PICKFISH KNOWLEDGE BASE
Explore our growing library of species profiles, care guides, and firsthand aquarium knowledge.
EXPLORE OUR SERIES
The Spotted Congo Puffer (Tetraodon schoutedeni)
This month's Quick Catch: The Spotted Congo Puffer (Tetraodon schoutedeni) — the smallest African puffer at under 4 inches, surprisingly community-friendly, and the fish that gave Mike 8 years of one of his all-time favorite tanks.
How to Outsmart Your Aquatic Plants: Monte Carlo (Micranthemum tweediei)
Mike's "How to Outsmart Your Aquatic Plants" series: Monte Carlo (Micranthemum tweediei) — the three key reasons most hobbyists struggle with this popular carpeting plant, and exactly how to fix them.
The Zebrina Pike Cichlid (Crenicichla zebrina)
This month's Quick Catch: The Zebrina Pike Cichlid (Crenicichla zebrina) — Mike's all-time favorite cichlid, with its stunning yellow zebra stripes on olive green, bright red throat, and surprisingly peaceful disposition for a large pike.
Red Root Floater – Phyllanthus fluitans
Mike's "How to Outsmart Your Aquatic Plants" series: Red Root Floater (Phyllanthus fluitans) — why yours isn't red, why it keeps dying, and how water flow, lighting, and iron are the three keys to success.
The Panda Garra / Rainbow Garra (Garra flavatra)
This month's Quick Catch: The Panda Garra / Rainbow Garra (Garra flavatra) — one of Mike's all-time favorites, a striking black, yellow, and red algae-eating community fish that eats even black beard algae.
The Fahaka Puffer / Nile Puffer – Tetraodon lineatus
This month's Quick Catch: The Fahaka Puffer (Tetraodon lineatus) — Mike's favorite XL fish, a highly intelligent wild-caught puffer that can live 20+ years, grow 18 inches, and requires a 150-gallon minimum and a species-only tank.
How to Outsmart Your Aquatic Plants: Amazon Sword (Echinodorus bleheri)
Mike's "How to Outsmart Your Aquatic Plants" series: Amazon Sword (Echinodorus bleheri) — the right way to plant, the reason your leaves melt after purchase, and exactly how to propagate new plants from runners.
The Common Pleco and Why You Should Never Buy One – Hypostomus & Pterygoplichthys spp.
Mike makes a passionate case for why you should NEVER buy a Common Pleco (Hypostomus plecostomus) — sharing real-life stories from his pet store about the invasive species problem and the reality of how large these fish truly get.
How to Outsmart Your Aquatic Plants: African Water Fern (Bolbitis heudelotii)
Mike's "How to Outsmart Your Aquatic Plants" series: African Water Fern (Bolbitis heudelotii) — including the crucial tip about the melting phase and why you should never throw this plant away.
The Cardinal Tetra – Paracheirodon axelrodi
This month's Quick Catch: The Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) — a staple of Mike's tanks since childhood, with its iconic full-body red stripe, peaceful schooling behavior, and mesmerizing presence in planted aquariums.