New Fish Arrivals & Exciting Future for Pond Life Aquatics & Tropical Fish London!
Welcome, aquarists and fish enthusiasts! Pond Life Aquatics and Tropical Fish London is buzzing with activity, bringing a special update on what’s new and exciting at North West London's biggest and best aquatic centre. The team is thrilled to share some truly exquisite new arrivals and big news about the store’s future!
Dive Into the Latest Fish Arrivals!
Pond Life Aquatics prides itself on doing things a little differently. The fish house is structured continent by continent, not only to help educate on where fish originate but also to provide an immersive experience for school visits. Let’s explore some of this week's highlights!
Spotlight: The American Flagfish (Jordanella floridae)
Kicking off the tour, a fascinating North American newcomer has arrived, specially requested by a valued customer: the American Flagfish (Jordanella floridae). These extraordinary little fish, endemic to Florida, are more than just pretty faces!
Why These Fish Are Exceptional:
- Natural Algae Eaters: They’re particularly effective against stubborn hard algae and black beard algae, making them ideal for heavily planted aquariums without the need for harsh chemicals.
- Stunning Dimorphism: Males exhibit a vibrant American flag shimmer pattern, while females boast a beautiful green shimmer and fascinating chameleon-like colour-changing abilities.
- Paternal Instincts: The males are dedicated fathers, guarding and fanning their eggs – a truly unique behaviour to observe!
Important Considerations for Care:
- They require a 110+ litre tank for a small group.
- They are a semi-aggressive species, so plenty of hiding spaces are essential.
- Studies suggest sensitivity to heavy metals in water, making RO or filtered water highly recommended for water changes.
The team is incredibly excited to learn and share more about this unique species!
South American Wonders: From Ancistrus to Apistos
The South American section is bustling with life! While some of last week's stunning Sawtail Plecos have found new homes, popular livebearers like Guppies, Mollies, and Platies are still in stock.
New & Noteworthy:
- Diverse Ancistrus: A beautiful mix of Ancistrus (often called bushynose plecos) is available, including Super Reds, Whites, and Speckled varieties. These fantastic hardcore algae eaters are a popular choice for their unique forms and ease of breeding.
- Whiptail Catfish: The Farlowella (whiptail catfish) continue to thrive, perfect for a 70+ litre well-planted community tank.
- Tetra Galore: A healthy selection of established Lemon Tetras, Ember Tetras, Blood-fin Tetras, Black Neons, Bentosi Tetras, and Rummy Nose Tetras are available. All have settled in perfectly!
- Healthy Corydoras: Discover gorgeous Similis Corydoras, Pepper Corydoras, and Sterbai Corydoras!
- Popular Otos: Otocinclus Catfish (Otocinclus affinis) have settled in nicely. Remember to keep them in groups of 10-12 and offer a diverse diet, including blanched zucchini, aubergine, or even nettles, to keep them healthy.
- Apistogramma Vegata: The Apistogramma vegata are exhibiting incredible breeding behaviour – a must-see for anyone interested in breeding these beautiful dwarf cichlids.
- Larger South American Species: Koi Angelfish are still in stock, along with beautiful Incolacana Catfish (Corydoras), Dwarf Baby Parrots, and more Discus are expected next week!
Asian Treasures: Bettas, Barbs & Beyond
The Asia section is looking extraordinarily good!
- Female Betta Splendens: The female Betta splendens are a vibrant and interesting species, making them a top contender for a future species-only tank.
- Denison Barbs & Pakistani Loach: The Denison Barbs are thriving, and the Pakistani Loach are super healthy, fed on a diet of bladder snails and flake food.
- Nano Tank Stars: The Neon Rasbora are doing exceptionally well and make an excellent addition to any nano community tank.
- Asian Rummy Nose: These fish truly settle into maturity, with males displaying bright red noses!
- Honey Gourami & Glass Catfish: Many Honey Gourami have found new homes, so customers are advised to check stock before visiting. The almost completely see-through Glass Catfish are another incredibly interesting species for well-sized community tanks.
