by selective breeding. This tiny characin is native to Guyana’s Essequibo River drainage, where it inhabits freshwater environments quite unlike the blackwater habitats often associated with South American tetras. It reaches only around 3–4 cm, and its understated silver body makes the luminous stripe stand out even more in a shoal. An interesting trade contrast: although it’s a familiar aquarium staple, its natural distribution is geographically restricted, and the species is currently assessed as Least Concern.

10/18/2026

If Pearl Gouramis were rare and expensive, I think we’d talk about them very differently.

That pattern, those fins… easily one of the most beautiful freshwater fish for me. Being familiar doesn’t make it any less impressive.

I’d love to hear which everyday aquarium fish deserves the same appreciation.

10/18/2026

I wanted to share this short video with you. Your likes, comments, and shares on YouTube are always appreciated. Thank you for your support.

Life in a Dutch Aquascape

A Dutch aquascape is built on plants, not hardscape. No stone, no d...

10/18/2026

A good group of Penguin Tetras deserves more attention than it gets.

I don’t see much about these lately, which is a shame. If you enjoy watching fish swim together, Thayeria boehlkei is well worth considering. That black stripe and their slightly head up swimming style look fantastic in a group.

They can form lovely close schools, though how tightly they stay together depends on the aquarium and how settled they feel. For me, they’re still one of the most appealing choices for a planted tank.

10/18/2026

Rainbow Shiners take breeding colours to another level. Electric blue, reddish-pink and flashes of purple make a displaying male an unforgettable sight.

Native to streams in the southeastern USA, these fish show their most intense colours during breeding season. A generous group, cool, oxygen-rich water and room to swim make for a spectacular display.

10/18/2026

When it comes to schooling fish, the Costae tetra is hard to beat. Watching a large group move and turn together is one of the best sights in a planted aquarium.

Their silver bodies catch the light with every turn, while the black markings make the display even more striking. A species worth keeping in numbers and giving plenty of room to swim.