Penguin Tetra
The penguin tetra (scientific name: Thayeria boehlkei) is a freshwater aquarium fish popular with fish keepers. It comes from the Amazon Basin in South America (Brazil, Peru, etc.).
Why is it called “penguin”?
It gets its name from its look:
It has a black stripe running along its body and tail
Its coloring kind of resembles a penguin’s black-and-white pattern
Size & appearance
Grows to about 4–6 cm (1.5–2.5 inches)
Slim, silvery body
Distinct black line from eye to tail
Often swims at a slight angle (head up), which looks unusual
Behavior
Peaceful and social fish
Likes to live in groups (schools) of 6 or more
Active swimmers and fun to watch in aquariums
Diet
They’re omnivores, meaning they eat:
Small insects and larvae
Algae and plant matter
Fish flakes or pellets in aquariums
Why people keep them
Easy to care for (good for beginners)
Look attractive in tanks
Add movement and life to aquariums
The GMO Widow Tetra is a genetically engineered freshwater fish designed for aquariums. Its aesthetic and biological modifications make it both visually striking and resilient for home aquarists.
Appearance
Body Color: Deep black, inspired by the black widow spider.
Markings: Vibrant red spots or streaks on the tail and dorsal fins, reminiscent of a widow’s hourglass pattern.
Glow/Fluorescence: Certain areas (like fins or lateral stripes) may fluoresce under LED or blue aquarium lighting.
Size: Typically 1.5–2 inches (4–5 cm), maintaining the small, schooling nature of traditional tetras.
Behavior and Temperament
Schooling Fish: Prefers to swim in groups of 6 or more.
Peaceful Yet Bold: Compatible with many community fish but stands out due to its unique color patterns.
Activity: Active swimmers, enjoy mid-to-upper levels of the tank.
Genetic Modifications
Color Enhancement: Red-black contrast with glowing fins for striking aquarium display.
Disease Resistance: Genetically engineered to withstand common bacterial and fungal infections.
Environmental Adaptability: Can tolerate a wider range of pH and temperature, making it more suitable for diverse home aquariums.
Controlled Growth: Maintains small size for standard tanks without overpopulating.
Care Requirements
Tank Size: Minimum 20 gallons for a small school.
Water Conditions: Temperature 72–80°F (22–27°C), pH 6.5–7.5.
Diet: Omnivorous; accepts flakes, frozen, and live foods.
Lighting: Blue or LED lighting enhances fluorescent markings.
Golden Severum
Scientific Name: Heros severus (Gold/Golden morph)
Common Name: Golden Severum, Gold Severum
Family: Cichlidae
Origin: South America (Amazon Basin)
Size: 6–8 inches (15–20 cm), sometimes up to 10 inches
Lifespan: 5–10 years (with proper care)
🌟 Appearance
Vibrant golden-yellow body with subtle orange hues.
Rounded body shape, long fins.
Eyes may appear reddish.
Some may show faint vertical bars or iridescent spots.
🧠 Temperament and Behavior
Semi-aggressive, especially during breeding.
Generally more peaceful than many large cichlids.
Can be kept with other robust, similarly sized fish—but avoid small or overly aggressive tankmates.
Intelligent and personable; they often recognize and interact with their owners.
🏡 Tank Requirements
Tank Size: Minimum 55 gallons for one; 75+ gallons for a pair or community.
Water Temperature: 75–82°F (24–28°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Water Hardness: Soft to moderately hard (4–15 dGH)
Tank Setup:
Sand or fine gravel substrate.
Hiding spots: driftwood, caves, rocks.
Hardy plants (they may uproot or nibble softer plants).
Moderate filtration and regular water changes are essential.
🍽️ Diet
Omnivorous: Accepts high-quality pellets, flakes, and fresh or frozen foods.
Supplement with:
Vegetables (blanched spinach, peas, zucchini)
Protein (bloodworms, brine shrimp, krill)
A varied diet helps maintain vibrant color and health.
🐣 Breeding
Golden Severums form monogamous pairs.
They lay eggs on flat surfaces (rocks, broad leaves).
