This fish has achieved almost
iconic status within the hobby for its wonderful
good looks and relatively easy husbandry.
However, the fact that it is available
when very small- perhaps 1cm or so- often tempts
aquarists into making a purchase without realising
that this fish will often outgrow an aquarium
very quickly indeed and cause water quality
issues that it manages to survive but often
at the expense of other less robust animals.
It can also be prone to certain
protozoan parasite infections and is not always
trustworthy with invertebrates. However, with
care and attention this remains a highly rewarding
species to care for in the home aquarium but
be aware that a maximum size of 30cm is not
unrealistic even in 400 litre systems.
