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The Cobalt Zebra, Metriaclima callainos , was previously known as Pseudotropheus cobalt. This species has solid powder blue coloration, and they may show faint bars depending on mood. Metriaclima are aggressive and should only be kept with other cichlids of similar temperament that can take their rowdy behavior. Keep these fish in small harems with one male and several females. Be sure to feed them a diet rich in greens and vegetable matter. This is very important, as too much protein can lead to deadly Malawi bloat. Typical Malawi decor such as lots of rocks and caves will be appreciated and will allow these fish to establish territory. This is a maternal mouthbrooding fish, meaning the female will keep the eggs and fry in her mouth for protection.

The Mural Goby ( Valenciennea muralis ) is white with light dusky spots and a faint orange-brown horizontal stripes down the mid-body and a dark spot on the dorsal fin. This fish is best known as part of the group of gobies known as sandsifter or sleeper gobies. They take mouthfuls of the substrate and sift it out through their gills, searching for food. This can help keep the substrate aerated, and may help prevent the build-up of organic debris that leads to high nitrate levels, algae, and cyanobacteria ("Red Slime Algae"). They should be kept in a tank with fine, soft substrate that will not damage their gills as they sift. They will eat a variety of frozen foods and possibly flake and pellet. Gobies prefer a tank with plenty of rocky hiding places. They get along with most tankmates, but can be aggressive toward other gobies. When startled or threatened, they have been known to jump out of uncovered aquariums. Always keep the tank covered and provide plenty of hiding places for this fish to retreat to. Visit That Fish Blog for more information from our marine biologists on Gobies and other aquarium-related topics!

This pleco is white or yellow in color, because it is an albino variant. Males have the namesake bushy nose, while females may have a few "whiskers", but much less noticable than males. This pleco is a particularly good algae eater, and it will nibble at plants if algae is unavailable. You can also feed this pleco frozen foods and sinking pellets, as well as fresh vegetable or fruit matter. This fish is quite peaceful, and will tend to hide during the day, so provide driftwood (preferred) or some other suitable hiding place. Tankmates can be any other peaceful, docile fish. This particular pleco is very difficult to breed.

The White Cloud Mountain Minnow is extinct in the wild but has been a popular aquarium fish for many years. It exists now only in fish farms and hobbyists' homes. The wild type White Cloud is beige to light brown with a gold stripe that runs horizontally down the flank. The belly is dark and the fins are red. The fins may also be tipped in white. Unlike most other small aquarium fish, these fish actually thrive in cooler waters and are ideal for unheated community aquariums. White Clouds are hardy fish, and can be used as "starter fish" for new aquariums. They are schooling fish that should be kept in groups. They are peaceful and can be kept with most other community species like danios, small tetras and rasboras. They are very active swimmers and are constantly on the move. These fish can be fed most flake and small pelleted foods, and well as frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms as treats. White Clouds will generally occupy the upper portion of the water column, so a floating or slow-sinking food is a better choice than quick sinking varieties.

The Redtail Butterfly ( Chaetodon collare , also known as the Collare Butterfly or Pakistan Butterfly) is dark grey-brown with pale cream-colored scale centers, a vertical white collar behind the eye and a red tail. This butterfly is best kept alone; more than one in the same tank will usually fight. Butterflyfish consist of a large number of fish found in the aquarium trade from the Chaetodon , Chelmon , Forcipiger , and Heniochus genuses, among others from the family Chaetodontidae . The family ranges in length from 3 inches up to close to 12 inches in length. Butterflies are usually roughly oval in body shape but longer fins make some appear elliptical or diamond-shaped. They resemble and are sometimes confused with angelfish (family Pomacentridae ) but angelfish have a cheekspine that is not found in butterflies. Butterflies are generally community fish in nature. Though some more pugnatious species may terrorize smaller or more docile fish, most can be kept with a wide range of community tankmates. Most butterfly species are not "reef safe" and will eat corals and polyps. In fact, some more delicate butterflies require corals as part of their natural diet. Butterflies may also harm smaller crustaceans (crabs and shrimp) and may pick at inverts like clams, feather dusters, anemones and similar tankmates. Use caution when introducing a butterfly into a tank with inverts; though some are considered "reef safe" by some aquarists, any butterfly may pose a risk to corals and inverts. The diet of butterflies can vary, as mentioned, based on what they normally eat in the wild. Some very picky species only pick at coral flesh and can be difficult to wean onto an aquarium-based diet. A very varied diet of algaes and meaty items like brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, scallops, clam, corals, sponges and other items is best. Vitamin supplements can also help get the butterflies all the nutrition they require. While some butterflies are very hardy and suitable for aquarists of all levels, more sensitive species should be attempted by experienced aquarists only.

