The Pond Life Aquatics Weekly Stock Update: November 14th, 2025
Welcome back to another weekly stock update from Pond Life Aquatics and Tropical Fish London!
This week is genuinely exciting for me because we're covering something we rarely talk about on the channel - a true North American species! Plus, we've got two different Galaxy Rasbora color morphs in at the same time, our Empire Gudgeons have absolutely exploded with color, and we're running some incredible Black Friday deals that I need to tell you about.
Whether you're looking for micro predators, nano community fish, or something a bit more substantial for a larger setup, this week has some really special arrivals worth checking out.
Let's dive in!
North American Spotlight
Pygmy Sunfish ( Elassoma evergladei)
I'm starting with something completely different this week - Pygmy Sunfish! This is one of the very few true North American species you'll regularly find in the aquarium trade, and honestly, I've fallen back in love with these little guys.
Care Requirements:
- Tank Size: 45+ liters (10+ gallons) for a breeding group
- Temperature: 20-24°C (68-75°F) - they can tolerate cooler temps!
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- Water: Soft to moderate hardness preferred
- Diet: Live or frozen foods ONLY (glassworm, mini bloodworm, daphnia, cyclops)
- Lifespan: 1-2 years (short-lived, so breeding is essential!)
- Difficulty: Intermediate to advanced
These are proper micro fish - we're talking 2-3 centimeters maximum length. They're actual micro predators, which makes them fascinating to watch when feeding.
Sexual Dimorphism: The males and females look completely different, which is one of the coolest things about keeping them. Females have this grayish-olive coloration with beautiful blue speckles throughout their bodies. But the males? When they go into breeding mode, they turn almost pure black with this gorgeous hint of blue running through them. It's absolutely stunning to witness.
Now, I'll be completely honest with you - these aren't beginner fish. They really will only take live or frozen food. The ones we have in stock have been trained onto frozen, which is fantastic, but they'll always prefer live foods like glassworm, mini bloodworm, daphnia, and cyclops. You get some amazing hunting behaviors out of them when you feed live food.
The Breeding Project: Here's where this gets interesting for me personally. Found in places like the Florida Everglades, these guys absolutely thrive in well-planted, swampy environments. I've actually just picked up a Wio 45-liter scaping tank - it's a shallow, long format that would be absolutely ideal for pygmy sunfish.
I've been toying with the idea of either setting up a true North American biotope (which would be really unique content) or doing a species-only breeding tank specifically for these guys. Given their short lifespan of only 1-2 years, the whole idea of keeping pygmy sunfish is setting them up in a way that allows them to breed readily, which they absolutely will do in captivity.
Would you watch a breeding series on these? Let me know in the comments on the video or drop us a message on Instagram. I've got the tank already, I'm genuinely interested in doing this, and I think it would make for really interesting content showing exactly how to set up and breed a rare North American species.
Biotope Setup Suggestions: If you wanted to create an authentic North American swamp biotope for pygmy sunfish:
- Heavy planting with native plants like hornwort, water sprite, or java moss (as substitutes)
- Leaf litter on the substrate (oak or Indian almond leaves)
- Driftwood to create hiding spots and break up sight lines
- Darker substrate to bring out their colors
- Lower flow - they're from swampy, slow-moving waters
- Consider adding native North American plants if you can source them
These are really special little fish that deserve more attention in the hobby!
South American Spotlight
Rathbunii Tetras (Red Bloodfin Tetras)
Moving down to South America, I need to talk about Rathbunii Tetras again because I absolutely adore this species and I genuinely feel they're overlooked in the trade.
Care Requirements:
- Tank Size: 60+ liters (15+ gallons) for a school
- Temperature: 20-26°C (68-79°F) - very adaptable!
- pH: 6.0-8.0 (incredibly tolerant)
- Water: Soft to hard - Rio Paraguay natives are tough!
- Diet: Omnivorous - thrives on variety
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
- Group Size: Minimum 6, ideally 10+
- Difficulty: Beginner-friendly
You can immediately see why they're called bloodfins - they have this absolutely stunning red coloration through their tails and fins. But here's what most people don't realize about Rathbunis: their coloration is highly dependent on diet.
The Diet Secret: If you really want to see those greens and reds pop in their coloration, you need to give them diversity in their diet. I'm not just talking about switching between frozen and dry food - I mean actually using a variety of different dry foods from different manufacturers.
