Koi History and tHere FiFtenn recognised Varieties!...pg38 September/October ‘19 Vol. 10/No. 05 THE ISHKEEPER For theF Aquarist: Freshwater & Marine The website for the aquarist fishkeeper.co.za Paratilapia Polleni Making the Freshwater to Marine switch! 5 Nano Reef Fish! Preventing ICH! Clown Plecos for the so you want to Keep a sHarK!! planted Aquarium ! page 32 Page 06 www.thefishkeeper.co.za September/October 2019 the fishkeeper1 2 the fishkeeper September/October 2019 www.thefishkeeper.co.za For the Aquarist: Freshwater & Marine Contents South Africa’s only magazine for marine and freshwater aquarium hobbyists. September/october Vol 10 / No 5 / 2019 16 32 features 26 CLOWN PLECOS FOR THE PLANTED AQUARIUM Some of the most interesting species of Pleco’s belong to those within the Clown Pleco group. This article covers their care PARATILAPIA POLLENI along with mentions a few of the more readily available in the 06 hobby. Ever wanted a species of Cichlid with the personality of an Oscar but with a completely different appearance, then this is the fish for you. 32 5 NANO REEF FISH SO YOU WANT TO KEEP A SHARK! Nano aquariums are becoming increasingly popular with 10 hobbyists. This article covers 5 Nano marine species which the author highly recommends. This article gives you all the information you need to dive into keeping a shark within your marine aquarium. KOI HISTORY AND THERE FIFTEEN RECOGNISED 38 VARIETIES! PREVENTING ICH! Koi have been around for a very long time and over this period 16 many wonderful varieties have been created. Able to decimate an aquariums population, why not prevent Ich rather than having to treat it. regulars From the Editor MAKING THE FRESHWATER TO MARINE SWITCH 04 20 05 About the Editor Transfering over to keeping a marine aquarium is not as hard as you think. Read up on this article to help with the process. 40 Advertiser’s Index www.thefishkeeper.co.za September/October 2019 the fishkeeper3 Editorial efore I introduce myself, I feel THE FISHKEEPER as a community we need to volume 10 | number 5 thank Dennison Publishing for September/October 2019 Bestablishing this incredible magazine in 2009. This product in my opinion is Managing Editor not valued nearly as highly as it should Design Layout Proof Reading be. Many fishkeeping magazines Advertisements have come and gone over the years Subscriptions in South Africa, and none have had Sales the success that The Fishkeeper has. Matt Needham Rolf and team, thank you so much 20 for all your hard effort over the years in getting this magazine to where it Contact the Editor at is. It provides a wonderful source of [email protected] knowledge to many fishkeepers and for any inquiries on advertising, I think I speak for many when I say it sales etc has really helped us as a hobby as well as the articles providing us with the knowledge to provide our animals with Disclaimer: The Editor and the best husbandry we can. I also want Publishers of The Fishkeeper do to say thank you for entrusting me with not accept any liability whatsoever its next chapter. with regard to any statement, fact, advertisement or recommendation made in this magazine and do not i! My name is Matt Needham necessarily agree with the viewpoints and I am the new editor of this expressed by contributors to The wonderful magazine. Just like all Fishkeeper magazine. Hof you who read this I am an avid fan of all things fish and will do my absolutet best to keep producing the incredible product that The Fishkeeper is. Over © 2019 by The Fishkeeper. All rights 38 the course of time there might be a few reserved. Reproduction of any material from this issue in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. changes that will occur but ultimately I would like to produce something that all of you hobbyists want. With that said please feel free to email me at [email protected] with any requests of what you would like to see more of in our magazine. If demand is high enough, we will feature it! This edition features some amazing articles on a variety of interesting “a righteous man cares for the topics, from one of my favourite cichlid species out there, Paratilapia needs of his animals,” polleni to how to make the switch from freshwater aquaria to marine and PROVERBS 12:10 much much more. There is a little something for everyone. We hope you enjoy this issue! Happy reading, and happy fishkeeping! The Editor Editor: [email protected] Subscribe now! Visit www.thefishkeeper.co.za to subscribe to the Digital free version of The Fishkeeper. Each issue will be sent straight to your mail box or alternatively visit our site and down- load the latest version under the tab DEADLINES