- Diverse Loaches: Find Hillstream Loach in various colours (speckled, zebra, blue, red spots) and the return of beloved Harlequin Rasbora – perfect for adding movement to tanks with shyer fish like Bettas.
- Danios & Minnows: There are gorgeous Golden Leopard Danios, Zebras, White Cloud Mountain Minnows, and Golden White Clouds.
- Madaka Rice Fish: The Madaka Rice Fish are doing well, and some rare species are hoped for soon.
- Galaxy Rasbora (CPDs): A true favourite! These stunning fish offer beautiful colours and are becoming more accessible for well-planted aquariums. They thrive alongside Glowlight Danios.
- Kuhli Loach: Everyone's favourite "little noodles," the Kuhli Loach, are an interesting and accessible species for many hobbyists. Customers are invited to comment if they'd like a dedicated video on them!
- Cherry Barbs: The Longfin Cherry Barbs are simply mesmerizing – one of the most underrated species in the trade, adding vibrancy and character to any community tank.
- Rainbow Shiners & Goldfish: Looking particularly nice under the new lighting, showcasing their beauty.
Australia & Africa: Unique Gems
Though no new arrivals this week, the Australian section highlights the popular Pseudomogil Gertrudae and Rainbowfish – excellent choices for nano aquariums (45+ litres). The Peacock Gudgeons continue to be the stars of the show!
In Africa, the Malawi Cichlid tank has established its hierarchy, and the Lamprologus Ocellatus 'Daffodil' are looking stunning alongside their blue counterparts. These truly "bonkers" specimens are a must-see for any Lake Tanganyika tank enthusiast. Longfin African Tetras, Congo Tetras, and everyone’s favourite African Dwarf Frogs are also available.
Exciting News from Pond Life Aquatics London!
Pond Life Aquatics isn't just about incredible fish; it’s also focused on continually improving and offering the best possible care and experience.
Aiming for a 5-Star Pet Shop License!
Thanks to the hard work of the incredible team, especially Charlotte, Pond Life Aquatics is hopefully going to be awarded a five-star pet shop license in the next few weeks! This is huge news, as it signifies the highest level of care for the fish. Crucially, it means the store can continue selling beloved frogs and, excitingly, will hopefully be able to start selling Axolotls in the future! Stay tuned for updates – perhaps even a giveaway to celebrate!
Vote for Pond Life Aquatics in the PFK Awards!
Practical Fishkeeping's Fish Shop of the Year and Top 40 awards voting will be opening soon. The goal this year is to make it onto the Practical Fishkeeping Top 40 list for pet shops in the UK. So much work has been put in to be the best fish shop possible, and your vote will truly help the store grow, driving more people to the premises and allowing the team to build Pond Life Aquatics and Tropical Fish London as envisioned. Updates will be shared once voting opens – please remember to vote for Pond Life Aquatics for Independent Store and Overall Retail Store!
Expert Tips & What's Next
Aquarium Plants & Custom Orders
The plant tank is looking fantastic thanks to Ariane's hard work! Regular orders from Aquadip are received, and an Aquafluer order is coming this week. If you’re looking for specific aquarium plants, drop a comment on the latest YouTube video or contact the store directly, and the team will do its best to get them in for you!
Upcoming Content
A special video delving into algae, a popular request, is potentially coming out next week! Extensive research has uncovered fascinating information to share. Of course, another stock update will also be provided.
Thank you for your continued support! The store is constantly striving to be the best aquatics centre in London!
Come visit Pond Life Aquatics and Tropical Fish London to see these amazing fish and more!
Find us at Finchley Nurseries, Burtonhole Ln, London, NW7 1AS. Check our opening hours and contact details on our website: https://pondlifeaquatics.co.uk/pages/contact-us
Follow us on YouTube for weekly updates: https://www.youtube.com/@pondlifeaquatics/videos