At home with my fish, I rotate through:
- Insect-based meals
- Fish meal-based foods
- Different foods from various manufacturers that offer different nutrient profiles
Here's something interesting I've discovered: certain foods will highlight different colors in your fish. Tetra Pro Crisps, for example, are really good for bringing out reds in species like Rathbunis. If you want to enhance greens, feeding more algae flake or spirulina flake works brilliantly. The krill food from Fish Science - which is typically marketed as a marine food - is actually fantastic for bringing out a diversity of colors because of that natural protein content.
Vegetables Too: You can also feed your fish blanched vegetables to enhance coloration! Just make sure you blanch them properly and disinfect them first. Don't just throw raw vegetables into your tank - there are loads of pesticides on commercially bought vegetables that are fine for us but can be harmful to fish.
Why Rathbunis Are Perfect for Beginners: These guys are native to the Rio Paraguay, which means they experience huge diversity in water quality throughout the year as the seasons change. While you obviously want to maintain stable parameters in your aquarium, the fact that they come from such a variable environment means they can tolerate fluctuations much better than more sensitive species.
This makes them a really great choice for beginner fishkeepers who want something a bit different from the usual neon tetras or black widow tetras. They're hardy, they're beautiful, they're active, and they're peaceful in community tanks.
Personal Take: I think Rathbunis are one of those species where once you explain them to someone properly, they just fall in love with them. They're definitely worth a second look if you're setting up a community tank and want something that little bit different!
Biotope Setup Suggestions: For a Rio Paraguay biotope:
- Sandy substrate with some leaf litter
- Moderate to strong water flow
- Driftwood and some rock work
- Mix of planted and open swimming areas
- Moderate lighting
- Compatible tankmates: Corydoras, small plecos, peaceful cichlids like Apistogramma
Asian Spotlights
Sparkling Gourami (Trichopsis pumila)
One of my absolute favorite nano fish and a favorite of loads of people online - Sparkling Gourami! These little anabantoids are the subject of countless YouTube videos, and for good reason.
Care Requirements:
- Tank Size: 25+ liters (6+ gallons) minimum, 40+ liters ideal
- Temperature: 24-28°C (75-82°F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- Water: Soft to moderate hardness
- Diet: Micropredators - frozen/live preferred, will accept quality flakes
- Lifespan: 4-5 years
- Group Size: Pairs or small groups (1 male per territory)
- Difficulty: Beginner to intermediate
These guys are proper little characters with bags of personality. They're a true nano species that won't outgrow a smaller setup, and they have this gorgeous iridescent coloration that catches the light beautifully. Males will spar with each other in the most entertaining way, making those characteristic "croaking" sounds that give Trichopsis species their common name.
Perfect for:
- Planted nano tanks
- Peaceful community setups with small fish
- Breeders looking for something interesting
- Anyone wanting fish with real personality in a small package
Galaxy Rasbora Hybrids - Two Color Morphs!
Now this is where things get really interesting this week. We have two completely different Galaxy Rasbora hybrid color morphs in stock at the same time, and the differences between them are absolutely fascinating from a captive breeding perspective.
Standard Care Requirements:
- Tank Size: 40+ liters (10+ gallons) for a school
- Temperature: 20-24°C (68-75°F) - they like it cooler!
- pH: 6.5-7.5
- Water: Soft to moderate hardness
- Diet: Micropredators - micro pellets, frozen foods, live foods
- Lifespan: 3-4 years
- Group Size: Minimum 10, ideally 20+
- Difficulty: Intermediate (cool water requirement)
The Two Color Morphs:
We currently have our regular stock - the larger, well-established galaxies that have been with us for a while. These guys are bigger, better conditioned, showing amazing sparring behaviors between males, and displaying that classic deep blue body with loads of spots all over.
Then we have this new batch that just came in - smaller, younger fish that are still settling. What's fascinating is the coloration difference. These newer ones have this almost "blonder" look to them with fewer spots and a deeper purple running along their bodies instead of that intense blue.
Why This Matters: This really highlights something interesting about different breeding practices and how captive-bred fish can develop different coloration lines when bred selectively. You can get these distinct variations within the same species when breeders are working with them in dynamic and interesting ways.
Both morphs are equally stunning. Both have the exact same care requirements. Both will thrive in the same conditions. But I'm genuinely fascinated to see how these smaller, younger fish develop as they mature and if they maintain that different coloration pattern or if they'll shift more toward the deeper blue as they age and condition up.
