🐟 Invitation to the online seminar: “Fascinating Killifishes” (Dieter Ott)

Hello all aquarium enthusiasts!

The British Killifish Association (BKA) warmly invites you to the first in a series of summer online seminars, taking place this Wednesday, June 10th. If you are interested in killifishes, their care, color forms, or just want to gain inspiration from an experienced foreign aquarist, don’t miss this lecture. Everyone is welcome!

- Speaker: Dieter Ott
- Topic: “Fascinating Killifishes” (The Fascinating World of Killifishes)
- When: Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 20:30 CEST (19:30 BST / GMT)
- Where: Online via Zoom

💻 How to join?

You can join the lecture directly by clicking the link below or entering the details in the Zoom app:

- Join link: Enter Zoom room
- Meeting ID: 827 0388 5789
- Passcode: australe

> 📅 Tip: If you want to save the meeting directly to your calendar, you can download the iCalendar (.ics) file here.

More information about other upcoming seminars (July, September, October) can be found on the official website killis.org.uk.

We look forward to your participation! 🐠 Feel free to share the invitation with other fellow aquarists.

🐟 AkvaEXPO 2026 RK: 47. ročník tradiční výstavy v Rychnově nad Kněžnou! 🌿

Akváristé a teraristé, zbystřete! Máme pro vás skvělý tip na akci, kterou byste si letos na podzim rozhodně neměli nechat ujít. Akva-tera klub ZO ČSCH Rychnov nad Kněžnou pořádá již 47. ročník legendární výstavy AkvaEXPO 2026 RK.

Přijďte načerpat inspiraci, nakoupit do svých nádrží nebo si jen užít skvělou atmosféru mezi lidmi se stejnou vášní.

📅 Kdy a kde?

- Termín: 12. – 20. září 2026
- Čas: denně od 8:30 do 18:00 (poslední den 20. 9. pouze do 16:00)
- Místo: Dům chovatelů, Trčkova 437, Rychnov nad Kněžnou

✨ Na co se můžete těšit?

- Velká výstava: Fascinující expozice akvarijních ryb, vodních rostlin a terarijních živočichů.
- AkvaEXPO v Rychnově nad Kněžnou není jen obyčejná prodejní burza, ale kompletní zážitek pro všechny milovníky podvodního života a terarijních zvířat.
- Nádrže budou připraveny jen těmi nejlepšími a nejšikovnějšími akvaristy!
- Tradiční prodej: Bohatý výběr ryb, krevet, živých rostlin, kvalitních krmiv a dalšího akvaristického i teraristického vybavení přímo od chovatelů.
- Přímo na místě bude probíhat velký prodej akvarijních ryb, krevet, šneků a vodních rostlin. Chovatelé zde nabídnou také kvalitní krmiva, akvarijní techniku a další chovatelské potřeby. Máte tak jedinečnou šanci pořídit vše potřebné pro váš aquascaping nebo chov na jednom místě a za skvělé ceny.
- Odborné přednášky: Možnost rozšířit si obzory a pobavit se s experty z oboru.
- Součástí doprovodného programu jsou odborné přednášky. Můžete zde konzultovat své chovatelské úspěchy i starosti s předními českými akvaristy a terarity. Těšte se známá akvaristická jména!(více zveřejníme brzy)

Proč navštívit AkvaEXPO v Rychnově?

Výstava v Rychnově má neopakovatelnou atmosféru s téměř padesátiletou tradicí. Je ideálním místem pro setkání komunity, načerpání nové inspirace a nákup zdravých živočichů přímo z českých odchovů.

Tip pro návštěvníky:

- Pokud jedete na výstavu primárně za nákupy rostlin a ryb, doporučujeme dorazit v prvních dnech konání, kdy je výběr nejširší. Pokud chcete klidnější prohlídku expozic, zvolte pracovní dny v dopoledních hodinách.
- Akce je známá také skvělým pohoštěním, takže můžete využít posezení k diskuzi a občerstvení.

Aquarium after the renovation, how is it doing and what changes have occurred? The first photo is right after the renovation and the second one is after 1 month and 17 days. What do you think? Would you change anything?

