Mark Valderrama

Balloon Molly fish is a unique freshwater fish that are bred extremely short and round. The name; balloon Molly truly justifies the appearance of this fish as their bellies are round and swollen with arched backs and extended dorsal fins.

One other fact about Balloon Molly fish is they are truly man-made and a result of selective breeding to have scoliosis. Therefore, they have a short lifespan with a life full of colors and patterns

Have you seen a Hillstream Loach and wondered why they look the way they look and if you could own them? Or you landed on here because you had no idea what they are? These fish are like your typical sucker fish but with more of a coolness factor, and they are smaller to boot.

While these fish are relatively mellow, they have specific requirements that you need to play attention to for them to thrive. With the knowledge drops I’ll offer today, you will be ready to embark on keeping these unique fish in your aquarium.

Betta fish have a variety of peculiar behaviors, but flaring their fins is arguably the one that attracts the most attention from aquarium keepers.

Bettas are territorial and aggressive. They often enjoy maintaining their calm. However, Betta fish would flare their fins and endanger their opponent even before there is any chance that they will become prey themselves out of dread of being caught by any predator.

Have you ever seen a blood parrot cichlid? These adorable fish leave a lasting first impression on many aquarists, but their hybrid origin discourages many from actually taking them home. However, these unusual fish make great pets, so if you’d like to keep your own blood parrot cichlids, this article is just for you!

Clean-up-crew animals are not a replacement for good old-fashioned tank maintenance, but they can reduce the amount of cleaning that you need to do. As a bonus, these fish and inverts are also fascinating and beautiful creatures, so they add a ton of interest to any tank!

Are you ready to learn about 10 amazing clean-up crew animals for freshwater aquariums? Let’s get started!

Severum Cichlids are beautiful, composed, and one of the most colorful Cichlid species you will ever find in the aquarium hobby. Although they grow large, they socialize well in a community tank. Their long lifespans and straight breeding process make them a perfect choice for almost every aquarist.

You can find more about Severum Cichlids in this detailed care guide where I dive into how to properly manage them, what foods sit well with them, and what factors are involved in their increasing popularity.