Personal Note: I'm a bit of a nerd when it comes to different fish hybrids and captive breeding variations - I find this stuff absolutely fascinating! It's so cool that we can have two different "versions" of galaxies in at the same time and people will be drawn to both for different reasons. It's like any captive-bred fish - take what appeals to you!
Biotope Setup Suggestions: Galaxy Rasboras are from shallow, vegetated pools in Myanmar:
- Shallow tank setup (height not as important as floor space)
- HEAVY planting - these fish need dense vegetation
- Darker substrate to bring out colors
- Gentle flow - they're not strong swimmers
- Subdued lighting (they prefer shade)
- Cooler water temps - they're subtropical, not tropical!
- Consider adding some small peaceful tankmates like cherry shrimp
Galaxy Koi Bettas (Females) - LAST CHANCE!
This is the final call for our Galaxy Koi female bettas from the quarantine batch we got in a few weeks ago. These have sold incredibly well, and I wanted to give them one more highlight because they've been absolutely brilliant fish.
Care Requirements:
- Tank Size: 25+ liters (6+ gallons) for single fish; 60+ liters for sorority
- Temperature: 24-28°C (75-82°F)
- pH: 6.5-7.5
- Water: Soft to moderate hardness
- Diet: Carnivorous - high-protein diet
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
- Difficulty: Beginner to intermediate
Why These Females Are Special: Female bettas can sometimes be hit or miss when it comes to temperament, particularly if you're thinking about keeping them in a sorority setup. But this batch? They've been absolutely fantastic. We're talking really peaceful temperaments - they've been getting on brilliantly with each other and with our Galaxy Rasboras in their display tank.
Keeping Options:
- Solitary: 25+ liters with peaceful community fish
- Small Community: 40+ liters with other nano species
- Sorority: 60+ liters minimum, keeping a minimum group of five females
The sorority setup is all about dispersed aggression - you need enough fish that they don't just pick on each other one-on-one. Break up sight lines with plants and decor so they can establish small territories without constantly seeing each other.
Coloration: The Galaxy Koi patterning is absolutely stunning - no two fish are identical. You get this beautiful mix of whites, reds, oranges, and blacks in marbled patterns that's completely unique to each individual fish.
When these are gone, they're gone! I hope we can get more from the same breeder in the future because this batch has genuinely been one of the best we've had in terms of temperament.
Australian Spotlights
Empire Gudgeons - NOW Properly Colored Up!
Right, I need to talk about Empire Gudgeons again because last week I showed them off but the footage absolutely didn't do them justice. Now? NOW they've properly colored up and holy wow, these fish are something else!
Care Requirements:
- Tank Size: 80+ liters (20+ gallons) for a small group
- Temperature: 22-26°C (72-79°F)
- pH: 6.5-7.5
- Water: Moderate hardness
- Diet: Omnivorous with carnivorous preference - frozen/live foods
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
- Group Size: Pairs or small groups
- Difficulty: Intermediate
What Changed in a Week: These fish have absolutely exploded with color in the past week. They're showing off those gorgeous orange and black finnage, with this amazing almost albino iridescent quality throughout their bodies and particularly in their eyes. The males are displaying those competitive sparring behaviors in the middle of the tank now that they've settled, and the females - while slightly duller in coloration - are equally interesting to watch.
I know I'm saying "amazing" a lot when talking about these guys, and I know it sounds like I'm hyping them up as the greatest fish ever, but honestly? I've never seen a fish color up this quickly. The transformation from last week to this week has been absolutely phenomenal.
Ideal Tank Setup: Empire Gudgeons are perfect for people looking for something a bit more interesting in a semi-aggressive, larger community tank. They're not going to work with tiny nano fish, but in a setup with similarly-sized, robust species, they're absolutely brilliant.
Personal Opinion: I really, really can't recommend these guys enough. If you're looking for something that's:
- Australian (which is always interesting)
- Stunning in coloration
- Active and interesting behaviorally
- Hardy and adaptable
- Different from the usual community fish suspects
Then Empire Gudgeons tick every single box!
Biotope Setup Suggestions: For an Australian biotope:
- Sand or fine gravel substrate
- Driftwood (Australian eucalyptus if you can source it)
- Some rock work for territories
- Moderate to strong flow
- Open swimming areas with some planted sections
- Compatible with other Australian species like rainbows
Sepik Red Rainbow Fish
Finally, I wanted to highlight our Sepik Red Rainbow Fish that have started coloring up beautifully. We've had a few people asking about larger Australian rainbows, and now that these guys have developed more, their tails are showing those really hot red colorations.
