Freshwater Profiles

Amano shrimp, named after famed Japanese aquascaper/photographer, can be found in Japanese swamps and marshes munching on algae. They were introduced to the U.S. aquarium trade in the early 1990's, quickly gaining a reputation as ravenous algae eaters. ...

Common Name: Amazon sword
Scientific Name: Echinodorus amazonicus

The Amazon Sword is a Rosette plant that is very popular with many hobbyists. They are capable of reaching approximately 20 inches in height under proper water conditions. The Amazon Sword Plant has short rhizomes, numerous lance shaped leaves that are pale to dark green with sharply pointed tips, and fairly short stems. It is an amphibious plant that will grow either partially or fully submersed. For the best results a loose substrate and an iron-rich fertilizer should be used.
...

Common Name(s): Anacharis, elodea, Brazilian waterweed, water weed, American/Canadian waterweed
Scientific Name: Egeria densa

Note: genus may also be Elodea

This plant can be planted or floating and will grow either way. I will focus on them as a floating plant because that's where my biggest success with them has been.
...

Common Name: Anubias Barteri
Scientific Name: Anubias Barteri v. Round Leaf

One of the easiest plants to grow are the anubias family with the Barteri v. Round Leaf is probably the easiest. This plant is a very undemanding plant and a very hardy plant. They have a waxy coat on their leaves that most fish can not eat through.
...

Common Name: Apisto, Cockatoo, Dwarf Cichlid
Scientific Name: Apistogramma cacatuoides

This fish is undoubtedly the most kept of all 'Apistos'. Aquarium strains like the 'Triple Red' and 'Orange Flash' have been developed by hobbyists and offer amazing colors. This fish can also thrive in slightly hard water. Double Red Cacatuoides has red on the dorsal and caudal fin; Triple Red Cacatuoides has red on the dorsal, caudal, and anal fin. I keep my guys in a heavily planted tank with plenty of places for them to hide, especially under the leaves of the tiger lotus.
...

Aponogetons are grown from bulbs that store large amounts of nutrients. Aponogeton boivinianus has attractive crinkled leaves and grows very large. In a heavily planted aquarium where there is competition for light and nutrients, the leaves may be smaller.
...

Common Name: Auratus Cichlid

Scientific Name: Melanochromis Auratus

Belligerent and territorial, one male and four to five females should be kept together in an aquarium where there are plenty of hiding places. This cichlid is typically intolerant of other fish.
...

Common Name: Golden puffer, Avocado puffer
Scientific Name: Auriglobus modestus

This puffer is a notorious fin nipper. However, not all of them will be aggressive. It's very dependent on the individual.
...

Common Name: Botia, Geto, Banded Loach
Scientific Name: Botia Rostrata

This loach is long and slender and generally tan to brown in color. Move in a "slinky" manner. Sometimes dart around rather erratically. Highly entertaining during feeding. Younger fish are sometimes a little too playful with less dominant fish. This species prefers to be in groups of 3 or more.
...

Common Name: Blackfin Pearlfish
Scientific Name: Austrolebias nigripinnis

This fish has haunted me since I first saw a picture of it years ago. I finally achieved a life goal and have these fish. They are easy to raise for a South American Annual. They are tolerant of pH and hardness and even temperature. They are a variable species and almost every collecting spot has a variant color pattern. I have been watching my pair spawn and look forward to their eggs hatching in a few weeks.
...

Common Name: Blue Neon Eartheater, Gymnogeophagus Blue Neon Valentine
Scientific Name: Gymnogeophagus sp. "Blue neon"

Gymnogeophagus species originate from Uraguay. The blue neon gymnogeophagus is a relatively peaceful gymno that does not grow very large or share common fin trailers as pronounced as many other geophagus species. It's beautiful deep color is accented with iridescent blue stripes and purple tips of their fins. ...