On the banks of the Vistula, a system operates that would have seemed more like an experiment than a part of urban infrastructure just a few years ago. Warsaw utilizes freshwater mussels as living sensors for water quality. This is not a curiosity, but a full-fledged layer of protection for drinking water, directly connected to the control systems of the waterworks.

The basic principle is simple: mussels filter water, and if something harmful appears in it, they immediately close their shells. This movement, which is a matter of survival for the organism, is translated into data in Warsaw using sensors attached to their shells. The system monitors group behavior and responds to synchronous changes.

Technical Solution

Small sensors are attached to the shells, measuring their opening in real-time. Data is continuously evaluated and filtered to eliminate random behavior of individual organisms, thus the behavior of the entire group is closely monitored. Once multiple mussels begin to close simultaneously within a defined time frame, the algorithm evaluates this as an anomaly and responds by issuing an alarm. This signal is connected to the waterworks control system (SCADA), which can automatically react—such as by shutting off the water supply.

The technical implementation is simple yet precise. Small sensors are attached to both halves of the mussel, capable of measuring the distance between them with high accuracy, that is, the degree of opening. Data is transmitted to the control unit at short intervals, where it is processed. Importantly, the system does not work with a single immediate impulse. It first filters out random movements and the natural behavior of individual organisms, then tracks trends over time, and primarily compares reactions among multiple mussels.

Mussels Discover More Than Classic Sensors

Unlike traditional probes that measure specific parameters such as pH, conductivity, or the presence of defined chemical substances, mussels operate differently. They respond to the overall impact of the environment on a living organism. This means they can detect situations where an unknown substance or a combination of multiple factors appears in the water, which individually might not exceed any limits from the sensors' perspective.

In the case of contamination, mussels close within seconds, and the entire system can evaluate the situation within tens of seconds to one minute. This speed makes biomonitoring an ideal "first warning layer" that complements more detailed but slower laboratory analyses.

To maintain reliability, the system works with a group of several individuals, and their behavior is continuously calibrated. Mussels are placed in a flow chamber, where they constantly filter water from the river, and after a certain period, they are replaced to prevent adaptation to the environment.

The great thing about this is that the mussels are not harmed; they live in an environment similar to their natural habitat and are returned to nature after a few months, with their place taken by their successors.

This is what aquaristics can look like in a country where theft is practically nonexistent and rules are followed. In a residential area, there is this open aquaristics where you can choose fish or accessories and pay into a donation box.

Official Announcement of the National Exhibition of Aquarium Fish, Reptiles, and Skills

Open Championship of the Czech Republic in Breeding Livebearers (Guppy, Xipho, and Molly) – Czech Open
Following the championship exhibitions organized by the former association Akvárium, established in 1899.

Organizer: AQUARIO & spol. n.o., ID: 27016439 | aquario@aquario-euro.net

Venue: Lysá nad Labem, Exhibition Grounds (Masarykova 1727, 289 22 Lysá nad Labem)

Member of IKGH – International Kuratorium Guppy High-breeding
Václav Schebelle – Associate judge for clubs for the 2026 European Championship season
Held as part of the exhibition EXOTIKA 2026
Date: October 28 to November 1, 2026 (Wednesday to Sunday)

Program 2026:
- Competitive Exhibition: Championship of the Czech Republic in Breeding Guppy, Xipho, and Molly.
- Natural Biotopes: Exhibition display – Central America, Amazon, Africa, Asia.
- Aquascaping: Exhibition of “aqua players” (tanks 0–200 l).
- Aquarium Free: Open competition creation and presentation by aquarists (tanks over 200 l).
- Marine Aquariums: Exhibition display (octopuses, seahorses, corals, etc.).
- Snails and Beetles: Bred forms from Africa.
- Orchid: Thematic flower exhibition.
- Antiquarian: Specialized literature from the respective fields.
- Lectures: Marine aquaristics, genetics, invasive species + GMOs, Czech aquarium pond, and more.

Details of the Exhibitions:
Championship Exhibition: Conducted according to the global regulations of IKGH.

