Water Colors Aquarium Gallery

Charles leads the Watercolors team on an exploration of the Betta splendens complex. With new scientific data being published, the topic of which bettas belong in the complex and which don’t gets a little muddy (pun intended). One thing we can all agree on is that bettas are amazing fish and should be preserved and cherished in both our tanks and the wild. Are you keeping any domestic or a wild (wild-type) bettas? Are you working on any cool new domestic hybrids or intensifying the colors of wild-type line? Let us know on any of our platforms found below. We would love to have you join in on the discussion.



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Sources mentioned in this episode:

Betta International Congress – https://www.ibcbettas.org/

Species mentioned in this episode:

Betta antuta 

Betta splendens

Betta imbellis

Betta symanmorantalis

Betta smaragdina

Betta stiktos

Betta smaragdina sp. guitar

Betta mahachaiensis

Betta brownorum

Betta ocellata

Betta coccina

This week, the entire Water Colors Aquarium Gallery staff had the chance to ask Amy, Ben and Calder questions. From goofy and light-hearted to serious and boarderline depressing, the team is put to the test. Thank you Mandy for asking the tough questions and being our host for the evening! Join in on the fun next time and submit your own aquarium questions and curiousities to our email; [email protected].



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Sources mentioned in this episode:

Georgia Aquarium – https://www.georgiaaquarium.org

Steinhart Aquarium – https://www.calacademy.org

Waikiki Aquarium – https://www.waikikiaquarium.org/

Monterey Bay Aquarium – https://www.montereybayaquarium.org

Two Oceans Aquarium (Cape Town) – https://www.aquarium.co.za/

Kai The Fish Guy – https://www.yikaitea.com/

‘On Human Nature’ by E.O. Wilson

Species mentioned in this episode:

Clownfish species found around Indonesia

Epiplatys annulatus

Nothobranchius symoensi

Amphiprion melanopus – Blue-striped Cinnamon Clownfish

Zebrasoma gemmatum – Gem Tang

Centropyge boylei – Peppermint Angelfish

Amphiprion percula – Onyx Clownfish

Stomatopod species – Mantis Shrimp

Gall Crabs (family Cryptochiridae)

Amphiprion biaculeatus – Maroon Clownfish

Paracheirodon axelrodi – Cardinal Tetra

Amphiprion clarkii – Clark’s Clownfish

Amphiprion perideraion – Skunk Clownfish

Coregonus nigripinnis – Blackfin Cisco (Extinct)

This week the Water Colors team talks about all things aeroid. Many of us are familiar with aeroids as popular house plants (Monstera, Philodendron, Alocasia, Anthurium, etc.) but are you as familiar with the types of aeroids that grow under the water’s surface? Calder did the research and gives you the science of what makes an aeroid unique, what conditions these plants thrive under, and how to protect endangered eco-systems while keeping your tank looking beautiful. 

***Please check with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services or your local Natural Resource Departments if you are unsure of a plant and/or how you can help prevent the spread of invasive species.***



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Sources mentioned in this episode:

The Crypt Pages – https://cryptocoryneworld.org/
Michigan Invasive Species – https://www.michigan.gov/invasives/id-report/plants/aquatic
RIPPLE: Reduce Invasive Pet and PLant Escapes – https://www.michigan.gov/invasives/take-action/landowners-gardeners-pond-owners/ripple

Species mentioned in this episode:

Lemnoideae

–Lemna (minor, minuta, valdiviana) Duckweed

–Spirodela (polyrhiza) Giant Duckweed

–Wolffia (globosa, colombiana) Watermeal or Rootless Duckweed

Aroideae 

–Tribe Schismatoglottideae (prietoi, roseospatha)

–Bucephalandra (Kedagang, catherinae, with varieties like “Brownie Ghost, Brownie Jade, Brownie Firebird”) Buce

–Aridarum (cauldescens, persiai, Mini Blue)

–Fenestratarum (mulyadii, culum)

–Ooia (grabowskii, kinabaluensis, suavis)

–Galantharum kishi

–Piptospatha (ridleyi)

–Schismatoglottis (prietoi, roseospatha)

Tribe Pistieae 

–Pistia (stratiotes) Water Lettuce

Tribe Homalomeneae

–Homalomena (insignis, sp. ‘Sekadau South’)

Tribe Cryptocoryneae 

–Cryptocoryne (wendtii, spiralis, parva, walkeri)

–Lagenandra (meeboldii, keralensis, ovata)

Tribe Anubiadeae 

–Anubias (nana, nana “Petite”, barteri, coffeefolia, congensis, gigantea)

Amy, Ben and Calder invite Craig Forist to table to dicuss the recent decline in aquarium club activity, specifically around breeder programs. With many different external factors like space, budget, time, and social anxiety pushing the average hobbist away, how do we keep these programs fair for the beginners and challenging for the seasoned breeder? This week, the team has come up with some interesting take aways and solutions for this very issue. Join your local aquarium club and let us know your next big (or little) breeding projects!



Looking for more content? Become a YouTube member for exclusive access to behind the scenes livestreams! https://www.youtube.com/@watercolorsaquariumgallery

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Join our growing community on Discord! https://go.watercolors.shop/discord



Sources mentioned in this episode:

Grand Valley Aquarium Club – https://gvaquariumclub.org/

West Michigan Marine Aquarium Society – https://www.facebook.com/groups/298576849030426/

South West Michigan Aquarium Society – https://www.swmas.club/

Michiana Aquarium Society – https://mas.fish/

Missouri Aquarium Society – https://missouriaquariumsociety.com/

Amercian Livebearer Association – https://livebearers.org/

American Kilifish Association – https://aka.org/

International Betta Congress – https://www.ibcbettas.org/

Ohio Cichlid Association – https://www.ohiocichlid.com/

American Cichlid Association – https://www.cichlid.org/

Calder leads the Water Colors team on a deep dive into Ricefish. Ricefish have been in the aquarium hobby for a very long time and often are overlooked as being boring or common. In recent years, there has been an uptake in interest abroad leading to many new, interesting colors and body/fin shapes. Whether you are looking for a new addition to your tub pond or want a new fish for your micro-community tank, there may be a species of Ricefish for you.



Looking for more content? Become a YouTube member for exclusive access to behind the scenes livestreams! https://www.youtube.com/@watercolorsaquariumgallery

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Sources mentioned in this episode:

Japanese Medaka Association – https://jma-medaka.com/

American Medaka Association – https://americanmedaka.org/

Species mentioned in this episode:

Oryzias latipes  – Japanese Ricefish

Oryzias sakaizumii – Nothern Medaka Ricefish

Types of Common Colors/ Patterns:

Youkihi – Common orange ricefish

Miyuki – Metallic, bright, neon ricefish

Lame – Metallic, iridescent speckled scale patterned ricefish

Kohaku – Koi patterned ricefish

Oryzias dancena – Indian or “Dancing” Ricefish

Oryzias javanicus – Javan Ricefish

Oryzias minutillus – Dwarf Medaka Ricefish

Oryzias mekongensis – Mekong Ricefish

Oryzias sinensis –  Chinese Ricefish

Oryzias woworae – Daisy’s Ricefish

Oryzias eversi – “Livebearing” Ricefish

Oryzias soerotoi

Oryzias marmoratus

Oryzias profundicola – Yellow-finned Ricefish