magazines and latest issues! Cover Photo: Issue Colour Adverts Paratilapia Polleni November/December 2019 15 November 2019 January/February 2020 30 November 2019 March/April 2020 20 December 2019 4 the fishkeeper September/October 2019 www.thefishkeeper.co.za About the Editor! Matt Needham was born in Durban in 1985. His passion for fish began at a very young age with picking up his first aquarium at the age of 10 as a Christmas present. Around the time he was 16 he had 20 tanks and had started working at his local petshop on weekends, where he was approached to run their fish section. Once he had finished school he attended the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal where he acquired a degree in Environmental sciences life stream. During this period he had purchased approximately 100 tanks and had begun to breed freshwater Angelfish on a commercial scale, with around 20 pairs spawning. After University he moved to the UK for a couple of seasons to pursue his cricket career and unfortunately shut down his breeding operation where he bred well over 50 different species of fish with great success, with the majority of these being Above and Below: The Editor with two different species of Loracariidae Cichlids. During this period he studied a found along tributaries of the Rio Negro river, Brazil. Diploma in Ichthyology through the Institute of Animal Health Care in the UK. On his arrival back into the country in 2010, he SeaWorld under SAAMBR. He started working there inquired about a potential position at uShaka as an intern in January 2011 of which he then received a full time position as an Aquarist in the aquarium from April that year, where he worked with various species of marine fish, elasmobranchs and corals. During his time at SAAMBR he has been involved with numerous projects ranging from reproduction of fish at the aquarium and helping ORI with coral work in Sodwana Bay. In 2017 he won an award at the Pan African Association for Zoos and Aquaria conferance for his presentation on the captive spawning of the coral Acropora appressa and linking it to the wild. In 2013 Matt was invited along as a representative on an Amazon fisheries project called Project Piaba. The goal of the project was to help the local fisherman improve their methods of capturing wild caught specimens for the aquarium hobby. In doing this it kept them in a self sustainable industry instead of moving over to destructive practices such as forestry and mining. Matt has well over 20 years of experience in the commercial trade and breeding of ornamental fish and has regularly contributed to The Fishkeeper over the years. He was approached mid way through 2019 with regards to taking over the production of The Fishkeeper. www.thefishkeeper.co.za September/October 2019 the fishkeeper5 Freshwater Paratilapia Polleni By: Matt Needham “This species it great for any aquarist who is looking for a bit more of a challenge with regards to breeding. They are also in my opinion one of the most interesting and beautiful species of cichlid out there which are full of personality.“ ithout a doubt one of the most impressive the past due to activities that have had a drastic looking Cichlids out there has to be impact on their natural environment, such as over WParatilapia polleni. When this cichlid fishing habitat degradation, introduction on non- species reaches maturity and really starts to colour indigenous species etc. Fortuitously research by up it is nothing short of breath taking, taking on the some intrepid aquarists meant that this species colour display ofPhoto a jet by black Peter night Maguire sky splashed with can be kept alive in captivity with it now widely an array of bright blue and white dots resembling available in the hobby. stars. It really has captured many cichlid lovers There is still a lot of debate within the Genus of hearts over the years and very recently I was able Paratilapia as to how many species there actually to finally get my hands on a pair after many years are and if any are separate at all. It is currently of wanting to keep this stunning species. believed that there are four different species that Polleni are a cichlid species native to Madagascar, exist within the hobby. Paratilapia sp “Andapa” where they were once widespread throughout which is thought to possibly be Paratilapia typus. the country. They are far less common than in Paratilapia sp “East coast small spots”, this is the 6 the fishkeeper September/October 2019 www.thefishkeeper.co.za species believed to be the most common in the hobby. Paratilapia sp “Fianarantsoa Green”, and Paratilapia bleekeri although this is thought to be very rare.