Guppy: collection of 3 males + 1 female, or pairs (male + female). Evaluated based on similar traits (fin shape, color, size, vitality).
Xipho and Molly: always a pair with similar traits.
Biotope Exhibits: A glimpse into pure nature without artificial decorations and visible technology.
RETRO Exhibition: A reminder of the beginnings of aquaristics in Europe.
Aquascaping: A modern style of aquaristics emphasizing the harmony of plants, light, and decorations.
Snails and Beetles: Exhibition and sales display (African snails, terrestrial crustaceans – “pigs,” etc.).

The exhibitions will showcase both natural and highly bred forms. The event will include the sale of fish from domestic breeders and the distribution of the AQUA directory (contacts for breeders of specific species).

NEW: Open Amateur Exhibition with Sales
We invite all hobby aquarists to present their breeding stocks of GUPPY, XIPHO, and MOLLY to the wider public. Separate tanks will be prepared for registered participants (smaller exhibition tanks and larger sales tanks).

We encourage all aquarists and clubs to participate! Come compare your breeding successes and experience the prestigious atmosphere of the championship.

Further organizational information will follow, or we will provide it in person.

On behalf of AQUARIO & spol.

Václav Schebelle

The first photo is before the edit and the second one is after the edit. Which one do you like more? And what would you change or add, if anything?

Do you have a full calendar, but you only find out about the best auction or lecture the day after? The German Cichliden-Forum.de is hosting an online lecture that will delight anyone who wants to have a perfect overview of what’s happening in the world of aquaristics.

Online Lecture: Vivaristik Calendar in Practice
Manfred Dietz will introduce a revolutionary tool for all aquarists – the Vivaristik Calendar.

When: Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at 7:30 PM

Where: Online (Zoom)

Language: German with real-time Czech subtitles (over 40 languages available)

What will it be about?
The goal is to unify all dates, events, links, and locations in one place in the cloud. Manfred will show you:

✅ How to find all aquaristic events with one click.

✅ How to avoid unfortunate scheduling conflicts.

✅ How to connect the calendar with your own phone or applications.

✅ Practical demonstrations directly in the calendar interface.

At the end of the lecture, there will be plenty of time for your questions and assistance with setup.

Why join?
Vivaristics is not just about fish in the aquarium, but also about meeting and sharing experiences. This calendar is a bridge that connects us all. Guests are warmly welcomed!

Tip for Czech aquarists: Thanks to Zoom's feature, automatic Czech subtitles will be available, so you don’t have to worry about the language barrier.

Want to participate?
Follow the Cichliden-Forum.de website to get the access link to Zoom.

To join the Zoom meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82319496616?pwd=LjA2oPUsfVaOxub63B32TB3wDvGuji.1

Meeting ID: 823 1949 6616

Passcode: 020589

Scriptaphyosemion schmitti are beautiful lampeye killifish. My Schmitti stand out best in a dark environment. Their metallic blue and red colors literally shine when the aquarium is dim. The fish have fallen in love with the moss and enjoy resting in it. I maintain the temperature around 22°C and pH 6.8. They love to feast on Izya worms and daphnia. However, they are not very keen on Tubifex, which surprised me quite a bit. They would rather indulge in dried food instead.

While traveling in Japan, I came across fish farming in the city of Beppu, famous for its hot springs. Unfortunately, the Japanese attitude towards animals is not ideal, and it shows... The arapaima looked completely desperate. 😤

While reading the fantastic book Ocean by David Attenborough, I came across an interesting creature that I would like to share with you.

Enypniastes eximia is a dark red deep-sea sea cucumber, unflatteringly referred to as the "headless chicken monster" due to its appearance while hovering above the sea floor, although it is actually a beautiful creature. This species of sea cucumber (order Elasipodida, class Holothuroidea) is unique in that it can detach from the sea floor and "fly" in the water column. Enypniastes is a close relative of the well-known "sea cucumbers."

Enypniastes has a gelatinous, translucent body (often very transparent in younger individuals) and a wide "veil" at the front that functions as a swimming surface. It measures about 10 centimeters and its surface is sticky and stinging.

Most of the time, the sea cucumber spends on the bottom in a horizontal position, gathering food with its legs from the upper layer of sediment, but when it needs to change location quickly or escape, it hovers above the sea floor. A remarkable feature of Enypniastes is that when threatened, it can "shed" the outer layer of its surface and release it, drifting away in another direction.

