Water Colors Aquarium Gallery

In many episodes of the podcast, the Water Colors team likes to talk about rare, and often expensive, fish. In this episode: Ben, Amy, and Charles talk about some really cool, cheap fishes. Corrections: – In this episode, we mentioned there being 5 species in the genus Sundadanio . There are currently 8 described species in the genus. – In this episode, we mentioned that Sundadanio ras...

Killifishes have a reputation for being difficult or requiring incredibly specific husbandry requirements, but these myths ignore the fact that there are over 1200 species to choose from. In this episode of the podcast, the Water Colors team hopes to dispel many myths pertaining to killifishes by discussing the diversity of killifishes that are specifically dirt-spawning. You can share your storie...

In this episode of the podcast, the Water Colors team is looking outside the “designer” clownfish box and exploring the natural biodiversity in clownfishes ( Amphiprion spp.). Each species has a unique phylogenetic history, ecology, and behavioral repertoire. Or, said another way, this natural biodiversity means that there is a clownfish species that is perfect for almost every marine...

Just when you thought we weren’t going to release an episode this week, we pull a fast one. In this episode of the podcast, Johnathon Butkus from Oase joins the Water Colors Team in sharing our stories of the stupidest fish we’ve ever met. Some of them are just so stupid we don’t understand why they even exist and some of them are so stupid that we can’t help but love them....

You asked for it! We’ll be dipping our toes in the water with our first YouTube livestream on Tuesday, April 4 at 7:15 EST (Link below). The topic of discussion will be Top 5 Favorite Episodes of the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery Podcast. Depending on the response we get, livestreams like this might become regularly scheduled. So, please share the news and keep those hands wet!

People often worry about whether they’re feeding their cats and dogs the right food. In your quest to find the right food for your furry pets, you’ll find all sorts of helpful advice. On the other hand, if you’ve ever tried to figure out the best food to feed your fish, you might have come away frustrated from the lack of beneficial advice out there. In this episode of the podcas...

In this episode of the podcast, the Water Colors team shares their thoughts on the worst aquarium advice they could find on the internet. You can share the worst advice you’ve ever seen online on the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery Podcast Listeners Facebook group. Addendums: – In this episode, we guesstimated that there are approximately 240 species of damselfishes. The family Pomacentr...

In the Betta genus, there are two documented modes of incubation: bubble-nesting and mouthbrooding. Among the bubble-nesters, domestic strains of Betta splendens are easily the most ubiquitous. In this episode, the Water Colors team survey all of the bubble-nesters. You can share your stories (and photos) of bubble-nesting Betta on the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery Podcast Listeners Facebook group...

DIY projects are something that most hobbyists try at some point in time. Whether it be to try saving a few dollars or because the industry doesn’t have a reliable solution for a problem, the Water Colors team discusses the DIY strategies we’ve tried. We’ll even tell you which ones failed and which ones are golden. Tell us about your DIY projects, whether they succeeded or not, i...

Getting started with planted aquariums can be intimidating. In this episode of the Podcast, the Water Colors team explore the chemistry of planted aquarium dosing. We’d love to hear your adventures in planted aquarium dosing on the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery Podcast Listeners Facebook group. Addendum: – The “Val Guy” is Nick Kinser Corrections:  In this episode, we state...

Finally, the long awaited episode where the Water Colors team reads your listener questions! A big thank you to everyone who submitted questions for his episode, we had a great range of prompts from silly to serious. Reach out with questions for future episodes by emailing info@watercolorsaquariumgallery.com.

Butterflyfishes are some of the most colorful of all reef fishes, earning the affection of many marine aquarists. In this episode of the podcast, the Water Colors team discuss the joys and the headaches of keeping fishes in the Family Chaetodontidae in home aquariums. if you keep butterflyfishes at home, we’d love to see photos of them posted on the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery Podcast List...