Care Requirements:
- Tank Size: 150+ liters (40+ gallons) minimum - they get big!
- Temperature: 22-26°C (72-79°F)
- pH: 6.5-7.5
- Water: Moderate hardness
- Diet: Omnivorous - varied diet essential
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
- Group Size: Minimum 6, ideally 10+
- Difficulty: Intermediate
These are chilling out in the Pascai tank at the moment, and honestly, the Australia section is looking absolutely phenomenal right now between these red rainbows, the Empire Gudgeons, and everything else we've got going on down there.
Perfect for:
- Larger Australian biotope setups
- Active community tanks
- Anyone wanting colorful, schooling fish with size and presence
Black Friday Deals - Don't Miss These!
Okay, I need to tell you about our Black Friday deals because they're genuinely incredible.
Aqua One AquaNano Bow Front Aquariums:
If you've followed this channel for a while, you'll remember I used to keep a bentosy tank when I lived with my parents. It was an Aqua One AquaNano Bow Front 60B - which is actually 84 litres despite being called a "60B" (they measure the width in centimeters, which is 60cm wide, not the volume!).
These are one of my absolute favorite aquariums. The only reason I didn't continue with mine is because that bow front glass makes filming really difficult. They've always been a bit expensive, but we've now got these amazing deals on them in store:
The Deals:
- Aqua One AquaNano Bow Front 80B (112L): £275 (RRP £500+)
- Aqua One AquaNano Bow Front 60B (84L): £235
These come with EVERYTHING you need: ✓ Stunning bow front aquarium with silicone-free rounded corners ✓ Matching cabinet/stand ✓ Heater ✓ LED lighting ✓ Built-in hidden filtration at the back ✓ Complete ready-to-go setup
Stock: We've only got ONE left of each model - they're end of line. When they're gone, they're gone. This deal is only available until the end of November.
If you're in the market for an absolutely stunning new aquarium setup and you need a cabinet, or you want something really special for Christmas, you need to come down and check these out. Online, the AquaNano Bow Front setups are going for £500+. This is a phenomenal deal.
Plus: New Fluval Flex Tanks! We've also just got the new Fluval Flex tanks in stock with the updated light system and better filtration than previous models. More adaptable flow output too. Really, really cool additions to our tank range.
Gift Giving Series Update
I put out a video earlier this week - it's the first in my gift giving series: "Should You Gift an Aquarium?"
Although not many people watched it (yet!), I've had really lovely responses and a lot more comments than we usually get on the channel, which has been fantastic. It's great to have that discussion and dynamism with you guys.
If you want to check that video out, here's the link: Should You Gift an Aquarium?
The next one in that series will be out either this week or next, and it'll be me discussing exactly how to set up an aquarium in the best way to then give somebody as a gift. I'll be talking through logistics like how you're going to move it on Christmas Day and all those practical considerations.
Come Visit Us!
That's everything from us this week at Pond Life Aquatics! We've got some genuinely special species in stock right now, and those Black Friday deals on the bow front tanks are not to be missed.
As always, if you have any questions about any of the fish I've talked about, drop a comment on the video, message us on Instagram, or better yet - come visit us in store and see these stunning fish in person!
Pond Life Aquatics & Tropical Fish London 1 Finchley Nurseries London NW7 1AS
Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday: 9am daily Sunday: 10am-4:30pm
Website: www.pondlifeaquatics.co.uk Instagram: @pondlifeaquatics
We love chatting with you, learning from you, and sharing our passion for this incredible hobby.
See you in store!
Harris Bard Pond Life Aquatics & Tropical Fish London
Prefer to Watch?
For a full tour of this week's new arrivals, detailed information about breeding pygmy sunfish, and to see those Empire Gudgeons in all their glory, check out our video update on YouTube. We go into much more depth and show you the fish up close!
#PygmySunfish #GalaxyRasbora #EmpireGudgeon #SparklingGourami #RathbuniiTetra #TropicalFish #AquariumFish #NorthAmericanFish #AustralianFish #BlackFriday #AquariumDeals #NanoFish #PondLifeAquatics #LondonAquatics #Fishkeeping #AquariumHobby #Biotope #RareFish