Both parents guard the eggs and fry.
Breeding can be aggressive—best done in a separate tank.
🤝 Tank Mates
Choose peaceful to semi-aggressive, similarly sized fish, such as:
Silver Dollars
Large Tetras (e.g., Congo Tetras)
Angelfish (with caution)
Plecos (bristlenose, rubberlip)
Other peaceful cichlids (e.g., Keyholes, Firemouths)
Black Widow Tetra – Bold Contrast & Graceful Movement
Introduce dramatic flair to your aquarium with the Black Widow Tetra. With its deep charcoal body, flowing fins, and active personality, this hardy schooling fish adds a bold yet elegant touch to any freshwater setup.
Key Features:
🐟 Striking Appearance: Dark body with semi-transparent fins and a subtle shimmer
🤝 Peaceful Nature: Great for community tanks
📏 Size: Reaches up to 5–6 cm in length
💧 Water Conditions: pH 6.0–7.5 | Temperature 22–28°C
👨👩👧👦 Schooling Fish: Thrives in groups of 6 or more
Highly adaptable and visually captivating, the Black Widow is a favorite among aquarists for its contrast, schooling behavior, and low-maintenance care.
Care Level: EasyDiet: Omnivorous – accepts flakes, pellets, frozen, and live foods
Bring balance, movement, and mystery to your tank with this classic freshwater favorite.
Albino Widow Tetra – A Striking Beauty for Your Aquarium
Add a touch of ethereal elegance to your tank with the Albino Widow Tetra. Known for its translucent, pale body and distinctive red eyes, this peaceful schooling fish is both captivating and easy to care for — making it perfect for beginners and experienced aquarists alike.
Key Features:
🌿 Peaceful & Community-Friendly: Ideal for mixed-species tanks
✨ Unique Appearance: Soft white coloring with stunning red eyes
📏 Size: Grows up to 5 cm in length
💧 Water Parameters: pH 6.0–7.5 | Temperature 22–28°C
🐠 Best Kept In Groups: Keep in schools of 6+ for optimal comfort and behavior
Whether you're building a serene aquascape or adding variety to your collection, the Albino Widow brings grace and tranquility to any setup.
Care Level: EasyDiet: Omnivore (enjoys flakes, micro pellets, and frozen foods)
Panda Corydora
The Panda Corydoras is one of the most popular freshwater bottom-dwelling fish in the aquarium hobby. Named after its distinctive black markings around the eyes, similar to a panda bear, this peaceful and active species makes an excellent addition to community aquariums.
Panda Cories are social fish that thrive in groups and spend their day exploring the substrate in search of food. Their friendly nature, unique appearance, and easy-going temperament make them a favourite among both beginner and experienced fishkeepers.
Features
Peaceful and community-friendly
Distinctive panda-like markings
Active bottom-dwelling scavenger
Helps clean up uneaten food
Suitable for planted aquariums
Best kept in groups of 6 or more
Species Information
Species: Corydoras panda
Commonly Known As: Panda Corydoras
Adult Size: 4–5 cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Care Level: Easy
Minimum Tank Size: 60 Litres
Temperature: 22–26°C
pH Range: 6.0–7.5
Diet: Omnivore
Feeding
Panda Corydoras are omnivorous and enjoy a varied diet. Feed high-quality sinking pellets, algae wafers, frozen foods, and live foods such as bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp. Although they will consume leftover food, they should not be relied upon as the aquarium's cleaning crew and require dedicated feeding.
Tank Setup
A soft sandy substrate is recommended to protect their sensitive barbels. Provide plenty of hiding spots using driftwood, rocks, and live plants. Well-planted aquariums with gentle water flow closely mimic their natural habitat and help them feel secure.
Compatibility
Panda Cories are excellent community fish and can be kept with tetras, rasboras, gouramis, livebearers, dwarf cichlids, and other peaceful species. Avoid housing them with large or aggressive fish that may intimidate or injure them.
Why Buy Panda Corydoras?