When you say “African cichlids”, you usually conjure up images of “peacocks” from Lake Malawi. This connotation is reductive because it ignores two facts. 1. Cichlidae is one of the most species diverse families of fishes in the world. 2. Africa is the second largest continent in the world. In this episode of the podcast, the Water Colors team try their best to ignore the A...

For various reasons, many aquarists don’t want to have a heater in their aquarium. In this episode of the podcast: the Water Colors staff discusses fish species that are suitable to an aquarium without a heater and a few considerations to have when you’re not utilizing a heater in an aquarium. If you have questions, or just wish to show off your home aquarium, join the Water Colors Aqu...

Today, we have a special podcast for our 100th episode! And what better way to celebrate then to discuss our favorite drinks to have while we are recording. Let us know on the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery Podcast Facebook Listeners group what you’re drinking at home. Corrections: – Iron Fish Distillery is named for the steelhead trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) runs in the Betsie River....

In this episode of the podcast; Charles leads the Water Colors team on a discussion on a specific genus of anabantoids that we are all particularly fond of, Parosphromenus , the licorice gouramis. Many people shy away from licorice gouramis because of their reputation of being a challenge, but the team explores how their small size makes them less of a hassle than initially advertised. Further Rea...

Ben, Amy, and Charles have explored aquarium-related myths in the past, but since many of these myths seem determined to stick around the staff at Water Colors Aquarium Gallery have decided to reexamine them. We’d love to hear about myths you wish would go away in the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery Podcast Listeners Facebook group. Addendums: – For the first 18mins of the podcast, part...

The Water Colors team revisits the topic of our first podcast episode: What fish species will you never see at Water Colors and why? The three of us have had two years to grow as hobbyists (and professionals) and many of our respective perspectives have shifted in that time. Corrections: -In this episode, we state that tiger shovelnose catfish (Pseudoplatystoma tigrinum) can attain lengths of 12ft...

Just like any hobby, it’s common to experience burnout as an aquarist. Sometimes you find yourself in over your head, or maybe you had a disaster that set you back. In this episode, the team discusses what causes the feeling of burnout, and what you can do to avoid it. You can share your stories on aquarium burnout on the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery Listeners Facebook group.

In this episode, Ben, Amy, and Charles answer questions submitted by the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery staff! The questions submitted range wildly, from serious and introspective, to middle school “would-you-rathers.”

In this episode of the podcast, the Water Colors team discuss and debate what species of saltwater fishes our store should always have in stock and why. Addendum – Portions of the audio file for this episode were corrupted. The content of this discussion were deemed interesting enough that our editor, Nick, did what he could to salvage the episode. Species Discussed in this Episode – S...

In this episode, the Water Colors team discusses why Eartheaters, the fishes in the Subtribe Geophagina, are perfect aquarium inhabitants for many fishkeepers. If you have stories (or pictures) to share of your Geophagus, you can post them to the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery Listeners Facebook group. Addendums – The information used in this episode to define the Tribe Geophagini is outdated...

What comes to mind when you think of aquariums for kids? Rainbow gravel, castles, and dragons? In this episode, we discuss some alternate ideas for children’s aquariums, and how we can set our little ones up to learn more about nature and foster a real love for the aquarium hobby. Fishes Mentioned in this Episode: – Zebra danio ( Brachydanio rerio ) – Black ruby barb ( Pethia nig...

In this episode, we’re not talking about people who have fish rooms. We’re talking about the special kind of people that that take a fish room a step beyond that and have a specialized fish rooms, configured towards a specific goal. This is a level of dedication that few hobbyists achieve. Whether that purpose is breeding, aquascaping, or simply just a love for setting up new tanks, we...

What exactly is a blackwater aquarium? In this episode of the podcast, the Water Colors team do their best to demystify what exactly makes an aquarium “blackwater” and how to do it at home. Corrections: – Betta brownorum is not named for its color. It is named after Barbara and Allan Brown, who first collected the species. Fishes Mentioned in this Episode: – Apistogramma sp...