The Aquarist's Edge

Guppies are more than “beginner fish"! They’re colourful, interactive, and endlessly entertaining in a home freshwater aquarium. In this episode of The Aquarist’s Edge, Art shares why guppies are so fun to keep, from their bold personalities and constantly-on-the-move behaviour to the way lighting and tank design make their colours explode. He also covers the reality of guppy breeding and fry, smart stocking and tank setup tips, and simple troubleshooting for common guppy problems like fin damage and stress.   _____________________________________________ guppy fish, guppies, guppy care, guppy tank setup, livebearer fish, freshwater aquarium fish, guppy breeding, planted tank guppies, beginner fishkeeping

In this episode of The Aquarist’s Edge, Art explores why minerals are essential for a healthy freshwater aquarium. From GH and KH to pH stability, fish health, shrimp moulting, snail shell development, and aquarium plant growth, you’ll learn how dissolved minerals quietly shape the success of your tank. Whether you use tap water, RO water, or a planted aquarium setup, this episode will help you understand what your water is really doing. We also explain why clear water is not always healthy water, why chasing pH can cause problems, and how to create stable, suitable water for your fish and plants.

In this episode of The Aquarist’s Edge, Art shares 10 proven ways to make your freshwater aquarium healthier. If you’re dealing with cloudy water, algae flare-ups, stressed fish, or “mystery” health issues, this episode will help you stabilise your tank and prevent problems before they start - practical fishkeeping advice, clear science, and realistic routines you can follow even when life gets busy. You’ll learn how to improve freshwater fish health, protect your biological filtration, manage ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, and create a healthier aquarium environment with less stress and more consistency. 🎵 Music: "Hall Light - Instrumental" - Victor Lundberg (Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/793dc5b1-8a39-498c-8ca3-eb87b6b3d692/)

Welcome to this week’s edition of The Aquarist’s Edge, your trusted source for freshwater aquarium news and insights. Join Arthur Preston as we explore ten fascinating stories that connect science, conservation, and the home aquarium hobby. 🔍 In This Episode: 🐟 Bumblebee catfish caught on camera climbing waterfalls in Brazil 👁️ Blind cavefish that have survived without light for over 11 million years 🐠 The giants of the Mekong River are shrinking fast 🌱 The IAPLC 2025 Finals — the world’s biggest aquascaping event 🎣 A fresh look at Cupid Cichlids and their family tree 🌿 Nutmeg oil as a safe way to calm fish during treatment ❄️ Breeding secrets of the cold-water burbot 🌊 Why lampreys need free-flowing rivers to spawn 🌍 The Yangtze River shows us that stability is more important than perfection 🧠 What zebrafish are teaching us about social behavior 📌 Sources & Further Reading: Thousands of bumblebee catfish captured climbing a waterfall (LiveScience) 👉 https://www.livescience.com/animals/fish/thousands-of-bumblebee-catfish-captured-climbing-waterfall-in-never-before-seen-footage In the dark for 11 million years: How blind cavefish rewrote the timeline (ScienceDaily / Yale) 👉 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250828002412.htm Shrinking Mekong megafish underlines risks to the river, study finds (Mongabay) 👉 https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/shrinking-mekong-megafish-underlines-risks-to-the-river-study-finds/ International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest (IAPLC 2025) — Official English Site 👉 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2025.1623517/full Using machine learning to predict anesthetic dose in fish with nutmeg oil (Frontiers in Veterinary Science) 👉 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1652115/full Reproductive ecology of burbot (Lota lota) in the Great Lakes (Northern Michigan University Thesis) 👉 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935125019139 Zebrafish neurodevelopment and social behavior study (Communications Biology – Nature) 👉 https://www.nature.com/commsbio/articles?year=2025 📺 About the Show The Aquarist’s Edge brings you weekly freshwater aquarium news, science discoveries, and practical tips for aquarists of all levels. Whether you’re a planted tank enthusiast, a breeder, or a beginner, you’ll find inspiration and insights to keep your fish thriving. Music: Pool Sticker – Dylan Sitts (Epidemic Sound – https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/EwXrPyvCvY/)

This week's Aquarium News shares stories of how science and fishkeeping collide in fascinating ways. Discover why deep-sea fish are rewriting our understanding of the carbon cycle, how new muscle research is changing what we thought we knew about the coelacanth, and meet two newly described snail-crushing cichlids from Lake Victoria. Also in this episode: What lanternfish fossils tell us about declining ocean oxygen How to give your shrimp and snails the care they truly deserve Practical tips for water chemistry, species-specific habitats, and sustainability in your fish room Whether you're a casual keeper or a passionate aquarist, this episode brings science, conservation, and hands-on advice straight to your ears. 📬 Got questions or story suggestions? Email us at: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/EwXrPyvCvY/) Referenced Articles and Sources: 🌊 Deep-Sea Fish Reshape Carbon Cycle Understanding Source: ScienceDaily – Deep-sea fish just changed what we know about Earth’s carbon cycle 🦴 Coelacanth Musculature Misunderstood for Decades Source: ScienceDaily – 400-million-year-old fish exposes a big mistake in how we understood evolution 🐌 New Snail-Crushing Cichlids from Lake Victoria Source: AMAZONAS – Two new cichlid species described from Lake Victoria ⛈ Lanternfish Fossils Warn of Looming Ocean Oxygen Crisis Source: Earth.comHygger – Some of the Care Necessary for Aquarium Invertebrates

The first of a regular news update featuring headlines and reports about the freshwater aquarium hobby from around the globe.  In this episode: 🧬 Hear about the discovery of a ghostlike electric knifefish in Brazil and a blind cave-dwelling loach in Vietnam. 🐟 Dive into the spotlight species of the week – the elegant and often-overlooked halfbeak. 👁️ Discover new research into schooling behaviour and how fish avoid bumping into each other. 🧠 Learn how goldfish remember, cichlids parent, and archerfish recognise human faces. 🌍 Understand the growing threat to Africa’s freshwater fish species and how climate change is reshaping aquatic ecosystems. Perfect for home aquarists, hobbyist researchers, and freshwater fish lovers. 📩 Send your aquarium questions or news to: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/EwXrPyvCvY/) Referenced Articles and Sources: Miami Herald – Discovery of Porotergus sambaibensis, a new electric knifefish speciesPractical Fishkeeping – Description of Draconectes narinosus, a blind cave-dwelling loachHygger Online – Care, behaviour, and breeding of halfbeaksDeutsche Welle – Fish intelligence and complex behavioursPrinceton University – Giant danios prefer ladder-like formations when schoolingMongabay – One in four African freshwater fish species threatenedScienceDaily – Marine heatwaves caused widespread marine life collapse