Beautiful footage and many more interesting facts about this creature can be found in these videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJnbbt9QVtA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnR-Agj7crM

We invite you to the next Akva Tera market, which will take place at the Delta cultural center in Břeclav.

9 pieces of shrimp

Aqua Congress in Žďár nad Sázavou
Organized by the Tetra Aquarists Association

Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026
Speaker: Radim Blažek, Ph.D.

Program of the day
10:00 – Meeting of the AKVA CZ associations

13:00 – Afternoon lecture with Radim Blažek

16:30 – Announcement of a rich tombola

19:00 – Party with dancing and free entertainment

Lecture topics:
1) Pitfalls of fish and their parasites research across Africa
Peek behind the scenes of scientific expeditions into the heart of the African continent.
2) Cuckoos with fins
Unique feathered fish from Lake Tanganyika and their fascinating breeding strategies.

Volume 100 l, lighting Diversa led expert white, filter JK Atman pump with biomolitan, plants of the genus predominantly Vallisneria, Rotala, Lugwidia, Echinodorus, Bleher's/ocelot.. no fertilization, no CO2.. fish once Mikrogeophagus ramirezi, Loricaria catfish, various Ancistrus sp.. the aquarium was in operation for 3.5 years before it was discontinued.. during the 3 years there were a few changes... I wanted to show a simple way without using CO2 or any fertilizers.

Přání k Vánocům a na konci roku

Drazí čeští akvaristé,

rok 2025 se chýlí ke konci. Byl v mnoha ohledech jiný a náročnější, než jsme na začátku doufali. O to více nás těší, že se v tomto roce navázal velmi dobrý kontakt s vámi. Považujeme to za výjimečně pozitivní a cenný vývoj.

Jménem Cichliden-Forum.de, DCG e.V. a VDA AK-Fischkrankheiten vám srdečně děkujeme za konstruktivní a důvěryhodnou spolupráci. Velmi se těšíme na její pokračování i v příštím roce.

Rádi bychom také nezapomněli zmínit, že velké nasazení, mnoho nápadů a úsilí všech zúčastněných si zaslouží zvláštní pochvalu. Bez vašeho osobního přínosu by toto slibné partnerství nebylo možné.

Děkujeme všem českým akvaristům a mnoha dobrovolným pomocníkům za váš přínos v končícím roce 2025. Každý z vás se osobním nasazením podílel na zahájení a dalším rozvoji naší společné spolupráce.

Jsme pevně přesvědčeni, že i v roce 2026 upevníme naši pozici v akvaristice a naši započatou spolupráci určitě ještě rozšíříme.

Přejeme vám všem, vašim rodinám, blízkým a přátelům poklidné adventní období, veselé Vánoce a šťastný start do nového roku!

Ať vám přinese pár klidných dnů – čas na rozjímání, načerpání sil, být s rodinou a soustředit se na to podstatné.

Tyto dobré přání vám posíláme s srdečnými pozdravy

Manfred Dietz
jménem Cichliden-Forum.de, DCG e.V. a VDA AK-Fischkrankheiten

The Pantanal (swamp area) is half the size of Germany and the largest contiguous swamp area in the world. It is mostly located in Brazil, with the remaining parts in Paraguay and Bolivia. Since the year 2000, the Pantanal has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is protected.

It is home to numerous fish species, many of which are popular in aquaristics. The book about the fish of the Pantanal is unparalleled. Over 660 pages, the fish of this region are presented, with detailed text and an image that almost always shows the respective fish in live coloration. For each species, the morphological characteristics, live coloration, as well as information on occurrence, etymology, type locality, and economic significance are provided.

In addition to the mostly excellent fish images, there are also some habitat photos. A large number of authors were involved in the development. The book is printed in Portuguese. However, with appropriate translation tools, this should not be a problem.

NOTE: Portuguese text!