Discus are considered the Kings of the Freshwater fish! These beautiful, interestingly shaped fish can be quite rewarding when you take the time to care for them properly. Discus do best in groups. They also require pristine water conditions, with relatively low hardness, low pH, and high temperature. Be prepared to pay close attention to your water quality and the condition of your discus. Provide about 8-10 gallons of water per adult discus, starting with at least a 45 gallon aquarium. They also prefer a tall tank because of their body shape and activity. Your discus would do best if they are in a tank where there is low-traffic and no loud noises. Discus do well in a well-planted tank with driftwood and plenty of cover. They are quite docile and skittish and require a place to retreat and feel safe if necessary. They will not compete well for food, so be sure tankmates are equally as docile. Fast swimming fish can stress discus with their activity. Try Cardinal tetras, Rummy-nose tetras, rams, cory cats, and plecos that stay small. Feed your discus rich, meaty foods like worms and other larvae, beefheart, and a quality flake or small pellet. Increase the protein intake if you would like to breed your discus. Discus make rather good parents. They both protect the eggs and young, and they actually secrete a mucous that the fry feeds on during the very first few weeks that they are free-swimming. If you do your best to give your discus the conditions they want, they will reward you with many years of brilliant color and beauty, and plenty of personality, too! This is a Restricted item and is not covered by our Arrive Alive 5-Day Guarantee. Please visit the Guarantee Policy and Restricted Species webpages for more information.

The Bubbletip Brittle Starfish ( Ophiomastix sp. ) has a small central disk and thin legs. Each leg is covered in short spines with larger, paddle-shaped spines interspersed along the edges. Starfish in general are very sensitive to changes in water quality and conditions. If temperature, salinity or other water parameters change quickly, starfish cannot regulate the change and are often damaged or killed. Be sure to acclimate carefully and while doing water changes, make sure the "new" water is as close as possible to the "old" water in its parameters. Most brittle and serpent starfish are scavengers. Some may prey on snails and invertebrates while others eat detritus, leftover food, and tiny organisms in and on the substrate and rockwork. These starfish do not have the suction cup-like tubed feet common in other starfish. Their legs are instead often covered with small spines or hardened scaly plates. The names "brittle starfish" and "serpent starfish" are often used interchangeably, but "serpent starfish" usually refers to smoother-legged "brittle starfish". These starfish will usually hide in rockwork or caves and come out only to feed. Some may prey on live inverts or small fish if underfed, and they may also prey on sick, dead or dying fish. Brittle and Serpent starfish can be fed by placing a piece of clam, shrimp, scallop or other small, meaty foods by their mouth. Like many other starfish, Brittle Starfish and Serpent Starfish will sometimes break a leg off if stressed or harassed. This is seen even more in these types of starfish than in many of the thicker-bodied starfish (hence the name "brittle" starfish). As long as the starfish is otherwise healthy, these legs can regenerate and the starfish can continue to grow and thrive. These starfish often may have assymetrical legs where they have broken off and begun to grow back. This is a Restricted item and is not covered by our Arrive Alive 5-Day Guarantee. Please visit the Guarantee Policy and Restricted Species webpages for more information.

Electric Blues, sometimes called "Haplochromis Big Eye" in the past, hail from the Northern end of Lake Malawi. Dominant male Sciaenochromis ahli develop fantastic blue body color with accents of yellow on the tail and anal fin and a broad white edge in the dorsal. Females remain silver. Sciaenochromis tend to be active and quite aggressive, so keep this hap with other cichlids of similar temperament and size that can hold their own. They will be more aggressive with males of same species, try to keep only one male per tank. These fish need plenty of territory and should not be housed in tanks smaller than 75 gallons. Tank decor should include plenty of rocks for hiding. Feed Sciaenochromis a variety of foods including flake, pellet, and meaty frozen items. They are predatory and will eat small fish and fry if the opportunity is presented. Like most Malawian cichlids, they are mouth brooders, meaning the female holds the eggs and fry in her mouth for protection.

The OB Labeotropheus is immediately recognizable by its fleshy, overhanging snout and its unique orange, black and blue blotched coloration. Juveniles are blotched orange and black. Like most other Mbuna, this fish is quite aggressive and should only be kept with fish of similar temperament. Their tank decor should consist of rocky caves and a sandy substrate. This fish enjoys picking algae off of rocks. They should have plenty of algae in their diet, such as spirulina flake and veggie tabs, and they are herbivores. They will also accept any other kind of cichlid flake or pellet, as well as the occasional meaty frozen food. Fuelleborni are maternal mouthbrooders, so the female will keep the eggs and fry in her mouth for protection.

Green Tiger Barbs are a color variant of the common Tiger Barb. Their bodies are green or blue-green, and their fins are edged in red. Like other tiger barbs, these fish can be kept in some community tanks, but should not be kept with long-finned or shy fish as they can be aggressive at times. Green Tiger Barbs are schooling fish and should be kept in groups of at least six fish. This will help to reduce aggressive behavior. Keeping barbs in a larger tank will also help to reduce fin-nipping and other aggressive behaviors. They will eat a variety of prepared foods like flake or small pellets, and will appreciate the occasional vegetable snack or frozen meaty food. They are fast swimmers and require a tank with ample open space.