Rainbowfish are one of the hottest fish families found in today's freshwater aquarium market. Indigenous only to Australia and New Guinea, they have steadily risen in popularity over the last two decades. However, Rainbows aren't the only fish from the land down under. Joining their colorful cousins are the striking blue-eyes, the insect hunting archerfish, gobies, monos, and scats to name a few. If you are looking to set up an Australian habitat, the options are numerous. This series will cover the Australian fish currently available in the aquarium trade. (Note: Links to profiles and/or photos are provided for all fish included in this series.)
Archerfish (Toxotidae)
Archers derive their scientific name from the word "Toxotes", meaning
bowman or archer. Seeing one in action leaves little doubt about how they earned that name. Archers are capable of accurately shooting steams of water up to 1.5 m in the air. Hapless insects never know what hit them. Once knocked into the water they immediately become a gourmet meal for the Archer. The species of Archerfish indigenous to Australia are: Toxotes chatareus (Common Archer Fish) Toxotes jaculatrix (Archerfish) Toxotes lorentzi (Primitive Archer Fish) Toxotes oliglepis (Western Archer Fish)
The first two, Taxotes chatareus and Toxotes jaculatrix, are the species regularly seen for sale in pet shops.
Arowana (Osteoglossidae)
Not all fish enthusiasts might know that several species of arowana inhabit the freshwater waters along the coast of Australia. Members of the Osteoglossidae family, they are known as the bony tongue fish. The name is derived from the Latin words osteo (meaning bony), and gloss (meaning tongue). All three species of Arowanas are considered protected and may not be imported without special certification. As a result, they are very expensive and highly prized by those who are able to acquire them. Interestingly enough, in their native habitat they are also popular food fish. Because of their size, which reaches well in excess of thirty inches, they are only suitable for very large aquariums. Species indigenous to Australia include: Scleropages formosus (Asian or Golden Arowana) Scleropages jardini (Gulf Saratoga or Northern Spotted Barramundi) Scleropages leichardti (Saratoga or Spotted Barramundi)
Blue Eyes (Pseudomugilidae)
Growing in popularity in the aquarium trade (and one of my personal favorites), are the Blue-eyes. Their brilliant blue eyes make the origin of their name quite apparent. Members of the same order as the popular Rainbowfish (Melanotaeniidae), there is debate over whether they should be considered a separate family of their own. Blue eyes are smaller than their Rainbow counsins, and generally live in brackish waters. Some of the popular species of Blue Eyes include: Pseudomugil connieae (Podondetta Blue-eye) Pseudomugil gertrudae (Spotted Blue-eye) Pseudomugil inconspicuus (Inconspicuous Blue-eye) Pseudomugil mellis (Honey Blue-eye) Pseudomugil signifer (Pacific Blue-eye) Pseudomugil tenellus (Delicate Blue-eye)
Cardinals (Glossamia)
Most Cardinals are marine fish, however several species are found in the freshwaters of Australia and New Guinea. They all carry an interesting common name - Mouth Almighty. Don't let the name fool you. They are as peacefulas they come, and are quite suitable for community tanks. Freshwater Cardinals are not as brilliantly colored as their saltwater counterparts, which may account in part for seeing them infrequently in the aquarium trade. Species of freshwater Cardinals include: Glossamia aprion (Mouth almighty) Glossamia beauforti (Beaufort's mouth almighty) Glossamia gjellerupi (Gjellerup's mouth almighty) Glossamia sandei (Sande's mouth almighty) Glossamia narindica (Slender mouth almighty) Glossamia trifasciata (Three-barred mouth almighty) Glossamia wichmanni (Wichmann's mouth almighty)
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