If you're looking for a peaceful, entertaining, and attractive bottom-dweller, the Panda Corydoras is an excellent choice. Their playful behaviour and charming appearance make them a standout addition to any freshwater community aquarium.
Available now at Aquatic Pets SA – healthy, quality livestock for your aquarium.
The Pygmy Gourami — also called the Sparkling Gourami is one of the smallest labyrinth fish kept in aquariums. It’s popular because of its shimmering colors, interesting behavior, and tiny size.
Overview
Scientific name: Trichopsis pumila
Adult size: ~1.5–2 inches (4–5 cm)
Lifespan: about 4–5 years with good care
Origin: Southeast Asia — especially Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam
Temperament: peaceful but shy
Difficulty: beginner to intermediate
Appearance
Despite being tiny, they’re surprisingly flashy:
iridescent blue-green scales that “sparkle” under light
red/orange striping
translucent fins with blue speckles
large eyes relative to body size
Males are usually more colorful and slightly slimmer than females.
Unique Trait: They “Croak”
Like other members of the genus Trichopsis, pygmy gouramis can produce audible clicking or croaking sounds, especially:
during territorial displays
courtship
mild arguments between males
In a quiet room, aquarists can sometimes hear them outside the tank.
Behavior
They’re:
calm and slow-moving
curious once comfortable
often found hovering among plants near the surface
At first they can be very timid. Dense plants help them feel secure.
Tank Setup
A heavily planted aquarium works best.
Ideal conditions
Tank size: 10 gallons (38 L)+
Temperature: 24–28°C (75–82°F)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Flow: low/gentle
Lighting: dim to moderate
Floating plants are especially appreciated because they mimic their natural habitat.
Tank Mates
Good companions include:
tiny rasboras
ember tetras
small peaceful shrimp
pygmy corydoras
Clown Loach (Each)
Please note picture is only a representation actual clown loaches are sold juvenile and will be smaller and may differ.
Add movement, personality and colour to your aquarium with the Clown Loach, one of the most loved freshwater community fish available. Known for their playful behaviour and striking orange and black striped pattern, clown loaches are a standout addition to any well-established tropical tank.
These active bottom dwellers are social fish that thrive in groups, making them both entertaining to watch and highly engaging in a community setup. They are excellent scavengers and help keep your aquarium lively as they explore every corner of the tank.
Clown loaches do best in stable, well-maintained tropical aquariums with plenty of hiding spaces, driftwood and soft substrates. As they grow, they become more confident and interactive, often displaying unique group behaviours.
Key features:
Sold individually (recommended to keep in groups)
Striking orange and black striped pattern
Active, playful and highly social fish
Great for community tropical aquariums
Helps control leftover food in the substrate
Long-lived species with proper care
Care requirements:
Tropical freshwater aquarium
Soft substrate with hiding spaces
Stable, well-filtered water conditions
Best kept in groups of 3 or more
Feeding guide:Omnivorous diet including sinking pellets, wafers, and occasional frozen or live foods. Feed 1–2 times daily in small amounts.
A perfect choice for aquarists looking to add energy, personality and movement to their aquarium setup.
The Red Ryukin goldfish is a color variety of the fancy Ryukin goldfish, which itself is a selectively bred type of goldfish known for its dramatic body shape and ornamental appearance.
Key features
Color: Bright red to orange-red (sometimes deep crimson)
Body shape: Short, deep-bodied with a pronounced “hump” behind the head
Tail: Long, flowing double tail (often fan-shaped)
Size: Usually 15–20 cm (can grow larger in good conditions)
Care requirements
Tank size: At least 75–100 liters per fish (more space = healthier fish)
Water temperature: 18–22°C (cool-water species)
Filtration: Strong filter needed (they produce a lot of waste)
Water quality: Very important—ammonia/nitrite must be zero
Feeding
Sinking goldfish pellets (main diet)
Frozen/live foods: bloodworms, daphnia, brine shrimp
Vegetables: peas, zucchini, spinach (helps digestion)
Behavior
Peaceful and social
Best kept with other fancy goldfish (not fast or aggressive fish)
Not ideal for outdoor predators or mixed tropical tanks
Lifespan
With proper care: 10–15 years, sometimes longer
Rathburn’s Tetra
A striking, peaceful schooling fish perfect for vibrant community aquariums
Add a touch of elegance and movement to your aquarium with the beautiful Rathburn’s Tetra. Known for its shimmering silver body and subtle warm tones, this active schooling fish brings life and balance to any freshwater setup.
