Fresh Arrivals: Empire Gudgeon, Ember Tetra, Kitty Tetra, Diamond Tetra & Daisy's Rice Fish

We've had a cracking delivery this week at Pond Life Aquatics, and I'm particularly excited about a few species that have come back into stock.

Empire Gudgeon are back with us, and honestly, these are one of the most underrated fish in the hobby. Hypseleotris compressa aren't your typical gudgeon - they've got this stunning iridescence that catches the light beautifully, especially when they're settled and displaying. They're peaceful, stay relatively small at around 10-12cm, and do brilliantly in planted tanks. Native to Australia and Papua New Guinea, they appreciate clean, well-oxygenated water with a bit of flow. Perfect for a temperate to tropical setup, and they'll happily take most foods once accustomed to aquarium life.

The Ember Tetra (Hyphessobrycon amandae) that came in are absolutely gorgeous - really vibrant colouration. These little gems from the Araguaia River basin in Brazil are perfect for nano setups or as a dither fish in smaller aquariums. They max out at around 2cm, so they're ideal for those compact aquascapes. Keep them in groups of at least 10, give them some planted areas, and you'll see them really come alive. The red-orange colouration is stunning against green plants, and they're completely peaceful community fish.

We've also got Kitty Tetra (Hyphessobrycon heliacus) in stock. These are less common in the trade, which is a shame because they're brilliant little fish. They've got gorgeous golden-yellow bodies with orange to red fins that really stand out in a planted tank. Another Brazilian species from the upper Rio Tapajós basin that does well in slightly softer water with some tannins. They're shoaling fish, so again, keep them in groups, and they'll reward you with natural behaviour and some lovely colour displays from the males.

The Diamond Tetra (Moenkhausia pittieri) are looking superb. These are one of those species that really need to mature to show their best - the iridescent scales catch the light like nothing else when they're fully grown. Venezuelan natives that prefer slightly cooler water around 22-26°C, they're robust, active, and make a real statement in a medium-sized community tank. Give them some swimming space, decent filtration, and watch the males develop that beautiful extended dorsal fin.

Finally, we've got Daisy's Rice Fish (Oryzias woworae) back in stock. These Indonesian natives are absolute stunners - the males develop incredible blue and orange colouration with elongated fins. They're small (around 2.5-3cm), peaceful, and brilliant for planted tanks. Rice fish are surface dwellers by nature, so they're perfect for filling that top layer of the aquarium. They're also surprisingly hardy once acclimatised and actually tolerate a range of water conditions. Keep them in groups and give them some floating plants - they'll reward you with fascinating breeding behaviour and constant activity.

All of these species are available now while stocks last. Come down to Pond Life Aquatics at Finchley Nurseries to see them in person - and while you're here, the Nurseries now have Christmas trees available if you're looking to get yours sorted early.

Apologies for no stock tour video this week, but if you missed it, the second part of our Christmas gift-giving series is now live on YouTube: https://youtu.be/CAogPNJRdbw

Harris Bard.