Practical Fishkeeping Magazine.

Practical Fishkeeping Magazine. The world's leading fishkeeping and aquatics magazine for over 60 years - created by fishkeeping experts for all levels of fish hobbyist!

Whether you are new to the hobby, or an experience fishkeeper, Practical Fishkeeping Magazine is for you. The magazine for fish fanatics by fish fanatics, with something for everyone, whether you like community tanks, niche tropicals, a pond full of goldfish, or a high tech marine reef! Our contributors include the likes of world-exploring Heiko Bleher, planting expert George Farmer, Venezuelan fi

sh hunter Ivan Mikolji, crustacean guru Chris Lukhaup, and more. Reader visits, step by step set ups, gear reviews, fish showcases, breeding tips, shop visits, opinion columns and the latest fishkeeping news are just a few of the things you'll find inside each bulging issue.

This Pothos growing out of Alex's flooded forest aquarium is looking great! What houseplants are you growing out of your...
03/09/2026

This Pothos growing out of Alex's flooded forest aquarium is looking great!

What houseplants are you growing out of your fish tanks? We’d love to see your aquariums featuring emergent growth, share your photos in the comments!

Read more about using houseplants in aquariums: https://f.mtr.cool/psz9vg0cxd

Hypancistrus plecos are some of the most striking catfish available in the hobby, with their contrasting patterns and co...
02/09/2026

Hypancistrus plecos are some of the most striking catfish available in the hobby, with their contrasting patterns and colours.

These fish are relatively carnivorous compared with many other plecos, and enjoy meaty foods such as bloodworms and sinking carnivore pellets. While they may consume some algae and plant matter, they shouldn't be treated as algae-eaters, and will not thrive simply by grazing on algae-covered wood and vegetables. They need a varied, appropriate diet that includes plenty of animal protein.

They are well adapted to fast-flowing streams and rivers, and replicating these conditions, with high flow and plenty of oxygen, is often key to their success in captivity. Groups can be kept together in sufficiently large aquariums with plenty of suitable caves, and under the right conditions this can lead to breeding.

The male will guard a chosen cave and attempt to attract a mate. Once spawning has occurred, he guards the eggs and the fry until they are free-swimming, at which point they leave the cave. The fry can be reared alongside the adults, but many breeders prefer to remove them to allow for more targeted feeding and easier observation.

The zebra pleco (Hypancistrus zebra) is probably the most well known and coveted species, but there are plenty of other great options. Which is your favourite?

Enjoy Practical Fishkeeping anytime, anywhere.You can subscribe to EXACT Editions via our website and get instant access...
01/09/2026

Enjoy Practical Fishkeeping anytime, anywhere.

You can subscribe to EXACT Editions via our website and get instant access to the current issue, and our extensive archive, on your phone, tablet or laptop.

So wherever you happen to have a spare moment, there'll always be a fascinating feature to read.

Subscribe here: https://f.mtr.cool/kxtsbi43hp

30/08/2026

We recently picked up a small group of Apistogramma borellii when we went fish shopping this month.

They are currently in a temporary tank while they grow up, and pair off before they get separated into their forever homes.

As the Vitalis Aquatic Nutrition 1mm pellets went down so well in the shop, this was the obvious choice to help them settle into life in our care. And this is not at all a surprise, given many large public aquariums feed Vitalis foods to their fish, it stands to reason that it would be a great option for us hobbyists too!

Phil's final snorkel in the Amazon revealed an extraordinary clear-water habitat, carpeted with Eleocharis and packed wi...
29/08/2026

Phil's final snorkel in the Amazon revealed an extraordinary clear-water habitat, carpeted with Eleocharis and packed with shoals of tetras, cichlids and Hemiodus. Could this be one of the ultimate South American biotopes?
Read more: https://f.mtr.cool/gc89xvwmx9

Asia isn't the first place you'd look for cichlids, but the orange and green chromide are two of the family's most fasci...
27/08/2026

Asia isn't the first place you'd look for cichlids, but the orange and green chromide are two of the family's most fascinating oddities, with unusual habitats, remarkable family lives and a surprising relationship between them.

Find out more: https://f.mtr.cool/ck40wdskwf

In the latest issue, Rodrigo outlines the species that continue to survive in the Peat Swamps of Thailand. This article ...
26/08/2026

In the latest issue, Rodrigo outlines the species that continue to survive in the Peat Swamps of Thailand. This article is full of biotope inspiration, and is not one to be missed!

Head to our website to get a copy (available as a digital copy as well)

25/08/2026

We always like to see fish feeding before choosing them, so getting the opportunity to feed these cichlids was a real bonus.

Using the Vitalis Aquatic Nutrition Cichlid range, we could see which fish were active, settled and eager to take food – all useful things to look for when selecting new fish.

Vitalis’ range of aquarium foods is produced here in the UK and provides complete, balanced nutrition, with different formulas designed for different species and feeding requirements. Read more about their range by visiting https://www.vitalisaquatic.uk

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24/08/2026

There aren't many easier corals to grow than pulsing Xenia… but that's not always a good thing!

Sometimes this captivating coral grows a little too fast, taking over the tank.

To prevent that, keep it isolated on its own small rocky island, away from the main structure.

04/08/2026

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