660 pages
PDF Digital
ISBN: 978 65-81066-05-5

Here is the link:
https://www.cichliden-forum.de/Mittel-Suedamerika/Montagem-livro-Peixes-VERSAO-FINAL-MARCO-2022-ISBN97865-81066-05-5-ONLINE_FINAL-1.pdf

Best regards,
Manfred

With the two volumes by Kai Qvist and Rune Evjeberg, you will receive extensive information and photos of freshwater biotopes and fish from the

rivers, lagoons, and cenotes of Mexico. The books are almost a must for those who are involved with Goodeidae, livebearers, cichlids, and
many other freshwater fish from Mexico or are interested in them.
Volumes 1 and 2 of "A Selection of Freshwater Fish Biotopes in Mexico" include 337 and 241 pages and are packed with detailed information about
the biotopes, water parameters, history of the fish, local communities, and much more.

Anyone with an account at https://de.scribd.com can download the two volumes there for free.

Here is the link to it:
https://de.scribd.com/document/47090…-Mexico-v-2-pdf

Best regards, Manfred

Hello everyone,

an interesting new release: "Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia"

The "Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia" provides the first summary of the taxonomy, distribution, habitats, and biology of all freshwater fish between the Bosporus, Azerbaijan, Yemen, and Iran. The region is extremely diverse and is home to 625 species, most of which are endemic.

Many of the species are known to only a few specialists, and the authors have spent 18 years compiling the information provided.

The book not only showcases all species in color photographs, the first site-specific distribution maps, and the current IUCN conservation status of all species. It also allows for their identification using identification keys and detailed diagnoses, points to many open questions for future research, and includes 1,142 references for further information. It unites the relevant and authoritative information necessary for understanding and researching freshwater biodiversity in the region and far beyond, and will serve as a standard work and timeline for many years to come.

all species in color photographs
distribution maps
current IUCN conservation status of all species
identification of fish using identification keys and detailed diagnoses

Citation
Freyhof, Jörg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash and Kaya, Cüneyt. Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter, 2025.
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111677811

Place of publication: Berlin/Boston
Language: English
Dimensions: 210 x 280 mm
ISBN-10: 3-11-167764-8 / 3111677648
ISBN-13: 978-3-11-167764-4 / 9783111677644

Download eBook (PDF 262 MB):
https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783111677811/pdf?licenseType=open-access

Best regards to all,
Manfred

Warning: Contains old, ancient emigrants from the South of America, representatives of the genus Corydoras.. (female sterbai, female panda, male paleatus).. And African plants Anubias (where to put the nice surplus? 🤭..) They live there only to the end of their days and grow only in a stopover☝️.. So take the subcategory "biotope" with a grain of salt🫠..

The main inhabitant is the male Channa bleheri (somehow turned brown after two years, so probably the brown form), bred by Kuba Lasota, Heiko. Snails Planorbids, Lymnaeids, one lost Clithon, lost and rediscovered Melanoides, Filopaludina..

It is still a low-tech aquarium, where the only technology includes a pumping head from jk animals and an LED tube hsbao retrofit. Occasionally a skimmer jingye, for emergencies when one doesn't want to use tweezers.. But I don't want to get rid of it completely (is that possible?), I make jichu for watering houseplants 😁.. We fertilize with fish waste and maximum long-term NPK fertilizer in the substrate. The used leachate is literally alchemy. The base is Kachu, leaves of Quercus robur, Fagus, Schima, alder cones and leaves, Sphagnum, torf, lotus petals, lotus fruit.... The representatives of the plants growing here are Microsorum, Cryptocoryne, Bolbitis, Najas, Limnophila, Schismatoglottis, my favorite and simultaneously hated Lotus tiger, sometimes red, sometimes green, as it pleases (can be seen in the photo in my gallery, so I'm not making it up..), which was obtained by Jirka Fojtik from Surpan and from whom I also have Schismatoglottis (thanks!), Limna, Rhygoriza (I have it again after 5 years, thanks to Míla Popelka 🍀), and somewhere among all this are still living, just somehow leafless stems of Hydrocotyle leucocephala 😅... And finally, Java and hybrid mosses, Cladophora and Rhizoclonium, which didn't want to grow for a long time .. 👌.. And the lighting conditions themselves? Terrible... But it's growing! 😂

After about half a year, I planted new plants…