Why You’ll Love Rathburn’s Tetra
Peaceful temperament – Ideal for community tanks
Active schooling fish – Best kept in groups of 6 or more
Eye-catching appearance – Sleek body with a soft metallic sheen
Hardy & adaptable – Suitable for beginner and experienced aquarists
Care Requirements
Tank Size: Minimum 60L
Temperature: 22–26°C
pH: 6.0 – 7.5
Diet: Omnivore – accepts flakes, pellets, and frozen foods
Lifespan: 3–5 years with proper care
Tank Setup Tips
Rathburn’s Tetras thrive in well-planted aquariums with open swimming space. Adding live plants, driftwood, and gentle filtration helps recreate their natural environment and enhances their colours.
Compatibility
These tetras are peaceful and do well with:
Other small tetras
Rasboras
Corydoras
Dwarf gouramis
Avoid housing with aggressive or much larger fish.
What to Expect
At Aquatic Pets SA, we take pride in delivering healthy, well-acclimated fish. Your Rathburn’s Tetra will be carefully packed to ensure it arrives safely and stress-free.
Pro Tip: Keeping them in a larger group will boost their confidence and bring out their best natural behaviour and colouration.
Telescope Eye Black Moor
It’s a variety of the telescope eye goldfish (a goldfish with big protruding eyes).
The Black Moor is simply the black-colored version of that type.
Scientific name: Carassius auratus (same as all goldfish).
Key features
1. Telescope eyes
The most distinctive trait: large, bulging eyes that stick out from the head.
These develop as the fish grows.
2. Black coloration
Deep velvet-like black scales (can sometimes fade to grey/orange over time).
3. Body shape
Round, egg-shaped body
Long flowing fins and a double tail
4. Poor eyesight
Because of their eye shape, they don’t see well and are slow swimmers.
Size & lifespan
Size: about 10–25 cm (4–10 inches)
Lifespan: 10–25 years with proper care
Origin
First bred in China hundreds of years ago through selective breeding.
Care basics
Freshwater fish (aquarium or pond)
Temperature: around 18–25°C
Diet: pellets, flakes, plus treats like worms or shrimp
Best kept with other slow, gentle goldfish (they struggle to compete for food)
Important things to know
Their eyes are very delicate and can get injured easily
Avoid sharp decorations in the tank
Because they swim slowly, faster fish can outcompete them for food
Why people like them
Unique “cute” look with big eyes
Calm and friendly temperament
Good for beginners compared to some other fancy goldfish
Angelfish are beautiful freshwater fish popular in home aquariums. Their scientific genus is Pterophyllum, and they belong to the Cichlidae family.
Where they come from
Angelfish naturally live in slow-moving rivers and floodplains of the Amazon River basin in Brazil, Peru, and Colombia. They like warm water with plants and hiding places.
Size and lifespan
Size: Usually 15 cm (6 inches) long, but with tall fins they can look bigger.
Lifespan: About 8–10 years in a well-kept aquarium.
Types of angelfish
Common aquarium varieties include:
Silver angelfish
Marble angelfish
Gold angelfish
Koi angelfish
Black angelfish
These varieties are mostly bred from the species Pterophyllum scalare.
What they eat
Angelfish are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. Typical foods include:
Flake or pellet fish food
Frozen or live foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp
Small insects or larvae
Aquarium care basics
Tank size: At least 75–100 liters (20–30 gallons)
Water temperature: 24–28 °C
pH: 6.5–7.5
Tankmates: Peaceful fish like tetras, but avoid very small fish they might eat.
Breeding
Angelfish can lay hundreds of eggs on flat surfaces like leaves or rocks. Both parents often guard the eggs until they hatch.