coldmachineUK
Aquarium Advice FINatic
So, with fish there are fashions I guess, and they come and go. To me this makes some fish underrated because they're not considered 'popular' and so less people keep them (with most not realising how nice they can be). This can ultimately end up with rarity attached too because LFS wont stock things that dont sell so well.
Here are my top three underrated fish, what are yours?
1. Black mollies (Poecilia sphenops)
First fish I ever kept, a long long time ago! Theyve been inbred so much that most stock is very unhealthy these days. I recently (back in Summer '06) bought a pair of females partly out of nostalgias sake but also because I still do love this fish.
They do have a little bit more personality than people give them credit for. One is nicknamed 'Molly Monster' b/c she eats like a horse.
They're very peaceful, gentle fish. People consider them 'starter fish' so theyre not very popular in the trade which is a shame, particularly since theyre brackish adaptable and can therefore feature in more unusual tanks.
2. Porthole livebearers (Poeciliopsis gracilis)
When people see 'livebearer' they often think 'oh, an easy fish for newbies' so people with fishkeeping experience often neglect these beauties. I have never owned or kept any myself, but theyve always been on my 'if I see these...' list
3. Chromide cichlids (Etroplus maculatus)
Ancestors of the modern cichlids, the chromides are still about and sadly not as popular as their modern vibrant, colourful and active counterparts like the African Rift Lake cichlids.
Here are my top three underrated fish, what are yours?
1. Black mollies (Poecilia sphenops)
First fish I ever kept, a long long time ago! Theyve been inbred so much that most stock is very unhealthy these days. I recently (back in Summer '06) bought a pair of females partly out of nostalgias sake but also because I still do love this fish.
They do have a little bit more personality than people give them credit for. One is nicknamed 'Molly Monster' b/c she eats like a horse.
They're very peaceful, gentle fish. People consider them 'starter fish' so theyre not very popular in the trade which is a shame, particularly since theyre brackish adaptable and can therefore feature in more unusual tanks.
2. Porthole livebearers (Poeciliopsis gracilis)
When people see 'livebearer' they often think 'oh, an easy fish for newbies' so people with fishkeeping experience often neglect these beauties. I have never owned or kept any myself, but theyve always been on my 'if I see these...' list
3. Chromide cichlids (Etroplus maculatus)
Ancestors of the modern cichlids, the chromides are still about and sadly not as popular as their modern vibrant, colourful and active counterparts like the African Rift Lake cichlids.