Author name: Fish Laboratory

With decades of collective fishkeeping experience, we are happy to share the fish care tips that we've picked up along the way. Our goal at Fish Laboratory is to keep publishing accurate content to help fishkeepers keep their fish and aquarium healthy. Check us out on YouTube, Instagram, and learn more about us!

Ludwigia Arcuata

Ludwigia Arcuata Care Guide (Needle Leaf Ludwigia)

Ludwigia arcuata is an easy plant to care for and requires moderate to high lighting requirements, basic fertilization, and can crow emersed or submersed. It is a good plant for a beginner who is just starting their aquarium and doesn’t want any plants that significant specialized care.
The ludwigia arcuata will thrive under moderate to high lighting, though it will grow redder with higher light. It grows in temperatures between 20-28°C/68-82°F and a pH level of 5.5-8. These are both standard levels for most aquariums, so just keep an eye out that your aquarium stays within these levels.

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Water Wisteria

Water Wisteria Care Guide (Hygrophila difformis)

Water Wisteria (hygrophila difformis) is notorious for being an easy plant. It simply asks for a few basic things, regular pruning is the most critical requirement, and thankfully, this plant is gracious when it comes to lighting requirements and can grow in an array of settings. While it is best to provide medium to high lighting to ensure healthy and lush growth, it can survive with only a few hours of artificial LED light or natural light a day. When looking for the best type of substrate, Substrates that contain large grains aren’t an optimal choice when planting water wisteria.

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Rainbow Wrasse

Rainbow Wrasse Fish Care Guide (Coris Julis)

Rainbow Wrasse (Coris Julis) are an interesting, brightly colored fish. Their color changes once they mature. Interestingly enough, both juvenile males and females can mature and grow into adult males. The Rainbow Wrasse has a long torpedo body shape. The adult males can have a green, blue, or brown body with a white belly. The males also have bright, jagged, orange bands on their bodies. Both male and female Rainbow Wrasse juveniles are a dull brown color with yellowish sides and whitish bellies. The mature females keep their juvenile coloration.

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Payara Fish

Payara Fish Facts & Care (AKA Vampire Tetra)

The Payara Fish (Hydrolycus scomberoides), also known as Vampire Tetra, is an aggressive, predatory species of dogtooth tetra that can be found swimming in the tropical waters of the Amazon Basin, actively hunting for its next meal.
Payara fish belong to the Dogtooth Characins family and are not to be confused with the similar Hydrolycus armatus. Payara fry are born with gaps in their upper jaw to accommodate their razor-sharp fangs, that juts out menacingly and can reach up to six inches long.

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Gardneri Killifish

Gardneri Killifish (Fundulopanchax gardneri): Care Guide

Gardneri Killifish (Fundulopanchax gardneri) are beautiful fish that are great for small to medium sized aquariums.

Their name derives from the Dutch word ‘killy’ which means a ditch or canal. As their name suggests, they are often found in shallow waters such as water-holes, streams, and marshes. Since they are adapted to these shallow bodies of waters, Killifish generally do not grow very large.

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Red Texas Cichlid

Red Texas Cichlid: Care, Size, Tank Mates & Tank Size

The Red Texas Cichlid is a freshwater fish developed by a cross between a male Texas cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus) and, most commonly, a female Red Parrot cichlid (Paraneetroplus synspilus x Amphilophus citrinellus). As a hybrid, the Red Texas Cichlid does not have a scientific name like their purebred counterparts; however, many of their care needs and behaviour mimic those of the standard Texas cichlid.

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sultan pleco

Sultan Pleco (L264): Care, Diet, Size, Breeding & Tank Size

Sultan Plecos (Leporacanthicus joselimai, L264) have greyish cream colored bodies with black spots. They have powerful sucker mouths that they use to hold onto surfaces. Males and females are much easier to determine from one another when they have reached maturity. The males tend to have larger and broader heads, larger dorsal fins, and brighter coloration. You will want to make sure that you have correctly identified your Pleco so that you are able to provide the correct care for them. Juveniles will have white tips on their dorsal fins and tail fins that will fade as they age.

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